Street legal and a 286 pound claimed dry weight, the new CCM GP-450 Adventure promises to be a fun, versatile mount when it becomes available in production form later this year (U.S. availability is uncertain). Powering the new CCM is a version of the 449cc single designed, and built for BMW. With its abandonment of Husqvarna, the engine is no longer featured in a BMW product, but it continues to be manufactured by Kymco, which is supplying motors to CCM.
In the CCM, however, output is substantially reduced to 40 HP (from the claimed 52 HP when BMW intended it as a race engine). For street use, the five-speed, relatively close-ratio transmission could be a bit of a liability, although CCM is reportedly claiming the bike will comfortably cruise at 70 mph (with a top speed just north of 90 mph).
CCM is using an unusual bonding technique for assembly of its forged aluminum, CNC machined frame pieces, claiming increased rigidity and durability.
With fully adjustable suspension and Brembo brake calipers, the CCM probably won’t be cheap (early reports indicate 7,999 British Pounds, or roughly $12,000 U.S.). The bike also apparently features three independent fuel tanks, allowing riders to adjust the position and amount of the fuel load (only using one tank, for instance, for an off-road trip). Here are a few photos, as well as the published specifications. You can visit the CCM website, but it was not working well when we tried it.
What a remarkable effort!
I applaud these guys for making what appears to be a pretty epic bike.
There is another perfectly good option available…
138.5kg (+8.5kg) Nothing an aftermarket pipe and a shorai battery cannot come pretty close to resolving.
65 BHP (+25 BHP)
+ A preexisting (though somewhat limited) dealer network
+ Outstanding aftermarket parts availability
$10,299 (-$1700?) Debatable due to exchange rate and possible U.S. pricing
@Alan :
Which alternative are you talking about ???
It appears comments I have made do not fall within the acceptable limits of the moderators of this site regardless of the benign nature of my comments.
So much for any level of input that may differ from management
If a very superficial assessment is any guide, this bike really doesn’t offer any functional advantages over the 1999 TT350 Yamaha that I’ve adapted at low cost for adventure touring in Australia. The latest plan is a run across Australia, through the Tanami Desert into the NW / Kimberley country. I’d love to run the latest KTM 1190 Adventure R on this trip but it’s still ~ 70kg heavier and has miles more power than is needed.
The CCM is a low production volume product that suffers from the exchange valuation of the British Pound Vs the US $. Having said that, the size of the past US economy has seen US purchasers able to buy products at significantly lower price than internationally for many years.
There’s more variables in play with bikes intended for real adventure touring than bikes intended for relatively short distances from mechanical support travelling on a mix of asphalt and well formed dirt roads. For that reason, proven technology Vs the latest and greatest has significant appeal to me.
In 1996 I spent $7400 on a new CCM C25 motocross bike. Then I spent another $1000 to put electric start on it. Really unique machines always have a higher price of admission.
I’m guessing this bike is a premium mount targeted toward a select few who do hard-core, long distance adventure travel and are ok with spending a bit more for something suitable. To those complaining about price, have you seen prices on high-end cruisers and trikes? I’m not arguing that they aren’t nice but they certainly demonstrate that people will spend a lot of money on bikes and suddenly $12k doesn’t seem that unreasonable.
re: “but they certainly demonstrate that people will spend a lot of money on bikes and suddenly $12k doesn’t seem that unreasonable.”
little factoid from recent history. when it was offered, the desmosedici RR at $65,000 sold out here in the states in less than a day. naturally, this was ’06 and before the economy tanked, but none of this changes the fact that it was stil… a $65 THOUSAND DOLLAR MOTORCYCLE…!!!
at that price, what the economy is…? or isn’t…? is almost a side note.
the take away here is people (motorcyclists) have coin and will spend it. the cries of “i’m broke” are mostly a ruse.
Seems this is the ONLY model that they produce, or might produce. Doubt you’ll see it here for awhile, and if so, good luck with finding dealers, parts, and whatever else for it.
