Youd be PERFECT !!!!

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The good thing about being not too tightly wrapped is no one takes you too seriously...not seen any nazi flying saucers taking the cash from BMW gs sales to the Antarctica...but did once see what seemed to be a few g 450x things with clutch issues at an event in South Wales in 09,I think,passed 2 on different climbs that seemed to have lost forward motion and lots of revving occurring and did see that team touratech seemed very well practiced at clutch replacement by laying bike on its side and setting about it in a hurry..probably not quite as done in the dealers but much quicker..
I've seen a 650 x or whatever its called going quite well in fairly tough going and not grinding to a halt....just a shame the 450 didn't work out..

Still can't get me head round this insistence on CCM to provide and prove the gp450 machine in the public domain argument - no one ask's mista Honda or kawasaki engineering to do such things, KTM didn't do it and still get slagged off (they were still a small company without the bigger budgets of BMW etc, - and they seem to have done fine to be honest, BMW did provide freebies and made a lot of sales but are one of the most slagged off products on this and every other site whether you like them or not, so then we all start jumping on a band wagon based on Ewan and Charlies freebies (if ever two people could afford to pay for the bikes and the travel then they are near the top of the list -Just behind me mind you) So CCM with its small factory, staff levels you can count on two hands and two feet and a budget probably less than BMWs screen development department are meant to prove the machine ( not like they have not offered teat rides , journalist rides - pre and post production and been open to visits to the factory and question staff - but you all want more and ask them to take the risk that no one else does in the manufacturing market. We have all seen them bend over backward to listen to what we wanted and within the constraints of producing a machine to try and meet that and keep it financially viable (remember they have had development costs, design and pre production costs, racing development - on the frame etc - tooling costs and then the balls to put out a bit of a one off bike to a small marketplace and still trying to keep the price realistic as well as do everything possible (more I must say than almost any manufacturer I have known) to meet customer demands - do i think they should give a freebie - no cos its been slagged off at every point before its on the road, one minor problem will be blown out of all proportion on websites and kill the bike and the company cos we all know mr honda/yam/suz and kawa along with a mirad of others have products that never fart the wrong way never mind go wrong. As for the 450 not working out we are looking at the same base of an engine re developed to do a different task to the original set up so maybe the clutch issue will be resolved by less revs, less power and not racing it. Look at any race bike in extreme conditions ( take the dakar they almost have a partial rebuild at the end of every day - the n they release a road bike and spread the servicing to 4000 miles and everyones ok with that you are comparing apples with pears here, Plenty of bikes etc in race mode race bikes burn clutches/ engines out - but in a road biased incarnation they work fine. Race engines by nature are at the extreme end of the viability, knock that stress back by 20% and you have a totally different set of parameters - thats what CCM have done they have also made other changes to soften the power delivery and ridability /reliability.

We all know the japs can get things wrong sometimes but they don't seem to get kicked in the nuts as much as the smaller brands do..then there's he fact that some bikes are simply fashionable and sell a lot of bikes on the back of it,possibly ktm and BMW for example..
The Spanish can build a fantastic 2 stoke enduro or trials bike..the gas gas,tiny company,but a superb bike built without the massive resources of some ompanys.the ktms also a good bike but they've had or borrowed the cash to pay the right riders to ride them and done a good job of marketing them.
I think if ccm had any Suzuki drz engines left over from was it the 404 things?,and put that in this gp 450 it would sell easier than with the left over BMW/kymco/husqvarna engine.
I maybe talking complete shite,but the Suzuki engine is/was a known quantity with pretty good reliability..
Bloody hell I might apply for consultancy job next week..right off to the job centre..

When you put it that way it is hard to argue! No one ever asked for feed back and suggestions as CCM did. Kudos to them for that! I really like the bike and would love to try it. Not in a rush to buy one, can't justify it for now.... And it ticks all the box, mid engine size, low weight, fuel tank capacity, offering a real low seat option.... Hat off.
Not looking for a new bike for now but when it come to replace my current bike.... And if I try it and fall in love... who know

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

The manufacturers have pee'd in this paddling pool far too often. Their under specced, untested, competition orientated products tumble onto the market and after the hype has died down we see their customers trying to fix the mess. CCM have history in this and are using a race motor with its own history. They need to do something. I understand this will be tough for a small company and if they think someone will pay them to do it that's great, give the bloke who does it the MD's mobile number and link to his blog from the company website.

