CNIIARCHIVES
P146
BY KENT TAYLOR
The 1976 Ossa 250 GP, formerly the
Ossa Phantom, was a formidable
motocross bike—in the right hands.
THE PHANTOM
THAT CAME AND WENT
OSSA'S 250 GP
M
otorcycle brands have come and gone and
some have even come back again. Storied
marques like Triumph, Indian and BSA all fell
into the "Who was Who?" book of great motorcycles
of the world, only to be raised from the dead, thanks
to heaping handfuls of cash from wealthy entre-
preneurs and mega-corporations around the world.
Other brands, like Husqvarna, were
on life support before finally find-
ing the right hands that would bring
them back to health. A good brand is
hard to kill and smart investors who
know motorcycles know we hold the
memories of these machines close to
our hearts, not far from our wallets.
Then, there are the brands whose day of resurrec-
tion has not yet come, if it is coming at all. The Ossa
is one such motorcycle. In 1974, the tiny Spanish
company that already had some history in road racing
and off-road, including trials, lit up the moto world
with its speedy, lightweight
model, the Phantom.
The Phantom may not have
been the most popular moto
-
cross bike on the track, but the
company bought themselves a
lot of ink when they announced
that their new motorcycle
weighed in at a wispy, sheer
nightie-thin 198 pounds. Lighter
than any other 250cc MX bike
on the planet! Works bike
skinny! Even Twiggy looked at
the Ossa Phantom, put down
her Tab soda and did three extra
sit-ups!
In 1976, Cycle News tested
the Ossa 250. By this time, most
Former pro
motocrosser
Robert Haag still
likes to exercise
his Ossa 250
GP whenever
possible.
PHOTO:
DEAN BRADLEY
