CCM SPITFIRE CAFE RACER (2019 - on) Review

Overall rating

The CCM Spitfire Café Racer is something rather special, managing to mix hand built elegance with serial-production build quality. Draped in swathes of billet aluminium and designer labels, this hugely desirable retro would cost double the price if it was built in an artisan’s lock-up and its exclusivity makes it more appealing than anything you’ll find in your local dealer.

It might not have the performance and handling of its most popular rivals, but it’s extremely light, easy to ride and perfect for sunny Sunday cruising.

The CCM Spitfire Cafe Racer is available alongside the Bobber. Both bikes were introduced when the original CCM Spitfire went off sale in 2018.

Ride quality & brakes

Despite its name, the Café Racer isn’t a machine for tearing up the backroads, it’s more for those Sunny Sunday morning rides we all dream about. Weighing just 145kg dry, it’s supermoto-light and agile, but it doesn’t have the easy refinement of the best from BMW, Ducati, Triumph or Kawasaki - more a tougher, rawer feel.

Ride quality is on the firm side of compliant and girder-stiff billet aluminium yokes give the CCM’s front end the distinctively jarring feel of a new-generation Norton or Hesketh, or an old Bimota or Confederate.

A 19 inch front wheel and knobbly tyres don’t offer the last word in pin-sharp handling and the single front disc brake set-up won’t launch you over the bars, either, but if you want that you’re better off with a Triumph Thruxton R, or BMW R nineT.

Engine

Sitting neatly between mass-produced and artisan, the new Café Racer is powered by a 55bhp, 600cc single-cylinder BMW-designed Husqvarna motor, hung like a piece of art in a lacquered tubular steel trellis frame, so beautiful it’ll make your beard and turn-ups itch with lust.

If it’s a performance bike you’re after, look elsewhere because the CCM is all about taking it easy, feeling good and enjoying two wheels with the gentle breeze in your face. The motor offers just the right mix of smoothness and burbling character. Power is modest, but delivered seamlessly with a throttle response so buttery it would put any mass-produced retro to shame.

Reliability & build quality

With high quality chassis parts and a tried and tested Husky engine, you shouldn’t expect any serious problems. CCM doesn’t have a dealer network, so you’ll have to order your Spitfire Café Racer directly from the factory.

Dealing directly with the people who’ll build your bike fits right in with the ethos of the Spitfire Café Racer. Your bike will even be delivered to your door and CCM will come to you for servicing (every 3500 miles), set-up and repairs. You can also spec your bike a host of official performance accessories and cosmetic trinkets.

Our CCM Spitfire owners' reviews report no serious reliability issues although one reports a gearbox that took a long time to run in and some superficial corrosion starting to appear. There's also a report of over-heating. The vast majority of these bikes will be lovingly stowed away on all but the sunniest of weekends, though.

Value vs rivals

For the price you can either have 185 cut and beard trims at the Bike Shed, or an exclusive, beautifully hand built British motorcycle, dripping in mouth-watering design and parts…and a two-year warranty.

The CCM Spitfire Café Racer is a bargain. Sure, it won't have the performance of its more expensive rivals, but then all retros are going the same speed when you’re cruising past a plate glass shopfront checking out your reflection.

The most obvious rivals are the Triumph Speed Twin 900 or Ducati Scrambler 800 - neither of which can get near the CCM for exclusivity or bespoke, handmade luxury. If you wanted an alternative British-made retro you could look to Langen, but their Two Stroke costs north of £33k.

Equipment

You get a lot of mouth-watering kit for little money with a CCM Spitfire: a hand-built frame, spoked wheels, fully adjustable suspension, lots of billet ali, carbon goodies and a hand stitched seat from the same people who make posh Range Rover interiors.

What you don't get is any electronic wizardry - but this will suit most owners - or much in the way of practicality. The Marzocchi forks and YSS shock are fully adjustable, though, and four-piston radial Brembo brakes are straight from the top drawer.