David Wayne Russell: Maico

A small, family-owned German motorcycle company built off-road bikes so good that American racers happily put up with leaky gas tanks, slippery foot pegs, and the general temperament of a thoroughbred because when a Maico worked, nothing else came close.

In this episode, Mark talks with David Wayne Russell, author of "Maico: The American History of a German Motorcycle, 1955–1983," about the rise and fall of one of the most influential and most beloved names in off-road motorcycling. David traces Maico's roots back to purpose-built military motorcycles in postwar Germany, through its dominance of American motocross in the early 1970s, right up to its bankruptcy in 1983.

LISTENER DISCOUNT CODE: Receive a 25% discount on this title when purchased from McFarland's website by using the code BESTPART at checkout: mcfarlandbooks.com/product/maico

FEATURED TITLE: Maico: The American History of a German Motorcycle, 1955–1983. McFarland, softcover (2026) ISBN: 9781476693880 mcfarlandbooks.com/product/maico

BOOK DESCRIPTION: Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, a small family-owned German company made and exported the world’s best off-road motorcycles. In 1981, Maico introduced what may be the finest production motocross bike, for its time, ever built, establishing the basic measurements for modern dirt bikes. North American competitors embraced the Maico, paying high prices for an often-infuriating thoroughbred which carried them into a new, exciting sport with physical and financial risks. Yet by 1983, Maico was bankrupt.

This work presents the full story of this influential company’s rise and fall. Employing archaeological methods and oral history, this book answers questions which have long fascinated sport motorcyclists: What made Maico so good? How did long-travel suspension originate? Why did the company really fail? The first history published in English, this book fills a crucial gap for enthusiasts of motorcycle history: the story of Maico, and what it meant to Americans.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Wayne Russell is a retired military officer, pilot and historical artist. In his free time, he writes about the history of American transportation, focusing on artifacts and culture. He has curated seven museum exhibitions on the subject, and he enjoys restoring antique motorcycles. His writings have appeared in academic, professional, and popular venues. David holds a BFA in Communication Design/Painting, as well as MA and PhD degrees in American Studies.

ABOUT MCFARLAND: McFarland, a leading independent publisher of academic and general-interest nonfiction books, is perhaps best known for the serious treatment of popular culture. Founded in 1979, McFarland is recognized among authors and readers as adventurous in range and a reliable source of worthy books that other publishers overlook. They have around 8,000 unique works for sale and publish about 350 new titles a year. Meeting high library standards has been a major focus since the company began, and many McFarland books have received awards from the academic-oriented (Choice Outstanding Academic Title, ALA Outstanding Reference Work) to the mainstream (Hugo, Edgar, Stoker, and Eisner, among others). mcfarlandbooks.com

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