Hey 2smoker - when you said this;
Have you ever ride any Service Honda big bore?or any frame conversion 500cc bike? Which environment? Open field? Trails??? Tracks... How much did you pay for the Maico and where did you buy it? Because I have no ideas where to go in Canada to get a Maico!
Two things came to mind... forst have you ridden a Service Honda? Or have you ridden a Maico?
While Mad Scientist has probably not ridden a Service Honda, he has quite a few years of experience with the new style Maico. So he is certainly qualified to speak about that. He has ridden some of the older style Japanese bikes, so he's at least ridden both.... it's worth listening to someone with experience.
Just a few words about experience and magazine tests..... the truth is if you rode and compared the Service Honda vs the Maico 500 you would probably rate them differently than I would or anyone else. These tests are completely subjective.
Picture them as sign posts that give you an idea of what a bike is like. To find out for yourself, even after reading a test is to try to ride the machine that you felt was best. This is the only way to really "know" which bike is best for you.
As for the Maico, there are a few guys that have experience with them, many with the older machines, but one with modern Maico experience. No magazine has tested the new style Maico and folks have not idea how it works because few have seen them in person. We happen to be lucky to have a member of our board that owns one and is willing to share his experiences with that machine.
If you have other experience, we would love to hear yours as well.... but like I said at the very beginning... you must remain respectful.... the opening post is border line trouble making. Please let's not go there.
Now for the second thought brought up by your quote, how about if we attempt to do a shootout ourselves between the Maico and the Service Honda?? All we need is two people that own one of each and get them to the same track on the sme day. As long as there willing to have a few other racers ride their bikes, we could do it.
One additional thought about the magazines and bike tests..... remember that all magazines by their nature are financially driven by ad revenue (ias well as quite a few webs sites) Some of the biggest advertisers are the major manufacturers, if not spending hundreds of thousands of dollars, at least spending many multiple thousands.
Hypothetically say that the magazine gets a chance to test a bike, one that is not a part of the Big 4 that advertises with them. Not only is the bike better than the Big 4 machines, but head and shoulders better. Unfortunately the bikes are built by a small company that doesn't have the budget to spend on major magazine advertising.
What do you think the magazine would write about this bike?
I'll tell you one thing, what would be in it for them if they recommended this better machine from someone that can't afford to advertise in their magazine. Nothing! They would not tell the absolute complete truth, because it would hurt their revenue.
So keep in mind, there just may be machines out there that are head and shoulders better then the manufacturers with the deep pockets, you just don't hear about them.
Think about it.
