Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

this or thal. No exceptioni the mido . die Maisch brother. Hans. Now 35 years old, he is a four-time German motocross champion. In 1973 back pain nearly forced his retirement, but the advent of long travel uspensions kept him racing. In 1978 he was third in the world championships, after missing three events. "I'm not sure about racing this year." says Hans. Peter went on lO explain that Hans' duties as design leader absorb his energy, "And when you try to do two thing well it can be very difficult." This afternoon Hans and his longtime mechanic Hoben Hofman were testing cylinder heads for the production 250 water-cooler. They value gut feeling as much as dvno readings, so about every 45 minutes Han wheelied around the narrow courtyard. A sure ace in Maico's hands is Rolf Dieffenbachwhoalmo trodeforKTM this year. "There's a funny slOry 1 can tell you about this," laughed Wilhelm. "I knew his sister from the tennis club where I am president. One day I saw her car in the parking lot of the supermarkel. I lOld her I always thought Rolf was a prelly smart guy, but now I wondered." Right off she telephoned RoJ f and relayed the message. Then Wilhelm got on the line with Dieffenbach, and the deal was made. Second in the German championships, and very popular there, Dieffenbach also rode a Honda to seventh in the 250cc World Championship last year. This year he wants number one and doesn'tplan lo sellie for less than the lOp three. Peter is also confident: "Rolf has a very good chance of winning the world championship this year. When he sees something he wants, he is the kind of man who is capable of working very, very hard for it." Fans from all over Germany have formed a "Maico Fan Club." By contributing at least 50 apiece, between 10 and 20,000 Deutsche-marks were raised to put German enduro wizard Klaus Creuz on a German machine. (For all this, they get the newsleller, tool) What of the bikes themselves? The silver-framed "Wunder Warren" (Wonder Weapons) are as light as they look. The new red fiberglass is first class. "Ohlins has the best research facility in the world," says Wilhelm. The bright-yellow, reservoir-equipped shock graces the rear, giving, along with Maieo forks, unexcelled suspension travel. Seat height is an inch lower this year, and the five-speed transmissions feature five dogs instead of just three on nearly all gears. What about the future? Will Maieo go to variable exhaust pon timing similar to Honda's ATAC? "I think it's a sales gimmick," snorts Peter. Wilhelm observed that Hakan Carlvist's works Yamaha won the 500cc World Championship minus the powervalve. Disc brakes are current motocross fashion, but the Maisch brothers see more merit in adopting a twin-leading-shoe design. Enduro models will now get design changes at the same time as MXers. Then there is the difficult but inevitable question: Can a small European manufacturer hope lOcompete head lo head with the japanese? Wilhelm replies, "I am convinced that the answer is yes. We will make high quality bikes [or special needs. As a small company we can respond very quickly to the marketplace. In five minutes we can make a decision while the japanese must have three commillee meetings and then require another." just before we left, Wilhelm coaxed a few more cups of coffee from the automat. "This isn't a very good eoffee machine for a racing company, is it? Too slowl" • wr8. ~ wrangler clot . t give it all t'rK:f've go . • • \,We it to the limit In 'J~r =i _ _.~SSIGNEE'SAUCTION SALE WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 29.1984 AT 3:00 P.M. AT CREDIT MANAGERS ASSOCIATION RECORD WAREHOUSE AT 2300 WEST OLYMPIC BOULEVARD. LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA 177 W. Orangethorpe Avenue Placentia, CA (714) 524-1002 MERCHANDISE: ..,. tea ..... '1'1 good 1btu faIlI. ., Appro". Retail V.lue Triumph ........ ecce_rie. 1760.000 NOTE: ABOVE ASSETS WILL BE SOLD IN BULK. 211ht '82 Bon"""UIe Royellnew) '79 Bon"""i11e Ex (clarnol 13.500 '2.500 App...iMd Velue Office furniture" equipment Up to $300.00 Cash Rebate and FREE Accessories on over 10 popular street bikesl W.,.hou.. flxturn .. equipment Shelving e_ '10.000 ".000 _ '10.000 NOTE: ABOVE ASSETS WILL BE SOLD IN BULK. except for complete motorcycle uni... TOTAL INVENTORY '782.000 The assets may be inapected ot 177 W. Orongethorpe Avenue. Plecenti•. CA on TUESDAY. Feb

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