Cooper (motorcycles)

Last updated

Cooper was a rebadged American brand of off-road motorcycles designed by Frank Cooper and manufactured by Moto Islo in Saltillo, Mexico, for distribution in the United States between 1973 and 1975. [1] [2]

Contents

Company history

Origins

The Cooper motorcycle company was created in Burbank, California, in 1972 by Frank Cooper who, was the American distributor for Maico motorcycles. [1] [2] As the baby boomer generation came of age during the 1960s and 1970s, off-road motorcycling experienced a surge in popularity. [3] Cooper sought to fill a void in the motorcycle marketplace between the less expensive, entry level Japanese motorcycles and the more expensive European motorcycles. [1] [2]

Cooper contracted with Isidro Lopez, the owner of a Mexican moped manufacturer named Moto Islo, to build motocross and enduro motorcycles to Cooper's specifications. [1] [2] Using engine parts made in Italy and later, engines made by Sachs, Cooper imported the motorcycles into the United States and sold them as Cooper motorcycles beginning in early 1973. [2] Cooper produced an Enduro 250 cc model designed by Malcolm Smith using an engine based on a Yamaha two-stroke engine in addition to other bikes.

Although the motorcycles were initially well received, they soon developed a reputation for poor quality due to metallurgy failures, poor quality fiberglass parts and deficient quality control during the manufacturing process. [2] Although Cooper addressed most of the reliability issues, the brand's poor reputation persisted. [2] Cooper was also unable to manufacture motorcycles at prices low enough to compete against Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. [2] The combination of a poor reputation along with a higher than anticipated price caused the company to cease operations after producing approximately 1,200 motorcycles. [2]

Buyout and rebranding

The Cooper motorcycle brand was then purchased by Southern California Yamaha distributor, Don Jones who renamed the brand Ammex. [1] [4] [5] [6] Their intent was to achieve sales success by having Jones' son, three-time motocross national champion Gary Jones compete aboard the motorcycles. [1] The Jones family significantly improved the Ammex over the previous Cooper model. Jones competed on an Ammex motorcycle during the 1976 250cc motocross national championship with his best result being a 10th place at the Sears Point race. [7] However, the brand failed when the Mexican peso was devalued in 1976. [1] [4]

Moto Islo

Moto Islo also made a trials motorcycle from 1971 to 1975 called GRM (Grapevine Racing Motors) that was imported to the United States, for Bill Grapevine, who designed the bike. The Islo manufacturing facilities and name were bought by Honda around 1982. [1] Since 2000, the brand has resurfaced in the Mexican market under the ownership of Moto Road S.A. de C.V.; the same company that currently owns the Carabela motorcycle brand.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aprilia</span> Italian motorcycle manufacturer

Aprilia is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded immediately after World War II in Noale, Italy, by Alberto Beggio. The company started as a manufacturer of bicycles and moved on to manufacture scooters and small-capacity motorcycles. In more recent times Aprilia has produced large sportbikes such as the 1,000 cc V-twin RSV Mille and the V4 RSV4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motocross</span> Off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits

Motocross is a form of off-road motorcycle racing held on enclosed off-road circuits. The sport evolved from motorcycle trials competitions held in the United Kingdom.

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese mobility manufacturer that produces motorcycles, motorboats, outboard motors, and other motorized products. The company was established in the year 1955 upon separation from Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. and is headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan. The company conducts development, production and marketing operations through 109 consolidated subsidiaries as of 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jawa Moto</span> Czech motorcycle & machinery company

JAWA is a motorcycle and moped manufacturer founded in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1929 by František Janeček, who bought the motorcycle division of Wanderer. The name JAWA was established by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer. In the past, especially in the 1950s, JAWA was one of the top motorcycle manufacturers and exported its 350 model to over 120 countries. The best known model was the 350 Pérák, and in the 1970s the 350 Californian. It appeared in typical black and red coloring from the US to New Zealand. After 1990 a significant loss of production occurred. A successor company was formed in 1997 in Týnec nad Sázavou, continuing the name as JAWA Moto.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Types of motorcycles</span>

In the market, there is a wide variety of types of motorcycles, each with unique characteristics and features. Models vary according to the specific needs of each user, such as standard, cruiser, touring, sports, off-road, dual-purpose, scooters, etc. Often, some types like sport touring are considered as an additional category or integrated with touring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Husaberg</span> Motorcycle company

Husaberg was a manufacturer of enduro motorcycles with four and two-stroke engines, the displacements ranging from 125 cc to 650 cc. Originally based in Sweden, its motorcycles were later manufactured in Austria by parent company KTM until the line was retired in 2014.

Penton was a rebadged American brand of off-road enduro motorcycles designed by John Penton and manufactured by KTM in Austria for distribution in the United States between 1968 and 1978.

