Wanted Maico 490 1983/84

[Ted]

I am really surprised these 82/3/4 Maicos are not sought by more people for Pre 85.

With a claimed more powerful and user friendly motor than the 81 and suspension technology where it is today I am certain the linkage ratio could be easily rectified with some pretty simple engineering. Any hub casting problems could be fixed by swapping out complete wheel assemblies. Fork and brakes.....take your pick.

If I was to build a special Pre 85 Open class I would go this way. You can pick them up for a song.

[evo550]

Never seen a '84 sand spider....'84 enduro maybe.

[shelpi]

Yep all new to me but now that I know Im excited cant wait to kick the tyres and light the fires ( my motor is in a crate some where cold and lonley :'()

[FritzG]

It's not a Sand Spider, it's a 84 M-Star SC 500. Imported into the states by Ted Lapidakis (sp?) hence the "LAP" following the s/n. I think the "H" in the serial number stands for Hercules Importing. They were all 5 speeds in 1984. I have been racing mine for 3 years now and absolutely love the bike. Once I got the rear Ohlins shock dialed in for my weight and riding style I have done nothing to the bike but change oil and tires.

If you look closely you'll see that everything that said "Maico" on the bike has been ground off, the fork sliders, the clutch cover and if the bike had the original red ignition cover the name ground off there as well. The bike however does not have the correct tank, it has the 80-83 tank but I certainly wouldn't let that keep me from purchasing it. The original 84 MX tanks are as rare as hens teeth.

Fritz

[evo550]

My '84 SC 500's only had 4 cogs, could be a '85 desert sled...although they had a disc.

[shelpi]

My '84 SC 500's only had 4 cogs, could be a '85 desert sled...although they had a disc.

85 was a watercooled yer and wernt there the choice of 2 boxs and didnt D=5 speed on the 362 type designation for the 490 ie D3621500 engine number 

[evo550]

Not all of them, the U.S. had an air cooled 1985 500 M Star desert sled, but it ran a front disc. Not called a sand spider though.
Your bike screams '84 except for the 5 speed box. The '83 tank would have been because the '84's exhaust burnt holes through the tank in no time at all. The'84's use '83 seat bases with a small piece of molded plastic riveted to the front of the base for the safety seat.
I've owned 2 '84's one SC and one enduro and both where 4 speeds.

[shelpi]

Not all of them, the U.S. had an air cooled 1985 500 M Star desert sled, but it ran a front disc. Not called a sand spider though.
Your bike screams '84 except for the 5 speed box. The '83 tank would have been because the '84's exhaust burnt holes through the tank in no time at all. The'84's use '83 seat bases with a small piece of molded plastic riveted to the front of the base for the safety seat.
I've owned 2 '84's one SC and one enduro and both where 4 speeds.

I see just to let you know the bike I am playing with is a EML/Maico kit side car, thats where EML supplied a nacked frame and you took your Solo donour and swapped all the running gear and power plant into it, so when I got the EML/Maico it had 1983 wheels, triple clamps etc etc although on the 12/ 82 front rim some one put the 1985 disc brake into it, apparently the single piston caliper brembo is spongy at best so ive gone to Honda 1984 twin piston calipers.
The Motor wich is not here yet, is the 1983 D362 15## I was told it is a 5 speed, I am NO expert but am trying my best to understand it all, is it true the watercooled came out in 1984 but in the enduro Gs model only because I read they bought out water cooling specialy for sidecar raceing?
So when and what was the 5 speed predominantly in? cheers

[Maicoman]

Maico did offer a factory sidecar outfit. I have it in a brochure somewhere. Depending on the market US, AUS, EUR you could still get an aircooled 500 in 85 and 86. Not sure about the number of gears. My 84 is 5 speed, naturally being an enduro model and my 250's are both 5 speeds, just close and wide ratios.

[shelpi]

Maico did offer a factory sidecar outfit. I have it in a brochure somewhere. Depending on the market US, AUS, EUR you could still get an aircooled 500 in 85 and 86. Not sure about the number of gears. My 84 is 5 speed, naturally being an enduro model and my 250's are both 5 speeds, just close and wide ratios.

Thanx for that, hey any chance of getting a photo copy of the Brochure  please 

[Maicoman]

Here's a link to what the brochure with the side car looks like. Don't ask me to find the original, it would be lost somewhere in my shed

The link is to a fella who I'm pretty sure is on this forum and owns an 86 model M-Star.
https://www.google.com.au/url?q=http://k10stuff.blogspot.com/2012/10/maico-gm250e-1986-restoration.html&ei=gjgyU7CEJ4fQlAXy7YHACg&sa=X&oi=unauthorizedredirect&ct=targetlink&ust=1395801994643562&usg=AFQjCNErr0LO0ApvGvdKoakMkk488jAfiA

[shelpi]

Here's a link to what the brochure with the side car looks like. Don't ask me to find the original, it would be lost somewhere in my shed

The link is to a fella who I'm pretty sure is on this forum and owns an 86 model M-Star.
https://www.google.com.au/url?q=http://k10stuff.blogspot.com/2012/10/maico-gm250e-1986-restoration.html&ei=gjgyU7CEJ4fQlAXy7YHACg&sa=X&oi=unauthorizedredirect&ct=targetlink&ust=1395801994643562&usg=AFQjCNErr0LO0ApvGvdKoakMkk488jAfiA

Wow thanx for that, I never knew that Maico made a sidecar I noticed the chair was on the right hand side, now that would make a great pre90 MX sidecar

[evo550]

There was 3 different 83 "362" 500 engines,

FK 362......4 speed wide ratio
FL 362......4 speed close ratio
D 362.......5 speed
That would make yours a 1983 Sand spider 5 speed motor.

[shelpi]

There was 3 different 83 "362" 500 engines,

FK 362......4 speed wide ratio
FL 362......4 speed close ratio
D 362.......5 speed
That would make yours a 1983 Sand spider 5 speed motor.

Thanks Evo, yep that all makes sence to me cheers    Ahh hang on, isnt the 1983  the MC 490 and it was the SC that is 500   but still same bore size yer

[evo550]

There was 3 different 83 "362" 500 engines,

FK 362......4 speed wide ratio
FL 362......4 speed close ratio
D 362.......5 speed
That would make yours a 1983 Sand spider 5 speed motor.

Thanks Evo, yep that all makes sence to me cheers    Ahh hang on, isnt the 1983  the MC 490 and it was the SC that is 500   but still same bore size yer

1983 was designated as a 490, the '84 (sc) was designated as a 500, but they where both the same motor with 483cc...or there abouts.