1981 Maico 490 Mega 2

Post-Sale Update: After 25 bids on eBay, this bike sold for $9,210.

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, I 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?”

This specific Maico 490 Mega 2 has enjoyed a ground up restoration – the seller claims that just about everything is brand new, including a powder-coated frame and swingarm, renthal bars, magura levers, and much, much more. The plastics are all new, and you’ll get a DEP pipe as well as new Ohlins springs sitting on rebuilt Corte Cosso shocks. All in all, this bike has been thoroughly refreshed.