Those were dream bikes of my youth. I still can't believe they're still kicking. So cool. Ty for the coverage.

The Dirt Bike mag test bike's gearing was far from stock..

@techs1smh13

Жыл бұрын

Was thinking same. Had 16-44 on a modded wr500 --504 cc head, porting, pipe ,40 mm kehin. 108 mph limited by RPM.

@Sooper_B

Жыл бұрын

More gear bigger rear tire. They have a ridiculous top end pull. I own one.

It’s so cool to see the guys that pour themselves into keeping these bikes alive. Thanks for sharing this!

@KaplanCycles

Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@jeff40

6 ай бұрын

Maico made a Maico 760 back between 1980 to 83 and it was very low on horsepower but had massive amounts of torque! It was built for the infamouse Blackwater 100 in West Virginia. Rick Sieman may he R.I.P. was there when the Maico 760 was at Blackwater.

I raced a couple of 250 KTM's back in the day, had forgotten about the kickstart being on the "wrong" side! what a massive pain in the ass that was if if there was a crash on a big hill and you had to high side/ stop crossways........ Great bikes and memories though, Stuck with KTM for a few years and the stock spec was great, White power,Accerbis etc. discs when others still had drums, plenty fast out of the crate. Thanks for the reminder of stuff I had not thought about for 30 yrs, great times racing then.👌

92.5 X 74 BORE AND STROKE . I HAD A 1983 . FIRST OPEN BIKE . I WEIGHED 135 POUNDS ! THINGS HAPPENED QUICK BUT DIDN'T STOP QUICK ! NEVER BROKE !!! ROCK SOLID OF ALL THE BIKES I HAD I WISH I COULD FIND ONE TO RESTORE

Had the '82 model. It was all motor! Brakes, suspension, and handling were sub par. Bought and raced an RM465 and never looked back.

Takes me back to my youth ! Loved the katoom, and the maico big bore two strokes !

Ah left side kick 🦵👍😎 Brings back old starting / racing memories of my old 83 CR-480

@MAGGOT_VOMIT

Жыл бұрын

God really blessed me with being Left-Footed. Back in the 80's I was the only one around that could unseize a Euro bike by left-kick lever or destroy the poor sap's left-kick lever splines. I was considered a god-foot. 😂

Love big bore 2 strokes. 12:00 that sandwich looks amazing. lol

I had the 250 version when I was in 9th grade. Still the fastest 250 I've owned, new or old. The previous owner used to take it to Sears Point and he said it pulled 11s on the quarter mile with a slick. I believe it

@ianmangham4570

Жыл бұрын

Wicked awesome 👌

I have the same one Maico 490 and a KTM 420 Enduro. many greetings from southwest germanny 😊

Awesome to see the bike , still running. KTM was a unique manufacturer back then compared to the Japanese offerings. However when you look at this bike , it looks like something from 1979 more than 1981 , with its design.

For everyone saying the bike wasn’t stock is correct. But it wasn’t that modified either. I have all the specs to achieve this Mph. But basically, for gearing, front sprocket change. Rear had yz250g rear wheel to run 44 tooth. 29” tall metzer. Trans 5th gear was swapped out. Ignition adjusted for more RPM. Deck height was changed. But no porting was done. Leaned out the carb and hang on!

Man, what a machine... Brings back great memories of them old school 70's/80's dirtbikes that I dreamt of owning as a kid... Great video bro and thanks for sharing. Bet it smells sweet too!!.... 🤘 Greetings from the UK..

My first bike was an 83 xr80. Then a 91 rm80. Then a a 93 rm125. Then I got into road bikes for a few years. Next was downhill MTB. After years of not watching mx I start seeing videos and everyone is racing 4 strokes. So glad to see people keeping the 2str alive.

I came across an KTM 495 years ago, chassis sat outside for 4-5 years, motor was pulled apart due to trans issue, everything was in a plastic tote and all there. guy wouldn't part with it. I also had a can am 400 qualifier for a couple years, wish i could score one, brings back memories, so tall i had to lean it against a picnic table to kick it over, left side kicker didn't make it any easier.

Thanks for the eye 👀 candy . Great bikes

What a masterpiece! Brings me back to my childhood!

My first and last bike was a RUPP minibike from the 70's. 3.5 HP Tecumseh engine. That's all I can afford.

Been gone a while....came back to this. Sure do enjoy your videos.

That 495 sounded awesome. I’d like to have heard those two Maicos too. Thanks for sharing.

My uncle has the last year air cooled (84 490 I believe) and a first year water cooled (85 500 I believe) sitting in his buddy’s shed.

