Tigershell - and all the other harbingers of doom, I have gone down the road of modifying, repairing and rebuilding bikes, I have also used excellent new bikes (ktm 950 for instance - that never really let me down despite the doubters at the time) but why cant we all be happy that someone is really making an effort to build a bike that to all intensive purposes does not exist off the shelf since the ktm 640 adventure dissapeared - to fit a very small market - no one is forcing any of you to buy it but at least its an option if you so choose - why so many negatives and very few positives - maybe it has some compromises maybe it does not, But look overall a small lightweight bike with descent power output and a very good power to weight ratio, built not as a total trial bike but as something with some ability to cross over as a small adventure bike ( I know there are doubters that it can do it - but if a BMW 1200 or chinese/jap/italian step through 50cc moped can be traveled on then I am sure this bike can - like I say they can all travel to the shops or round the world but its just different choices some like brown horses others like cream ones and some like donkeys - does it really matter thats what makes everyone different - I am looking to buy the ccm simply because I like the look of it, I love the enthusiasm and openess of all the staff at the factory, i love the features they have put on it as standard, (three tanks, excellent suspension, a very good chassis good brakes a fairly well proven engine ( Fair enough set up and re mapped but originally from a short stroke enduro engine) you all knock the engine - why ? I cant comment I wont test ride one till 19 july - but I am sure KYMCO who actually make the engine are not as bad as many seem to make out ( check out the company profile I didnt read anything about making gearboxes out of cheese or gaskets from cardboard boxes) CCM have been using it for some time to get it to where they are with it at present. But I have little doubt that the kymco /BMW derived engine will certainly be of a reasonable build and quality standard and may i suggest as well made as many other engines on the market. Depending on the way CCM have set it up to run in this particular machine is still an unknown but they are at least open enough to offer test rides and are having a press examination of the bike as well as factory visits and days and so yes its an unknown but one with a huge sense of honesty , openess and confidence from the factory, the staff and the director who incidently you can actually pick up the phone to and speak to directly he has not chosen to hide behind a massive press machine. They have reached out and asked - what do you want and within reason and price they have tried to build something to fit. If the bike rides well and I feel it fits me and my needs I will leave my deposit in place if not I wont ( that is another option that was offered a refundable deposit on the strength of the bike being what they say). Oh bye the way I also ride an Indian Enfield (Infield) and yes it does a job - like your budget workhorses - but and there is a big BUT - the Infield is very slow, basic and uncomfortable in its own way a fun bike, of dubious build quality poor chassis and suspension but I am sure if my old bones could cope I could ride as far as i would on any other bike including the ccm - On the Infield it would take longer, I would need to stop and work on it a bit more and I may end up broken down with no spares back up but then again I do not think it would be my bike of choice any more than a 50cc chinese made workhorse as a machine to set off anywhere too distant to be honest. I will leave that to the eccentric madmen amongst us. On that note anyone heard from Birdy recently?