Maico 700: From Myth and Legend to Mainstream. The rise of the 700cc Two Stroke Single

[@KaplanCycles]

Thanks to you Toby we had the faith to send $8,000 deposit to Koestler Germany for a 2022 Maico 700! Can't wait!

[@Maicowerk]

Great! Koestler said probably Feb/Mar yours would be done!

[@kylelangworthy9641]

Oh my gosh I can't wait the CR500 king with a new 700cc 2-stroke it's going to be awesome

[@dirtbikedave]

MEGAmerica!

[@motominded5275]

@@dirtbikedave Maicomerica big bore again...

[@johnmcquillan733]

U kinda like them Maicos Kap!✌

[@eriknelson6529]

I saw your bike on your channel 3 years ago Toby. I thought it was fantastic. Been watching ever since. My buddy Harvey in NY has a gm 500 1985

[@Berryccuda]

2018 and from this very channel I just happened to know a coworker who could use the money and offered to sell me his CR500 and I couldn't say no at the price. Soon after I stumbled upon your CR500 documentary and then learned their were bigger, badder 2 stroke engines! My love for all big bore 2 strokes was born that day. Since then I've been a fan of the channel and even wrote about companies like BRC racing in Canada who make conversion kits to turn 250 two strokes into 500's when I was attending university. A KZbin channel called 999lazer just built their own motocross bike with a 700 Mega engine which is from a sidecar! The 700's have definitely climbed out of myth into mainstream like you said! Thanks for all you have done!

[@dirtbikedave]

I can't wait to see more videos of Max's "Megalodon"! They've been going above and beyond, with that build.

[@Maicowerk]

Nice, haha! Ya, all of these go into sidecar. MEGA used to be called MTH.

[@shanehorton2047]

First come across them in 2006 when i got into racing sidecars. Under load they are my favourite sounding 2stroke.

[@5235-]

The first 700+cc Maico was made by Egbert Haas in about the mid 70s. It was a 751cc for the 'Over 750cc Enduro Class'. Friedhelm Zabel was a good friend of mine and I do remember when he started the Maico engine project for Side Car Cross. The first engine he build was actually a 640cc for testing.

[@Eastern_SA]

First heard of Maico from your channel in 2019. I even contacted the builder in Germany and received a quote for the build then, COVID-19 hit the globe.

[@garageassembled4701]

700 cc 1 hour ago. Heard it from you. Can’t wait to see you Zabel when running.

[@Maicowerk]

Haha! Very recently

[@Bobcat325]

I first heard of a maico 700 From guy on KZbin. Opferman motors dirtbiking. Lol. Seriously. Thanks

[@Maicowerk]

Haha!

[@Yoshij250GS]

2007 at the age of 16. After starting to ride Enduro, the motorbike-flame got started. Got to read about the 1981 Maico 490, than the 685 and wanted one! :3 saw your videos... got a 1981 250 in 2008, huge fun, 4 bikes more and than an eccident that paralysed me in 2014. For me no Maico 700 any more. But the flame is not to be purged.^^ stil in the process pepareing an electric KTM freeride for me. sadly no alta, sadly before strag varg. But first step soon. And to be continued. sorry for blabla

[@captainsensible298]

I had a 1979 400 and a 1983 500 enduro, this goes back to 1981 when I bought the 400 then 1992 when I bought the 500, I first stated ton hear about a 700 that you could by from a KTM dealer in Austria in the early 2000s.

[@juliojames5986]

More than 15 years ago. In the mid to late 1970,’s I rode desert bikes, much fun….a guy showed up on a Maico, I do not know the motor size, it was big, possibly around 500cc or more, huge cylinder fins compared to the other moto crossers of the time. Obviously air cooled. It had no long travel or special suspension……but very loud and very fast, when it ran ! Also hard to start, probably a individual maintenance issue. It was rare to me then……Ah the good old days !

[@TheHemiphil81]

I love the maico 700 kaplan cycles has .it is a beast.

[@starfox_wr-45e93]

The intimidator is where I first heard about them. Maybe 2005-2010. Pretty sure it was through the "Supermoto Magazine" publication we used to get in the U.K. Of course I was straight onto the internet/KZbin to find out more and saw the Primm video. Quickly realized my chance at getting one were pretty slim lol

[@goa0026]

First pictures i downloaded of the 700 was june 2003. But had forgotten until Maico International set to launch around 2011.

[@Maicowerk]

Check out the description for the links to the other videos showcased in this video. This pinned comment will be updated when the video mentioned at the end is released and a link provided. Where to buy a new Maico 700? www.maico-bikeworld.de/en/

[@svenomick5857]

You were the first Person Toby and a Bloke in Maleny QLD Australia had a 630 Rob French He had Motard wheels on it all black plastics, He had a small Motorcycle shop in Maleny Rob passed away about 3 years ago I think His Boys got it then cheers Mick Maleny Australia.

[@albertboersma7294]

Great vid and info man...2012 i found out about the atk and maico700s

[@Maicowerk]

Haha nice!

[@georgecruz6226]

I want a Maico 700!

[@wallyhaskett6737]

I would love to have one and ride it up Sand MT down in UT. You had the first video that I ever came across the first 700 Maico. Tell you what I would be happy to have any Maico from the super 490 1981 to now. Just have to come across the dow.

