MopedDB

Maico

Year		Event		Edit
1983		Maico files for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy administrator completed the liquidation of Maico Maschinenfabrik GmbH on October 25, 1983, with the sale of spare and assembly parts, tools, equipment, and office furnishings, design documents, and two vehicles for a total purchase price of DM 467,400 to the newly founded Gebrüder Maisch Zweiradhandel und Produktions-GmbH in Ammerbuch. The shareholders were Wilhelm, Peter, and Hans Maisch, the sons of Wilhelm Maisch. They resume production of motocross motorcycles under GM Star. The name Maico is not available to them. It is registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office for Otto und Wilhelm Maisch KG, Ammerbuch, owner of the business premises in Pfäffingen. This company is also in bankruptcy, with attorney Gerhard Breuer as bankruptcy administrator, who wants to sell the Maico brand to the highest bidder.
1974		DM First DM title for Maico Junior boss Hans Maisch.
1974		Campionato italiano 500ccm Cross Alberto Angiolini wins Maico's second title in Italy
1973		WM 250ccm Cross A strong season with three Grand Prix victories secures Adolf Weil and Maico the vice world championship.
		WM 500ccm Cross Bauer led the championship for a long time and demonstrated the superiority of the new Maico with forward-mounted shock absorbers. The decision was only made in the final race in Sint Anthonis (Netherlands). De Coster won his third consecutive title in dramatic circumstances, as Bauer had technical problems.
		Campionato italiano 250ccm Cross Maico wins his first title in the Italian 250 championship with Ivan Alborghetti.
		Alberto Angiolini completes Maico's success with the runner-up title
1972		Trans AMA 500ccm Cross Maico's first major title on the world stage. Ake Johnson wins the Trans AMA Series.
1970		WM Maico had increased the 360cc bike to almost 400cc, and with this extra power, the season was shaping up to be a successful one. Jonsson achieved victories across Europe and was on the verge of winning the world championship title. However, at the last race in Ettelbrück, Luxembourg, Jonsson suffered an unfortunate incident that repeatedly dashed his world championship ambitions: during the race, a fork tube came loose in the triple clamp, protruding so far upwards that it pierced the fuel tank, costing him the victory and thus the championship.
1969		Ake Jonsson signs a contract with Maico. The picture shows him together with Gunter Schier (center) and Christopher Specht.
1957		EM 250ccm Cross Last year's German champion Fritz Betzelbacher wins the new European Cup at the first attempt. Three victories in Reutlingen, Ettelbrück, and Sittendorf, as well as second places in Namur and Genk, mean he ends up with eight events to his name.

Foundet:1926

The company was founded in 1926 by Ulrich Maisch in Pfäffingen (near Tübingen), Germany. The name "Maico" is an acronym derived from the family name and the company status (Maisch & Co.). Originally starting out as a manufacturer of bicycles and accessories, the company began designing lightweight motorcycles using built-in engines (e.g., Ilo) shortly after its founding.

In 1931, Ulrich Maisch handed over the management of the company to his sons. From this point on, the actual era of motorcycle production under the brand name "Maico" began.

Wilhelm Maisch: He was the technical mastermind of the company. As head of production and development, he was largely responsible for the design of the company's own engines and the chassis innovations that made Maico so successful in motocross.
Otto Maisch: He took over commercial management and was responsible for sales and marketing. Under his leadership, Maico expanded massively, especially in the important US market ("Maico West").

Rise to off-road sports specialist (1930s–1950s)

After initial success with light motorcycles, Maico increasingly focused on off-road sports.

World War II: During the war, the company (which had moved to Pfäffingen) produced parts for the Luftwaffe.
Post-war period & in-house development: Production resumed in 1947. A milestone was the development of the company's own engines, which made it independent of suppliers such as Ilo and Sachs.
Successes: In 1954, Maico riders won over 644 gold medals in various competitions. In 1957, Fritz Betzelbacher secured the first European championship title in the 250cc motocross class on a Maico.

Diversification and crises (1950s–1960s)

Maico attempted to broaden its base, which almost led to its downfall:

Scooter construction: With the Maicomobil (from 1950) and the Maicoletta, the company built technically advanced, fully faired motor scooters.
Car adventure: In the mid-1950s, Maico entered the small car production market (takeover of Champion-Konstruktion). The project failed economically in 1958 and led to the first near-bankruptcy.
Rescue by the German Armed Forces: The order for 10,000 units of the M 250/B model for the newly founded German Armed Forces stabilized the company financially in the long term.

The golden era of motocross (1970s and 1980s)

In the 1970s, Maico was considered the global technology leader in motocross.

Focus: The legendary Maico 400 and 490 models dominated the racetracks, especially in the USA.
Innovation: Maico was a pioneer in chassis improvements (e.g., the placement of shock absorbers for longer spring travel).
Road racing: Models such as the MD 125/250 achieved respectable successes in the World Championship and in national sports.

Closed: 1983

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the relationship between brothers Otto and Wilhem deteriorated. This so-called "brotherly feud" led to massive paralysis in business decisions. Strategic mistakes (such as missing out on Japanese competition) and investment backlogs could no longer be resolved, as the owners often only communicated through lawyers or in court.

Quality problems: The 1983 models suffered from massive frame and transmission problems, which ruined the company's reputation.

Insolvency: The first bankruptcy followed in 1983. Several rescue companies (including Merkle and Rodem) attempted to keep the brand alive in small series in the following years.

The naming rights for motorcycles and the supply of spare parts are now held by specialized companies (e.g., Maico-Bikeworld/Axel Köstler), which continue to produce highly specialized two-stroke machines in small series.

Sources

Frank Rönicke: Maico: Motorcycles 1934–1987 (detailed description of family circumstances).
Der Spiegel (issue 17/1984): Report "200 Mahnbescheide" (200 payment reminders) on the end of the Otto and Wilhelm Maisch era.
Wikipedia (DE): Entry "Maico" (section on company history and management).

Last edited: 1/15/2026 · Jürgen Wißler