Love it. Just like it is. Would buy one….except my $2,000 xr400 and my $3,500 xr650r both continue to do the job so well!!
12k and no beak!? Deal breaker, no beak = sad immitation wannabe adventure bike.
Really I was getting worked up until the $12k bit.. Can we add 40lbs and lose $4k?
It’s already about 30 lbs heavier and $3000 more than the BMW G450x was.
Going totally in the wrong direction.
The engineering saying of “light, strong, cheap – pick two” may be applicable when labor costs and currency exchange rates have some level of parity. The exceptions to this come about when quality of design, componentry construction and materials are matched with low labor / production costs and low currency valuation in the country of origin. Refer to the economies of Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, India, Thailand, Vietnam.
This engine I believe incorporated a clutch co-axially with the emergent crankshaft (shortens the format) plus the gearbox sprocket is co-axial with the swing arm axis of rotation (eliminates major drive chain slack requirements due to suspension operation)
Working at full but unstressed potential this engine is capable of significantly increased power output than stated. Ideally for the broad operating requirements of a real adventure bike – and not a racer – the transmission would be 6 speed with a very low 1st gear and an overdrive 6th gear.
The fuel tank/s system sounds interesting.
Don’t they make hockey stuff too? Lol
8,000 BP is going to be about $8,000 here. I know that’s not the exchange rate, but pricing in England is completely insane to the rest of the world.
For what this thing costs I could buy a blah blah blah blah…
re: “So You Say You Want a Light Bike?”
no no, you didn’t hear them out. they said they wanted a bike that was both “LIGHT AND CHEAP”. when these desires are voiced, observe they will ALWAYS involve at least 2 things minimum. then if you look closer, you will notice 1 of the items will invariably be the “dealbreaker”. this ensures the transaction never has to take place.
The old engineering saying: “light, strong, cheap – pick two”
I like everything but the seat height and the price. 450cc is the biggest single I’d want to have in a DP bike.
But, $12K? I’d rather build up a 250L a bit.
12K.. really.. in this mindless.. Washington based.. let’s all make sure we vote for him and vote often.. how is that working out for you now.. we don’t have a clue economy.. really. Good luck trying to sell this machine. Need I say more.
Nope. I think you’ve said more than enough.
And maybe too much. This is a motorcycle forum: politics? Religious post next?
Light weight is expensive. Anybody can build a 550 lb Adventure-Poser bike like the bloated slow pig Tenare, this thing is cool
$12,000? $12,000? You’re kidding right…misprint and all that, perhaps? $12,000, really?
Dig it, but not at that price … not to mention dealer and parts availability.
This isn’t an SUV, this is a proper adventure bike/amateur rally racer. 400 is all you need when you are Mondo Enduro……
I’ve used my ’72 360 Yamaha Enduro for some long distance “Adventures” with no problems, even from passing Priuses. This thing has near twice the power, rigidity, and suspension travel. What’s not to like? Oh, right; $12,000
Before you dismiss a 40 hp, 286 lb single, consider the power to weight ratio. Less weight = less power to move it and as a bonus the handling will be much, much better. Don’t knock a really good Thumper until you ride one (KTM Duke??)
My Gawd! It’s too small. It’s too white. It doesn’t have a beak. It costs too much. Wah, wah, wah! Do you people even ride?
That’s what people do here. They gripe and moan about every new motorcycle until someone magically craps out the correct bike, but nobody buys it because “the paint was too shiny” or some other nonsense.
Yes, I ride. I have ridden since I was sixteen, more than four decades ago. Recently did a 15,000 mile adventure ride back and forth across North America, including Alaska and much of Canada. Usually do a 5,000 to 10,000 mile two-up road ride every summer as well.
Man…you guys complain WAY to much.
A legitimate complaint.
