Naturally, we were all
over it instantly, having read in the press about
its development and launch – and we were
anxious to see what it was like in the metal. As
we poked and prodded the bike and quizzed the
poor owner, who only wanted to walk the section
and move on, the questioning turned to how
much the bike cost. When the owner told us,
we all gasped and went quiet until one well known
Weardale rider exclaimed: “That’s more than my house
cost – and the bike hasn’t even got a roof!”
I’d just finished relating this tale to Gez in the
CDB office during one of our trials bike
discussions, adding that I always fancied a CCM
but couldn’t get my hands on one in the day –
apart from a brief ride on a mate’s bike at a local
trial, which made quite an impression. At which
point, Gez threw into the conversation that CDB
reader Richard Oakley had offered his CCM to
test, did I fancy doing it and would I haul the
B40 along to a small comparison of the two?
What do you think?
The CDB testing team met up with Richard
one grey morning just before Christmas and our
photographer for the day, Nigel C, enthused
over the contrasts of the bright bike and winter
weather while I confirmed what I already knew
– the CCM is a handsome motorcycle. Standing
the red and chrome machine next to my B40,
it was easy enough to see the heritage of the
CCM and I wondered how close to the B40 it
was mechanically.
It seems the owner, Richard Oakley, was just as
impressed as I was with the CCM when it was
introduced and he too fancied one but, for various
reasons, didn’t get one. He did keep an eye out in
case one ever turned up – by his own admission
more in hope than expectation, as with only 100
ever built for sale, they are not exactly common.
“I was casually looking at a trials website just over
a year ago,” Richard said, “and clicked on the
‘bikes for sale’ link to see this CCM listed.” It had
been rebuilt and was just about as you see it now.
I bit the bullet and had to have it.” Richard went on to tell me that the rebuild had been
undertaken by the then owner, Roy Topp, and
that if I wanted any more details about the work I
would be able to get them from him.
“Essentially all I’ve had to do is maintenance
and few bits of cosmetic work,” said Richard.
The cosmetic stuff was mainly a case of stripping
the back wheel out and having the rim anodised
to the gold colour it should have been.
“Mansfield Anodising did an excellent job of
matching up the colour to the front rim. I’ve got
all the original control levers and twist-grip but,
as I want to use the bike I’ve fitted Domino
controls and left the originals in the workshop.”
With a few static shots taken, Nigel C wanted a
bit of action before the weather turned or the
light went in the woods that we’d got permission
to use. Embarrassingly, I failed miserably when
trying to start the CCM from cold and had to
stand and watch while Richard fired the bike up
first kick – much to our photographer’s
amusement. And I have to add that this was no
fault of the bike as every other time I tried to
start it, I managed OK.
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