Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1526730
VOLUME ISSUE SEPTEMBER , P147 manufacturers had decided that giving motorcycles cool names was so 1974, so the bike formerly known as the Phantom was now the Ossa 250 GP. The tester does not mention the dry weight of the machine, and it is likely that the Ossa had slipped past the 200-pound mark by this time. Long-travel rear suspension had now become part of the game and every MX frame was being gusseted to handle the extra travel, resulting in a few extra pounds. But the Ossa wore it well, and Cycle News' staffers praised the Spanish bike for having "the most vicious horsepower to weight ratio in the industry." The Ossa, even with its underperforming Pirelli tires, "becomes a handful when you grab a handful of throttle." The writer was just getting started in his praise of the Ossa, writing that it was "one of the more awe-inspiring motocross bikes we've tested in a long time." It was ready to go out of the box, thanks to nifty outsourc - ing of things like its Motoplat CDI and Betor suspenders. Even though similar shocks had per- formed poorly when they were fitted to a Montesa, they were muy bien with the Ossa. The 250 GP "accelerates so quickly that the mind is left behind. Two corners into the track, you're three corners behind." The Ossa, apparently, was fast! The cons listed for the bike were few. By 1976, most com - panies had abandoned the idea of a down pipe, a concept which Ossa hung on to for one more season. The staffer did not care for the grips and predicted that the classy fiberglass fenders were likely to break. Minor griev - ances. So, why wouldn't everyone want to buy this awe-inspiring motorcycle? Well, there was an old adage in motorcycle racing back in these days of racing: win on Sunday, sell on Monday. How many Hondas did Marty Smith sell while winning three titles? Did Bob Hannah's incredible win - ning streak in 1977-79 move Ya- mahas off the showroom floor? Surely, we would find an Ossa on the victory podium? Not at an AMA National or Supercross! Talented riders like John DeSoto, Kenny Zahrt and Marty Moates were the most well-known members of Team Ossa, but there were no ma - jor wins for them, at least not while riding the blue and or- ange machines. And with very little in the way of advertising funds, the company likely couldn't have afforded to toot its own horn too loudly, even if one of their riders had scored a big-league victory. Even if a youngster was looking to emulate these heroes, finding an Ossa dealer in most regions of the country was going to mean a long drive for bikes and parts. Hence, most folks in the U.S. would never even catch a glimpse of an Ossa at their local tracks. "They're fun to ride, light - weight and great all-around handling," says former AMA Pro Robert Haag. Haag, who was one of the top SoCal riders in the early '70s, can still be found taking in an occasional vintage event, riding his classic Ossa. "They are beautiful bikes," Haag says, "with all of the pol- ished aluminum parts and the glossy paint. Ossa was a family business, and they took extra pride in designing their bikes. Very reliable—and they still turn as good as anything else." What may have been, accord- ing to Cycle News anyway, the best motocross bike of 1976 didn't stay king of the hill for long. Ossa motorcycles went away in the early '80s. The name returned briefly about 15 years ago and then died again, making the Phan- tom truly one of motorcycling's most famous ghosts. CN Subscribe to nearly 50 years of Cycle News Archive issues: www.CycleNews.com/Archives The Ossa 250 GP was known for its powerful motor and light chassis.