End of the Road for CCM Motorcycles?

After over 50 years of crafting iconic hand-built motorcycles, UK-based CCM Motorcycles has entered administration, marking a sombre moment for British motorcycling heritage.

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Clews Competition Machines, better known as CCM Motorcycles, has officially entered administration, closing a significant chapter in British motorcycling history. For over five decades, CCM stood as a symbol of craftsmanship, individuality, and offbeat engineering — a brand beloved by purists who favoured grit over gloss.

Founded in 1971 by former trials rider Alan Clews, the Bolton-based outfit began by crafting hand-built motocross bikes in an era dominated by mass production. Those early machines, tailored for performance and stripped of frills, helped CCM gain a cult following. That passion carried forward into recent decades, with standout models like the GP450 — a lightweight adventure bike that earned praise for doing things differently — and the visually striking Spitfire range, which included scramblers, bobbers, and retro roadsters with raw, minimalist design.

But heritage alone couldn’t save CCM from the financial headwinds that have been battering the industry.

In an official statement on June 2nd, the company announced: “Sad news for British motorcycling – CCM Motorcycles has been placed into administration by Pitalia Group.”

It’s a sharp fall from what seemed like a promising resurgence just a few years ago. After Pitalia Capital acquired a majority stake in 2021, hopes were high for global expansion, especially into the US market. New models were teased, including the long-awaited Project X adventure bike. But behind the curtain, things were unravelling.

By March 2025, CCM shelved Project X and began scaling back operations significantly. The company slashed its workforce from over 50 to just 12 and cut production in half. Financial strain deepened when one of CCM’s key retail partners, Completely Motorbikes, collapsed in late 2024.

That closure not only disrupted CCM’s sales pipeline but forced the company to repurchase a significant volume of unsold stock, a blow they couldn’t absorb.

Industry-wide pressures didn’t help either. According to the UK’s Motorcycle Industry Association, early 2025 saw a 30% drop in new bike registrations compared to the previous year, a sobering sign of a shrinking market.

“This is a challenging time for everyone involved,” CCM said in its farewell message. “Our dedicated team, our loyal riders, and the wider CCM community that has supported us over the years. We are proud of the motorcycles we’ve built and the legacy we’ve shared with so many.”

While the doors may be closing, the spirit of CCM — rebellious, handmade, unafraid to go off-road both literally and figuratively — leaves a legacy that extends far beyond the showroom floor. It’s a reminder that motorcycles aren’t just machines; they’re statements of intent. And CCM, for over 50 years, made that statement loud and clear.