What is your favorite Dirtbike?

[JETZcorp]

17 seasons on a set of clutch plates.  Man, if you tried to get 17 seasons out of some 450F, you'd probably have ZERO original parts after that time.  From tires probably right through the frame, you'd just have to replace it all.

That said, my 120 has lasted 43 years on the original piston and rings.  No one on the planet knows just how much it got ridden before we bought it, but that little thing got the hell ridden out of it carrying my overweight ass around.  In fact, except for a few things in the carburetor, I can't really think of any major engine parts that we've had to replace.  There have been upgrades, like the pipe and the cover over the air-filter (which was simply cut in half for better breathing.)  I don't know what we'd do if something ever broke on that thing.  There aren't many people with crates full of spare '67 Kawi parts.


^^ How to increase power with a hacksaw.  Stay away from rain and standing water!

[Cheb44]

My first motorcycle I ever owned and still my favorite.  Loved it, someday I may be able to get another one.  I  one dragged raced a a-hole kid in my neighborhood on his new four stroke three wheeler and kicked his spoiled little arse.

Oh and I still have a scar about 6 inches long on my chest where the metal fender tried to kill me.  Also check out the oil injection and stylish expansion chamber

VIVA LA BRAAAAAAPPPPPPPPP






Oh oh I am no longer just lurking

[JETZcorp]

That looks a lot like my second bike, which was a Yamaha GT80.  Great bike to learn shifting and such, but it really wan't particularly memorable.  It got overshadowed by my first bike (because it was first) and by the one that replaced it (because the 120 is epic).


^^ This isn't mine, but it looks like it.

[SachsGS]

A lot of people must really like 1981 Maicos because there is yet another company producing a replica. In addition to the Wulfsport RV490, we now have a firm called "Maico Only U.K." producing some very competitive looking 250s and 490s.The chassis is a twin shock patterned after the 81 with an 83 motor as a powerplant.I would be very interested to know where the motor is sourced from?If you go to Ebay U.K. you can view them.For those of you who prefer your Maicos in minature 4 stroke form with a chinese flavour,there is an American firm apparently producing pit bikes.Do copyrights exist for the Maico name as applied to motorcycles? Momentum seems to really be building for the Maico name,the problem is that it is fragmented all over the globe.

[JohnN]

SachGS - you are correct a great deal of momentum has been created. All of it by Vincent Page at Maico International.

When the company was being sold, many of the folks that bought it decided to sell off a great deal of parts inventory. It was an easy way to get some cash flow going. They sold parts to many different places, mostly the older parts, so yes there are companies that can build older Maico's brand new.

The mini bike company is jumping onto the coat tails of what Vince as done. I think it will be amazing if this company selling Chinese bikes branded as Maico lasts to the end of the year.

You see this all the time, with copy cat style companies popping up to attempt to take advantage of an idea they think is good. Usually they are missing one key ingredient, and end up failing...

As Maico International gains even more momentum no one will have any doubts as to where the real Maicos come from.

[SachsGS]

The pictures of the Kawasaki 120 and the Yamaha GT80s brought back memories of my own childhood.My father was always bringing home old motorcycles that his co-workers didn't want anymore and we would repair them and go riding.At one point we had an Ossa SDR,Ducati Mach 1,Sachs 125,Bultaco 175 Lobito and a Rockford Taka 100 and my brother,freinds and myself would take off into the mountains on these bikes for a day of adventure.Some of the bikes shifted on the right,some on the left,some shifted up and some shifted down and we seemed to swap back and forth on the motorcycles without a problem. One of the neighbours even had an old Jawa streetbike with nobbies and they would triple on it,I still recall the three of them always pushing that beast through some mudhole!

[2smoker]

2006+ RM 250 is the best bike ever put on this Earth. Period. Go ask RC and Pastrana.

[JETZcorp]

Hmm...  I wonder what RC would think of the 2010 Maico.  Does anyone have an eMail address to contact him?  Imagine the impact THAT test would have!

[2smoker]

Hmm...  I wonder what RC would think of the 2010 Maico.  Does anyone have an eMail address to contact him?  Imagine the impact THAT test would have!

He will probably lol just like I did.

[JETZcorp]

Well seriously, it wouldn't really take any time for John or whoever's getting involved with the Maico test to shoot Ricky (or anyone else with a big name and an expired contract) to give it a go.  Who knows, some of them might have heard big stories from their dads about the ye olde German machines and want to see what the fuss is about.  If we actually managed to get a big name on our test, we might get the attention of some magazines.

[2smoker]

Well seriously, it wouldn't really take any time for John or whoever's getting involved with the Maico test to shoot Ricky (or anyone else with a big name and an expired contract) to give it a go.  Who knows, some of them might have heard big stories from their dads about the ye olde German machines and want to see what the fuss is about.  If we actually managed to get a big name on our test, we might get the attention of some magazines.

Maico won't save the 2 stroke. The rules will. The new Maicos look way too outdated. I will put my money on 6 new KTM 250sx DFI instead of one Maico which makes a difference for the sport. It is an old YZ with a Maico Sticker on it. WOW. WOW. Brand loyal people are just funny. You guys are all about the power of the Maicos..Have you ever UPS your engine to Pro Circuit???

[jerret125]

it would be my yz250 just because its been the best bike ive ever had and it just fits me perfect.

[2smoker]

it would be my yz250 just because its been the best bike ive ever had and it just fits me perfect.

Tits on wheel! Love your bike!

[Hondacrrider]

Hmm...  I wonder what RC would think of the 2010 Maico.  Does anyone have an eMail address to contact him?  Imagine the impact THAT test would have!

The problem is that I think he still is under a contract, not necassarily a contract to ride for them, but to support suzuki, and have a couple of their bikes laying around for publicity purposes, but who knows, it is always worth a try.

[JohnN]

Hmm...  I wonder what RC would think of the 2010 Maico.  Does anyone have an eMail address to contact him?  Imagine the impact THAT test would have!

The problem is that I think he still is under a contract, not necassarily a contract to ride for them, but to support suzuki, and have a couple of their bikes laying around for publicity purposes, but who knows, it is always worth a try.

The part that you have to keep in mind is a guy like RC has been used to getting big bucks for racing for many years... in addition he is now on a "track" to become a NASCAR race driver... these two things would prevent him from accepting an offer to test a machine like the Maico.

Plus as you guys are so fond of talking about regular guys riding older machines, how would someone of RC's caliber help in testing a machine? He is way, way, way faster than anyone that I know of, is very particular about his setup and is used to racing/riding bikes costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

I don't get it....