This dude has great taste👏

Nice.Dirt bikes, Is best bikes for my 😊👍👍

RIP, Rod Bush…

@billdennis2993

Жыл бұрын

KTM wouldn't exist without Rod Bush He saved them from becoming a Maico story.

I grew up on the dirt 60s-70s and I remember the Maicos. They were the Kings, the only bikes that seem to give them a run was the Greeves.

that ktm and maico 490 are dirt bikes for real men the 450 four stokers thay ride now are kittens compared to these bikes. love them 👍

@james44mag31

Жыл бұрын

You need to weigh at least 250 pounds to put the power to the ground!

Beautiful 2 Strokes from a fantastic era to Tall for me, But thats with me being a Short Arse 😀

One of those bikes was abandoned because it was difficult to get parts. I bought it in a lot of bikes. I didn't know what it, exactly, was, until recently. It is moderately, rough, in condition and needs a complete engine rebuild. That 495 looks great! Thanks for sharing!

@KaplanCycles

Жыл бұрын

Sell it to me 860 916 9784

Amazing. So pleased to see these OG bikes running again. They were primitive compared to today’s bikes. 🙏🇦🇺

Killer toys Man!!!

I have a KTM 250SX that clocks 112 mph Big bored 80 over port polished blue printed balance , stock sprockets , jetted carbs fmf fatty header , pro circuit shorty silencer ... she's a beast !

When that KTM fired up, made the hairs stand up on my arms! Rode a uncles when I was about 15

The sound out of the 495 is very deceiving, it sounds softest aggressive at all. You wouldn't think it could do 127+ mph😜👍

I remember when those came out… DB likened them to too fuel dragsters. There was a local shop, Barry Higgins, in my area that had a KTM 495 and the Maico 490 at the same time. It was an awesome time to be alive!

Sweet, thank you Beautiful music

God really blessed me with being a Left-Footer. Back in the 80's I was the only one around that could unseize a Euro bike by kick-lever or destroy the poor sap's left-kick lever splines. I was considered a god-foot. 😂

Nice maico ken takes me back to the seventies.

Awesome, that maco is the one , hot damn

Xr628r 123.00 mph radar ran on stock gearing with fcr pumper carb , air box ports , ported polished and trimmed down to 221 lbs I live in Middletown ct 🤘u Remember me I’d love to let u ride this bike to truly bust the two stroke crowd in the nuts lol😆 Sick bike tho brother what a gem that thing is wow

Dream bikes when I was growing up. 👍👍

Fantastic vids Ken 👌 💯🤠🇬🇧😎🇺🇲🤟

@ianmangham4570

Жыл бұрын

YEEEEEEHAAAAA GIT SUM 🤠🇬🇧

Awesome machines !

Awesome Video, and real nice guys, brother.

Strange the guy was tight lipped about the ign. He was otherwise very open and generous.

Came flying off one and knocked the crap out of myself cos I overjumped a big downhill and landed on the flat because I didn't realise how fast I was going cos it didn't rev like my maico.they were expensive and blinding quick in a straight line.

I remember my Maico 400 having very steep forks and when I saw the 490 it reminded me of the massive head shake if you tried to go really fast on it.

Much much respect for those kind of bikes man I swear they must be bulletproof

That looks small but mighty nice 😍😍😍

@jamiekeeper6204

Жыл бұрын

Get some binoculars and use in reverse

He mentioned CLIFF'S Cycle... Boy that place has some memories for me!

F ing amazing machine my 510cc “left kick” KTM was was often a treat to start 🤫.. once going 👍….. was why faster than anything I ever put ass on. So sad I sold it

Thanks for the videos Sr!

@KaplanCycles

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

What a great find Kap

I grew up down the street from a factory KTM rider, Donnie Cantaloupi. I tried to kick over his 495 with my skinny 12 year old leg, it didn't go well.

Oh dear I just had a 2 banger overdose.. 😃

Wow very nice

You're already there Race that KTM with the Maico

My dad's friends had a mako 600, unreal how fast!

Ken I cant thank you enough for making so many great videos

@KaplanCycles

Жыл бұрын

Glad you like them!

Sweeeet bike 🏍!!

The GP Maico is the shits.

Wow score.

Thats crazy my friends dad had a ktm 490 he got used for like 250 back in 1997 and i always wondered why he was so stoked and braged about it. I could ride it like no problem but never got past like 3rd gear and i remember i never started it either cause i couldnt.

