My latest acquisition - 1981 MC440/T
If you go looking for information regarding this beast in the usual spots you won't find this baby shown but fortunately for me I have just taken delivery of what must arguably be one of the rarer Maico's and certainly one of the rarest of the 1981 range - well at least in OZ?
When I found out about this bike being for sale all I knew was that Maico had cobbled up later later round back frames and other leftovers. It was claimed that the engines were from 1980 but that is where the story takes a turn.
The bottom end is definitely 81 with the narrow lugs under the rear of the cases compared to the wide ones on the 80's but curiously stamped with the 1980 440 number, albeit much later in sequence
Id plate info reads
MC440/T3473064 (frame) - strange in itself as that was originally the 80
400 frame number - why didn't the factory use the 348 440 number ?)
438 (capacity)
The engine number is
RT3482684 (compared with the earlier 80 cases I have - RT3481607)
As you can see it is definitely a weird combination of numbers but are all the real deal. Short of splitting the cases I am betting the only non 81 parts are the cylinder, piston and head.
At the moment the wheels and shocks are yet to arrive but I have started re-assembling the bike with a view to running it as is for the time being ie original scratched frame etc until ready to do the full monty on it some day - we want to see what it is like to ride!!!
Interesting - dunno - just thought I'd expand the knowledge base
Dave Mac
