Road-testing the CCM R30CCM is a relatively small, Lancashire motorcycle manufacturer which has achieved outstanding success in Enduro racing and the Paris-Dakar rally. Traditionally its machines have been aimed at Enduro riders. Now it has come up with a road-going machine, the R30 Supermoto which is a very serious contender in the "big trailie" class.
The recipe is: no compromise, attention to detail and serious performance.
The specification tells you that it was drawn up by engineers, not accountants. Take a single cylinder, twin-spark, twin-carburettor, oil-cooled Suzuki 644cc engine which churns out 53 bhp at 7,600 rpm and produces 52Nm of torque at 5,800 rpm. Now fit this into a lightweight frame with an all-alloy monoshock swinging arm, WP upside down front forks, alloy wheel rims and 17-inch Pirelli Dragon tyres and Brembo floating disk brakes - and keep the weight down to a mere 137 kg, lighter than most 125cc machines. The result is a bike which has a power-weight ratio equivalent to 386 bhp per tonne. Almost as powerful as, for example, the Honda Pan European.
This lightweight machine has absolutely stunning performance, breathtaking acceleration, superb braking and, thanks to CCM's outstanding competitive successes, impeccable handling.
In urban traffic it can leave just about everything else wallowing in its wake. The narrow profile, tall, upright riding position and good visibility make it ideal for making progress through traffic. Head for the country, seek out the winding, twisty roads and its performance and handling make for a safe, exhilarating ride. It's every bit an ideal machine for exciting riding in both town and country.
However, it's not, nor is it intended to be, a fast motorway cruiser. Nor is it a long distance touring machine. The standard 10-litre tank gives a range of 100 miles at best. It's not designed to be the ultimate warp speed machine but it's still good for 95 mph.
There is provision for a passenger, but really this sort of machine should be regarded as a sparkling, utterly selfish, solo mount.
Build quality is excellent. The delightful engineering betrays the hard-won lessons learned in the most competitive environment of events such as the Paris-Dakar rally. Every detail spells lightness combined with strength and cost is very much a secondary consideration. This translates into a price of €9,200, not cheap. You can add a further €210 for a larger, 13.5 litre tank.
No machine we've ridden this year attracted so much admiration, especially from the younger generations of both sexes who deem it "cool". This machine redefines the "big grin factor" - it's just so much fun to ride. It does what it says on the tin - superbly.
Could it be better? Well, we found the cable-operated clutch heavier than we would like in prolonged congested traffic. The side-stand needs to be angled further forward in the down position when parked, even when left in first gear - it needs only a slight touch from a pedestrian (as happened on our test) for it to collapse.
The alloy clutch and brake levers are sensibly "nicked" so that, in the event of a fall, only the outer end of the lever shears off, leaving enough leverage to get you home.
For those with a taste for Enduro events, you can buy a spare set of wheels with off-road tyres and then you have a real "dual purpose" mount.
The R30 is also available in "restricted" (25kw) guise for those still within two years of passing the driving test. Even limited to 4,500 rpm, the engine delivers 48 Nm of torque.
A range of similar 400 cc CCM machines will be available in Ireland in October for those content with slightly less verve.