Maica

Maica

Maico fans will have an exciting 1983. If you’ve been waiting for the long-promised gear primary drive engines, the wait is over. The ’83 490 and 250 motocrossers have completely new engines, designed around straight-cut gear primary drives.

These new engines have small magnesium cases wrapped around smaller and lighter flywheels, new transmissions, new rotary-drum shift mechanisms, Japanese-type clutches with conventional springs, lighter pistons, new porting and reed induction. Additionally, the 250 engine doesn’t look like any previous Maico engine. The cylinder and head have fresh, different shapes, more like those seen on Suzuki RMs or Yamaha YZs. The 250 has a five-speed transmission, the 490 has a four-speed.

Frames for the motocrossers are also new. The large double backbones are basically the same but all other tubes are new. The front downtube starts as a single tube at the steering head, divides into a double just above the exhaust port, wraps around the engine cases and terminates at the back of the backbone tubes. Subframe tubes are much smaller in diameter but form a strong triangular section for the seat and rear components to bolt to. The chrome-moly tubing is still painted red.

Swing arms are also new. Still boxed chrome-moly steel, they are slimmer, thinner, lighter and stronger, according to Maico engineers.

Rear suspension geometry and linkage is different for ’83 as well. Called Dual Control, the lower rocker visible without crawling under the bike is longer. And it connects to another cross-mounted rocker that pivots on the lower front of the arm. These changes add progression to the system, being softer initially and stiffer at the end of the shock’s travel. The shock is a large unit made by Ohlins and offers a lot of adjustability. Up front the familiar Maico-made forks with 12.2 in. of travel, 42mm stanchion tubes and gull-wing lower triple clamp are used. The biggest change for the forks comes from the use of progressively-wound springs.

Wheels are new and old, the hubs and brakes are unchanged, the rims are new and supposedly stronger. The full-floating rear backing plate, new for ’82, has been replaced by a non-floater per past Maico practice. A slick one-piece red plastic chain guide is placed in front of, and under, the rear sprocket. New side plates of red plastic and a red safety seat ensure buyers will know the bikes are new.

Changes to Maico’s enduro line aren’t so radical. Last year’s frame, swing arm and rear suspension linkage are retained. Enduros still use the chain primary drive as well. Both 250 and 490 have five-speed transmissions and reed inductions. Otherwise they are much the same.