CCM Spitfire - The fastest handbuilt motorcycle on Earth
CCM motorcycles are hand-built British machines from Clews Competition Machines, and the CCM Spitfire is the model that made the marque famous worldwide: a lightweight, single-cylinder special weighing just 139 kg, producing 55 bhp, sold out within a week of its launch. Below we break down the Spitfire, its specifications, its variants and why CCM remains one of the most sought-after handbuilt motorcycle brands on Earth.
Who makes CCM motorcycles?
Clews Competition Machines (CCM) was founded in 1970 by talented racer Alan Clews. CCM has always been a house that churns out world-class motorcycles. Over the years the company went from success to success, and as Alan's time as a bike builder came to an end he retired and his eldest son Austin took his place, carrying the family workshop in Bolton into a new era. You can explore the full current range on the official CCM Motorcycles site.
What is the CCM Spitfire?
In February of its launch year, Clews Competition Machines unveiled the Spitfire and it was something unique, receiving a crazy amount of response from bikers around the world. The 150 limited models the company put on the market sold out in no more than 7 days, with a large share of the allocation gone on the first day. Clearly, the Spitfire was a huge success for the company and went on to launch CCM's wider SkunkwerX series of small-batch specials.
CCM Spitfire specifications and performance
It uses a liquid-cooled DOHC 4-valve engine and produces 55 bhp with 43 ft-lbs of torque. The ready-to-ride weight of the bike is just 139 kilograms (306 lbs), so the performance of the Spitfire is really up there. The hand-welded frame is built from T45 high-strength British steel, the same alloy used in the original Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane, which is where the model takes its name. According to Silodrome, that featherweight construction and racing pedigree are exactly why the Spitfire became one of the fastest-selling handbuilt production motorcycles ever made. The Spitfire was designed to have a sporty, upright riding position with wide handlebars for excellent maneuverability and a single seat. The price of this piece of art motorcycle is around $13,800.
Which CCM Spitfire variants are available?
A timeless work of art, the Spitfire moves you and your soul with absolute elegance and craftsmanship. These bikes come in scrambler, bobber and cafe racer form to suit all tastes, which is why searches for a spitfire bobber motorcycle or a Spitfire cafe racer keep growing. If you love this style of small-batch, handbuilt machine, our curated motorcycles collection is full of comparable builds, including the Triumph Scrambler Blue Legend by FCR, the Heritage Spirit Scrambler, the BMW K75 Scrambler and the cafe-racer styled CRSS #9 Yamaha XV750 Cafe Racer.
Where to find handbuilt motorcycles like the CCM Spitfire
If the lightweight, artisan philosophy behind CCM motorcycles speaks to you, browse the full TheArsenale motorcycles collection to discover rare custom and cafe racer builds you can actually buy.
