They sent me a pdf brochure which I've put on my website with a couple of snapshots.

Ch



CCM GP450 Adventure Bike brochure | Adventure Motorcycling Handbook

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Morocco Overland 4 pre-order for Xmas • Trans Morocco Trail

Chinese Cheese Machine..........no thanks! Overpriced, unproven and a poor pedigree

KTM or not, I'll stick to my 690!

I very nearly bought a CCM 644 years ago, I think that the idea is good, as Colebatch says, the 450 engines have come a long way and FI is nothing to be scared of these days, but if im not mistaken this bike has an aluminium frame, great for racing, but not IMO any good for loading up with gear and rattling it over endless corrogations/washboard in remote areas.

I remember early Lotus vehicles too, components were made to be super lightweight and just strong enough to last a few years, or to the end of a race....most of the time they didnt even make it that far.

Dont get me wrong, I would love to see CCM doing well and time will tell if they have a good product, but I wont be lining up to buy the first bikes off the production line....

There are definitely quite a few manufacturers engine designs out there that could do with overhauling/lightening, for example lots DR650 owners in North America are fitting their bikes with 790 kits with FI systems (Electrons), modified heads, cranks, HC pistons, RMZ 450 front ends etc etc....and so many old design 650 thumpers need a 6th gear, its time the manufacturers woke up and adapted to the requirements of their customers

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Cheers
Grif

'11 KTM 450 EXC
'09 Suzuki DR650
'00 Discovery Series 2 V8
'95 Defender 90 300 Tdi Overlander
http://gipperstravels.blogspot.ca

I'm actually liking the look of that CCM a lot!
However, at 8 thousand - imho no point at all bying a brand new bike for the purpose of thrashing it offroad at, occasionally dropping, scratching, cracking plastics etc...

Guess it's a matter of someone being brave and just taking it out in the wild for the first time, thoroughly testing in the REAL world. (Hint - remember Colebatch and his X-challenge. How many of us even heard of that bike beforehand? I for sure didn't.)
Until that - all is only guesswork.

The idea, however, of a factory - ready, or at least very nearly ready adventure bike, is great! So far, seems like only the Tenere 660 fits that bill, in my opinion....

For the life of me, I can't understand why KTM haven't produced a replacement for the 640 adventure. You know a proper touring bike with fuel range and a decent sub frame for carrying loads and a comfortabke seat.
Not like the 690, which is totally useless as far as I am concerned.

Basically I want the 690 motor in the 640 chassis.

That CCM looks the part and if they ever produce a 600-700cc single I am sure they would sell every one they could make.

The honest answer to that, is they didnt believe it would sell. They only sold 300 640 Adventures in the final year they had them on the market 2007 ... globally. 300 bikes a year in a global market isnt enough to justify designing, testing, building a new bike. KTM's strategy before the crisis was to be Europes biggest bike builder ... to outmanufacture BMW, who build over 100,000 bikes a year. Designing a new bike that might sell 500 bikes a year, if you are lucky, globally, is not really going to help that strategy much. It just was never a priority.

The other manufacturers obviously agree ... none of the other major manufacturers has built a single cylinder dedicated adventure bike in the last 20 years with the exception of Yamaha's reborn Tenere.

I am sure KTM would have gotten round to it, but then the crisis him them badly, strategy changed to survival, R&D spending was slashed, racing sponsorship budgets were slashed, 300 people were let go from the factory, and developing a 690 Adventure would not have been on the list of key vital projects designed to keep the company afloat - whereas FI for the enduro bikes, and an 1190 Adventure to take on BMW were key survival projects.

I imagine now they have a bit more financial breathing room (KTM's share price is almost back up to where it was in 2008 - after falling 75-80% in 2009), developing a adventure bike based on the 690 is probably something they will be looking at again - whether they commit the funding to it is another story. But at least they can look at it now.

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The obvious question, that no one seems to have asked yet. Walter, would you take one with you next time you head out into the wilds?

Obviously basing your bike choice on press releases and spec sheets is a little foolish, but is it at least on your "must have a good look and a long test ride" list? And if not, why not?

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Absolutely ... I would love to have a look at it and take it for a long test ride. A 130 kg adventure bike will be able to reach and stimulate places other adventure bikes cant. The big question is how this particular bike is in reality vs theory. I certainly have my preferences, and I still feel a 650 single is a bit more all purpose and flexible than a 450. I would love to see Rotax design and build a new 650 cc single that had a wide six speed box, and weighed under 40 kgs, but designing and tooling a factory for a new engine isnt cheap, and rejigging an existing light 450 single may work well. I would want to see what, if anything they have done to the gearbox. A wide ratio box is a must for me on an adventure bike (you need to be able to cruise on motorways as well as crawl at walking pace), and a wide 6 is better than a wide 5. In my mind, a light 60 hp 650cc bike with a very wide ratio 6 speed box truly can do it all. But to date, we dont have that engine / gearbox combo from anyone. Let alone in a light bike.

The most interesting aspect for me, is if this bike works, and CCM can sell as many as they want, then it forces proper manufacturers with real resources to throw at it - like KTM / Husqvarna - to look at lightweight adventure bikes. Its that side of things that has me hoping this bike is a success for CCM.

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I assume that the 130kg weight mentioned is a dry weight?

Have BMW increased the oil capacity from when the engine was fitted to the G450X?

I'm surprised that CCM have not used the 6-speed Husqvarna version of this engine as fitted to the TE449 enduro bike.

In G450X trim, I think it only produced 52bhp when in the full power mode and when fitted with the race can. In basic trim it made 41bhp which was still plenty in a 120kg bike.

The GP450 is not for me but if you were looking to buy a new bike and then convert it the same spec as the GP450, you'd certainly spend a lot more than £8,000. You only have to see what it costs to convert a 690 to a similar spec. Even if you buy a used bike, with decent aftermarket tanks costing between £350 - £700, it doesn't take long for costs to spiral, especially if you're paying someone else to put it all together.

I wish CCM luck with this new venture and would like to see it in the flesh soon.

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My photos: www.possu.smugmug.com

Yes, dry weight. External oil reservoir.

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

Interesting 'accessories' like a crate. Can't say i've seen their soft luggage before. Looks like welded poly. Like the water carrier as well.

Since my XC was written off earlier in the year I've had trouble getting a hardon for any other bike. I've looked at WR250R's and maybe an old Super Enduro, but nothing getting my heart pumping. I've been hoping Yamaha might release details of a WR450R, so seeing this I have to say I'm really keen. I've owned a CCM SM before and had absolutely no issue with, unlike my KTM's and Beemers, so the heritage doesn't put me off. And being in Australia I'm obviously going to have to pay through the roof for a new or used bike so this price seems fair to me. Where do I sign up?

Also....Hi Taco

Dave? Written off???

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Hey Walter - long time no speak. Yeah she's gone I'm afraid. Repairs to the water pipes at my apartment block were less than successful. A contractor damaged the pipes flooding the garage with about 5 ft of water, writing off 25 cars, 6 bikes and believe it or not a couple of boats which were strapped to trailers.

The XC was written off due to was water damage to fuse box, ECU, starter system and ingress into most of the electrics. The chassis, engine, shocks, forks, wheels and all Erik's parts are fine. Will have to check it out down the line but I'm thinking I might be able to salvage some of the parts, maybe transplant the WP48's and the top part of the x-rack get back up to speed without having a massive outlay or needing to bolt on heaps of custom parts.

I spoke to CCM last night and they're still looking at September for the bike to come off the production line, but they still dont have any dealers lined up for the AU or US. Maybe I should just ride one back from Blighty