1981 490

[Tahitian_Red]

1970-80 Maico had some good finishes in GP Motocross (Jonsson, Bauer and Weil mostly).

Tough to compare Factory GP bikes to what was sold to the public, but I would look at what privateers were running in 1981 to get a more accurate picture.  Most were probably riding Maico 490's or Yamaha YZ465's.

[JohnnyO]

GP wins has got nothing to do with how good the Maico is.. How many production Jap bikes won GP's?
The Jap factories bought the top riders for big bucks that Maico couldn't afford. Many top privateers rode Maico..Their choice.

[jerry]

Exactly. J

[William Doe]

GP wins has got nothing to do with how good the Maico is.. How many production Jap bikes won GP's?
The Jap factories bought the top riders for big bucks that Maico couldn't afford. Many top privateers rode Maico..Their choice.

Aberg won a GP on a converted trail bike 

[jerry]

Fair conversion! J

[HeavenVMX]

GP wins has got nothing to do with how good the Maico is.. How many production Jap bikes won GP's?
The Jap factories bought the top riders for big bucks that Maico couldn't afford. Many top privateers rode Maico..Their choice.

Aberg won a GP on a converted trail bike 

He actually only won one heat of a GP I believe not the overal GP

To call it a convertion is a long shot.

[Maicoman]

I reckon a real match up would be Gally on a YZ465 V's Ballard on a 490 Maico. I saw Gally on his YZ490 at CD7 and he going well until he got spat over the bars and Ballard came through for the win

Adam, there is no racing at Classic Dirt.

Go back to 1981 when both riders, similarly aged, both at their peak and have your race. Geoff wouldn't have kept in the same post code as Gall.

Ted I know there is no racing at CD, I was there. Let's just say there was some competitive rivalry between Gally and Geoff.

I reckon you need to throw your leg over a Maico and find out first hand what they are all about.......if you can handle it ....I know you have hang ups about Euro bikes.

[Ando]

Thanks for your comment on the 81 250 KTM47 & sa63!

Sounds like it could be the ultimate EVO machine a crossbreed Yamaico!

[Slakewell]

Ted you do know that Galls bike in 81 was running his older works 400 power valve engine and not the standard 465?

[2 shocks]

Hi Jerry,

Just a few stats for you : 1970 - East German GP Ake Johansen overall, 1971 Ake Johansen 2-1 overall, British GP Farleigh Castle, Ake Johansen 1-2 overall GP Winner, German GP Bilstein 18/7 Adolf Weil Maico 1-2 overall winner, Luxenberg GP 8/8 Ake Johansen 2-1 overall GP winner. 1973 Willy Bauer, Chech GP Maico 1-1 overall GP winner, US GP Carlsbad Willy Bauer Maico GP winner, thats only the 500cc class, not sure about 250's but I dare say they might have squeezed 1 or 2 GP's out, not bad on basically a production bike with a few factory go fast pieces against 1 off hand built unobtainable works bikes.

Regards Ken Baker

[jerry]

Ken my face is bright red! Whilst I was indeed alluding to the 250 class I completely forgot about Ake, Willi and Adolphs achievements in the big bores. Wolsink wasnt too bad either.They did pretty good in the Trans AMA series too. Call it brain fade! Cheers Jerry PS I'm looking for a 250 78/79 motor either MC or GS if you see one around the traps.

[Ted]

Hi Jerry,

Just a few stats for you : 1970 - East German GP Ake Johansen overall, 1971 Ake Johansen 2-1 overall, British GP Farleigh Castle, Ake Johansen 1-2 overall GP Winner, German GP Bilstein 18/7 Adolf Weil Maico 1-2 overall winner, Luxenberg GP 8/8 Ake Johansen 2-1 overall GP winner. 1973 Willy Bauer, Chech GP Maico 1-1 overall GP winner, US GP Carlsbad Willy Bauer Maico GP winner, thats only the 500cc class, not sure about 250's but I dare say they might have squeezed 1 or 2 GP's out, not bad on basically a production bike with a few factory go fast pieces against 1 off hand built unobtainable works bikes.

Regards Ken Baker

And 1981?

[09.0]

I rode nothing but jap back in the day. When I started vmx other than the first bike that was sold to me to get involved was a 490 Maico. They are the best. You all know that they are good and were good back in '81 and it's well documented that the jap's bought all the top riders and threw millions at the bikes. I'm so impressed with Maico's that they are the majority in the shed now.
I've had an A5 kx250,and a cr250 ra. I now own a Maico 250.
I will also have an 89 500/610 restored for pre90 open

[foxy999]

Lean Mean Maico Racing Machine !!!        

[bigk]

400 & 490 are smooth easy to use power, 440 a little aggressive & vibrates a bit. I've had a few Maico's, the '81 490 was real nice, just a tad hard to live with having a prehistoric clutch (even though the current KTM clutch is similar). The best one I had was a '75 250 with 400 piston which made 326cc. It was fast & super easy to ride, should have kept that one. Any Euro bike is better than an Oriental in the hands of mortal men, especially when the going gets tough. They may feel under powered coz they are not wheel standing or pig rooting everywhere, but the stop watch generally shows the truth. Smooth, tractable power, with good handling = less rider fatigue which equates to going faster for longer, take a bow Maico MC490.
K