Maico: from bicycles to motorbikes and cars
Maico began producing light motorbikes and grew into an iconic brand in the motocross world. Despite financial setbacks, Maico's legacy continues to live on in motorsport history.
Maico Mobil 175
Germany
1952
Maico founded in 1926 by Ulrich Maisch, began producing motorbikes with 98cc and 123cc ILO and Sachs engines. During World War II, the company moved to Pfäffingen, where it produced parts for the Luftwaffe. Despite the war conditions, Maico continued to innovate, and after the war it was one of the first German companies to be allowed to develop and produce motorbikes, giving the brand a significant competitive edge.
Maico Mobil: the "two-wheeled car”
Besides motorbikes, Maico also produced the Maico Mobil, a scooter-like touring motorbike made between 1950 and 1958. Intended as a "car on two wheels", the Mobil had body panels that enclosed the powertrain and protected the riders from the elements. It had a steel frame with aluminium panels, a large front fairing with a transparent window and a dashboard with the main controls. The fuel tank was hidden under the dashboard.
At the back, there were side bags and space for a spare wheel. The Mobil had a 150cc single-cylinder two-stroke engine, operated via a three-speed transmission with twist grip. In 1952, the engine was enlarged to 175cc and in 1955 came an optional 200cc version, replacing the twist grip with a four-speed gearbox with a heel-and-toe shift pedal.
Champion acquisition and focus on motorbikes
In 1955, Maico acquired the firm Champion, with which it tried to gain a foothold in the car market. Between 1955 and 1957, the brand produced cars, but success failed to materialise. Maico decided to focus entirely on motorbikes again, which led to a period of boom in the 1960s.
The Maico M250B and success in the military market
Between 1960 and 1966, Maico supplied 10,000 military Maico M250B BW engines to the German Bundeswehr and Bundesgrenzschutz, further cementing the brand as a reliable player in the motorbike industry.
Although Maico eventually closed its factories and several attempts at recovery were unsuccessful, the brand remains an important part of German motorbike history. Its innovative motorbikes and the Maico M250B will be remembered as examples of the progressive engineering that characterised the brand, and Maico remains a favourite among collectors of vintage motorbikes and scooters.