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/126507
.. • ; ~ t (Above) The 490's engine is simple but strong, making the bike easy to ride and get hoIeshots with. The 250's motor (below) is reed-velved end pulls well. but lecks in the aree of peek horsepower. It feels slower then it actually is. fast. but the strong pulling reed-valved engine had him cooking. The bike will rev but pulls clean from low end up. The clutch works easier than last year, and shifting can be accomplished with or without it. The bike also speed shifts well. Starting is easy. but the kickstarter hung up on the bottom of its tmow and had to be retrieved by hand. The Magura throttle assembly works weD and feels good. Steering is perfect. The bike tracks well lap after lap, and is forgiving if a mistake is made. Our tester would have liked the suspension dialed in for personal preference, but said a few minutes of tuning would end his complaints. The fork assembly bottomed and the front tire hit the underside of the fender frequently. The rear end's damping was too fast and kicked the back end up. "This bike is more rideable in general than a Japanese bike. It was just plain fun; a blast," he concluded. Excellent. That's how our amateur started his impression of the 490. The gearing felt good stock, and after a bit of experimentation it worked better to shon shift the bike and let it pull a gear higher. All kinds of shifting was OK, with clutch, without, or speed shifting. The bike would be competitive, but it would take time to get used to the powerband. The fine handling would compensate until the motor could be fully utilized. The pegs were good, but the stock grips weren't. The bars were a bit too wide for him. The new sitting stance was to his liking, and the seat was fine. Brakes were adequate, but not super, due to the fact our tester has a Japanese bike background and likes an on/off feel more than Maico's progressive feel brues. Suspension would also have to be adjusted on the 490 to compensate for the rough track we were testing on. "It's very easy to ride, and I'm not an Open (class) rider. The bike's not scarey, yet by no means doggy," he said. Pro impression Our pro took the bikes out and picked up the pace a bit. "It feels good all over," he said after bringing in the 250. The power was strange, strong but very mellow. He was waiting for a midrange blast, but it never came. There was a little rush on top end. The shift throw was hard to get used to, but our pro tester, like our amateur. had a Japanese bike background and it was his first time on a Maico. The bike had a soft front end and tOO much rebound in back. but the "" overall light feel of the btlte kept the problem to a minimum. He said the bike's suspension needed to be dialed in, but every bike he ever owned needed that. Once set up, the bike would be competitive on outdoor tracks, but he said engine work would be needed for tbe bike to be competitive in a stadium race. The bike would need more motor out of the corners. "It felt just Like I thought a Maico would," he said, "It was fun to ride." One thing he realized after riding the 490 was why Maicos always pull good holeshots. He was coming off the gate in third gear and getting rocket starts, The motor is excellent all the way around, It will rev as easy as pull, and clutching became a waste of time, Rolling the throttle on and using the acceleration works well. Power slides are smooth and predictable. Suspension needs to be adjusted to suit personal preference, The pegs would have to be built up if he owned the bike, but are acceptable stock, Levers are good but the grips need to be replaced, Our pro realized Maico brakes are more progressive than on/ off Japanese brakes, and he would opt for Japanese brakes only because be has ridden with them for a long time, "It felt real nice and tight. It's solid with a real good nut and bolt quality," he concluded. We got our testers together for a discussion after the test, and the only other item that came out was that the 490 didn't need a five speed gearbox, A four speed would have suited both riders due to the strong pulling characteristics of the bike, Both riders said they'd have no objection to racing the bikes and both feel that with preparation and practice they would be competitive, The point they both made was all the working parts are there; time would be needed to set the bike up, but not more money. Our amateur related that last year he owned a Japanese bike and his brother bought a Maico. Though a set of rings for the Maico were more expensive, one replacement set was all that was needed for the season, Our tester ended up replacing tbe rings in his Japanese bike numerous times_ Take care of a Maico, and it will take care of you. Dial the suspension in, keep everything lubed and tightened and you can find your way to the front of tbe pack in tbe 250cc or Open class.. Who knows. with all the money you save on parts you might be able to take your mue out for a steu after you drop your winnings off at homel • Specifications Engine..•........,2-stroke, single cylinder, piston-port 1250 reed valve) Displacement ', , 247cc-25OI488cc"'90 Bore/stroke .. , .. , , .. , 67 x 7Omm-25OI86 x 83mm-490 Carburetor Bing type V 54111 (38mm-25OI4Omm"'90) Horsepower , . , , .. , 40 hp/8000-250, 53 hp/7000-490 Ignition , , .......•..... , . , , .• Motoplet electronic lubrication .. , , .. , . , ,., , .. , . , .. , , •............ Pre-mix Frame. , , , , •... , , .•.. Double loop chrome moly Front suspension . , . , , .. , . Hydraulic telescopic air fork, 12.2 in. trevel. 42mm tubes Rear suspension, , , , . , .. , 12.2 in. travel, Corte Cosso piggyback reservoir shocks Front brake , , Drum, 5.3 in. diemeter Reer brake. , , , , . , .. Drum, 6.2 in. diameter Front tire , , , ,., , .. 3.00 x 21 Metzeler Rear tire , , , , , .. 4.50 x fs Metzeler Tank 2.5 gallon plastic with reserve Wheelbase ,., , , ,, , .•. , .. , . :. 60 in. Seet height , ,.,, , , ,,., 37.8 in. Ground c1eerance, , , , . , ....•..... 14.2 in. Dry weight, . , , , .. , , ,, ,., 21Slbs.·26OI224Ibs.-490 'Suggested retail price .•.................. $2499-2501$2699-490