I'm definitely not buying a Maico Letta Scooter but......

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I subscribed to the Maico Owners Club at the beginning of 2024 its been interesting reading the quarterly magazine..
I will look in at the stand at Stafford Show on Sunday the 13th October 2024 - I am  definitely not tempted to own one again.

Interesting factoid that I was unaware of when I owned one - the petrol tank is pressurised to pump the petrol up to the carburetta as its above the petrol tank pressurised via the exhuast system.

Also to my shame I did not realise the electric start was a pendulum type - I just thought it sounded odd when you pressed the 6v electric start button - a sort of rumble  noise.

With a clock matching the speedometer in size fitted with a coloured gear indicator, floor pedal heel & toe  gear shift & rear brake plus good sized wheels they were almost motorcycle like to ride. with a top speed on my 250 close to 70 mph. Faster than my mates Triumph Tigress  once it was doing over 45 mph with a much nicer ride on the larger diameter wheels.

PXL_20240220_113522224 by Macabe Thiele, on Flickr

[Johnny4428]

Great pic Ted and a fine figure of a man too. (Who is that guy🤭) Was there a kick starter too? Was wondering too how the system coped with these extra driving lamps on the front!

[andy120t]

Very dapper! Heel and toe gear change to stop those shoes from scuffing!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

No kick start though some owners have fitted one when the starter part of the system fails, they look a bit home made tbh.

The lights were really for show but they did work, it was pretty easy to bump start.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Very dapper! Heel and toe gear change to stop those shoes from scuffing!

Suede marks too easily.😁

[andy120t]

....and the owners club magazine is called the Maico Letter...

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

....and the owners club magazine is called the Maico Letter...

Yes it is Andy - are you in marketing perchance?

[andy120t]

😄 no! When you mentioned the owners club I had to read up on Maicos  as I recognise the scooters but don't know much about them - - never too old to learn, all that sort of thing - but just liked the name of the newsletter when I saw it!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Back in the 1960's all my mates had Lambrettas or Vespas - at that time 200 cc was pretty much the biggest engine for mainstream scooters.
I bought the Maico almost by accident after buying an Ariel Square Four with a chair from Sportarama in Chesterfireld a used Sports Car & motorcycle dealer in the Brocklehirst Motor Group that was only £50. I took the Ariel back the same afternoon I bought it as I was not familar with sidecars it was scary. The steering shook like crazy even with the damper fully tightened down. I could only get my money back if I bought a more expensive purchase so I saw the Maico & was smitten. The motor cycle like ride & performance as it was a 250  was my route to a 250 Dream the following year.