Oh that KTM sounded so tight

My friend had a late 80's Maico someone had put a kit on it more cc's higher compression, you had to push start it with two people on the back to to get it going, thing absolutely ripped... lol

It gave me goosebumps when he started it

Nice

My dad had a real coffin tank Maico only had 3 gears ,2 compression release,I wouldn't stay off it, it was a monster,he bought it off a old friend for 400. He gave it back because he thought I would kill myself on it, might have but still am bummed, back around 1979 or 80

I've never even seen one, but I'd really want that GP more.

ive had my 690 at 125mph.. but that is it! engine has so much more to go but a dirt bikes body is not made for anything over 100mph.. Dakar style body would help

the old man in the vans, scared of them powerbands :)

Music to my ears😊

Went with a neighbor in '75 to pick up a brand new Maico GP, wow was that a gorgeous machine.

Still miss my 1984 KTM 420MXC 30 Years later..haha the ktm listed the 420gs at 48hp and the 495 at 56hp but I read years ago the 420mxc was 52hp

Think over the years. Company's have realised. Bikes don't need that much speed to get round the track quick. But damn that thing is so nice. Always loved the old school looking dirt bikes.

Beautiful bike , damn , lmao , I'm serious about Denny's, holy shit , you said it , moto royalty , badass bike

Old guy got er tuned nice and crisp

Japanese manufacturers bought Maico’s and disassembled them completely to figure out how and why they ran soooo well. And that’s why we have the Japanese bikes today

Kaplan reporting from Daytona!

The sound reminds me of being young and fearless...lol

Little bit loaded up my ass , he's got it jetted perfect ....see any oil smoke burning pre-mix and how hot was the engine when he kicked it , what , two times and it fired off mad at the world for being born.....i want it i need it im a highway staaaar

Where do I buy one of those gas tank covers??? Any/all help greatly appreciated!

Sick I like it a l ot

My buddy had one of these when I was a kid, he offered me to ride it and, of course, I’m going to find out exactly what it does. Took off down our 2 Lane dirt road went for wide open.…. It was everything I could do to keep it between the ditches.😮

We all love motocross and hate the broken bones after

Remember a poster showing Andre Mulherb ( ? ) doing 123mph. Caption... 123mph on dirt, tell that to your mates !😎👍

Damn that number 916 bike sounds good! Holy shit! That thing is a monster the way it sounds. If some folks haven’t heard what a powerhouse 2 stroke sounds like, this is it👍😄 Yee-haw. That bike will hurt you, I promise.

MXA did a lot of work to gear it tall enough to do that speed. Modern bikes can't be geared high enough because the countershaft sprocket is located too close to the swing arm pivot. My 1979 KTM 400 MC5 would take from 13 tooth to 17 tooth countershaft sprockets and was a 6 speed. With the 15 tooth the top speed was in the neighborhood of 95-100mph.......I only found one desert race with a layout that that kind of speed was possible.....it was scary...

Those old tanks like Yamaha and suzuki

The chain is on the wrong side, along with the kickstarter. I'm actually surprised that the throttle is still on the right side and the clutch on the left. Riding bikes like this and the insane, huge displacement Maicos was like wrestling Grizzly Bears. Except the porridge was way too hot and the bed was unbelievably uncomfortable. 😉

The only one I haven't seen is the can-am 465 I had one it was nasty machine

I owned the same demon ,hells child

i had this bike in 88 and raced it in Belgium kesterheide as a mecanic pain in the ass to kick it over :) great times do,😀 greetings from Belgium

The Yamaha IT 490 will do about the same if you got balls enough to hold on

@reverendjimjones9061

Жыл бұрын

@HorchataFan not a chance, i have a twenty year old ktm 450 four speed with some grunt and i would guess 80 mph at best.

Was that timed both directions? Where? Bonneville - with accredited timing instrumentations? Here in New Zealand, back in the day riders rode their Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda ring ding dirt 500's in the road races - on road racing tyres. And won! I always wondered what top speed these powerful KX500's reached with tall gearing, and some judiciuos port filing? LOL

@strangecustoms8486

Жыл бұрын

Lol it was fun to watch I'm one of the Stranges from Strange Rd Paeroa we still have the annual ride up Strange Rd but it not a proper race any more just a fun ride but lost the Paeroa street races the truth of the real reason it ended is starting to come out. Good to see dirt bikes still popular amongst the youth here in New Zealand. Just need more places for them to ride that's not around the streets and parks. 🇳🇿

What about 72? Maico 501? Much prefer japanes 500cc 2 strokes. Thought about ktm 550 but too many problems.

I have a KTM 495. Don’t know what year it’s been sitting in my mom‘s backyard for 20 years.

@KaplanCycles

7 ай бұрын

Sell it to me 860 916 9784

geared wide zabel n maico need sprockets

Must have more teeth on the primary sprocket

JoJo Keller 4 life 💯🤠🇺🇲🙏

@adamtisch8358

Жыл бұрын

Amen! Bubbas scrubs ain't got nothin on Jo Jo s. The goat of nesc get back Jo Jo!