2002 CCM 604e

If like me you spent New Year’s Eve with various friends and beverages and at some point someone produced the home brew you will not remember much about it. Mission accomplished. The same philosophy applied when I passed my DAS. Not knowing much about bikes, and not being mechanically minded, I thought the best way to measure any new bike was how it felt, how I felt, as opposed to top speed or kudos. I rode the traditional first bike options before deciding. Compare and contrast the opposition over your favourite tipple.

The SV650 (nice, a gin & tonic), old-Fazer 600 (dull and looked dreadful, a cloudy pint of best), Gixer 600 (sophisticated but uncomfortable, a bottled larger with lemon jammed in top), CBR 600 (pleasant, fruit-based cocktail), CCM R30 (stimulating, double vodka) and CCM 604e (outrageous, fiery home-brew).

I had a plan. First step, know what you want, for the ride that you want and go for a reliable second hand bike that a newbie like me would drop without a heart attack. Sensible. Second, ride the 604e and throw all of the careful planning in the bin and enjoy the sheer attack on the senses that is the big single banging away underneath you.

Short drag strips and tight twisties are perfect for the 604e. Power on early through the bend and you’re off. The single 600cc will keep you amused in the summer and legs warm in the winter.

British based, CCM have recently switched the Rotax engine for a Suzuki lump that’s sure to keep the gremlins away for longer. Brakes are good, and it is possible to changing a gear too many and let the back end slide around.

No doubt, it’s a thrilling ride and does engage your senses like no other but you do lose all feeling in the nether regions after 20 minutes due to the ‘seat’. A small tank too makes for irritation, filling up every 80 miles means careful planning. The new CCM has a locking fuel cap, which is nice. You can forget motorway riding as the windblast and 100mph top speed comes too soon. It’s also lighter (132kgs) than some 125ccs.

So, you could do worse than try the home brew option. True, it’s not the most sophisticated but it’ll do the job and more for half the effort and price.