Cooper (motorcycles)
Encyclopedia
Cooper was a brand of off-road motorcycle
s made in Mexico
using engine parts made in Italy
and later, engines made by Sachs
. Imported into the United States
in the early 1970s by Frank Cooper and sold as Cooper. Frank Cooper was a dealer for Maico
when he contracted with Mexican motorcycle company, Islo to produce an Enduro
and also a motocross
model. Cooper made a "street legal"Enduro 250 cc bike using a Yamaha 250 2 cycle engine in addition to other bikes. The design was by Malcolm Smith. It had some inherent issues as it came from the factory as the drive sprocket was too large causing the chain to wear into the engine case. While the bike handled well, it wasn't up to the standards of the Suzuki TM250 or Huskys of the same time period. The workmanship was substandard (former dealer in 1973)
Islo also made a trials bike from 1971 - 1975 called GRM (Grapevine Racing Motors) that was imported to the USA, for Bill Grapevine, who designed the bike. Islo also supplied the engines for California's Jones Motorsports who had the AMMEX motorcycle franchise. The Islo manufacturing facilities and name were bought by Honda around 1982. 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.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
s made in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
using engine parts made in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and later, engines made by Sachs
Sachs Motorcycles
Sachs Motorcycles is a German based motorcycle manufacturer, founded in 1886 in Schweinfurt as Schweinfurter Präzisions-Kugellagerwerke Fichtel & Sachs, formerly known as Fichtel & Sachs, Mannesmann Sachs and later just Sachs....
. Imported into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the early 1970s by Frank Cooper and sold as Cooper. Frank Cooper was a dealer for Maico
Maico
For the manga series, see Maico 2010.Maicowerk A.G. was founded in 1926, originally assembling 98 and 123 cc Ilo two stroke motors. After World War II the West German motorcycle manufacturer began producing its own unit construction two stroke engines, selling engines and complete motorcycles...
when he contracted with Mexican motorcycle company, Islo to produce an Enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
and also a motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
model. Cooper made a "street legal"Enduro 250 cc bike using a Yamaha 250 2 cycle engine in addition to other bikes. The design was by Malcolm Smith. It had some inherent issues as it came from the factory as the drive sprocket was too large causing the chain to wear into the engine case. While the bike handled well, it wasn't up to the standards of the Suzuki TM250 or Huskys of the same time period. The workmanship was substandard (former dealer in 1973)
Islo also made a trials bike from 1971 - 1975 called GRM (Grapevine Racing Motors) that was imported to the USA, for Bill Grapevine, who designed the bike. Islo also supplied the engines for California's Jones Motorsports who had the AMMEX motorcycle franchise. The Islo manufacturing facilities and name were bought by Honda around 1982. 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.