Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126292
The works bi ke has a lot of lightweight items which will also be carried over to production like the aluminum gas tank and red Falk plastic fenders to match the rest of the bike. Gaylon Mosier's mechanic, Rocky Williams , had installed Preston Petty fenders on Gaylon's bike because the original Falk fenders had worn out during the Trans·AMA Series. and they were out of spares. Besides the Ohlins shocks, the production bikes won 't come with the magnesium hubs and backing plates. Still , for an open bike the 400cc Versuch II is ple nty light. Wi th magnesium parts, it's around 97 kilos (216 lbs .) , and with the aluminum parts of the pro duction m odel it should weigh around 98 kilos (220 lbs.), That's lighter than most other production bikes and equal to its works bike competitors. Riding it outside I got to ride Mosier's bi ke out at Sears Point Raceway after the final Trans·AMA raceof this year. Gaylon had nearly pu lled off the overall win ag ainst Brad Lackey on his works RC Honda until he began experiencing a shifting problem which forced him to back off his pace. Gaylon still finished a very creditable third overall behind Lackey and Bob Hannah. When I rode the bike after the race I had difficulty shifting up past third gear. Gaylon said it was because they had been experimenting with different shimming in the shifting mechanism. They had obviously hit upon a combination that didn't work. The 400cc works bike is a one-kick starter. and with the smooth new clutch, it gets underway with no balking whatsoever . The natural terrain course at Sea rs Po int su ited th e Maico. The bike darted across the roughest whoops and steepest off cambers with complete control. The new chassis is beautiful in that it offers excellent high speed stability over the rough stuff, while in the tight turns it' s qui ck steering. It feels like the lead ing axle Maico forks plant themselves at the tum's apex while the rest of the bike flings around the turn like it's tied to a string. All the time you're in comp'lete control. If you want to slide the bike - front wheel , back or both - you can with the proper technique of either body movement or throttle application. The front forks are fantastic smooth, soft damping with lots of travel. There was no way to fault them . At the rear, the Ohlins shocks with heavy·duty springs were tuned for . Gaylon's high speed gymnastics. I was finding the rear end over spruqg and a little too bouncy for my speed capabilities. The stiff springs had a difficult time reacting to small bumps. and because of this I think the progressive Fox dual rate AirShox would be the ideal setup for handling both the small bumps and high speed berm thrashings. Downstairs In the engine department the 400cc Maico was equal to the best works machines from Honda and Suzuki . The broad powerband began right off idle and went all the way up until it was time to nail the next gear. It was smooth and easily controlled . In the horsepower/seat-of-rhe -pants race , it didn't kick like th e-works Honda . But when you 're dealing with Open class motocross bikes these days it's like using an' atom bomb tp clean out your garage. You have more than you can use. Having more power just makes the job that much more difficult , especially when you get too tired to use restraint on the throttle. Among the works bikes I've ridden during the Trans·AMA Series. the 400cc Maico has to be rated as one of the best. Even after , a hard day of Gay lon Mosier described his Tr ans·AMA Maico as being the f ast est yet. saying t hat factory horsepower claims of 50 hp. weren't out of li ne. International class thrashing the bike felt as tight as if it were new . The fact that it will be available for sale within the next couple months makes it the best possible bike an Expert class rider could own , no matter what the price. The Japanese keep coming up with better and better motocross . 'm achinery, but the small European manufacturers build quality products and aren't afraid to race what they sell. The only suggestion to Maico on their new bike is to increase the susp ension travel by one inch at each end : 10.5 inches up front and 11.5 inches at the rear. Not because, the bike needs it now as a production ma chine, but because it will need it during 1978 as a works bike. Then . a nyo ne will b e able to own a pr oduction bike that is the equal of th e finest works bikes in World Championship oompetition . •