CCM celebrate their golden anniversary with titanium Heritage '71

CCM have built a special edition Spitfire model using a titanium frame as a tribute to the pioneering work of founder Alan Clews to mark their 50^th anniversary.

Clews was well known in his day for his experimental work and his early achievements with exotic materials. In his time at CCM, he created the world’s first aluminium trials bike, the firs carbon fibre road racer and later the first aluminium bonded chassis.

Despite always dreaming of working with titanium, as BSA had done with world champion Jeff Smith, Clews didn’t build with it before his death in 2018.

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To commemorate their founding father, CCM have created another first: the first production bike with a full titanium chassis – the Heritage ’71.

Echoing the success of the brazed steel Spitfire, CCM have reproduced that chassis design this time from 3AL/2.5v (that’s 3% aluminium, 2.5% vanadium to us) CWSR titanium, which has resulted in a 38% weight reduction in the frame alone.

Paired with a set of special edition Dymag wheels, 12kg of unsprung weight has been stripped from the bike. Further weight savings mean a total of 20kg has been taken from the bike, with the wet weight of the bike (minus fuel) now sitting at just 136kg.

With 62bhp on tap from its 600cc single, that gives it a higher power to weight figure than a Lamborghini Aventador. The titanium doesn’t stop at the frame either.

A custom made QD racing exhaust is fitted to the Heritage, each one handmade from 64 individually welded titanium pieces.

The exotic materials continue on, with carbon fibre bodywork, semi-aniline hide saddle, fancy ‘Clews Competition Machines’ radiator guard and a laser engraved Monza fuel cap carrying the bikes unique production number.

As expected only the finest finishing kit has been chosen with Öhlins Blackline suspension, Brembo calipers, Rizoma grips and a new active cornering headlight.

The Heritage ’71 will be at the Carole Nash MCN London Motorcycle show from February 11 – 13 if you want to see it in the flesh before you stick your name on the list. One cautionary note before you do though, the Heritage costs an eyewatering £28,995.