Maico MMX Motocross
Allowing the burning fires of enthusiasm to cool to just a gentle smoulder following the release of the 2010 bikes, Maico International adopted the attitude and prerogative of every bride-to-be by arriving fashionably late with a very fresh and new looking bike for 2010.
Taking on the Research and Development mantle in the U.K., the Bournemouth based company have spent the last year developing and testing a wide selection of new products and are working very closely with several well established companies and British craftsmen who have been supplied with an open ended remit in terms of product design, and quality.
Shedding the previous swing-arm the new bike features an all-new hand made 7020 aircraft aluminium shotgun style swing-arm. The high-grade alloy is stronger and lighter than standard aluminium, but more crucially behaves in a different way when it comes to flex. The arm has been reduced in length by 4.5 millimetres and 4 millimetres in depth to provide a substantial improvement in tracking, handling and manoeuvrability.
Maicos have been somewhat renowned 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 hand made 7020 aircraft aluminium sub-frame. Saving almost half the weight of the previous chrome moly piece the geometry has been slightly altered to allow the seat height to be reduced in conjunction with the all-new alloy 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 one and half 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, with only losing half a litre in capacity, at 9 liters.
Taking this approach has reduced the centre of gravity and helped to centralize the weight. The decision to go with alloy has a long term effect as reliable information from sources close to the company within the petroleum industry have indicated that fuel generally, is changing and as things progress it is expected the time will come when the current plastic tanks will not be able to hold fuel without an unacceptable level of seepage.
The mechanicals have not been over looked either with some significant advancements in this area. A new chrome lining is fitted to all the barrels here in the U.K. before they are ported and fitted with different base gaskets. After a long and almost protracted love affair with the brand the traditional Bing carb has finally received its "Dear John", and is replaced by the well-respected Kehin air striker, which will adorn every model. Keeping the fire burning, ignitions 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-er revving engine.
Taking advantage of the increased airflow created by the new tank design 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.The engine casings have also been the subject of attention, now being hand polished to give a cleaner and more graphite style finish with new stronger T6 alloy head-steadies.
To compliment the new swing-arm and sub-frame the chassis is now powder coated red and is graced with Reikon titanium foot-pegs which sit very comfortably with the new lighter alloy gear lever. Firm favourites, White Power forks and the Reiger shock remain in place along with the H.G.S. pipe but the rear brake master cylinder is now replaced with a newer all in one Brembo unit.
The New Year’s resolution of losing weight continues to succeed with the standard fitting of Talon sprockets and wheels with billet alloy hubs and excel rims, dressed with Dunlop tyres. The business of stopping the damn thing is now the responsibility of "Braking" discs again fitted as standard to the Brembo brakes.
Drastic changes in the cosmetic department have brought about a vibrant new look courtesy of Acerbis, which sees the bike decked out in an exotic new colour scheme. Sporting new front fender and race plate, new tank shrouds, and new wrap round fork guards, with only the rear fender and side panels remaining the same design in a very high gloss white. Saxon Seats have been responsible for the all-new hand made seat cover with the brand name sewn into the panel on the rear of the seat.
Maico International’s commitment to a long term development plan is taken further by the substantial options list available for the bikes which includes 7 different wheel and hub colour co-ordinations, three different frame colours, several different seat cover colour combinations, a high polish or satin finish for the swing-arm and sub-frame and much more.
Company bosses Vincent Page, Lesley White, and development co-ordinator 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 owner-ship 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 labour 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".
The standard range of bikes will continue to be available in their current guise for those who prefer them.
