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Ossa and the evolution of its trial bikes

12/01/2013
Trialworld

In 1928, the Giró family founded the company Orfeo Sincronic S.A. (OSSA), dedicated to the manufacture of sound material for the film industry, as well as cinematographic machinery such as projectors, reaching a market share of more than 60% of the national market for this type of equipment.
After some time, Manuel Giró, a great fan of mechanics, reached an agreement with another Spanish businessman, Ricardo Soriano, who ran one of the most prestigious companies dedicated to the manufacture of outboard engines at the time.
The first OSSA models were fitted with engines and gearboxes made in England. In 1942, the first prototype with a 125cc Villiers engine and a power of 4 hp was presented, incorporating a three-speed gearbox.

Although the model was widely accepted by the people, it did not evolve due to the economic crisis in post-war Spain.
Years later, the second OSSA prototype was released, with its own engine inspired by the DKW two-stroke and with a displacement of 125cc, power of 5 hp, accompanied by a good part of the cycle with telescopic front suspension and the rear oscillating type with rubber spring in the form of pads. This model definitively went into series production and in 1951 the first units began to be sold, which obtained great success and acceptance due to their easy maintenance, good operation and reliability, generating a demand higher than the production capacity of the factory.

From the first productions of 10 units per year in 1950, it went to 3,942 motorcycles in 1955. Since its beginnings and as part of its promotion, OSSA participates in all kinds of competitions, both speed and motocross and regularity, achieving good results, in the Spanish championships, and at the international level.
From 1964, Eduardo Giró, Manuel’s son who had just completed his engineering studies, took charge of the prototype department of OSSA, radically changing the focus of the brand’s products, showing a new, sportier facet of both road and mountain models. already thinking directly about exporting it to the United States market.

As a result of this change, in 1965, the first model really studied for the mountains would be presented, the 230cc Scrambler enduro, which would actually be a trial-type motorcycle, which half a year later would be followed by the Scrambler 175-SE Trial and Enduro, varying only the power of the engine, a bike that would evolve with the help of the British rider Mike Andrews to mount a 250cc engine, Its most important feature is the innovative assembly of the electronic ignition, preventing the engine from failing when passing through wet areas, as well as being very watertight.
The revolutionary MAR, with its particular aesthetics (white with a green diagonal stripe), marked an entire era and was a bestseller. OSSA and Mick Andrews won three editions of the Scottish Six Days of Trial, and in 1971 and 1972, two European Championships. The specialized press of the time wrote in a MAR test published in December 1971 that “its finishes border on the perfect, it is the best trial bike in existence”.
Subsequently, models were developed such as the trial OSSA with which Toni Gorgot won the Spanish Championship.
In 1979, the manufacturer was finally able to breathe again thanks to a financial loan from the central administration through the National Labour Fund, which helped the OSSA company to survive after a long year of suffering to keep it afloat, although with the inevitable reduction of personnel, including managers. like Eduardo Giró himself. From this moment on, the brand of the clover will be directed by Mr. Augusto Newton and Mario Borràs.
At this time it is said that the factory will once again officially participate in the races, and that the brand’s pilots are evolving new models but after a laborious study carried out by the “Generalitat de Catalunya”, they declare the Catalan company unviable, urgently needing a reconversion, and possibly an absorption by another brand. A good option was the merger with Montesa, although after several attempts at negotiation, no agreement was finally reached, so the OSSA brand irretrievably disappeared in 1985.

OSSA RESURFACES IN 2010

After two years of rumours, Ossa rises from the ashes and returns to the two-wheeled business with enough ambition to regain the prestige of yesteryear.
Dani Oliveras was a mechanic and later an official Ossa riderThe return of the brand – one of the best-selling in the world between 1940 and 1984 and with a not inconsiderable track record on the racing circuits – began with a first step in the form of an investment of six million euros to return to the production of motorcycles.

At the moment, they are starting with a trial model, but the intention is to go ahead and produce enduro bikes, as well as re-grease the machinery and put into operation a lavish engineering, design and manufacturing centre in Girona.
“The idea had been in our heads for four years now, although it wasn’t until December 2006 that we got the brand and started to re-patent it around the world,” explains the company’s new director, Joan Gurt, who has no doubt that “the most difficult challenge has always been the relaunch of the brand.”
Ossa’s vital business continues to be the motorcycle. For this reason, in the new trial machine, named TRI 280i, the company has not skimped on technology and the highlight is the incorporation of an electronic injection system to replace the classic carburetor.

OSSA RETURNS IN 2017 WITH ELECTRIC CITY BIKES

After a hiatus, in 2014, the
Ossa brand returns to the market
focusing on the bike sector, with the help of Cool Bikes, who will be in charge of putting the brand back into operation.
The first model from Ossa Bikes, Spinta e.CP20, will go on sale in August 2017, and will start shipping in mid-September. For the time being, it will not be available in stores, but only online on the brand’s website, betting on the elimination of intermediaries, to offer bike models with more competitive prices.
Ossa Spinta e.CP20 will be a bike model that will not leave anyone indifferent. With a design with modern and urban lines, it is an electric bike, compact and very easy to carry. It has a range of 50/60 km and takes between 2.5h and 5h to charge; hydraulic brakes, display with all the necessary information, built-in light, mudguards, 3 delivery options for the electric motor, stand and up to 28 km/h top speed. A bike designed to make mobility around the city quick and easy.

TRIAL MODELS MANUFACTURED BY OSSA

OSSA MAR 250 1st Series (1972)
OSSA MAR 250 74 (1974)
OSSA MAR 350 1st Series (1975)
OSSA MAR 350 76 (1976)
OSSA MAR 250 (1977)
OSSA TR77 350/250 (1977)
OSSA TR80 350 (1980)
OSSA 303 (1983)
OSSA TR 280i (2011 – Present)
OSSA EXPLORER 280i (2012 – Present)