Tony, don't go to the same porn sites as me, too many user slows it down
Yes, I do not know why from a racer standpoint an 81 490 would be worth twice as much as a comparable condition YZ465 either. That, I think is the hype, but unusually high production means there are some more 490s out there. No, not more than 465s, but more than 80 Maicos-or any other 80-81 Euro bike-and some Kxs.
To me, that just makes the 76-77 Aws, 78-79 Magnum and 83 490s easier to get. BTW the YZ 465 got its share of hype-I recall in 1980-the open experts were ALL on 465s at several races I went to. For some of us, we do not mind the careful setup, esoteric learning curve, and sensitive tuning as much as we love our Maicos-especially when everyone calls then junk. As far as the $7100 490 on e-bay last week-I know the owner/builder and I speculate he lost about $1500-as he would if he built a comparable YZ465. As for brakes, I was taught to cudely "arc" the shoes some time ago-and have never had a poor brake-
That includes, Bultaco 135, 74 Penton KTM 250, 75 KX 400, 73 SC500, 76 RM 250, 77 Maico 440-I guess I forgot a few Bultacos back there somewhere.
Tony, right now my $ buys nothing if that makes it any better. I have to go, DB mag is telling me to go out and make a crop circle...