How They Built this Classic Bike to BEAT Brand New Ones!

The Maico 490 is one of the most legendary motorcycles of all time and in this video we meet a build who completely modernized and updated this classic dirt bike to be competitive with and often beat the modern bikes. We will head to the World Vet Motocross championship at Glen Helen Raceway to see if Alan Bott can pull a holeshot on a 1981 Maico 490. We also catch up with builder Gary Kortz to find out all the ways he was able to upgrade this bike that motocross champion Grant Langston often rides. Share this with a friend who loves the Maico! #motorcycle #2stroke #dirtbike #maico Subscribe ► / cycledrag

[@jeffkeel8390]

Watch the seat squat each time he revs the bike on the line. Because the pre-82 Maico’s had a primary chain drive, all the engine mass is spinning in the same direction. All other bikes had primary gear drive so the bike raises up when you rev the motor. Most people didn’t realize how much that helped the handling.

[@acme511]

Also I have a NOS '81 frame still in the shipping box if I ever need it.

[@larryfisher]

59yrs old my dream machine as a kid and still today❤😊

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@cycledrag]

cool! Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why? @@acme511

[@cycledrag]

yes it did. Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why? @@larryfisher

[@DarrenShaw-ev5tb]

Diverse Content ! - Thats why CycleDrag Rocks !

[@cycledrag]

You are much appreciated! Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@DarrenShaw-ev5tb]

Honda cr125 - That all the guts i have ( My dealer close by had Yellow for winter & Red for summer ( been ) a Red fan ever since ! - Thanx for the vids Jack & Happy Holidays@@cycledrag

[@HouseWashingRick]

This was my first bike at 14 years old. I wasn’t even tall enough to put my feet on the ground. We had a tree in the back yard and I would get to the tree and lean against it. I learned how to shift gears on a friend mini bike then I got this bike for Christmas and I rode it every day

[@cycledrag]

so cool! Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@thelastafrican802]

Whoa! Gotta find an old school, so kool!

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@acme511]

I have four '81 490s, and two even more rare '81 440s, also two '80 440s,and four '75 450s one is a long travel "resto-mod" with modern 490 jug and Yamaha clutch with recluse

[@cycledrag]

So cool!

[@JR-ut1yx]

I raced a honda cr480 1982 model against the Maico, district 23 expert class, good memories 😊

[@frankdepalma4409]

Back in the day we had a guy with a Marco 490,and he lived, slept and talked Marco. So we gave him the nick name of Marco man,and ha ate it up.

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@rfiskillingussoftly6568]

Oh...oh...sounds like a maico! Love the left side kick start!

[@cycledrag]

lol. Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@rfiskillingussoftly6568]

@@cycledrag My 1984CR500, and my 1968 honda mini trail!! Lol!

[@iBladey]

I rode a Blue one in the UK many years ago late 80’s when I was a kid….. crapped my pants. 😢 Same guy stopped me when I was 15 and had me ride an XT500 about 4 miles to his Dads while he took his FJ1200 back. That XT500 was a thumper and I was still at school !

[@robbypro3370]

I had one back in the mid 70s in ventura, we took it to montalvo hill off victoria. And Indian dunes.

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@robbypro3370]

@cycledrag As a kid, I always wanted the Honda XR 75. I just couldn't get one. I have had many bikes, but YZ 250, CR250, and probably my favorites that I had. My hill climber later in life was a Yamaha IT490. 3rd gear up any hill at Gorman.

[@FishinFreak21]

Well said

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@superplumber5]

I had an 82 Honda CR480 , thing was a monster, wish I still had it

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@JR-ut1yx]

Agree that 480 was a beast 💪

[@dartmoordave]

Had a 440 early 70's. That would clear your sinuses for ya.

[@toddclark332]

❤😁👍🇱🇷love it

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@bkh5746]

Which bike would start reverse rotation.or was that old myths

[@anthonycarty9433]

I think any two stroke engine will if you set the ignition timing after Top dead center .

[@ruymxsx7]

Algún piloto que compitió a alto nivel en la época, comento que no era buena para pilotar.

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@kennethwise7108]

The following years were turds

[@cycledrag]

Thanks a lot for watching, sharing and subscribing! What is your all-time favorite dirt bike and why?

[@stephenwilliams926]

Those modern bikes look ugly next to that Maico .