Maico-the final answer

[TMKIWI]

Amen John.

[ford832]

Oh come on John,you're ending this thread too soon as I'd hardly got started.As a matter of fact,I giggled to myself anytime I thought of it at work today.So,before I'm done I just have to make a few replies.Here goes........


TMKIWI- Nah,that's just me.I've been holding back for a while.

Opfermanmotors-Who's George Marshall?Moreover,the fact that his ability or riding style better suits an old big bore 2t is just fine but it doesn't make it gospel to 99.9% of the rest of the population-myself included.

evo550- FORD- First On Race Day.Yeah,Baby

Paul P - I'd love to take a crack at it.The closest I've come is a can am 400.Where are you at?I'm in Nova Scotia.
            BTW,you're right and I'm likely being unfair posting that video in that locale.The terrain was a little uneven and had various
            direction changes.Perhaps if I find another that is mostly straight and flat it will better highlight the strengths of the 490.
             I'll look around....

Juliend- That's completely true but using that logic one could say Massa's Ferrari engine isn't that far removed from a model T engine as
            they both have the same basic design as far as being an internal combustion 4t engine is concerned.Still,the differences
             are far from subtle-at least to me.

John- Good post.As for the bent thing,hows this-I bought a new Maico and right away noticed the bars were bent,the rims were
         bent and the frame was bent.I called the dealer and they told me to "get bent"-then went out of business-again.There,
         what do I win?

[JohnN]

Sorry to ruin your fun... just didn't want to get anyone too upset!! 

When I Google "bent" I got....




OUCH!!


Yikes!! 




Amel Bent

Matchbox Twenty - Bent (Video)

By the way Ford, this is George Marshall.....
http://twostrokemotocross.com/2008/12/1981-maico-490-george-marshall/

[ford832]

Lol,I'm glad I didn't google it.Thanks for the Marshall link.Pretty cool but I still don't take one mans opinion as gospel-unless that one man is me

[KX125rider]

Sooo... who has actually ridden a Maico and a modern bike? and I mean ridden for a good period of time. I guess I dont have a valid opinion because ive never ridden a Maico.

[JohnN]

I've ridden both, but there were far too many years in between the time I rode the Maico and the modern bike to make any comment.

I like Ford's comment in this, the only person I would trust which would work best for me, is me.

Hopefully in a few months I will ride one of the new Maicos and I can then compare that to the TM. Maybe not a fair comparison either!!

[admiral]

Sooo... who has actually ridden a Maico and a modern bike? and I mean ridden for a good period of time. I guess I dont have a valid opinion because ive never ridden a Maico.

i own a legendary (to some, not me) '81 490 and modern bikes. i don't ride it much about once a year mainly because i will sell it eventually and it's original so i don't want to break anything. i don't have the desire to seek out parts or dump money into it. i got the Maico as a package deal back in '89 with an '88 CR500 and trailer. i only wanted the CR but the guy was getting married and wouldn't break up the group. i guess i was the only person who showed up with money because he wouldn't let me leave and kept lowering the price until i hauled it all away. i have found that most people who go on and on about Maico's have never ridden one. the clutch is terrible, the Bing carb isn't real great, the front brake sucks when compared to other drum brake bikes. it runs good and can handle smoother tracks pretty well. i did run it on the dyno in 1997 or 1998, i can't remember. the first run it didn't break the 50hp mark, it was 49.8 hp. the second run was in the cooler morning and it made 50.5hp.

[JETZcorp]

The clutch is hard to pull in... but... why the hell are you using the clutch on a Maico?  Nobody uses the clutch on a Maico, it's a waste of time.  The bike shifts very well without using it, and there's enough torque (simply because it is 485cc) that once you get moving, you don't need to bother with it.  Even if it was a perfect clutch with zero force required to pull it in, you'd be able to shift faster and actually smoother without it.  And when it was new, they said you could park the bike in a cold garage for months, then put it in first with the engine off, pull in the clutch, and roll the bike with no resistance.  I don't know if a modern clutch will do that (maybe they do) but I'll tell you for damn sure my Husky won't do that.

[SachsGS]

I own an 81 Maico 250 (Wheelsmith) ,490 and a newer 380 and 500. There is a reason why there are companies building replicas of the 81 and it is because they have a very good reputation, never mind all the parts suppliers and restoration specialists.

   I have ridden the steel framed TMs quite extensively and they are excellent motorcycles that you will never confuse with a japanese machine. Compared to a TM 300 I found my Maico 380 both faster and easier to ride. Though I am most definately not a 125 sized pilot I really enjoy the TM125, they are a blast ! I recently picked up a "butchered" TM 250 and ,though still injured, will rebuild that machine and go for a "put".
 
