British firm reveal Dakar-style retro: CCM prototype packs old-school desert racer vibes

This bike, sneakily shown at the recent Adventure Bike Rider Festival, shows that CCM are planning to continue spinning-off impressively spec’d versions of their popular, hand-crafted, retro-roadster Spitfire.

Hot on the heels of the scrambler-style Maverick and only weeks after the upcoming Street Moto and Classic Tracker were spied undergoing final pre-production testing in the north-west, the latest, retro desert racer-styled prototype was spotted gauging opinion alongside another concept dubbed the Beach Cruiser.

Referred to as the ‘Retro Trailie’, the mustard-coloured machine, uses the usual, punchy, enduro-derived, liquid-cooled, 600cc single-cylinder engine producing around 56bhp with 43lb.ft of torque and held in a hand-crafted tubular steel frame.

It also looks to have fairly conventional, off-road sized 21/19in alloy-rimmed wire wheels wearing dirt knobblies, high-mounted front mudguard and CCM’s usual wavy disc brake, most likely grasped by a J-Juan radial caliper.

What sets it apart, however, is its ‘big tank’ retro desert racer looks (this is probably simply a restyle of the radiator cowling to ‘fair-in’ the tank), 1980s Dakar-replica headlamp cowling and screen with matching rear mudguard along with a colour-coordinated ribbed enduro seat.

In place of CCM’s usual Marzocchi forks, the Retro Trailie has long-travel, inverted Öhlins at the front along with old-school Öhlins twin shocks at the rear. These, combined with the larger wheels and upright riding position, should give the Retro Trailie a convincing ‘Dakar-style’ stance and make it the most substantial Spitfire variant yet.

The Camel Trophy paintjob on this version evokes memories of the 1980-2000 cars and bikes of the world-famous Dakar Rally, although another prototype has been spied in 1985 Marlboro Dakar colours, too.

CCM are also considering a Marlboro red/white option, in tribute to 1985 Dakar winner Gaston Rahier’s works BMW. CCM say they are assessing public responses to the bike and may consider producing a proper production version in the near future.