Could this be the basis for the best Overland bike doner bike. !!!
 

CCM 644 Dual Sport. It has the Suzuki DR650 engine which is fabulous and I think has better suspension than the DR650SE bike..

I'd love to take one of these RTW...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2006-CCM-D...#ht_500wt_1184

apart from the engines, even the 404, unfortunately the CCM, stands for Chinese Cheese Machine............I'll get me coat:scooter:

I've never owned one but I always understood that CCM had great frames, suspension and with the Suzuki engine, it was a good bet..

Although, I know that everything else on them is tatty. Electric problems etc.

Slight engine mix up there Ted. Your ebay link is to a 604 - the one with the Rotax engine rather than the Suzuki. The rest of it is much the same though - WP suspension, Brembo brakes etc.

The Rotax engine is a bit agricultural to say the least (it's not known as a tractor in CCM circles for nothing) but it's reliable enough and you get used to the rattles after a while!

I bought mine back in 2005 and bit by bit have been converting it into a cheap as chips overlander. It's now at the stage where I'd take it just about anywhere. Good points on it are the aforementioned suspension, brakes etc together with a strong frame / bolt on subframe. Bad stuff is mainly the detailing and to some extent the way it was screwed together in the factory but as there's nothing complicated about it it can all be DIY fixed if you're that way inclined. I thought it was the basis of a reasonable long distance bike and so far I've been surprised at how good its been. Even the original battery lasted nearly 10yrs.

Yup.. Posted the wrong link..

Updated the OP now..

Yeah.... That's what I was thinking. Great chassic, engine, suspension and brakes...

Find a big tank that fits, pimp and solidify the electrics, get a nice seat and 'Bob's your uncle'....

If you stick with the mainstream stuff - basically any bike in the Touratech catalogue, XT600, DRZ etc you can find bits for them relatively easily - as you know. Almost nothing fits CCMs though and even if you can find stuff it fits badly. Here's a pic of mine taken in France last autumn complete with ex factory 23L tank. The last 3L is lower than the carb so you grind to a halt with fuel still available. OK, sure, it's fixable but this isn't some aftermarket lash up, it's an official CCM part. It failed the first MOT after fitting the tank as the forks hit the tank before the lockstops work. Again, easy to fix but no CCM parts available, I had to make my own.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...1/IMGA0949.jpg

The core electrics - alternator, reg/rec, switches etc have been pretty reliable. The biggest problems have been with the bits stuck on the end - really cheap tail light and indicators obviously bought down to a price. It's only ever blown one (rear) bulb but I've lost count of the times bulbs have stopped working but only needed reseating in the holder.

ccm
 

ted im with you,superb bit of kit.top suspension and a stonking rotax motor.reliable,powerful,parts all through europe,possibly world wide and simple to repair maintain.not bad on fuel either.
only downside is add ons as you would have to make your own racks and crashbars etc which isnt really an issue.
no myths with this bike as it will bring you anywhere.
suzuki motor is a nice bit of kit but i would go for the rotax as dual start and plenty of grunt plus they can handle plenty of tunning,cams and high compression pistons if you felt the need.
goodluck t.