maico 490 over rated

[2 shocks]

Maico's Overated  Back in the day, I was somewhere near the front riding Yamaha's in C grade and decided to get a Maico from Keith Stacker in Melbourne, a 76 AW Maico. All of a sudden, I started winning races  The Maicos inspired confidence, sometimes you would come in from a race or practice & say to yourself, how come I didnt fall off, some of the situations you can get into on a Maico really defy the law of gravity, and I have ridden Montessa's, Suzuki's, Honda's,Yamaha's, KTM's, & no other bike gives you the same feeling of stability. My son Shaun rides my 490 Maico, he has been a good Open A Grade MX'r for quite a few years & he agrees that even the modern bikes dont give you the same confident feeling. One trate of the Maico which stands out in my mind, is the ability of the machine to change lines thru a cnr if need be. I think the basic geometry is spot on & the power delivery is very user friendly. The whinge about the heavy clutch is unwarranted, if you know how to rout the cable correctly & setup the lever arm, you will have a 2 finger clutch. The front brake again, very easy to fix, ask any fast Maico rider.

Mr Maico #54 Ken Baker (Vic)

[Yamaboy]

I can remember fields of six or seven or even more 490 Maicos five years ago in NSW but they do seem to have thinned out in recent times. It took a good rider to knock over Roy or Andrew Oldfield. I have a fondness for 465 Yamahas but reluctantly have to admit that those big red Maicos really are terrific bikes to ride. A ride on a big Maico is a very convincing experience. Sure they are way over hyped but there is a definite basis to that hype.

[Graeme M]

Must be some sort of 'cycle' thing Nathan. The guys are right, a few years ago there were 490s everywhere. Nowadays it seems to be big Hondas. I remember that RM400s were all the go in VIPER around the late 90s, then all of a sudden it seemed HL500s were very popular. These things come and go. But I echo the comments about Roy and Andrew. They were good to watch in the early HEAVEN years.

[YSS]

Are you talking about the bike Paul ?

[vandy010]

just to revisit an old thread 
did anyone see the first consolation race at the 09 Conondale Nationals?
where a {wait for it} 1973 Yamaha MX250 held off a 81 Maygo 490 for nearly the whole race...
twas one of my favourite moments as a spectator at the Nats

[mainline]

I've heard that the MX250 in question had rubber mounted bar clamps so the poor old maico really didn't have much of a chance

[mx250]

I've heard that the MX250 in question had rubber mounted bar clamps so the poor old maico really didn't have much of a chance

To be topical.

[Hoony]

 

you guys !

[CamP]

I will say this: In late 1989 at a local track( about 5mi from where I live  now) there was a local racer who did suspension work Still winning open expert on his 81 490 Maico. Kevin Stillwell I think he was. Anyway, bike was stock except for suspension-even the stock Bing carby, in fact it was ratty. 
  Still, he not only won, but holeshot against the local young hotshoe on his 89 KX500( which I know for sure is Waaayy faster than the 490). It was obvious that Kevin was hooking up all of the power-all around the track. To be fair, he had raced that bike almost nonstop since 81-so he was familiar with it. Months later, Kevin was racing a 90KX500( must have waited for the 90 model with USD forks)-and was not able to duplicate his sucess as on the Maico. 

Kevin Stillwell in Burleson, Texas? He use to do all my suspension work back in the mid/late 80's.

[Maicojames]

Yes, Kevin Stillwell. I now live in Burleson, Texas! .Sadly, the track is run seldom these days. Cam are you a fellow Texan?

[motomaniac]

Yes, Kevin Stillwell. I now live in Burleson, Texas! .Sadly, the track is run seldom these days. Cam are you a fellow Texan?

Nice Monaro

[Maicojames]

Yes, pic of a GTS350 -1970 I think. Wonder what it costs to port one to the US?
I think I saw a basically rusted hulk  minus everything go over five figures...makes Maicos seem low $ by comparision.

[motomaniac]

Yes, pic of a GTS350 -1970 I think. Wonder what it costs to port one to the US?
I think I saw a basically rusted hulk  minus everything go over five figures...makes Maicos seem low $ by comparision.

I've seen them go for big bucks at Shannons a few years back - GT351, xu1's slr's Monaros they are all ridiculous $ now.

[motomaniac]

I've heard that the MX250 in question had rubber mounted bar clamps so the poor old maico really didn't have much of a chance

Thats illegal! Tell the guy to go back to solid mounts with protapers or else!

[CamP]

Yes, Kevin Stillwell. I now live in Burleson, Texas! .Sadly, the track is run seldom these days. Cam are you a fellow Texan?

Small world. Yes, I live in Colleyville. The TVRC is having a non-points warm up race for their fall series at Burleson on September 13th. I'll be there debuting my new '82 RM250. Will you be there?