CCM owner returns to market in Europe – June 5, 2006

Founded in the early 1970s by Alan Clews, U.K.-based CCM (Clews Competition Motorcycles) is now back in the hands of its original owner.
CCM ceased operations July 8, 2004, under the control of Murray VCT, a venture capital company specializing in start-ups and product development. Joined by his two sons, Austin and Russell, and his son-in-law Gary Harthern, Clews was successful in buying the brand back from liquidators last year and is once again producing a small line of off-road, supermoto and flat-track bikes.
“Building bikes is not just a business, it’s a way of life, something that is with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Clews said in a prepared statement announcing CCM’s rebirth. “If you are only focused on profit, then this is not the business to be in. When I sold CCM (to Peter Swift & Co. in 1998) I believed it was the right thing to do, as the new owners had access to the investment that I felt would help take CCM forward.
“Whilst the company did benefit in some ways, unfortunately it had its heart ripped out as the new management had no passion for what CCM stood for. We will be concentrating on quality rather than quantity, and we will once again be using our racing heritage to develop some new niche models that will bring back some great nostalgia, but with a modern twist.”
CCM had successes with its off-road motorcycles in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, and even produced bikes for more established brands. In 1985, it produced 4,000 motorcycles badged as Can-Am models to be sold in North America. In 1987, Harley Davidson bought the manufacturing design and rights to produce the company’s MT 500 in the United States.
CCM currently is manufacturing a new flat-track FT35 and supermoto R35, as well as the R30 and 644 and 404 series. The company currently supplies dealers in the United Kingdom and 16 countries, excluding the United States.