Motorcycles

CCM Spitfire: A British vision of lightweight motorcycling minimalism

CCM Spitfire: A British vision of lightweight motorcycling minimalism
The CCM Spitfire is a lightweight flat-track styled roadster with 55 horspower pushing just 120 kg.
The CCM Spitfire is a lightweight flat-track styled roadster with 55 horspower pushing just 120 kg.
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Welding the trellis frame of the CCM Spitfire
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Welding the trellis frame of the CCM Spitfire
CCM Spitfire: small headlight with Angel Eye
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CCM Spitfire: small headlight with Angel Eye
CCM Spitfire: fully adjustable Dia forks
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CCM Spitfire: fully adjustable Dia forks
CCM Spitfire: minimalist design with plenty of air around the engine
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CCM Spitfire: minimalist design with plenty of air around the engine
CCM Spitfire: single seat unit and twin pipes make for a very tidy rear aspect
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CCM Spitfire: single seat unit and twin pipes make for a very tidy rear aspect
The CCM Spitfire is a lightweight flat-track styled roadster with 55 horspower pushing just 120 kg.
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The CCM Spitfire is a lightweight flat-track styled roadster with 55 horspower pushing just 120 kg.
CCM Spitfire: beautifully bent carbon steel trellis frame
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CCM Spitfire: beautifully bent carbon steel trellis frame
CCM Spitfire: slim and lightweight
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CCM Spitfire: slim and lightweight
CCM Spitfire: this gorgeous frame takes center stage
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CCM Spitfire: this gorgeous frame takes center stage
CCM Spitfire: tank detail
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CCM Spitfire: tank detail
CCM Spitfire: seat unit under construction
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CCM Spitfire: seat unit under construction
View gallery - 11 images

CCM's "Skunkwerx" division has built a limited-edition, flat track-inspired streetbike that is a celebration of motorcycling minimalism. The bike is powered by a 600cc, 55-horsepower single cylinder engine, which will make light work of the Spitfire's 120-kg (266-lb) dry weight.

Handmade boutique British brand CCM has been producing hand-made 450cc adventure motorcycles since 2013, honouring an off-road motorsports heritage that stretches back to the 1970s.

But in the CCM team's spare time, a few of the lads have got together to form a "Skunkwerx" division and build a "dream bike without the usual constraints of design objectives and bureaucracy" – and here's the result: the CCM Spitfire.

CCM Spitfire: fully adjustable Dia forks
CCM Spitfire: fully adjustable Dia forks

Due for a limited production run of just 150 numbered bikes, and set to be unveiled in the flesh at the London Motorcycle Show this weekend, the Spitfire uses a 600cc single-cylinder water-cooled engine making 55 hp and 43 ft-lb (58 Nm) of torque, for a bike that weighs only 120.8 kg (266 lb) dry.

The star attraction is a beautifully bent carbon steel trellis frame put together by Ted Unwin, who was one of the original engineers that worked on Alan Clews' race team back in the seventies – CCM stands for Clews Competition Machines.

CCM Spitfire: this gorgeous frame takes center stage
CCM Spitfire: this gorgeous frame takes center stage

Fully adjustable suspension is provided by Dia at the forks and Tractive at the rear, and braking is by Brembo.

With a small headlight unit, simple single seat unit and understated twin exhaust, the Spitfire cuts a very minimalistic figure, with a surprising amount of open air around the engine and a pair of barely-there mudguards that'll likely raise the eyebrows of the local road safety department.

CCM Spitfire: minimalist design with plenty of air around the engine
CCM Spitfire: minimalist design with plenty of air around the engine

The Spitfire looks terrific to me – lightweight, minimal and punchy. Just 150 will be sold from £7,995 (US$9,965) apiece.

Source: CCM Motorcycles

View gallery - 11 images
8 comments
8 comments
Buellrider
Very nice looking bike. Would love to take it for a spin. Maybe manufacturers can see how beautiful a motorcycle can be made without all the unnecessary plastic bits they seem to throw nilly willy all over their bikes to give the ugly transformer look.
ljaques
Kinda cute, though the fat street meats don't look at all right on the off-road-looking frame. Those fenders are an outrage, as the rider would be doused by whatever they rode through. Why have something which doesn't even _work_? The mufflers are way out there, and would probably be ground off the first time the rider took some nice twisties. The price is a big high for minimalism, too, isn't it? An interesting try, though. I wonder if they'll take any of these comments to heart...
RalphL.Seifer
Very attractive, both from a design standpoint, and visually. But why does a lightweight like this need two exhausts??? Wouldn't 2-into-1 have saved a pound or two, maybe even a little more than that?? Ralph L. Seifer, Long Beach, California.
DavidRogerBrown
Beautiful work proving less is more. Motorcycles weren't meant to weigh 900 lbs,cages are.
Martin Hone
The fat tyres aren't required, but they do make the rest of the bike visually smaller, likewise with the twin exhaust...... Certainly a fun street scoot.
Buellrider
Actually an underslung Buell type muffler would be perfect for this bike.
Numbone
Looks like a hoot!
Jay Gatto
Just a little infected with CAD design, but love the concept, give it less OTT tyres, real guards, and a classier, classic-ier headlamp please. I nearly bought a Weslake speedway thumper, to make something like the old CCM ... might've hurt. Jon, MDL