CCM FT35S (2005 - on) Review

With its colossal, fully-adjustable 48mm WP forks and fully-adjustable WP shock there’s little the CCM FT35S can’t handle. It’s stable over bumps, turns quickly and feels light and controlled. The motorcycle's riding position doesn’t lend itself to motorways, obviously, but neither does the motor. The two-piston Brembo brakes and 320mm front disc work well together, but with just 118kg of CCM FT35S to pull up that’s not surprise.

The 398cc, DOHC single in the CCM FT35S comes from the Suzuki DR-Z 400S.Only in this motorcycle it feels much more alive, thanks to some clever gearing (if you’ve got £450 the factory will sell you a big bore 450cc kit for your CCM FT35S or for £1600 you can swap it in for a special 499cc ‘race’ motor). The CCM FT35S' gears are slick and the motorcycle always pulls cleanly and keenly.

The CCM motorcycle company has recently been reborn under new management after it went under in 2004, garnering a reputation for poor quality control as it went. This shouldn’t affect the CCM FT35S, which benefits from low production volumes and greater attention to detail. The constituent components are high quality on the CCM FT35S.

There have been very few CCM FT35S' made, so prices are likely to remain high for years to come. Some motorcycles have been raced, so check carefully if you're looking at a secondhand CCM FT35S. Find a CCM FT35S for sale.

The spec of the kit screwed on to the CCM FT35S' frame is impressive – there’s an Acumen digital dash, a lovely ally tank, a variety of colours to have your CCM FT35S painted in and you can specify the wheel sizes on new motorcycles.