5 BIKES THAT REALLY MATTER THIS MONTH
CCM reveal Project X, an off-road successor to the much-loved GP450
[ NEW BIKES ]
It’s easy to forget what an off-road powerhouse CCM used to be.
Back in 1977, for example, a couple of CCMs led the British motocross GP, keeping swarms of Japanese factory bikes behind them. They didn’t ultimately win it, but the episode was enough to scare Honda Racing Corporation (HRC), who bought a CCM and took it back to Japan to forensically examine. And now the Bolton firm are heading back towards dirt with this, the Project X.
As with all recent CCMs, it’s Spitfire based, with the same 600cc single-cylinder engine and TIG-welded steel frame as the popular road bike range. But thanks to a bigger fuel tank, long-travel suspension and new wheel sizes, Project X has become a serious off-road tool according to CCM.
‘The Spitfire range has been really successful for us,’ CCM’s new managing director Jason Broome tells Bike. ‘But CCM purists have been asking for a bike that’s closer to our roots, so naturally we wanted to deliver. But we needed to be practical at the same time. Developing a whole new bike will take years.
‘In the meantime, we asked ourselves, “can we make our existing engine and chassis more targeted at our heritage?” The first problem was the fuel tank. If you want an enduro bike it’s got to have sufficient range, but a fuel tank isn’t something you can just knock up. It takes time. We’ve developed an injection-moulded plastic tank with a cover, just like a competition bike would have. We’ve also relocated the fuel pump to get an extra litre of fuel in. It’s now between 17 and 18 litres, which equates to a 150-mile range.’
Apparently the other major request from long-standing CCM fans was an airbox – none of the Spitfire variants have one. ‘Again, that was a challenge,’ says Jason. ‘But we’ve done it. Along with the long-travel WP suspension, 21in front wheel and 18in rear, plus sump guard and new mudguards, it’s resulted in a capable enduro bike. Each one will be made to order, so customers can specify whether they want them in enduro or road trim.’
The Project X will cost £13,995 when it arrives in June 2025.
Beautifully made steel trellis, lovingly TIG-welded together in Bolton.
HAVE I SEEN IT BEFORE?
Sort of. CCM’s 2022 ‘Retro Trailie’ concept looked remarkably similar.
ENGINE
Rorty 600cc single from the Spitfire, making 55bhp and 37 lb.ft of torque.