Fast and Late

[JETZcorp]

The 2010 Maico line is ready for bidness - and they're on sale in the US! Also, when 2011 bikes roll around, you'll be able to upgrade your 2010 Maico to 2011 standard with no labor cost. You just pay for the new parts and get your bike. Then go ahead and do the same in 2012. The bikes are available, as always, in 250, 320, 500, 620, and 685 sizes, which range from 54 horses and 216lbs in the 250 right up to 82 and 223lbs from the 685. Four-stroke models are not offered.



http://twostrokemotocross.com/2010/01/2010-maico-mmx/

[Blitz]

you getting one dude?

[JETZcorp]

I don't have the money. Besides, as cool as these things are, I still prefer the '78 Magnum 440.

[Blitz]

Fair call.

Are there any videos or reviews or anything on it yet that you know of?

[Kawasakis]

Looks kinda cool tho.But still looks like 2000 years bike.Frame,honda shrouds

[REIDY-171]

It looks like the love child of Honda and Yamaha had an affair with a KTM and didn't return it's forks.

That said, I wouldn't pass up the chance to ride one.

[JETZcorp]

The link I posted is pretty much as deep as it gets so far. The reason I called this thread "Fast and Late" is because this 2010 bike actually came out in 2010, unlike everyone else who jumps the gun by months. The 'Fast' bit comes from the fact that the 250 is a good 8 horsepower up from the "new" YZ250, and the 500 is something like 12 horsepower up from a CRF450R. If I were going to buy a new bike, this would be it. Maico haven't been drinking the aluminum-frame kool-aid like the rest of the bike-makers (good steel is hard to come by in Japan, but not in Europe) and it's got a proper aluminum gas tank. If you want to take a can of nice paint and shoot the tank, you can do it. No worries about it bubbling up and peeling from gas fumes leaking through the plastic. It's great! Maico also has a ride-before-you-buy system, where you can test it out and see if you like it. Sounds like Disney-Land to me.

[Kawasakis]

Just wonder.You riding at the track,jumping whiping and stuff,gangsters shows up,they shoot into you,bulet hit aluminum gas tank,spark comes out and BAM! Explosion!
That would not happen with standart plastic gas tank.

[DJ99X]

I cant understand left hand kick starters. And there would have to be a catch with the 250 having 8 more horsepower than the other 250's, that does not sound right at all

[rgaede]

not so far out, the new ktm 250sx makes 50 horses stock, only 4 off. And the steel framed KTM is also the lightest 250 available right now, even lighter than the 216, down to like 210.

[JB323]

rule # 1


a bike can only go as fast as it can if it HANDLES well.




ten bucks says that thing sucks ass in cornering and traction.

[JETZcorp]

I haven't heard much about the handling, but I hear it's got traction up the ass in the classic Maico tradition. This isn't one of those pipey Japanese two-strokes everyone's used to. From what I've heard, this thing starts pulling right from the bottom without any hiccups or spikes in the powerband. That means you're going to hook up like a four-stroke, so long as you aren't stupid with your right hand (so to speak).

Also, the handling standards may not be as high as some guys perceive. There was a guy a while back who rode an aluminum-framed 450F, then tried a Maico 490 (1981 model). He sold the 450F, bought the 490, put disc brakes on it, and is kicking ass with it wherever it's allowed. His opinion was that it handled better than his new bike. One of the great Maico secrets of the old days (not sure about now) was that the engine ran the opposite direction to the other bikes, which did some weird gyroscopic witchcraft that put more pressure on the front wheel. You can put a Kawasaki motor in a Maico frame and your handling will be suck-ass compared to the real thing. I'm not sure if any of that is still true in the 2010 bike, but there's a lot of great history in Maico-Handling(c).

[Wilmx829]

pretty original shroud plastics there

[DJ99X]

And front end

[REIDY-171]

Also the rear end and seat is from a 96-2001 YZ.