bambam_n_chunx Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Having a little trouble identifying this ossa, I`ve seen some pics of other canti-lever bikes but none have the bend in the seat stay above the brake cable stop. I`ts obviously recently had some restoration work and I`m hoping to find out who did the work and hopefully trace its history. I bought it in Leeds and the seats been recovered by dlc so guess its a local bike. I`ve added some pics and with any luck someone might recognise the bike and help with leads. I guess it would have been registered for road use at some point and I`d like to to trace its reg through previous owners etc. i know its a rare bike so would think someone must have seen it about and I`d be grateful for any help at all, just to know some of the bikes history would be good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big john Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Eric Cheney, Aldershot built cantilever Ossas back in the 1970's, not very many just about 4 or 5 but I don't know if they were accepted by Ossa as a development model officially. Geoff Guy rode a cantilever and so did Keith Horsman from Silsden. Other than that, I don't know much about them as I wasn't at a trial other than the SSDT when they were being ridden. I'm sure Sammy Miller obtained one that had never been started at all and he was keen to keep it that way. I haven't been to Sammy's museaum so can't comment as to whether he still has it. 1975 rings a bell time wise, as Mick Andrews had a Yamaha OW10 with cantilever rear suspension. Big John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Im not too sure about this but thought I saw john reynolds on one practising in 78 ish in rosedale, would that be possible? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 They were using them from 74/75. Cheney converted some Ossa frames and also built some of his own. Keith Horsman also built some cantilever frames, for the later type MARs. Some Grippers were also converted. This bike is a real mystery as the engine number doesn't tie up with Ossa's numbering system, although the number on one of my bikes that has matching numbers doesn't appear in Ossa's numbering system either. The frame doesn't resemble a MAR anywhere and definitely didn't start out as a Gripper frame, which is what the chassis number suggests. I think you're only going to solve this mystery by finding someone who has owned the bike previously. I think JR had started riding the SWM for Holdens by '78 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel dabster Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 sorry 76 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinshock giles Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Has it got a keith Horsman reed valve conversion on it as well - that might agree with the local angle, (i think mine is marked on the reed block somewhere) someone has obviously spent some time on it at some point. Its interesting if nothing else - what does it ride like compared to a MAR? Giles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bambam_n_chunx Posted November 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 There's no reed valve but what looks like a conversion to fit the mk11 Amal carb. I'm yet to ride it as I'm still waiting to get an air box made for it although I've just replaced the swing arm bushes and refitted the sump plate. The fact someone has spent some time tidying it recently is why I thought it might be recognised although the lad I bought it off said it had stood in his garage a long time as he couldn't start it. It does run very well now that I've fitted the missing crank seals and fitted the missing clutch centre nut. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goudrons Posted November 14, 2014 Report Share Posted November 14, 2014 (edited) That's a Mk1 barrel as they had a flange on the barrel to fit the carb (that had a flange) Mk2's and 3's had a stub from the barrel and pipe to attach the carb (that had a stub) Seems someone's had a go at mixing and matching! For an airbox, you could follow the style of the Gripper. That was basically a bolt on to the back of the carb filter with a plastic box around it. Just source a foam, bolt on pitbike filter from Ebay and make/fit a box around it to keep the sh*t off. Edited November 14, 2014 by goudrons 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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