82 Maico 490 - Was it really that good?

[Kenneth S (222)]

In the recent ADB, the 400th Edition, they rave about this model saying it was one of Maico's finest. Was it really that good and how did it stack up with the competition that year?

Post Edit: It was the 81 not the 82 the article was written about. Typo

[TM BILL]

82 model was an absolute shit box  if you got a good one it snapped the shock  bad ones snapped the frame 

The 81 model was everything people say it was and turned average wobblers into good riders 

78 -79 great bike
80 ugly and not a patch on the 79
81 A bigger capacity and refined 79
82 should have came in lemon yellow 

Would love a 79 250 now

[mick25]

I have been lucky enough to ride one around the block once 81 model ,it wasnt mine  
but gezz it liked to power stand through the gears   scarry stuff.
It would take me a while to handle that sort of power on the dirt I rekon.
I think the maico would like big open tracks with long straights to scretch its legs

[mick25]

82 model was an absolute shit box  if you got a good one it snapped the shock  bad ones snapped the frame 

The 81 model was everything people say it was and turned average wobblers into good riders 

78 -79 great bike
80 ugly and not a patch on the 79
81 A bigger capacity and refined 79
82 should have came in lemon yellow 

Would love a 79 250 now

There you go I learn something new every day I throught all maicos were good....

[TM BILL]

82 model was an absolute shit box  if you got a good one it snapped the shock  bad ones snapped the frame 

The 81 model was everything people say it was and turned average wobblers into good riders 

78 -79 great bike
80 ugly and not a patch on the 79
81 A bigger capacity and refined 79
82 should have came in lemon yellow 

Would love a 79 250 now

There you go I learn something new every day I throught all maicos were good....

My opinions are based on experiences back in the day in the UK  Where i lived in the south east Maicos were very popular upto 1981 . I remember the excitement and anticipation of the boys awaiting the arrival of the 82 single shock models in our local dealer A & S performance products . For a while there was an element of denial about how bad they were  many upto that point dyed in the wool Maico buyers either bought back their 81 models or changed brands .

[Kenneth S (222)]

82 model was an absolute shit box  if you got a good one it snapped the shock  bad ones snapped the frame 

The 81 model was everything people say it was and turned average wobblers into good riders 

78 -79 great bike
80 ugly and not a patch on the 79
81 A bigger capacity and refined 79
82 should have came in lemon yellow 

Would love a 79 250 now

Ah yes, I just re-looked at the article. It was the 81 model, the Mega 2 they were talking about. That is where I got the 2 from.

So how did it stack up against the big 4?

[TM BILL]

The 81 or the 82 ? As i remember ( and i only really remember Maicos from 78 on they were a great bike for the clubman rider but unless you were sponsored on one ( ie got one for free) top riders generally rode jap bikes .

Geoff Mayes won the British open championship on one of those ugly 1980 440s but defended and lost his title ( Graham Noyce was fit again )in 81 on an RM 465 .

[JohnnyO]

In the recent ADB, the 400th Edition, they rave about this model saying it was one of Maico's finest. Was it really that good and how did it stack up with the competition that year?

If that's the case then ADB don't know shit about motocross..
The '82 model was the beginning of the end for Maico after the highly successfull '81 model. That's why Ballard rides a disc braked '81 in pre '85.

[Kenneth S (222)]

The 81 or the 82 ?

The 81. Quote from ADB about the 81 490 "the company created one of the greatest machines in motocross history" "the secret was the machines sublime balance" "simply blew the competition to pieces"

That is a big call!

[mxmaniac]

Yep.. they are that good. I have possession of dads 81 490 maico and have my 2012 model ktm 350 and its a hard decision on what to ride. They turn like nothing else i have ridden. Power is smooth and plenty of it. 

[Montynut]

Ken in the US Maico sold more 1981 Mega2 490's than all the 'Big 4" open class MXers put together If a rider lost their 'big 4' sponsored ride they would turn up on a private Maico 490.

How they then produced the 1982 490 is one of lifes mysteries.

[Kenneth S (222)]

Ken in the US Maico sold more 1981 Mega2 490's than all the 'Big 4" open class MXers put together If a rider lost their 'big 4' sponsored ride they would turn up on a private Maico 490.

How they then produced the 1982 490 is one of lifes mysteries.

Actually, the article mentions something similar. Quote "In 1981, Maico sold more 490s than Honda did it's entire motocross range." That is unbelievable! Where was I, living under a rock?! No, I was thrashing around on an RM. Doh

[holeshot buddy]

the 82 model 490 had a good barrel take it of and put it on a 81
throw the rest away

[Maicoman]

Ken in the US Maico sold more 1981 Mega2 490's than all the 'Big 4" open class MXers put together If a rider lost their 'big 4' sponsored ride they would turn up on a private Maico 490.

How they then produced the 1982 490 is one of lifes mysteries.

So very true. Infact it's been documented in many articles from the time that the big Jap 4 bought 81 Maico 490's and pulled them down to find out why they were so good. The fact that a simple piston port engine was making that much power just blew them away.
   One of GB's bikes has a rare reed valve barrel fitted. Now that would be something worth riding. Despite the bad points of the 82 model I still think it's a very attractive looking bike.

[xel93]

In defence of the 82 - the one I had handled as well as the 81 and made better power.  I think there must have been some slight mods to the barrel and porting and the motor pulled better.  The US ones seemed to be the ones with problems.  I really liked mine and am a bit sorry I sold it.  My 81 went well but the sweetest handling maico I had was a 74.5.  small, low and turned like a ballerina