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/126655
an accent and power 'Ct") 00 0') .. Ct") Sand Spider is not happy in the sand. ,The individual quipped that it was named the Sand Spider because the. rider needed six legs to control it in the granulated stuff. It was, oC course, not that bad, but with the steep rake of the motocross chassis, a lot oC throttle and attention needed to be lavished on the Spider for one to Jemain the rider instead oC the ridee. On' anything vaguely resembling traction, the 490 Cunctioned well. Turns were handled with alacrity in most cases. The only fault we Cound in the handling was a tendency Cor the front wheel to wash suddenly when pushing the bike hard. We experienced it in the desert and on :mDtocross tracks. In open running the Spider moved around a little, wandering on its tires. It never got anyone in trouble, just Celt unprecise. We must add that a P.ro motocrosser we used for some of the photos, and who has ridden Maicos for several years, was pleased with the handling and had no complaints. The only facet of the Maico's personality that we really disliked was the suspension. Our Pro tester, who is a little lighter than some of the qther riders, liked it. Others felt that the back end kicked too much on sharp bumps. In big whoops we also felt it was swapping too much to really gas it. There was enough compliance for nearly comfort~ble sitdown riding, but only medium and rolling bumps were handled really well. We really liked the Maico on fireroads and tight trails. HHls were (Nn and leCt riders with an invincible feeling. l£ traction at the bottom oC the hill was questionable, it took care to get moving up without roosting back and Corth across the trail and missing the line. Overall, the Maico was a competent machine. We found the bike to be completely reliable. We had a tightening session with the spokes aCter the first ride, but we didn't turn a wrench except to adjust the chain and clean the air filter. We also did a little suspension set-up after the Cirst ride. We upped the preload on the rear shock and raised the oil level in the fork with slightly lighter oil. . We had the chance to ride the Sand Spider on a motocross track where it worked quite well. Most oC the wideratio bikes we test had trouble getting out of corners on an MX track. The Maico switch-hits as well as anything we have ridden. A Cew have garnered trophies at local motocross races. While on the motocross track, we landed oCf oC a jump a little sideways and threw the chain. We had heard this was a problem, but had not experienced it until then. We found that the bolts holding the sprocket on had been broken in the incident and the backing plate was damaged. In view oC Maico's current financial problems, we wondered how difficult it would be getting parts. The president of Maico West, Uli Von Schuenemann, admitted there are embezzlementcIaims against some members of the owning Camily in Germany, but said there are no legal problems with the Maico companies in the USA. Spare parts arutillbeing manuCactured, but Maico USA must now buy parts cash-in-advance from Germany. As aresult, they are being a little more conservative in what they order now. We ordered parts and got them in two weeks. We have checked with dealers in California who have said they are having no trouble getting parts. Still, considering the unsettled situation with the Maico Cactory, potential buyers should beware. Negotiations over the purchase of the Maico concern by a group oC American investors have gone on for months now, and as oC this writing, are still up in the air. As developments continue, Cycle News will publish the news as it happens. Riders we have talked to who own '83 Maicos tell us that when the rear shock is dialed on the Maico, it helps the Cront end and the handling get up to par. With a retail price oC $2699, even considering a few mods, the Maico is in the European bike price ballpark. 1£ you have been a Maico or Eurobike fan, perhaps it is too early to abandon ship. • Specifications Engine Type _ _ Displacement Bore x stroke Compression ratio Starting system Ignition system Transmiuion Carburator _ .. _. _ Reed,valve two-stroke single. _ 488cc. 86.5 X 83mm. __ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12:1 . __ . .. . .. .. .. .. Primary kickatart. Motoplat. Five-speed wide-ratio. Bing V54/2 40mm. Frame Type Front tire Rear tire Single-loop chromoly. 3.00 X 21 Metzeler. 4:50 X 18 Mmeler. Dimensions Wheelba.. _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 59 inches. 40.15 inches. Seat height Dry weight (claimed) 227 pounds. __ 3.5 gallons. Fuel capacity Oil capacity __ _ _ NA. Suggested ratail price _ __ $2699.