1981 490

[Ando]

Very well said BigK, smooth/tractable = fast! 

[Ando]

What are the diffences (if any) in the 80-81 250 Maico?

[Ted]

Interesting video from arguably Australia's greatest off road racer.
Google" stefan merriman rides Maico 490"

[Husky500evo]

Interesting video from arguably Australia's greatest off road racer.
Google" stefan merriman rides Maico 490"

It would have been good to have heard Stefan Merriman's impressions of a YZ465H Yamaha, if he had also ridden one of those on the same day. I have owned and raced, long term, both Maico 490s and a YZ465H and I know which one I would rather ride.

[Hoony]

i was fortunate enough to get a ride on a 490 maico (Many Thanks Ken Baker) some years back at the then tight Parwan practice track that was very hard packed with a loose skatey surface after riding my own CR500 around it before hand.

my take was the big Maico was a pleasure to ride and very tractable (although i wasn't used to the slight hesitation from the non reed engine).

it was lovely to ride and i mirror those that say it was not demanding, i felt i could do many more laps on it than my bike, since most tracks are tighter than days of old i can see why they are favoured.

being a Honda fan this post will self explode in 3 days 

[Kane Mcguire]

mark, you have both the husky 500 and the 490. whats your riding impression on both? I had the xc500 and I hated the vibration high in the revs. I rode your auto 500 at cd remember with the 38mm carb. I did not like the pause before it took off but going up the big hill that year at the cd at connondale it is the fastest bike I have ridden. without having to change gears it should never ever lose a holeshot.

[Husky500evo]

Yeah , sometimes on a track that suits it, the 500 Auto almost feels like you are cheating. But overall, when you are comparing a Maico 490 and a Husky 500, I would choose the Maico because of the way it handles, steers and the easy to use, smooth tractor like power.

[2 shocks]

i was fortunate enough to get a ride on a 490 maico (Many Thanks Ken Baker) some years back at the then tight Parwan practice track that was very hard packed with a loose skatey surface after riding my own CR500 around it before hand. my take was the big Maico was a pleasure to ride and very tractable (although i wasn't used to the slight hesitation from the non reed engine). it was lovely to ride and i mirror those that say it was not demanding, i felt i could do many more laps on it than my bike, since most tracks are tighter than days of old i can see why they are favoured. being a Honda fan this post will self explode in 3 days 

Gooday Hoony, I remember that day very well. Parwin was at it's worst for sure, but I thought you were never going to come back in  That 490 is the one that Shaun won Evo & Pre 85 in Tassie back in 07 from memory, he's got that Maico in Brisbane now and goes out to QMX Park at Beaudesert and more than holds its own against new 450's on the pro track. I remember he rode a 465 somewhere couldnt wait to get off it, that hesitation off the bottom that you mention has been tuned out. If you're at the bike bonanza at Easter my latest 490 is waiting for you, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Regards Ken & Dawn Baker

[Hoony]

G'day Ken, I am hoping to get to Bonanza this year as missed the last 2. would love another ride but you have to take up my offer to swing a leg over "Big Red" as well.

[Ando]

What are the diffences (if any) in the 80-81 250 Maico?

Bump

[Husky500evo]

What are the diffences (if any) in the 80-81 250 Maico?

Lots. The '80 model Mega 1 MC250 had longer forks, shorter swingarm and  a piston port cylinder. Where the '81 Mega 2 MC250 had a reed valve cylinder, different forks, frame and longer swingarm and just handled way better. I thought that '80 model 250 felt weird to ride, because you sat into a "V" where the seat and tank met, the triple clamps were really high in the frame and the bike felt like it had too short of a wheelbase. Combine all this with a peaky motor (because of the piston port cylinder) and you had a bike that was hard to ride and wanted to wheelie out of corners when you didn't want it to. The '81 model addressed all of the issues and was heaps better. Chalk and cheese really.

[Mick D]

What are the diffences (if any) in the 80-81 250 Maico?

Lots. The '80 model Mega 1 MC250 had longer forks, shorter swingarm and  a piston port cylinder. Where the '81 Mega 2 MC250 had a reed valve cylinder, different forks, frame and longer swingarm and just handled way better. I thought that '80 model 250 felt weird to ride, because you sat into a "V" where the seat and tank met, the triple clamps were really high in the frame and the bike felt like it had too short of a wheelbase. Combine all this with a peaky motor (because of the piston port cylinder) and you had a bike that was hard to ride and wanted to wheelie out of corners when you didn't want it to. The '81 model addressed all of the issues and was heaps better. Chalk and cheese really.

Could not agree more. The 490 is a great bike, but sadly its notoriety overshadowed one of the sweetest bikes ever built.