Electric Concept Motor, The Voguish Ossa Monocasco
Active for a very brief period from 1924 to 1982, OSSA (Orpheo Sincronic Sociedad Anónima) first made movie projectors and then shifted to being a motorcycle manufacturer only in 1949 that was best known for producing lightweight, two-stroke-engined bikes used in observed trials, motocross, and enduro.
Paying tribute to the brand and the OSSA 250 Monocasc GP motorcycle, the folks at a Barcelona design company concocted an electric concept bike that according to my tastes is the most soothing looking thing ever made on two wheels. It is almost as if your eyes can just flow over those curves. It’s called the Monocasco.
Although both the bike and the rider showed potential (winning four 250 cc Grands Prix), tragedy struck when Santiago died in a crash while he piloted the bike on the Isle of Man TT in 1970.
The makers were so disturbed, that after the incidence, they pulled back from all motorsports activity. After some time, the arrival of Japanese motorcycles created financial troubles, and the Spaniard had to shut shop in 1977.
Giving Santiago Herrero a big salute, ART-TIC TEAM, a Barcelona based design firm have created an electric motorcycle concept, Monocasco and is based on the OSSA 250 Monocasc. Built more to be a Cafe-Racer than a road racing warrior, the folks at ART-TIC have given a full fairing design a whole new meaning.
Unlike most motorcycles, the OSSA 250 was designed with an external frame rather than an internal skeleton surrounded by the chassis. This made the bike very light albeit the less powerful engine. The same concept can also be seen on the Monocasco’s single-shell bodywork.
It starts strong with the large headlight unit commanding the entire presence of the bike. Just like the monocoque chassis, this Monocasco has a unique single unit bodywork that shows no edges and wraps all the internal elements of the bike within the beautiful casing.
Custom made aluminum wheels are wrapped around with fat rubber and get neat looking fenders at both ends. Two motors clubbed at both hubs power the wheels via batteries hidden under the bodywork. Nothing much can be said about the braking and suspension setup, but it is all there.
The makers decided the paintjob scheme on the “bring-kids-to-work” day and had their kids go bonkers with their sketchbook. Giving fashionable contrasts, the main fairing has a small detachable unit with leather straps on the top that gets graffiti and designs of all kinds on a completely different color.
The custom handlebars get leather grips and have a brushed aluminum take along with the simple yet elegant side-stand and pegs.
This bike was probably created to just throw your leg up the stand, grab a cup of coffee and sit on a chair only to stare at it, and you’d be no less disappointed. This electric motorcycle is two-wheel art. The No.8 decal represents Santiago’s number on his GP bike, and the rear wheel sees spades all around.
For this, and this alone, I don’t mind trying to like the electric generation of motorcycles. I agree this would probably be the least comfortable bike, given that piece of ribbed and curved wood just stuck there. But it is the best looking one out there.
