If you’re lucky enough to be in Birmingham this weekend, then you’re surely walking the halls of the NEC and taking in the sights and sounds of Motorcycle Live 2023. The UK’s biggest bike show is not only a chance to view the best new motorcycles from the major manufacturers but also an opportunity for the aftermarket and innovators to show off their latest wares. At one stand, these two categories merge in the finest of styles as CCM Motorcycles has two very special machines making their debut. Based on their Tracker and Roadster models, these are the first examples of their ‘Commissioned’ service, which allows buyers to option a truly personalized beast, straight from their Bolton-based factory floor.
Since 1971 when Alan Clews opened Clews Competition Machines (CCM), the proud British manufacturer has been an innovator in all areas of the motorcycle industry. From their early years of building exquisite Trials and Scrambles machines to their groundbreaking carbon fibre-framed road racer, and all-conquering middleweight adventure machines, one thing has set CCM apart from any other. They can simply build a motorcycle as good as anyone else and yet always find a way to tip the scales lighter. The results have been impressive, winning British Trials and Road Racing championships in the same year as just one example; how many other manufacturers have done that?
For a small company on a global scale, it’s never just been the lightweight designs and superb engineering that have built the company a cult following, but the reliability and incredible build quality have also earned them military contracts in the UK and with NATO. It is easy then to understand why the likes of King Carl Fogarty and TV star Henry Cole have been more than happy to partner with the brand. Sales too have never been a problem, whether it be their off-road, adventure, or supermoto offerings, the market has always been on board.
So, when the company released the Spitfire range in 2017, the first batch of 150 individually constructed motorcycles sold out within a week. Since that time, CCM has focused on expanding the Spitfire range, and in addition to some limited-run examples, there are currently six variants of the bike in the line-up. Now for those who want to take their Spitfire to the next level, the ‘Commissioned’ service lets you have your bike spec’d out in all kinds of trick ways, as seen in these two stunning examples, and you can also select any of the factory options on offer too.
The Roadster offers the widest range of configuration options from the factory, so makes the perfect choice for someone after that individual touch. This example is certainly that, as the factory has beautifully laid down a stunning neon Pink and Silver livery, set against the gloss Black of the gorgeous twin-spar tubular frame. The standout colour scheme hits the tank, front and rear fenders, and the headlight cowl, and the beautiful solo saddle is hand-stitched to match. A bunch of intricately crafted CNC additions and that glorious exhaust finish out the incredible look.
For those with a love of flat track racing and live and survive to slide, then the Classic Tracker is the bike for you. The tank and tail combination instantly captures that championship-winning silhouette and you even get glorious number boards for side covers. But to add a personalised touch, the CCM team has made sure spectators won’t get disoriented in the dust with a standout DayGlo Yellow finish for the frame, perfectly contrasted by the all-blacked-out effect, which is even applied to the engine. To complete the colour scheme, the eye-popping Yellow is also applied to the Excel rims, rear shock spring, and the seat’s stitching.
Both bikes simply look a million dollars, and yet CCM has always been known for their very competitive pricing, despite each bike being a totally hand-built creation. All Spitfire models are powered by a liquid-cooled 600cc single-cylinder engine, which produces a healthy 55bhp and 55nm of torque. The chassis and swingarm combination is beautifully TIG-welded Chromoly and the dry weight is just 145kg, for an excellent power-to-weight ratio. The suspension is a combination of Marzocchi forks and YSS shock, with all high-end braking components, which includes a radially mounted four-piston front caliper. Then you have the host of stainless and carbon parts which are made in-house for each model and help define their unique styling.
“The two commission bikes headline the introduction of a number of improvements across the MY24 range, shown for the first time at the event. Chief amongst these is an all-new dash layout, incorporating a large digital speedometer to clearly display important rider information,” CCM tells Pipeburn. So, if you’re in Birmingham, there is still time to get down to the NEC to check out this pair of British beauties.
And if you’re in the market for a factory custom, it is almost impossible to better the combination of a CCM Spitfire, your endless imagination, and a factory filled with the world’s finest craftsmen and engineers.
[ CCM Motorcycles ]