CCM Spitfire Flying International

CCM – Clews Competition Machines – When somebody reaches out from behind the walls of their HQ, to share their exciting news, then here at Motorcycle Minds it is only not just polite but also interesting to report on their news, especially as they mention that they are setting their sights on overcoming European Whole Vehicle Type Approval.

We have heard of CCM, we knew it was a motorcycle company in England that produced motorcycles, but we never had any reason to take notice until now.

We knew CCM was an iconic name though not knowing what the CCM initials stood for.

We knew that CCM had a place in motorcycle competitions and that they had in recent years produced a road legal Adventure type motorcycle, which has now come to the end of its production run.

This led to the development and introduction of the CCM Spitfire Motorcycle series to the UK motorcycle market, with plans now to export the CCM Spitfire to other international markets.

These international markets for now are within Europe – France, Italy, Spain and Germany.

Humble Beginnings

For the uninitiated like us here is a potted history from CCM:

“In 1971, keen motorcyclist, Alan Clews, originally had little interest in becoming a motorcycle manufacturer. Working hard throughout the week at his wife’s, family’s chain of newsagents, he would patiently wait for Friday to roll around where he would go out competing in international scramble and trials events over the weekend, always sure to be back in time for work Monday morning. “

“It was only when Alan’s request to purchase a works BSA scrambler got rejected, did he decide he would build his very own competition bike back in 1971 in his garage at home. Such was the success of his efforts, that news spread like wild fire, and the demand for his services grew, eventually leading to the birth of Clews Competition Machines. That was 47 years ago. The letters CCM would later become synonymous with multiple International successes in motocross, flat-track, trials, supermoto, and road racing competition, at the highest levels.”

“The cult firm is still based in Bolton, Lancashire and with the success of the super lightweight GP450 Adventure bike and now the stunning Spitfire series, business is booming.”

The SkunkwerX Movement – Birth Of the Spitfire

The CCM Spitfire is a unique and hand-built motorcycle manufactured in various styles from the Spitfire Bobber through to the Spitfire Scrambler – Spitfire Flat Tracker – Spitfire Café Racer – RAF Spitfire 100 (limited 100 bikes) and the original Spitfire all powered by a 600cc single cylinder four stroke 6-speed engine.

To get where they are now with the Spitfire, CCM say that they were fuelled by pure passion with their workshop team, “Without the usual constraints of design, objectives and bureaucracy”, “talking about building their dream bike, a bike a bike that finally would allow their creativity to truly flow.”

The team adopted the name “SkunkwerX”, paying homage to the original experimental engineering division of Lockheed Martin, who went on to create some of the finest products in the world. CCM empowered this new team to take ownership over the design process, and really develop something close to their hearts.

The project was given a green light by the CCM directors – and the original Spitfire was born with the limited edition of 150 machines sold out almost as soon as they were launched in 2017.

The Technical Bit

Currently the CCM Spitfire models are available to order in the UK only, with CCM saying that some riders, “Have been coming to the UK to purchase a bike, registering it here, and then shipping them abroad, out of sheer determination to own a Spitfire.” this lack of availability is due to European regulations.

With European homologation being so drastically different from regulations in the UK this would mean that the bikes would need to be redesigned and developed specially for the European market which is their way forward.

As CCM are progressing towards selling the bikes in the European market, CCM say, “To ensure the bikes are prepared for export, the bikes require European Whole Vehicle Type Approval.

To put it simply, this approval requires bikes meet strict environmental, safety and security standards that have been accepted across all European Countries.

It’s not a simple process at the best of times, and it’s especially difficult when bikes are so beautiful, they are viewed as art.”

Simply put, if you wish to sell your manufactured bikes into the European market they need to meet the EU regulations to sell those motorcycles as fit for purpose in the European market place.

Now to touch briefly around the UK’s current position – Brexit – leaving the EU. When the UK leaves the EU, UK manufacturers will still have to meet the EU regulations to sell their bikes in the EU, the same as everybody else whether in or out of the EU.

