Description
Additional photos of this Maico 490 Mega 2 are available here for your perusal.
Flaunting one of the best dirtbike names ever, the Maico 490 Mega 2 was considered by many to be one of the best open class motorcross bikes ever built. Back in the 80s, there was a lot of prestige associated with riding a Maico, but even this was the cream of the crop. The Mega 2 is still an absolute legend – Maico sold more of this exact model than Honda sold across their entire MX lineup in 1981.
Jody Weisel, one of the nation’s best test riders, once said that the 1981 Maico 490 Mega 2 had the best handling and best powerband in this history of motocross. And that’s coming from someone who’s pretty much ridden everything out there. If you have a few minutes, we highly recommend reading one of my favorite of Weisel’s articles for Motocross Action Magazine, “The Worst Bikes I Ever Raced” But more about this bike: the 490 put out an absurd 53 horsepower, which was controlled by a wet multi-disc cluth and was transmitte dthrough a five-speed gearbox. This whole incredible package weighed just 244 pounds. We can’t stress enough how good this bike is. If you want to hear more gushing praise for it, read a piece on off-road.com simply entitled, “How Good Was the Maico 490?”
If you’re a baseball fan, you may appreciate that the owner of this machine (VIN: 4903510058) is Robin Yount, the Hall of Fame shortstop! He acquired it in 2012 from a collector in Arizona who rebuilt the machine, and there are zero miles on it since the work was performed.
MXM Racing tank and side cover graphics.
CNC’d case cover and MDR Hardware footpegs.
Works rear shocks.
CNC chain guide, Kenda K772 Carlsbad tires.
Oury grips.
Maico Only Racing expansion chamber and pipe.
A restored example of what Motocross Action Magazine called “The Greatest Bike Ever Made“, this beautiful Mega 2 is ready to display. If you’d like to run it, our White Glove Service would be glad to go through it for you!
