CCM Spitfire Bobber (2019-on) review

Who is the CCM Spitfire Bobber aimed at? Given the trend for ‘authenticity’, CCM’s pure sensations and style have obvious appeal.

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Practical? Not really. Cool? Yes indeed. Simply sit back and enjoy the CCM’s rather unexpected mix of image and dynamics. It can serve assorted moods, and it’s amusing riding a bike that’ll boogie in a way most folk don’t expect, too.

This bike was launched as part of CCM's new model offensive in 2019 following the success of the 2017-2018 CCM Spitfire. Also available is the CCM Spitfire Cafe Racer. 

With its footpegs placed further forward and lower down, this latest CCM has the most relaxed ergonomics. Where the others compel you to stick your elbows out and crack on, the Bobber’s stance encourages breezier progress.

With the plugged-in steering and minimal bulk, you’re soon tearing about in a rather un-bobber way. The exhaust bark, sharp response, low weight and firm suspension make for an exciting, engaging ride. One that leaves you wishing the new 'pegs weren’t so low and widely-spaced.

Power comes from the 600cc single-cylinder engine used in all Spits. The same as SWM use in their dual-purpose bikes, it’s an ex-Husqvarna design that’s far from shy about its dirt bike roots.

Tossing the front whitewall skywards in the bottom gears, it blats excitedly to the 8000rpm limit and punches out edgy drive through super-close ratios. It might only have 60bhp on tap, but due to the lightness of the bike (135kg dry), it feels like a lot more than that.

Finish is top-notch and servicing is carried out by a trained CCM technician who comes to your house when work is required.

Our CCM Spitfire Bobber owners' reviews show issues with buying, but not with reliability. The bikes are hand-finished, so worth keeping in mind there may be variation in build standards.

CCM are only building 500 of these and they’re ten grand a pop, which sounds like quite a lot for a single.

Then again you’re not buying a run-of-the-mill production bike, and there are plenty of features that demonstrate where your money is going; from the machined aluminium front mudguard stay and hand-welded frame, down to the tiny bracket for the rear brake master cylinder with its Union Flag detail. Given used Spitfires can fetch more than new ones, it should keep hold of its value pretty well, too.

The new Bobber goes furthest from the original with 1940s styling, smaller wheels and white-wall tyres, plus a more laid-back riding position. It’s gone a bit cruiser... yet the Bobber still manages to be perhaps the most inspiring Spitfire I’ve ridden.

The other Spitfires we’ve sampled feature 19-inch cast wheels carrying oversize flat track-style tyres; on such light bikes (135kg dry) they make up a large part of the overall weight, and their gyroscopic forces can cancel-out some of the bike’s natural agility. It’s not that Spitfires aren’t nimble, more that you’re aware of the large wheels. It just goes with the territory on a flat track-style bike.

Though the Bobber’s smaller spoked wheels still wear chunky rubber, the reduction in size brings smaller forces. So it’s got the lightest and most accurate steering. And, with the same lovingly-made steel tube frame, steering geometry and sportily-configured suspension set-up as the rest of the Spitfires, it has the lightest handling.