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.