Basket Cases

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

Chippy, that cross bar pad is awesome, you want to look after the Lady who made that

Seeing as we are in sharing and revealing, here is a photo of Donna ' s Conondale bike:

[Mark K]

I used to think that bike was invisible till today, but maybe I was just mesmerized. Is post-hypnotic suggestion a real thing?

[David Lahey]

Here is the unrestored OSSA MAR that Robert Gough brought along to the OSSA-themed Twinshock Masters for us to enjoy. He did tell me where it came from but I don't remember exactly - Lightning Ridge maybe? Broken Hill?

[David Lahey]

Note the Pirelli MT13 front tyre which probably indicates that it hasn't been ridden since some time in the 1980s

[David Lahey]

OK here are some photos taken at Conondale and quiz for OSSA trainspotters.
The defining components of the OSSA models can be seen here - the things that help people tell which model a particular MAR is.
When we were setting the bikes up for the photos, Chippy was adamant that we had to park them in chronological order (there is always someone). Unfortunately for Chippy, at least one of the OSSAs in the photo is a bit of a mixture of models. In the photo there are OSSA MAR models from 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 represented. The end bikes (Mark Keenan's 1973 and Robert Gough's 1976) appear to have pretty much the right bits.
See who (except Chippy) can pick what is a bit out of place on any of these bikes

[Rod]

David, just how pedantic should we be. Re: flat sprockets,paint jobs,carbies,seats etc,etc. One thing that does stand out to me, Sorry Chippy,is the early model flat bottom forks on your 350 MAR. David, is that what you were searching for?

[Rod]

Hang on, It's the front bash plate mounting brackets on David's bike and split in outer top head fin!

[David Lahey]

I'm not interested in accuracy in restoration, it's the things that differentiate the model years that I am looking for, so not interested in seat covers, tyres, sprocket spacers or carbies.
Yes the flat fork bottoms on Chippy's bike mean something, but what?
Rod did you look really really closely at my front bashplate mounts? Yes they are still the wrong way around, but I think there is something else (that I didn't notice until after the trial)

[Greg Harding]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not interested in accuracy in restoration, it's the things that differentiate the model years that I am looking for, so not interested in seat covers, tyres, sprocket spacers or carbies.
Yes the flat fork bottoms on Chippy's bike mean something, but what?
Rod did you look really really closely at my front bashplate mounts? Yes they are still the wrong way around, but I think there is something else (that I didn't notice until after the trial)

David, Excellent photos as usual!
I was so impressed with Mark's kickstart holder that I had to copy it, however I still banged my knee on it every time I crouched down to ride uphill!

Rod, you have a very keen eye!

[Rod]

I'm stumped, all I know at this point is that mk1's had the full green stripe, shorter swingarm with wrap around guide and different tensioner, diff forks, diff carb and attachment, diff seat. Mk1's being <1974. I'm trying hard to figure this out!