Not forgetting that vehicle technical regulations are also formulated at the United Nations UNECE World Forum for Harmonization working group. This working group (WP 29) made up of governments, technical experts, industry, with some representation of riders looks at global vehicle regulations and the reciprocal recognition of EU regulations.

The issues around Brexit for motorcycle manufacturers are not that simple and ACEM – the Motorcycle Industry Representative organisation in Europe – have published a position paper on Brexit a brave step at this time as CCM will be taking the Spitfire into Europe by 2020 just as newer environmental and noise regulations will come into force.

Thus, CCM are ensuring their bikes will be fully compliant with the EU regulations, already fitted with AHO (Automatic Headlights On) extra compliance will mean, at the very least, include the fitting of ABS brakes, confirming to the EU homologation rules and emission standards, gaseous pollutants and particulate matter, plus the sound or noise the bike emits.

However enough of the heavy stuff and time to move on to the CCM plans to actually bring their bikes to the rest of Europe.

The CCM Way

As we are talking about a unique motorcycle, CCM sell their motorcycles uniquely directly to their own customers, no middlemen!

CCM say that this allows them, “To maintain a level of service unheard of in the motorcycle industry. Where else would a manufacturer invite you down for a brew where you can stand and watch your bike being hand-built? A customer could pick up the phone any time, and speak directly to sales, production managers, or even the CAD designers who dreamt up your bike. There are huge benefits to purchasing from a wholly family owned business.”

To date the business has taken over 1200 Spitfire orders directly, and those ordered bikes are currently in production with many of the original Spitfire customers having now received their bikes.

In another unique move, “When it comes to servicing and maintenance of the CCM bikes, teams of service engineers will be spread throughout the length and breadth of the country. Their role is to stay out on the road and come to customers directly whenever they need them.”

Into Europe

EU standards are not the only obstacle that CCM will have to overcome.

CCM say that, “In sharing their creations with the rest of the world, the initial logistics are going to also going to prove difficult. As you would imagine, with the costs associated with exporting, and uncertainty of a future post-Brexit, there are likely to be many challenges along the way.

Austin Clews – CCM’s Managing Director and son of Founder Alan Clews said, “these are very exciting times for CCM, we have a growth plan to increase UK sales and begin to export into new territories and bring a totally new experience to the customer that is tried and tested in the UK giving the customers exactly what they want.”

CCM will be moving into the target countries and will be opening offices in those key markets in which they plan to sell. The business will set up satellite offices and will recruit employees locally to support their new ventures. CCM hopes to support local economies through creation of jobs, and by sales of products into those countries.

In preparation ahead of their move, the company will set-up pages on their website specific to each country, that will allow interested parties to leave their details to receive updates on CCM, and they can be at the front of the queue when the time comes! As these motorcycles will be supplied to these countries in very limited numbers – CCM will even take forward orders secured by deposits – it is likely that all the Spitfires heading to these countries will be sold out long before they get there in early 2020!”

Would You?

The CCM Spitfire series of bikes are definitely unique and most likely seeking owners that are at a stage of motorcycling requiring a bike in a niche just for themselves and sharing that niche with likeminded people.

It is definitely a bike that would attract a crowd whenever parked up and a rider may not get the peace to sip their expresso or latte.

Whether as a collectable or as the Spitfire was designed for, “Pure Riding Pleasure” riding the roads, the move into Europe is a move that CMM cannot do without and will appeal maybe to a certain rider, with certain finances, at a certain stage of their riding career or thinking of re-joining motorcycling.

While here at Motorcycle Minds we may only tick some of those appealing boxes to justify this bike, there would be a place in the garage for a Spitfire!

Find Out More & Register Interest

Spain – www.ccm-motorcycles.com/coming-soon-spain

Italy – www.ccm-motorcycles.com/coming-soon-italy

Germany – www.ccm-motorcycles.com/coming-soon-germany

France – www.ccm-motorcycles.com/coming-soon-france

More Information

Website – www.ccm-motorcycles.com

On Facebook – @CMMMotorcycles

On Twitter – @CCMMotorcycles