I have been following this thread and all other news relating to this upcoming CCM as imho they have really created my ideal of what an "adventure bike" should be and are building something that's truly innovative and against the current trend of big and heavy. I went last weekend to Bagshot (UK) where CCM had organised a day of test riding on and off road of their prototypes. There were two bikes available to test : one with a regular seat height (890mm) and one with a low seat height (790mm). I rode the low seat height (I'm 5'5" and 890mm is too tall for me) and wanted to share my observations.

1) Bike looks better in the flesh than on photos. It has something graceful, elegant about it.
2) It was a prototype so difficult to judge fit and finish.
3) The (potentially worrisome) mix of off the shelf and custom components feels very high quality (and goes a long way to justifying the price). It's much more qualitative than, say, a BMW G650GS.
4) Engine is punchy (but also slightly vibey). Fuel injection mapping still needs some work as very snatchy at low revs.
5) All the promise of lightweight joy comes true and with the very stiff bonded chassis, this bike handles telepathically. Fantastic handling both on and off road. I truly loved it !!! Great upright riding position with bars positioned perfectly for comfort but also for standing on the pegs.

All in all a fantastic bike and a lot of fun to ride.

What truly sets it apart for me though are the people from CCM who were there to show it. Real pride and passion in what they were building shared with a real desire to get customer feedback so that they could build the very best bike possible (and accessories to go with it, their soft luggage prototype was amazing). It just felt very different to the corporate marketing hoopla we get from all the big bike manufacturers. I don't know any manufacturers that allow prospective customers to ride their prototypes with the aim of getting feedback whilst promoting the product. The experience was so good, I felt I owed it to them to share (hence my very first post on HUBB).

That's an excellent contribution to the HUBB and

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Dave

+1.

Welcome and thanks.

You dont work/own CCM do you??

Hhahha only joking good post

No I don't. I wish ...

Did make me laugh though

790mm seat height eh???

Dear Santa...

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ShortWayRound - OTR RTW since 2006

Photo Galleries

ShortWayRound/Facebook

hahahahahahahahaha

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another teaser clip from ccm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...8&noredirect=1

Shame CCM were unable to come to Danny's gig at Hagg's Bank last weekend as they originally said they would.

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

I had a CCM 604 E it was the worst bike I have ever owned a complete let down, I have no doubt in my mind that if I had spent a grand less on a brand new Honda XR 400 I would still be riding it now.

CCM were full of passion back in 1999, hey they even got a bike to the end of the Dakar!!!!! how many spares they used to do this is not worth considering.

Where do I start when it ran it was a loveable beast, but when it didint which was often it was a pig; Bad electrics, bad engine some good components suspension etc but they just didnt gel as a whole package.

I think the suzuki engines and electrics helped but then they started knocking out cheap chineese junk.

I like the look of the new bike but I wouldnt waste your money and more so time. You can buy a rally kit for Yamaha 450's and they make more power and are more reliable.

I would sooner ride a 2.5 k used Honda anywhere and know that it can be fixed easily in most places.

or just get a good XR400 which is what I should have done back in '99 !!! don't believe all the hype, it's funny how all that passion disapears when your bike gives up in the Pico's and suddenly the factory couldnt give a flying £$&*

I really would hate for anyone to waste their hard earned money, I bought a TTR 250 when I got rid of the CCM, yeah it want as fancy or trick looking but dyou know what it worked and it kept on working and it still brings a smile to my face.

There is a reason they went bust last time, do you really want to be part of the next mess. Good luck getting the electronic suspension fixed by your average back street mechanic.

If I lived next door to the factory I would still ride anything else

I HATE to agree this posting.....

But sadly, I do agree with it.

CCM have A LOT of work to do to repair a very poor reputation of reliability and poor long term after sales support.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Ted, cheers I hate to post it but I supported what was a British firm back in 1999, I spent my hard earned money and all I got was shattered dreams.

I would hate for others to do the same.

I still want CCM to do well and prove me wrong but I guess only time will tell with that.

Why take the risk, when the risk could be your trip of a lifetime.

Wow so many negatives - your bad experience is awful. At CCM the company has changed hopefully for the better - the asset strippers and bean counters from the 90's have gone the family are back in charge they need to get this right or they will sink and I wish them well. I recall someone called SKODA had a similar problem with quality, reliability, products and performance back in the late 80s early 90's look at them now. The chinese motorcycle companies also had and have huge problems of quality and image - but they are changing and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Look at things the other way round, BMW once the stalwart of quality, simplicity reliability and performance are now largely overpriced, lacking in quality and sales are led by marketing strategy harking back to the history and the days of old but not in essence for some of the overpriced, underdeveloped overweight trinkets they pour out of the factory now. I've ridden Italian bike most of my biking life, and all i hear is how bad they from everyone but you know I can't really think of an Italian bike I have owned that was so bad that I would slag it or the factory off or never want to own again. Yes they have had issues and foibles but they have been forgiven ( very big rose tinted specs here) - so with that in mind and my finances somewhat scorched I have had to drop the idea of the ccm and have just bought an elefant - which I think is the perfect harmony of a bike built with passion by men with a big heart but maybe a failing bankroll, good components maybe put together badly with not so good wiring - just to give it enough foibles to make it interesting.

VW bought Skoda. Skoda make rebadged VWs. I'm sure if Honda or BMW took over CCM they could produce something reliable(Honda)/that the customer wants (BMW).

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Brighty's website: TheBrightStuffDotCom

CURRENT RR WITH REGULAR UPDATES: The Wife Takes on Chlamydia: A South American Retrospective

Likewise CCM was owned during the 90's and up to 2005 by the Robson family owned company( when STUXTTTR bought his bike ). The original Family son Austin Clews Bought back the factory and name after it had been run down, asset stripped and was no longer a viable concern he has started a fresh, re invested very heavily in the company - New ownership, new tooling, new ideas, a more focused direction and a will to be customer led. And still they are kicked before they stand up. Comparing CCM now and CCM circa 1990 is a bit like Skoda 1990 and VW / Skoda 2013 or triumph meridan and Mr Bloors Triumph. (Maybe on a somewhat smaller scale). Its a shame no one will give them a chance and judge the bikes and the company after they have been going a year or two. I mean to say how many of Mr hondas machines have pailed into insignificance cos they were crap - too many to remember, yes he has had good ones but a fair share of failures. in fact this is a quote from the man himself - Soichiro Honda, the founder of Honda said, ‘Many people dream of success. Success can only be achieved through repeated failure and introspection. Success represents the 1 per cent of your work that results from the 99 per cent that is called failure.’ maybe this can be re applied to CCM. Think positive.