The recent success of the 2010 Maico MMX means we diehard Maico enthusiests won't always have to talk in past tense and defend a machine that last saw the limelight eons ago. I hope much success comes to Maico International because we need some new "blood" in the sport, even if it is the resurection of an old icon.

OH, and before I forget, when are you Kiwis going to learn to drive on the CORRECT side of the road? (A preemptive strike cause I know you're going to "rag" the Maico somehow!).

[TMKIWI]

Here are 2 bikes.
1 from 1994.
1 from 2010.
Do they look much different? No.
Is 1 quicker then the other? You bet!!

[TMKIWI]

NEVER Sachs.

I'm with ford on this.
Not trying to put your bikes down, but seeing how passionate some guys here are, it's easy to take the piss.

Ride what you got and ride it hard.

[JETZcorp]

That's what she said.

[Paul P]

I have a collection of bikes from my first purchase (Rickman Montesa)when I was 16 in 1972 to my 99 CR 250. After owning and riding modern and vintage (antiques?) I feel the modern bikes best trait is landing from jumps. The stiffer suspension seems to make the landings safer and smoother. Every one of the 'big four' bikes are a bit twitchy. You need to ride them on the edge a bit.
  I have a nice dialed 93 CR125 that I embarassed many 250F bikes with in the last 8 years. I actually like it better than the 02 YZ125 my freind has. I revalved his suspension for him. The 03 KTM 125 is a solid handling bike with great power. I felt more comfy on that than the YZ. John Dowd's 03 250 KTM was the fastest 250 I have tried, and it handled great. The newest bikes I've ridden and hated all of them, were the 4-strokes. I like 4-strokes, but the MX ones are just not what motocross needs. I just did suspension work on a 03 KX 250 and got to ride it enough to help dial it in. It's nowhere near as fast as my 99 CR but it was a good handling bike that was easy to ride, still a little twitchy.
  Ford, I am in the US in Mass. about 30 minutes from SOuthwick. It would be quite a haul to come out just to ride, but if you ever make it to the Southwick National, email me, I'll have something for you to ride.
    I'm not trying to bash anyone when I comment on my Maico. I just want more people to try it out. Most that put them down never owned one, never ridden one that has not been trashed, or never ridden one that has had the suspension balanced, or jetted right. Then their word is gospel for the young guys coming up who can't even pronounce the name right. Once a bunch of kids that were out at a private track riding where I was thought I was riding some prototype Honda or a Chinese bike.
  John, I don't live far from you and have a good area for a little GP style moto-ing. I'd love to try a TM out.
  Let me know if you're interested, I can't have 4T riders because of the neighbors, but I have had no complaints with 2T's here for over 40 years.
                                                                Paul

[TMKIWI]

Paul P you make a good point.

Suspension!!!!. Most important part of the bike.

Forget about horsepower, if you dont have decent suspension you wont go any faster.
And it needs to be setup for YOU.
Forget about fancy pipes and such.
Spend some money on the things that keep the bike upright.

Sachs: My 07 300 handles like a dream.
But of cause i have set it up for ME.
It handles better then my RM. And that was a good handling bike.
Not saying my bike is the best. But it is perfect for ME.
No I havn't riden a Maico , but the TM is the best handling bike i have ridden in the last few years.
That list includes: CRF's,KXF's,SX's,KX's,EXC's.
But thats the thing, those bikes were not set up for me.
I rode a mates KXF250 a while back that was set up for the nationals.
Man that thing was stiff. Thats the way he liked his bikes set up.
It was real harsh in the stroke which took awhile to get used to.
One mans dream is another mans nightmare.

[JohnN]

Hey Paul P - your track sounds like it could be fun! Does this track consist of sand similar to Southwick?

Of course if we come up to ride you can ride the TM... just pointing out for everyone reading, you have to keep this machine on the pipe! It does not have the low-end of a Yamaha... but if you scream it, you'll be rewarded with one of the fastest 125's you have ever ridden...

Hey Ford, I know it's a long ride for you, but would you like to join us?

You guys will be attending the Southwick National? Right? Supporting Project Two 50!

Suspension that is set up for you is so very important... most people don't think about it. Or worse they send their suspension to some "well known" suspension "guru" who put's in the same stuff as "star racer" who won everything.. the thing is that guy might like suspension so stiff that it wouldn't move unless you hit a 100' triple in 5th gear! Useless for an intermediate rider....

Just to clarify, I have nothing against the Maico, even the old ones... in fact I love them. Very cool bikes. They don't need to be in every single thread on this forum... okie dokie??