ATK is an American motorcycle and all-terrain vehicle company founded in 1985 and located in Centerville, Utah, USA. As of 2016, it has been operating primarily to support previously sold models through parts and service manual distribution. While ATK was initially founded on in-house chassis designs and modified sourced engines, the brand has primarily focused on acquisition and badge-engineered models from multiple companies worldwide since 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heikki Mikkola</span> Finnish motorcycle racer

Heikki Antero Mikkola is a Finnish former professional motocross racer and motocross team manager. He competed in the Motocross World Championships from 1967 to 1979, most prominently as a member of the Husqvarna factory racing team where he became the first competitor to win both the 250cc and 500cc world championships.

Brad Lackey is an American former professional motocross racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1970 to 1972 and, in the Motocross World Championships from 1973 to 1982. Lackey was notable for becoming the first and only American to win the 500cc motocross world championship in 1982. Nicknamed "Bad Brad", Lackey was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and, in 2013 he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SWM (motorcycles)</span> Italian motorcycle manufacturer

SV.VM was an Italian motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1971 by Piero Sironi and Fausto Vergani. Based in Milan, SWM manufactured Observed Trials, Enduro, Motocross and off-road motorcycles in the 1970s and 1980s. They started with small capacity Sachs engined enduro bikes and began making Rotax engined trials bikes in 1977. The other main manufacturers at this time included Fantic Motor, Bultaco and Montesa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Česká zbrojovka Strakonice</span> Czech industrial manufacturer

Česká zbrojovka a.s. is a Czech company producing forklifts Desta and components for the automobile industry, it is former firearms manufacturer, also known for making ČZ motorcycles. ČZ was established as a branch of the Škoda Works Armament in Strakonice, Czechoslovakia in September 1919.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ossa (motorcycle)</span> Spanish motorcycle manufacturer

Ossa was a Spanish motorcycle manufacturer which was active from 1924 to 1982 and from 2010 to 2015. Founded by Manuel Giró, an industrialist from Barcelona, Ossa was best known for lightweight, two-stroke-engined bikes used in observed trials, motocross and enduro. The company was known originally as Orpheo Sincronic Sociedad Anónima (O.S.S.A.) and was later renamed Maquinaria Cinematográfica, S.A..

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can-Am motorcycles</span> Canadian brand of motor vehicles

Can-Am is a Canadian subsidiary of Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) founded in 1972 and based in Valcourt, Quebec. The company produced off-road motorcycles from 1972 to 1987. In 1997, the company was reformed and began production of ATV vehicles as well as the Can-Am Spyder three-wheeled motorcycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamaha WR450F</span> Type of motorcycle

The Yamaha WR450F is an off-road motorcycle made by Yamaha Motor Company. It currently has a 450 cc (27 cu in) liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. First offered in 1998 at 400cc, it shared many components and design concepts with the YZ400F motocross model. It is basically the racing YZ450F detuned slightly for more controllable power, with a headlight and lighting coil, softer suspension, a kickstand, lower noise specifications, larger radiators and lower emissions. The WR in the name indicates a wide-ratio gear box common to most enduro or trail bikes and stands in contrast to the close-ratio gearbox essential to a motocross racer. Over the years the WR has benefited from the advances made in the YZ motocross version gaining displacement and advancements such as an aluminum frame and improved suspension. Over much of its life the weight of the WR450F has remained fairly constant ranging from 244 to 249 pounds dry weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Husqvarna Motorcycles</span> Swedish motorcycle manufacturer

Husqvarna Motorcycles GmbH is a Swedish company which designs, engineers, manufactures and distributes motocross, enduro, supermoto and street motorcycles.

Gary Jones is an American former professional motocross and desert racer. He competed in the AMA Motocross Championships from 1971 to 1976. Jones is notable for winning the inaugural AMA 250cc motocross national championship in 1972. Jones then successfully defended his national championship in 1973 and 1974, winning three consecutive 250cc motocross national championships while competing on three different brands of motorcycles, a feat which has never been repeated in AMA motocross history. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph Motorcycles Ltd</span> UK-owned motorcycle manufacturer

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd is the largest UK-owned motorcycle manufacturer, established in 1983 by John Bloor after the original company Triumph Engineering went into receivership. The new company, initially called Bonneville Coventry Ltd, continued Triumph's lineage of motorcycle production since 1902. They have major manufacturing facilities in Thailand.

The 1973 AMA Motocross Championship season was the 2nd AMA Motocross National Championship season.

The 1974 AMA Motocross Championship season was the 3rd AMA Motocross National Championship season.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Classic Motocross Iron: 1973 Cooper 250 Enduro". motocrossactionmag.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Retrospective: Cooper 250 Enduro: 1973-1975". ridermagazine.com. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  3. "Boom Time: American Motocross in the 1970s". motorcyclemuseum.org. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Gary Jones at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame". motorcyclemuseum.org. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  5. "Don Jones: Motocross Icon". dirtbikemagazine.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  6. "Godspeed! Don Jones (1924-2008)". motocrossactionmag.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  7. "Gary Jones career statistics". racerxonline.com. Retrieved 15 November 2018.