Maico 685 - 80cv, 2 tempos e 101kg!

One of my formative motorcycling experiences, and it wasn’t all that long ago, was being given a 500cc 2-stroke dirtbike for the afternoon by a bunch of smirking friends. A Kawasaki KX500, I believe it was. This was the second time I’d ever ridden a dirtbike, mind you, the first being earlier that day on a friendly little XR250.

Without going into too much detail, I have never been so terrified on a motorcycle in all my life, and I’ve ridden hundreds of ‘em. The mere thought of that ball-tearing smoker going sideways under me in the middle of an unintentional wheelstand is enough to bring on a cold sweat - and I love a wheelie as much as the next bloke. Those things are absolute animals.

The big strokers seem to be a dying breed - due to difficulties in emissions tuning, they say - and while I’m perfectly happy never to ride another, there’s plenty of psychotic powerband junkies out there who will nearly wet themselves to discover that Maico has announced a full 2-stroke lineup for 2009, include 250cc, 320cc, 500cc, 620cc and the big daddy of them all, a 685cc widowmaker that makes a hideous 80 horsepower and weighs only 101kg.
I’m going to hide behind this tree while you read the specifications. Don’t bring that thing anywhere near me.

Model: 685 Cross
Cooling: Water
Inlet system: Reed walve system
Exhaust system: S.E.E.S. exhaust system
Cylinder capacity: 685ccm
Measures: 100 x 87mm
KW/horsepower: 60/82
Caburator: BING 55/44-205
Transmission: 5 speed gearbox
Ignition: PVL digital
Frame: Chrom Molybdän
Front fork: White Power Upside Down 48 mm
Front brake: Brembo with 260 mm Wave disc
Front wheel travel: 305mm
Front rim: 1.6 - 21
Front tyres: 80/100 _ 21
Rear suspension: Maico Twin Link with Reiger shock
Rear brake: Brembo with 220 mm wave disc
Rear rim: 2.15 - 18
Rear tyres: 120/100 - 18
Tank: 9,5 Liter
Wheel base: 1480 mm
Ground clearance: 388mm
Seat height: 960mm
Weight: 101 kg