Maico 490 E (1982)

The Maico 490 Alpha E motorcycle was manufactured in 1982 and featured a single cylinder, two-stroke engine with a capacity of 488cc. It had a bore x stroke of 86.5 x 83 mm and was air-cooled with wet-sump lubrication. The recommended oil for this off-road bike was Bel-Ray MC3, and the oil capacity was 0.60 L/ 0.63 US quarts. The fuel system was a Bing V54 40 mm carburetor, with an upswept exhaust on the right side. It had a Bosch, pointless ignition system and was started by kick start. The clutch was a wet, multi-disc system with a 5-speed transmission and a chain final drive.

The bike’s frame was made from chrome-molybdenum and had a front suspension system using Maico forks with a 42 mm diameter, leading axle, and Corte & Cosso technology. The rear suspension was a single shock system with a rear wheel travel distance of 325 mm/12.8 inches. The front and rear brake systems both used a single leading shoe with drum brakes of 136 and 160 mm, respectively. The wheels were made of lightweight aluminum alloy with laced spokes, and used Metzeler tyres, with sizes of 3.00 x 21 inches in the front and 4.50 x 18 inches in the rear.

The bike had a 28.5-degree rake and a 126 mm/ 4.96 in. trail with a wheelbase of 1510 mm/ 59.5 in. The ground clearance was high at 372 mm/14.6 in, and the seat height was 960 mm/ 37.8 inches. The wet weight of the bike was 116 kg/256 lbs, and it had a 15 L/4 US gal fuel capacity. The Dirt Bike review in June 1982 rated the Maico 490 Alpha E positively, particularly for its powerful maximum power output of 50 hp.

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Technical specifications:

Make Model: Maico 490 Alpha E

Year: 1982

Engine: Single cylinder, two stroke

Capacity: 488 cc / 29.8 cub in.

Bore x Stroke: 86.5 x 83 mm

Cooling System: Air cooled

Lubrication: Wet sump

Recommended Oil: Bel-Ray MC3

Oil Capacity: 0.60 L / 0.63 US quarts

Exhaust: Upswept, right side

Fuel System: Bing, V54, 40 mm carburetor

Spark Plug: Champion N-2, NGK B9ES

Ignition: Bosch, pointless

Starting: Kick start

Max Power: 36.8 kW / 50 hp

Clutch: Wet, multi-disc

Transmission: 5-Speed

Final Drive: Chain

Gear Ratio: 1st 2.28 / 2nd 2.17 / 3rd 1.65 / 4th 1.25 / 5th 1.00:1

Frame: Dual down tube, full cradle, chrome-molydenum

Front Suspension: Leading axle, Maico forks, 42 mm, Corte & Cosso

Front Wheel Travel: 310 mm / 12.2 in.

Rear Suspension: Single shock

Rear Wheel Travel: 325 mm / 12.8 in.

Front Brakes: Single leading shoe, drum 136 mm

Rear Brakes: Single leading shoe, drum 160 mm

Wheels: Aluminum alloy, laced spokes

Front Tyre: 3.00 x 21 in., Metzeler

Rear Tyre: 4.50 x 18 in., Metzeler

Rake: 28.5 degrees

Trail: 126 mm / 4.96 in.

Wheelbase: 1510 mm / 59.5 in.

Ground Clearance: 372 mm / 14.6 in.

Seat Height: 960 mm / 37.8 in.

Wet Weight: 116 kg / 256 lbs

Fuel Capacity: 15 L / 4 US gal

Review: Dirt Bike, June 1982