[@jorda.2412]

First was you. Several years ago. I turned 2buddies about you and maico big bore. A 490 yz owner and a 250 Suzi.

[@Maicowerk]

Nice!

[@664_32]

First heard of them around 2012 saw it on KZbin came up on suggestions while i was watching a ktm550 vid (always had a thing for big bores cr500 kx500 ktms etc) It was the atk. Dug a little deeper and found your content and it’s been THE go to for info on this bike as well as other info on maico in general at least for me. Before that I’ve known about maicos my old man used to race in the late 70s to late 80s ive heard all about the 400s and THE 81 490. I Would really love to buy a 700 from koestler if I can ever put the money together or find one in the states and put it on some wp cone valve forks and trax shock. Im from so cal and race mx as well as ride desert out here out here and az mostly as well as baja mx I think the 700 would stretch its legs out here quite nicely maybe ride a couple fast pace 3-4th gear tracks after some setup

[@Maicowerk]

Ya, would stretch its legs just get a big gas tank!

[@cliftonpfleger9525]

One of two known Maico 700 cc two strokes built by Maico in Germany was sold to Barry Higgins on the day Maico went bust as he was in the factory and took possession of the motorcycle and he shipped it back to Georgia (USA) since he was the top Maico Dealer in the world. He eventually allowed an editor at Motocross Magazine to ride it at the Blackwater 100 (Virginia - USA) race and returned it to B Higgins who eventually sold the motorcycle for a very tidy sum. This factoid can be confirmed with Barry Higgins whom is still alive and riding today...Clifton Pfleger

[@ericmiller9132]

I wish Toby had responded to your post, you have some of the story correct. The bike you are talking about was the Maico 760, built to compete against BMW in the 750cc class of ISDT/ISDE. Dirt Bike Magazine was able to test the bike in 1981 before Maico went bankrupt and Barry was able to buy it.

[@andrewashley4013]

Is there many dynographs of the 700

[@Leifi112]

If i recall it correctly it was back in 9th grade in school (I was around 15-17 y/o back then i guess) I first heard of the monsterus 700cc 2stroke. ( Im 33y/o now 2022 ) Me and a friend of mine here in sweden use to have a pissing contest over our mopeds speed/power and later on we got dirtbikes and so on. First we had 50cc tuned mopeds and my friend ended up with a KX80cc dirtbike. After that I got the old KX and he ended up getting a newer KTM 125cc. We raced them on a field like there was no tommorrow and after the races we watched on bigbores on the web. But it wasent egnouf for us teens back then hehe My friend and i was searching the ol interwebs one day and saw the old Honda and Kawi 500s Game over we thought. Never got our hands on one of thous and up till today not even seen or rode one. But my friend did end up with a KTM 380SX and that was and still is a beast of a bike. Game over and grand slam i cant top that? So the search began and jupp there it was. The 700 2 stroke bike from Maico. Really wanna get one. Not sure what model thou. I think Supermoto is best? A 700 on a dirtbike track is wayyyy to scary of a thought for me. My 2019 Yz250 is a handfull at times on the track so yeah.. hehe Side note we did knew of the Husabergs 650s back then sice it was our countrys own bike but that was 4stroke.

[@lennartanders5767]

Hey Tobias, Do you know which piston to cylinder clearance the 685 is running? I have seen some pistons from zabel that has a diameter of 99,715mm...that means that they have a clearance of 0,285mm... That seems pretty much.

[@Enduro-Life]

@Opferman Motors Dirtbiking At 9:16 you mention Mark Spigolon , Mark is a business associate of mine .. Mark is now an - International Military Supplier- . He is now into his cars and owns Ferrari's, Porsche's and Lambo's etc. He says Hi

[@Maicowerk]

Nice, haven't talked to him a long while! Tell him I said Hi. Does he still have that Maico 700?

[@Enduro-Life]

@@Maicowerk he might still have it , I will ask him , . I will tell him you said hi

[@darylsmioth1904]

That would be a great timbersled motor.

[@georgecruz6226]

I want a 700cc 2 stroke! Where can i get one and how much?

[@Maicowerk]

You can buy them here: www.maico-bikeworld.de/en/ You can get the whole bike or the engine. Enduro and MX and SuperMoto options.

[@georgecruz6226]

Love ur vids bro and ur bikes!🤙

[@Maicowerk]

Thanks!

[@rickstrom6097]

We were searching because Vet riders like myself thought it would make for a competive open bike until more searching finding out no mortal man would be able to finish a moto on one.

[@rogerkelly4491]

1981 760 was first i heard

[@Maicowerk]

I am planning an upcoming video to present the 760.

[@eriknelson6529]

You might as well become a north American dealer? That would be fantastic!

[@andrewashley4013]

2009 saw in a magazine

[@joeyholthusen6495]

I wish I I had the cha.ching to buy one.

[@tomthomas9910]

1980" I heard about the maico 760" it actually looks like a 79 mako Magnum cuz I had a 78 maico Magnum and a swing arm on that one has a little bit more reinforcement had a 82 " single shock too " and the 78 maico Magnum motor will not fit in a 82 frame without having to cut and notch out the swing arm for clearance so much grunt burrrt not braaap" ring ding ding ding

[@jckrieger]

KZbin, 2024, Kaplain America.

[@dr.hugog.hackenbush9443]

Coming eventually: The 800cc 2-stroke.

[@Maicowerk]

Zabel is releasing a 750 soon.