Maico needs a 150

[burn1986]

I know Maico is barely off the ground again, but how cool would it be for them to add a 150 to the mix? I just read the thing about Canada, so maybe we will see some bikes soon. As expensive as they are, I hope they haven't priced themselves out of the business.

[miedosoracing]

I think the only thing that has bothered me for years about them, is the fact that they keep that starter on the left.  Who the heck can actually kick anything lefty unless they are a lefty.  Ha ha. 

[Zuendapp]

Maico's only 125's were based on the rotary valve 125 road race engine. The last produced was around 1979 or so? If any one has info on newer models please post the info.
I think the 144 / 150cc is perfect size weight combination for the Northeast woods riding.

I found a old photo of a Maico CR480 ? never new they made this model 

[opfermanmotors]

I can kick a left hand kick while sitting on the bike, it's pretty easy.

Actually, Honda was copying Husqvarna CR's when they put the kickers on the left in 1978 on 250 and up.  If honda ever had an original idea their head would explode.  If its not Maico they're copying it's Husqvarna.  They should just rename their bikes Kinkos.

"We b Honderr, no original ideer here, see Hooskie name bike CR, we name bike CR, see Hooskie kicker on left, ok, put kickerr on left, see Maico 490, buy maico 490, see how run."

[JETZcorp]

I heard that a number of Maico personnel suddenly switched to working at Honda as well, right before the CR480 came out, and at the same time they were disassembling 490s to see how they worked.  That's second-hand information though, I don't have a print source I can cite on that one.

[burn1986]

Maico had such a good bike with the 490, you have to wonder why they stopped making it. It's amazing Husqvarna survived and Miaco didn't (well until now).

[opfermanmotors]

Maico had such a good bike with the 490, you have to wonder why they stopped making it.

Which version of the 490?  The 81 or 83?  The 83 490 is essentially still being made.

[burn1986]

Well, I guess my question was "What happened to them from the late '80s to the present?" It seems like Maico disappeared for awhile, even thougt they made good bikes. It would have been cool to see an '84-93 Maico 490 racing the AMA Nationals.

[ACMX]

Bankrupt

[opfermanmotors]

In a nutshell, in an internal takeover they sabotaged the 82 and 83 bikes and bankrupted the company.  Once they took over and corrected the issue, well the damaged was done and no one wanted to deal with them anymore so they went bankrupt.  One racer was parallezed because of what happened.

Maico: Rise and Fall of a Legend (HD)

What Killed Maico Part 1:
http://dirtbike.off-road.com/dirtbike/feature/industrial-sabotage-germanstyle-12907.html


What Killed Maico Part 2:
http://dirtbike.off-road.com/dirtbike/feature/industrial-sabotage-germanstyle-what-killed-maico-12130.html