82 Maico 490 - Was it really that good?

[firko]

One of GB's bikes has a rare reed valve barrel fitted.

My 82 490 twinshock enduro had a reed barrel. I know they didn't all have reeds but mine certainly did, I didn't realise it was so rare at ther time. The '82 GS enduros were twin shock, basically the same as '81's and a magnificent bike. I even rode it to work a couple of days a week and it had great road manners, despite the shitty brakes. Nobody beat me in a drag race, that's for sure I really wish I'd have kept that bike and the ex Laurie Alderton ISDE '79 GS400 Magnum I had before the 490. It was almost as good a bike in the bush. The poor old '82 single shock bike certainly had its share of problems but the factory sorted them pretty quickly and the bike was pretty good in the end. Unfortunately the press had blackened its reputation and Maico fully never recovered. It's a shame really as the next model the 84 SC500 was arguably one of the best open class bikes ever made, even better than the '81 in my opinion.
                                                                                         
                                                         

[NSR]

The fact that a simple piston port engine was making that much power just blew them away.

GB would say "just put a Bing on it"  

[firko]

GB would say "just put a Bing on it"

Nothing works better on a piston port Maico than a Bing, Mikunis and Del Ortos work well on reed Maicos (but so do Bings too). I'm seriously considering putting a 38mm Bing on my piston port RT1 Yamaha powered Cheney.

[evo550]

. It's a shame really as the next model the 84 SC500 was arguably one of the best open class bikes ever made, even better than the '81 in my opinion.
                                                                                         
                                                         

In my opinion too Firko.......so it's official then ?

[odd1]

I'm lucky enough to have 2 79 400's  one had a bing one had a brand new mikuni   the one with the mikuni would never start hot or cold as soon as I put a bing on it starts 2nd or third kick hot or cold. Had a ride of Dave Hammonds SC250 and it is better than the 79 in every way!

[Maicoman]

Firko do you still have your 84 SC500? I thought I saw it for sale sometime back. Having never ridden an 81 490 I can't really compare but my 84 was such an easy bike to ride. The ride is superb. I like to think of it as a big arm chair. The power comes on so smoothly and effortlessly.
   Mine was fitted with a Keihin when I got it. The owner seized it up and blamed the Bing. Later he told me he would run it at 50:1. No surprises why it seized up then. I have the original Bing for it to go back on if it ever leaves "the shed of despair" again.
   Noice photo also of the 490.

[evo550]

   Mine was fitted with a Keihin when I got it. The owner seized it up and blamed the Bing. Later he told me he would run it at 50:1. No surprises why it seized up then.
   

You might be suprised to kow the manual spec's 100:1 fuel mix for an '84.

[firko]

Firko do you still have your 84 SC500? 

Sadly no, and it's the bike I rergret selling more than any other. I threw a chain at speed while riding it at the farm and cracked the cases (minor damage). While I was considering pulling it all apart to repair the damage Eddie Phipps made me an offer and, being a bit pissed off with the situation sold it to him. He was barely out of site when I started regretting selling it. He had it at CD9.

[supermoto.mc]

There was something about those maicos .. & i use to sell KTM -SWM & did a couple of the 79 -80 big reds , they were quite special you came into a corner  out in the bush 4 a breast laid it down and it just tracked if you put it on line that's were it stayed.. if you were passed by Laurie, chris  or Geoff how it tracked was a pleasure to see yep i know good riders it was just the pinnacle of a lot of hard work  nothing is perfect forever !! 

[Maicoman]

   Mine was fitted with a Keihin when I got it. The owner seized it up and blamed the Bing. Later he told me he would run it at 50:1. No surprises why it seized up then.
   

You might be suprised to kow the manual spec's 100:1 fuel mix for an '84.

Thanks for the insight Evo I wasn't aware of this. Without starting another fuel mixture debate this just screams warning to me. I like to keep things down on the rich oil side when it comes to big bores, but each to their own.

Unfortunately Firko I wasn't at CD9. I to would have liked to have a Maico ready for the event, maybe one day. Perhaps you'll find another one. Although mine has not run since 1998 I just can't bare to part with it or any of my Maico's. I picked up most of my bikes back when they were worthless and paid as little as a case of bear for some. That'll never happen again I'm certain of that and hopefully one day they'll all be restored.

[Lozza]

For a different perspective

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaB4EfrXN-8