Maicoletta: the powerful and comfortable motor scooter from Maico

The Maicoletta was an exceptional motor scooter built by Maico from 1955 to 1966. This scooter stood out for its power, responsiveness and comfort, and was praised by motorbike journalists in both the United States and the United Kingdom. It was one of the heaviest and more expensive motor scooters of its time, with styling by Louis Lepoix and engineering typical of the 1950s, similar to other vehicles such as the Heinkel Tourist, Zündapp Bella and the British Triumph Tigress.

In the UK, the Maicoletta received great acclaim despite being considered a "dustbin" was considered by lovers of Italian scooters. The Maicoletta (little Maico in Italian) was heavy but offered excellent quality and comfort, especially for long rides. Its powerful brakes and impressive power, especially with the optional 277 cc engine and the possibility of combining a sidecar, made it a sought-after model. The scooter had a unique starting mechanism. In this pendulum start rocked the crankshaft back and forth to start the engine, instead of the usual rotary motion.

The Maicoletta was designed to compete with other scooters in the German market of the 1950s. Maico used parts from their conventional motorbikes, such as the engine, transmission and front forks, and the model was promoted as a robust and reliable choice for long rides. Despite ceasing production in 1966, the Maicoletta remained popular in Britain, where the importer even used spare parts to build new scooters to order until 1967.

Today, the Maicoletta is a valuable piece of scooter history, known for its solidity, power and ability to cover long distances with ease. It is a unique example of German scooter technology from the 1950s.