1981 490

[Ted]

You wont need that much fuel for your bike Kev.

You wanna re-live the vintage scene Kev. Go milk a few cars tonight. Instant race fuel.. Easy

[oldfart]

Teddy... your a bad arse man

[KTM47]

Ted  I didn't see you racing in the over 60 EVO 500 class at Toowoomba at the Australian Post Classic MX Champs.  Which class were you racing in?

I race/ride my Maico when I can because I really enjoy it.  My only regret is that I didn't have one when they were new. However I did have a 1980 440 Maico in 1980.

[80-85 husky]

watched a neat twin shock pommie utube clip the other nite, bloke on a 510 husky FOUR STROKE clearly ran down a YZ490  then the RM 500 then the Maico 490....to take 1st place  ......then he fell off. ....nice work

[Rossvickicampbell]

I still don't like Craig  :'(

[Ted]

Ted  I didn't see you racing in the over 60 EVO 500 class at Toowoomba at the Australian Post Classic MX Champs.  Which class were you racing in?

I race/ride my Maico when I can because I really enjoy it.  My only regret is that I didn't have one when they were new. However I did have a 1980 440 Maico in 1980.

Yes you are correct. I didn't race at the PC Nats. My wrist injury prevents me from racing. However I did put up sponsorship money for it and the Classic Nats to help fill the coffers so as you and others could ride. I also paid entrance fees for a rider to compete. I am also putting up more money for the Conondale Classic next year. What this has to do with your outlandish claim that 81 Maicos were so successful is beyond me. Or is it that because you race/ ride your Maico that you only can lay claim to its prowess.

Fact: 1980 MR MX  1st place YZ 465
Fact: 1981 MR MX. 1st place YZ 465

Argue with history.

[KTM47]

You win Ted the YZ465 was the best PRODUCTION 500 class motocross bike in 1981.

All the dirt bike magazines were wrong in 1981.

If you don't already know this is sarcasm.

[HeavenVMX]

An interesting market statistic for 1981 is that there was more Maico MC490 sold in the US than all the other open class MXers put together. In anything but pro class the 490 Maico made up a large percentage of the bikes. The Pro class naturally contained all the riders who got paid and rode what they got paid the most to ride and had unlimited budgets to make them work. Many Pro riders that lost their sponsored ride would buy a Maico once back as a privateer.

Ted the YZ465 is a fine bike but nowhere near the best in the year. Gally would have won regardless. Following a well set up Maico on the track you can clearly see that it handles a dream while following a YZ465, both of which I’ve done heaps of , it becomes clear very quickly the riders is working much much harder to do the lap times.

The YZ465 has a fast engine but that does not win open class MX races by itself the whole package is the most important thing. Look at the world titles of the late '70s early '80s Yamaha had one or two works bikes in the top 10 (yes top 3 probably but they spent millions) while Maico had four or five production bikes in the top 10.

I don't have a Maico don't intend buying a 490 either but I know which one I would rather ride. Riding the 465 Yammie is about the same level on my bucket list as base jumping off the back of your truck or trying to out booze you , both of which would see me face down and unconscious .

So just admit it Ted the 465 was not the best bike Yamaha ever built by a long shot . It is also a shame the Maico does take a lot of maintenance

Taking the piss OK   ummmm well a bit anyway

[JohnnyO]

Here's a couple more facts..
The 490 Maico is a much better bike than the CR450 Honda i rode that year
The two Qld A graders that changed to 490 Maicos in 81 were much faster that year than the year before or year after..
There was no Maico dealer network or race team in Oz otherwise the start lines would've been full of Maicos in 81 like they were the rest of the world.

[Ando]

I heard a lot of good comments in the past about the 81 490 Maicos, but how good was the 81 250 Maico?

[KTM47]

I haven't raced or ridden an 81 250, but I do know they have all the good handling qualities that the 490 has.  Generally the Japanese 250 motors are better than the European 250s.  The peakier power isn't the problem it is on a 500.

Having said that the Maico 250s are competitive in the class.  Also the rolling chassis is the same as the 490 and you can even make the 250 into a 320.

Just another interesting statistic.  There are probably more 81 490s in Australia now than there was in 1981. 

Ted  The support you give VMX racing is great.

[sa63]

I have had 250 mc and still have a GS 250 81.
they handle even better than the 490 ( less reciprocating crankshaft weight or whatever) but they are peaky so a 490 is easier to ride because of the torqey motor esp if you are not at peak physical condition....they aren't slow though.
I think quite a few of us have seen young ross downs totally whipped out on drunks hill at connondale on a 81 MC 250- super cool..

I do recall a vmx mag  evo test where the 81 maico came out on top.
I would rate the yz 250H motor as the best motor  , but the maico handles better... hmm mc250 with yz motor?? yamaico..

actually this is pretty much what kev is saying too when I reread his post

[Tossa]

His mum won't let Rossco buy the Maico, because it will cost too much to update his fluro wardrobe!!

[William Doe]

Les has sold up all except the Kedo stuff.....more money and less headaches with Yamaha owners.....lol.....mate, it's 2 days practice, $30 for 1 day or $50 for 2 and the bonus off a free steak dinner and pudding Saturday night.....got lots of rain last night on the track, have a 15,000 litre water truck there [thanks to Shane Chestnut from EDI machinery].

$50.00 to ride plus $50.00 in fuel to get there plus $20/30 for the bike fuel ++++

Les is still advertising Maico parts on his website.

Aren't you glad I asked Shane about the water truck.

Bill were have you been you're too late.

Au Contraire Kev  Tis the Maico that is too late , nowhere in the day but apparently all good now . I have always said and as I remember from the day .The Maico made an ordinary rider a better rider due to its handling but at the top end of things they were OTB.

I cant remember but did Maico ever win a GP ? I don't count the Hans Maisch bullshit win in Spain where he stole Jim Pomeroys trophy .

 

[jerry]

No GP wins for Maico is true. I don't count 73 Spanish GP either Bill. J PS I have 78 roller begging me to start resto. Have to finish house extension first though!