NEW 490 M2 REED CYLINDERS AVAILABLE

[maicomc490t]

Hi Brendan,
Short answer - No.
81/82 490 cases and cylinders do not interchange with later ones, nor do they make for a simple conversion with earlier models. I have read on the US Maico group that guys have modded the engines and cylinders to mate up but wonder if it is worth all the trouble if indeed it can be done at all. Perhaps someone can let us know?
Hey Mick pleased to keep you in the know re the reed I got mate - good thing is it is in OZ now 
Hope this helps,
Dave Mac 

[JohnnyO]

There is a huge difference between the '81/'82 cylinder and the '83. I bought a '83 reed cylinder thinking it would fit my '81 490 but as that base gasket shows they are a mile apart. Wulfsport in England have brand new nicasil reed valve cylinders for the '81 490.. No idea on the price though.

[maicomc490t]

Looking forward to seeing sonny Jim stretch his legs in the not too distant future on the reed bike.
That gasket over base flange sure was a good way to demo the difference by the way. Thanks for your kind words Mick - I wouldn't mind a clutch or three either !

Dave Mac 

[Phil]

I may be simplifying the situation here but why would you bother going to the trouble and expense to convert the '83 top end to the earlier engine when in reality very few of us are man enough to ride a stock 490 Maico to its performance potential.
With respect, to me all of this is just overkill "my Maicos tricker than yours" wanking. I also suspect that by fitting the '83 cylinder to an 81 490, youre making the bike ilegal for Evo.

[husky61]

Hey Old Phil

I agree with your comments.

The mates and i have a couple of the 81 490 things and a 81 440 thing and you dont need to hot them up. They go extremely well stock standard . Reed valve or piston port , they both perform exceptionly well.

[meathead]

Hi the maico posted by paul with the 83 barrel is mine and l can tell you it dose make a huge differance to the bottom end the std 490 power l would say bilds from 0 revs and keeps building all the way through were the 83 barrel u can be a gear higher and pulls a lot stronger but still puts the power down like a maico.
why you ask always built stock maicos never done any mods this time l thourt y not
paul
ps paul what u doing poting my bike

[paul]

poting  !!!!!!!!    i dont do poting

[Phil]

Whoa, Hold on Mick, I didn't intend to insult anyone. Maybe I should have put a smiley face in there . I meant the wanking comment as a joke  but I guess it sparked a response I hadn't intended. My apologies.

 I own both an 81 490 and 250 and recently sold an '84 SC500 and agree the 500 is a quicker bike but my point is that I don't think the performance increase warrants the amount of work involved. I have no problem with people modifying their bikes as long as they keep them within the spirit of the rulebook. That's my other point. I've been led to believe that if a major part of a bike, the cylinder in this instance, is from a post evo linkaged bike, the bike must race in that class. If that's the case, wouldn't it make more sense to just race the '83/84 or whatever in pre 85? I'm just thinking out aloud, not trying to cause mischief as one forum member has accused me of in another thread. (firko thread)

Us Maico blokes need to stick together to fight off the forces of evil

[evo550]

How do you modify the cases to accept the MUCH larger cylinder
Do you use the reed valve (83/84) crank cases?

[paul]

mick i posted a pic of paul stackers secret weapon lol. aka meat head   

[maicomc490t]

Did you post it on here? If so I can't see it

[maicomc490t]

Guess it will remain a secret

Oh well.................

[paul]

http://mxtrax.co.uk/maico-490-new-reedvalve-barrel-4-sale/forum/viewtopic/212/296278?siteid=6&8

[holeshot buddy]

what a waste of time
these 490s go well enough for any of you guys
thats for sure

this makes me laugh

[paul]

wonder why your laughin rusty  you had one once