How About a CCM 644 ?
 

Hi
Looking around for a replacement for a stolen DR650 :-(
Has anyone used a CCM 644 for long trips, or done any mods (Tank, Pannier frames etc)
Are there any big Tanks available - cant seem to find any, Acerbis etc.
Is the frame strong enough to load up with gear ?
They have the DR engine and some good components on them, and as Decent low mileage late DR's are getting a bit rare these days here in the UK I was wondering if they may be an option.
I know CCM have had a lot of financial problems, but that means the bikes are reasonably priced at the moment.
Any Info would be appreciated.
Cheers
Grif

I don't think CCM are a big enough concern for the aftermarket to consider making CCM specific tanks etc.

If you want a big single that is well supported by aftermarket accessories & suitable for long trips, I'd suggest looking at KLR650/XT's/DR650/XR or XR-L. Just about anything you'd want is available.

The CCM is an AWSOME bike. I had the chance to ride the Supermoto verstion of the bike (R30) last fall. Its the combination of everything that is right about Japanese bikes (engine/carb) and it tosses everything thats not (everything else). The frame is MUCH stronger than a DR650s, though subframe might need some extra support. The suspension is top notch White Power, plastic is Acerbis, bars are Renthal, brakes are excellent Brembo kit, etc... Its almost a KTM with a Suzuki engine. I talked to the importer here last fall about larger tanks and he said that there is a Dakar tank for it but I didn't ask any further, so perhaps somebody could call CCM in the UK and ask about it and post it here. I would love to see somebody try this bike out for a long tour, as everything but the tank size seem perfect.

As for company financials, CCM goes through some major turmoil every few years. They've been doing it since the '70s. Besides, the engine is a Suzuki DR650 engine, the electrics a standard Japanese setup, plastic is Acerbis, and WP suspension bits you can get from WP itself if its not something straight off a KTM, same goes for the Brembo brakes. Short of the frame and dash, theres very little thats proprietary on the thing.

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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake

[This message has been edited by CountPacMan (edited 09 March 2005).]

[This message has been edited by CountPacMan (edited 09 March 2005).]

Thanks for the replies guys,
Count - just what ive been thinking - Its all there apart from a decent sized tank - I would have to get some pannier frames made up but I use Ortlieb soft pannier bags so it is not too difficult.
Its components are all out of different manufactors parts bins - CCM only produce a couple of bits as you say - So buying bits is not the problem - I shall do some more research and post the results to the tank question.

For me the KLR is not the best choice, the suspension is not good and it doesnt inspire me with its frame strength -especially as we can no longer get the A17 version over here in the UK.
Ive had a DR650 and it is not Ideal- though not bad, suspension needs a lot of mods - it is just too soft - as soon as you sit on it its nearly bottomed. However, The Sazook engine - even though it is oil cooled is great if you look after it and dont cook it.

Which points me to the KTM Adventure - looking at the stories of reliability ( or lack of it)on KTM Tech and other posts has put me off some what - though if I cant go down the CCM route I will be getting a used 640 - and im sure lots of tinkering to look forward too. Its Not a bad thing though the Tinkering - its when you have to do an engine rebuild at 20,000km it gets a bit annoying and expensive.

Before you say ....BMWs are well out of my price range !!!

Any more thoughts, or views Guys ?
Cheers
Grif

Just adapt a ténéré tank on that beauty, doable !
Chose the 34L one, you ll find one from a breaker for example, a little bit of adjustement, welding etc!
There you are with 30L of capacity,

Matt

An update...
The CCM website phone numbers and email address are both inactive as CCM goes through another 'reconfiguration' so a few emails and calls to dealers revealed that the largest tank made for the 644 was 21 litres - only a few were made (for the PD bikes) and are as rare as rocking horse manure...
I will look into fabricating a one off tank, but the KTM is starting to look like a better bet....with some support from the manufactor.

I'm using a KTM 640 Adventure on my world tour and at 50,000km, the only major problems I've had were electrical: CDI and Alternator and those are both made by Kokusan in Japan. The engine has given me zero problems. The fact that it has a kickstarter as well saved me in Mongolia when my alternator went and wouldn't produce enough power to charge the battery or run lights. Your brakedowns may vary... but as much as I like the KTM, I sure would love to see somebody try out a CCM for a RTW...

