MAICO RELEASES NEW, UPDATED, 2010 MMX MODELS: Available in 250cc, 320cc, 500cc, 620cc And 700cc Versions; With Talon Hubs, Acerbis Plastic, Aluminum Tanks and Keihin Carbs

Iconic German brand Maico has been saved from fading away by Maico International (a British company based in Bournemouth, England). Maico International has spent the last year developing and testing a new version of the venerable Maico. Here is a list of some of the 2010 Maico MMX’s features:

Displacement: Maico two-stroke engines are available in five different displacements (250, 320, 500, 620 and 700).

Swingarm: Shedding the previous swingarm, the new bike features an all-new, handmade, 7020 aircraft aluminum, shotgun-style swingarm. The high-grade alloy is stronger and lighter than standard aluminum, but, more crucially, behaves in a different way when it comes to flex. The arm has been reduced in length by 4.5 millimeters and 4 millimeters in depth to provide a substantial improvement in tracking, handling and maneuverability.

Seat height: Maicos have been known in the past for their rather tall stature, so in order to reduce the seat height, but maintain a comfortable position for the rider, the bike comes with a new, handmade, 7020 aircraft aluminum subframe. Saving almost half the weight of the previous chromoly piece, the geometry has been slightly altered to allow the seat height to be reduced in conjunction with the all-new alloy tank.

Alloy gas tank: Hand crafted by leading tank designer Simon Parker, famed for his work with Harley Davidson, the shiny work of art has had the height reduced by 1.5 inches, yet the design has lifted the look and style of the tank saving more weight over the previous plastic version and increasing the airflow around the radiators, while only losing half a liter in capacity (at 9 liters). Taking this approach has reduced the center of gravity and helped to centralize the weight.

Cylinder:  A new chrome lining is fitted to all the barrels in the U.K. before they are ported and fitted with different base gaskets.

Carburetor: After a long and protracted love affair with the traditional Bing carb, Maico has replaced the Bing with a 38mm Keihin Air Striker.

Ignition: Keeping the fire burning, ignition specialists West Country Windings are supplying a modified P.V.L. ignition system for improved starting and a new C.D.I. coil unit which ultimately assists in a free-revving engine.

Radiators: H.C.R high-performance radiators will be keeping things as cool as possible, and will be fitted as standard equipment to the bikes for 2010.

Frame: To compliment the new swingarm and subframe is a powder-coated red chromoly frame with Reikon titanium footpegs and alloy gear lever. White Power forks, Reiger shock, H.G.S. pipe and Brembo brakes grace the chassis.

Wheels: Talon sprockets and billet alloy Talon hubs are laced to Excel rims (dressed with Dunlop tires). The Brembo brakes use Braking rotors.

Plastic: Acerbis provides the vibrant new color scheme for the new front fender, front number plate, tank shrouds and new wrap round fork guards. Saxon Seats are responsible for the all-new seat cover with the brand name sewn into the panel on the rear of the seat.

Options: Maico International’s commitment to a long-term development plan is taken further by the substantial options list available for the bikes which includes seven different wheel and hub colors, three different frame colors, several different seat cover color combinations, a high polish or satin finish for the swingarm and subframe and much more.

MAICO’S FUTURE PLANS

Company bosses Vincent Page, Lesley White, and development coordinator Neil Berry, are currently working on several other products with key companies and explained “We have tried, wherever possible to make as many of the changes accessible to customers who have previously bought bikes and may want to upgrade their bike with one part at a time.

“Bikes are not cheap now and we feel a majority of manufacturers design new parts for the sake of it every year, and every part, every year, naturally comes with a price increase. We feel we have raised the bar in terms of the quality of the product and will continue to strive to achieve this in the future. We are working on a scheme which will enable customers to buy a bike and at the end of the first year of ownership they can bring it back to us and implement any changes that we have made for the following years bike.

“We are planning on fitting these changes (including a full service) with no labor charge, the customer purely pays for the parts they wish to upgrade, thus enabling them to keep their bike up to date in all areas and provide another year’s use.”

250/320/500/620/700 MMX SPECIFICATION
Engine dimensions:
    250 Cylinder Capacity: 247cc
    250 Bore x Stroke: 67 x 70mm
    320 Cylinder Capacity: 318cc
    320 Bore x Stroke: 76 x 70mm
    500 Cylinder Capacity: 499cc
    500 Bore x Stroke: 86.,5 x 85mm
    620 Cylinder Capacity: 616cc
    620 Bore x Stroke: 95 x 87mm
    700 Cylinder capacity: 685cc
    700 Bore x Stroke: 100 x 87mm
Cooling system: Water
Inlet System: Reed valve system
Exhaust System: H.G.S. exhaust system
Carburetor: 38mm Keihin Air Striker
Transmission: 5-speed gearbox
Ignition: PVL/West Country Windings/Digital
Frame: Chromoly steel
Sub frame: 7020 Aircraft aluminum
Swingarm: 7020 Aircraft aluminum
Front Fork: WP
Front Brake: Brembo/ Braking wavy disc
Front Wheel: 1.60.21 Talon/Excel hub/rim
Rear Suspension: Maico Twin Link Reiger shock
Rear Brake: Brembo/ Braking wavy disc
Rear Wheel: 2.15 -19 or 2.15-18 Talon/Excel hub/rim
Tank: Alloy 9 Liter
Wheel Base: 1476mm
Ground Clearance: 388mm