If they aren't serious and want to sell to the Starbucks crowd I can understand that. There is less hassle and more profit. I will say though that the Charlie's follow the interesting rides. Get Ted or Maria or various others here about on one and others follow.

Tough decisions.

Andy

I like the bit ....customers trying to fix the mess...a very good description..much like some of the modern motor cars when they've gone tits up..

Microsoft has been selling operating systems with bugs in them for years, leaving their customers with glitchy computers that send error reports back to base after every crash. Despite this they are still hold the number one position for OS providers on computers.

What does this say about the end user? The general population will continue to buy certain products because they are classed as market leaders. Regardless of the fact that there are far better and more adept alternatives on the market, most consumers will just follow like sheep because that is what they are told is "best".

Possibly why there's lots of little orange sheep roaring around the woods at any enduro event in uk currently..?

Saw this posted by MCN on their youtube channel today.

CCM GP450 Adventure takes on rivals | Interviews | Motorcyclenews.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIv4tJUddiQ

Good to see MCN riding dirt bikes! Now they just need to get more writers who actually ride dirt bikes. Also very good to see them talk about doing RTW on lightweight ADV bikes vs. $25,000 usd BMW R1200R GSA.

Of course they liked the CCM ... but they did let slip that it's done on the highway at 50 mph. Solution? Gearing. But they left out a lot of practical day to day stuff for travel. Going RTW is not a Moto Cross race.

I'm surprised they 90% ignored the little Honda. In many parts of the world the Honda would be my choice over either of the other two. The CCM will be great when crossing Dunes, rocky tracks and tricky mountain trails.
But realistically, that sort of riding is a small percentage of the terrain over all on a long-ish RTW or continent crossing ride.

In Asia, I'm sure the Honda would be the winner... plus you can buy a NEW one in Thailand where Honda have a factory! In EU or N.America, I'd take the Yamaha Tenere'. If doing Mongolia then the CCM is the winner ... as long as you hire a Jeep to carry your camping gear and all your crap ... cause by the look of the CCM ... it may not be the best Pack Mule type bike. Dunno? :confused1:

The CCM would be a great week end or week long local ADV travel bike. I'd love to take one out to our Mojave or Black Rock Desert. The 450 is the perfect bike for that sort of terrain. But for the long road on a fully loaded bike, crossing many borders and doing thousands of miles of mundane highway ... the CCM would not be my first choice.

Just make sure you take a friend on something reliable to tow the ccm home when it let's you down! Been there done that would not risk it again

I believed all the hype first time around, should have got myself an XR

Strangely I went from an XR to a CCM to get something more reliable!

The difference in what I take for a week long trip or 6 months is minimal, the planning is different I grant you but as for carrying that much extra...no. Ask anyone who travels by foot and they'll tell you that if you take a big 100+l bag you'll fill the 100+l bag, if you take a 60l you'll take what you need, the CCM might not be as comfy on the longer stretches as a beemer or the big katy's, but if you're used to traveling light then I see no reason why it wouldn't be suitable.

No question, those with experience and expertise at traveling light, the CCM will not present packing problems. (we don't know what OTHER problems it may present ... yet! )

With bags like Giant Loop systems and similar, it can work. Or ... if like me ... one does not carry camping/cooking equip. then the load is lightened.

Sometimes even the experts pack too heavy ...

Problem is ... most Motoqueros DO NOT travel light. Many over load and over pack. Many carry camping gear they almost never use. So if one is truly adept at traveling light ... then I could see the CCM working out well ... all other unknowns set aside for the moment.

I do hope we see some brave Pioneers get out there on the CCM and really put it to the test. But for the poor masses of punters who cannot afford a $12,000 USD bike, I see more small cc Chinese enduros and Honda CRF250L's in their future.

My old DR650 is long ago paid for and if it blows, I'll unbolt the Ohlins shock and walk away. I'll buy another. I've got my money's worth ten fold already.
I have a race bike ... would never use it for travel.