We shoot whiners at our campsite. Careful what we wish for because now the pendellum has swung to the lithe and lightweight side. The bike has to big enough to get you there and small enough to manuver around. I own a WiiStrom and it’s as near to perfection as possible. I think this machine is really nice, it fits in nicely for 2-3 day rides and I’d probably get my old dog arse kicked by it. I like it, a lot!
One thing the blokes at Mondo Enduro never wished for was more weight and more power when they were crossing the Zilov Gap. This bike isn’t really for people who ride a 1200GS and never get it dirty – this is for doing the Canning Stock Route (look it up) and that sort of thing. So no its not cheap, but its light and CCM have experience going back to the 60s in making good dirt bikes. It should handle ok.
Cue snivelers of lightweight bikes being tossed around by the winds.
“Snivel….snivel”.
Must. Have. Now!
No kidding. Too bad it’s unlikely we’ll see this stateside.
that 12k will buy a nice tenere or a klr and the funds to go on that adventure.
You have to ride a motorcycle to the location where the adventure begins, then ride it back home again afterwards, unless you treat it like a trailer queen. Riding a 450 on the highway isn’t much fun, and the whirly bits get all worn out if you travel at or near max rpms for any distance. Which you’ll have to do because, hey its a 450.
$12,000 buys three used KLR650s. Or a new BMW 800. Or a new Honda NC700 and some vacation money.
The wind from a passing Prius would blow this thing all over the freeway or any smaller road. There is such a thing as TOO light.
And no, you will “comfortably” cruise at 70 mph.
NOT!
$12,000? Thanks, but I’ll order an extra-large Tenere instead, please.
No sooner considered and it’s done..
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/First-rides-tests/2013/July/jul1013-video-ccm-gp450/
Might be that in time someone will find the key to unlocking the extra power originally designed in? Seeing how that tends to follow popularity it may not happen soon or at all.
Check out the video at http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/First-rides-tests/2013/July/jul1013-video-ccm-gp450/ – apparently power was reduced to improve reliability and service intervals, but a kit will be available to derestrict the motor.
The original G450X was delivered with the same power in most markets except the U.S. where they were delivered with an ecu “plug” that changed the mapping and, likely, the ignition curve for 10 more horses. Likely that plug can still be had.
you can see how the “power plug” is just a connector that shorts the brown/blue stripe wire on pin 33 on the ECU to ground. I imagine it will be the same ECU.
Yes, a single jumper wire means 10 HP.
http://www.hexcode.co.za/products/gs-911/download/bmw_g450x_wiring_diagram_13.pdf
no beak. how DOOO they do it…? 🙂
I like it, but I agree with Peter. I had the same experience with the DRZ-S. I also feel that any real “Adventure Bike” has to have at least 2 cylinders for smooth road travel.
The fairing is neat, though. I have always felt that modifying an old EX250 or 500 with longer travel suspension would be a better way to go.
Close ratio 5 speed = No adventure bike. Suzuki tried that with the DRZ400S and it was one of the biggest complaints. I had one, and sold it after a couple years.
Impressive weight though!
Hmmm. They could make 52hp and be reliable Paris-to-Dakar, but they need to detune to 40hp for the street??
Just an FYI 450F’s that run in the Dakar will need to have their entire engines replaced at least during the race.
They drop the HP to increase the service interval. With 52 HP and a litre of oil in cases you need to change the oil every 1000km. At 40 HP the intervals are now at 5000km.
For $150 you can repower the bike to 50HP.
Cheers
Sweet. Would love to ride one of these around. Thi might satisfy the number of people asking for a CRF450L or WR version.
Why does everything cool have to cost so damn much? 12k for a 400! 6 maybe 8 thousand and you’ll have my attention, but if I’m tossing 12 grand down on a bike its going to have to be a lot more than a 40 hp 400.
First of all it’s a 450 and can easily make another 15 or 20 hp if you really need it. Second there’s not a new 450F for sale any where in North America that costs between 6-8K. A roughly equivalent bike to this that is available in the US would be a KTM, Husky or Beta they range in price from 8500 to 9500.