CCM Spitfire Dakar & Baja Tributes begging to go into production
The CCM Spitfire Dakar Rallye 600 and Baja 1000 tribute bikes feature long-travel suspension, upswept exhausts, and a host of off-road goodies!
AT the end of 2021, Bolton-based CCM revealed two new custom bikes based on the Spitfire Scrambler platform, the CCM Dakar Rallye 600 and the Baja 1000.
As it stands, each machine is a custom-built tribute to two of the most arduous and iconic off-road races on the planet, with each being built for two riders with notable experience in the field.
CCM Spitfire Dakar Rallye 600
The first bike of the two is the more extreme build, complete with retro Dakar paint scheme, bulbous fuel tank and, of course, the obligatory fabric wrap on the exhaust pipe!
It was built for Steve Hague, a former Dakar competitor aboard a CCM factory bike back in 1999. It’s no surprise then to see that this bike is an unashamed homage to the world toughest off-road race.
Built on the CCM Spitfire Scrambler chassis, the Dakar Rallye 600 (see top of page) has been extensively modified, with the most obvious element being the custom-built, long-range aluminium fuel tank. The bike also features a heavy-duty aluminium bash plate, custom high-level Blue Flame end can, custom-built headlight cowl, a one-off seat, and heavy-duty billet triple clamps.
CCM Spitfire Baja 1000
The second bike is the Baja 1000, built for experienced off-road racer and former factory CCM pilot Robert (Bert) Bentham. Bert has ridden motocross bikes since he was 10 years old. Now at over 60 years old he’s considered a veteran racer but still rides out regularly and is ultra-competitive.
Roberts design brief was a 60’s and 70’s inspired enduro bike that could have quite easily have been raced in the iconic Baja 1000, a race that first started in 1967 and featured Steve McQueen and Malcolm Smith amongst others. Think of ‘Of any Sunday’ and that will set the tone for the type of off-road racer Robert wanted to create.
Like the Dakar 600, the bike uses the Spitfire Scrambler chassis as a base and is upgraded with a Josh Pierson exhaust system, UFO vintage plastics, an LED Baja-style headlight and cowl, billet footpegs with tungsten tips, and Billet aluminium triple clamps custom made by JPS.
AS it stands, the two bikes are standalone specials, built for riders with a close relationship to the CCM brand. That doesn’t completely rule out more of these stunning bikes rolling out of the factory gates though, as John Drogan from CCM explained.
“We were blown away by the response to these bikes when they were first displayed at Motorcycle Live. We already have an expectant band of customers looking for the successor to the ground-breaking GP450 and many of them saw these bikes as strong contenders for that role.”
“As a small manufacturer, we’ve been busy servicing the demand for the Spitfire range however the recent investment in the brand means that we are now recruiting for key roles in the design and engineering team so who knows what this might allow us to do…”
for more information on these bikes and the rest of the CCM custom projects, head to: www.ccm-motorcycles.com
Husqvarna Norden 901 (2022) Review
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