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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake

Count,
Not bad reliability for the KMs done.
What year is your KTM please ? what mods or gear have you used that works/does not ?
Cheers
Grif

I'm looking into getting a couple of CCMs to do a trip from South east Asia to the UK, but i'm looking at getting the 604s with the Rotax engine. Basically we can't afford the 644s, but i was also worried about not having a kickstarter in case of battery promlems as Mr.KTM had in mongolia.
Anybody Know much about Rotax? My only issue so far is the belt driven cam. Needs changing every 7000miles, but supposed to be an easy ten minute job.
Back to your questions though, ive spoken to the guys who have rallied these bikes and as far as they're concerned other than their own tanks they haven't heard of any for years. Apparently there's one in Germany! The factory no-longer has the mould.
I was at the factory last week and they are making bikes again. If you wanted to buy a bike new i'm sure you could get a really good deal. Contact the factory direct.

Gipper, my KTM is a 2000 year model 640 Adventure-R. The Blue/Orange one with the windscreen you can actually see through and the 50mm "Extreme" right-side-up forks.

The Mikuni carb has stock jetting and I use the original exhaust pipe on it (yea, it's heavy but rust/maintenance free and I don't want to rejet because it runs great and I get good fuel economy + most who rejet end up modifying their air box which is not good for river crossings. In stock form it is quite submersible). I replaced the CDI unit for the newer version that is switchable 80/95 octane, added bar risers, added a sidestand and then modded it to have the biggest rubber footprint you have ever seen, Happy Trail rack and panniers (rack was held on by bolts that are stock thickness which I had modified to accept much thicker bolts. Sub frame is great, no need to modify), set pre-load for the rear (easy collar on shock) and forks (difficult on the 50mm right-side-up forks as it uses spacers and you have to take everything apart), put on neoprene fork gaiters, SRC fork brace, Scotts Steering Damper (needed extensive modification for the arm and pin), steel rear sprocket (kept stock 42T gearing), added an inline fuel filter, replaced the 2 oil filters with washable steel mesh versions, kept the stock engine guard and added an aluminum tool box to the front, Touratech tank bag with side tank bags (now I don't even use the tank bag since I don't like to have it in front of me and just use the map holder and side bags) and just this winter I modded the seat. I will add a second radiator fan this month as the red "coolant is overheating" light comes on when I'm sitting in traffic on hot days.

The only mod I did that didn't work was adding a lockable gas cap. It was awful. I changed back after a couple of months. Whats the point anyways? If somebody wants your fuel, they're not going to siphon it when your fuel tap is so accessable...

Good luck with whatever you choose. Perhaps I'll see you when I come through Enlgand this summer. Coming to the meet?

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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake

IMHO the CCM 604, 644 or even 404 would make great overlanders. As you say a Japanese or Rotax engine in a quality chassis. I seriously considered one a few years back and my only concern was the subframe - is it up to carrying a load? At the time a big fuel tank was readily available.

You might ask on the Yahoo UK Rallye Raid group if someone has a big tank for sale. You might also try www.ccmspares.com if you haven't already.

Every single time we tested a CCM at Bike magazine it broke down. Every single time. Nice idea, but I think they're appallingly built. High-spec shocks and fat forks are useless if they're not fitted right. Sorry.

I always had a soft-spot for CCM - northern, independent, enthusiastic etc, but the product always let them down. And as far as I know, they've recently gone bang. RIP.

If you're a top man with the spanners, and know your way round a rotax or hopped up DR engine, then they can make ace, fast desert racers. If.

Cheers, Dan

Gipper, did you ever find/fabricate a large CCM tank?

Ccm 644ds
 

I am presently the owner of a 2002 CCM 644DS which is also availble for sale , see the for sale forum looking for £1800 , in my view they are good bikes combining the best of Japan and Europe .As people have stated above there isnt any aftermarket stuff available , I am told they did have some Paris Dakar tanks available but these would have been for the Rotax bikes, it may be possible to get another tank to fit but most likely you will need to get an aluminum one made up , Mick Extance raced a Honda with an ally tank in the Dakar last year so they can be made strong enough .I am sure that luggage racks could be custom made to fit .
These bikes do get sold cheap so once you have balanced everthing out they may work out to be a good buy.Incidentally I used to have a KTM Adventure and the CCM is a much nicer bike in terms of its engine , lack of vibration ,ease of maintainance and build quality .
Also looking at owners comments re the Rotax engined bikes I think the Suzukis have less problems