The Cooper brand was launched in 1972 by Frank Cooper in Burbank, California. Frank Cooper had previously worked as an importer for the Spanish brand Maico (West Maico).

The creation of his own brand was a direct response to differences with the Maico factory. Cooper wanted to offer a motorcycle that closed the gap between the expensive European competition machines and the heavier Japanese models. He designed the concept in the USA and had the machines manufactured by Moto Islo in Saltillo, Mexico. The first model, the Cooper 250 Enduro, was launched at the end of 1972.

References

• White, Tom: Early Years of Motocross Museum – documentation on the Cooper 250 and Frank Cooper's role as Maico distributor.
• Motorcycle Classics: Article on the history of Mexican and US off-road collaborations (The Cooper 250).
• Dirt Bike Magazine (1973 archive): Contemporary test report and company profile on the market launch.

After only two years, the project was discontinued. The Jones family bought the brand and used the enduro bike designed by Frank Cooper as a prototype for the first Jones-Islo (the name was later changed to Ammex).