Devon TRF Group Forum

bozz · Clubman B

CCM404 - Any Good

Cubber · Expert

Jack had one for sale last year, Bozz.

http://devongtrf.activeboard.com/t54568981/ccm-404-ds/?page=1#lastPostAnchor

A bit of information in his post.

Martyn

Albert · Clubman A

I've not owned one but was looking into them last year.

Looks like a great bike, DRZ400 motor with the racey E cam. It has higher compression than a DRZ-E though, as well as a vastly superior FCR carb. According to CCM's specs it puts out 13hp more than an E, 53bhp total.

Weighs slightly less than the DRZ-E at 124kg, and has WP suspension front and back, the shock doesn't use a linkage which might matter if you like to lower bikes. Brembo brakes.

The only real problems they have as far as i could find were electrical issues from some iffy looms, and issues with the clocks going a bit screwy. The clock issues in some cases affected mileage readings so if you are looking one over i would suspect the clock if it looks too worn for the miles it shows.

The main thing that put me off them was potential fuel range, the tank is 11 litres and it presumably is thirstier than a DRZ-E with the higher compression and bigger FCR carb. I was planning a lot of road miles and using it as an only bike, and would have bought one if an oversize aftermarket tank existed but it doesn't, im sure one from another bike could be made to fit but i searched pretty hard and found no info.

I would say they are a great bike and sell for less than they deserve, often come with SM wheels too which were an extra at the factory. There is a CCM owners forum which has plenty more info i would think too, called ccmriders.

Hope this helps

Nige · Expert

53hp LOL I just spat hot tea on me lap.
Some very creative writing going on!

Albert · Clubman A

it does seem pretty hopeful biggrin i wonder where manufacturers get their figures from, or rather how they justify the ones they quote.

seems 40 at the wheel is what a decently sorted but unmolested 404 will give you, which is about 5 more than a DRZ-E.

Im not really sure how relevant bhp actually is in a trail bike generally tho, in real terms im sure the FCR of the CCM will give far better throttle response and smoother engine response overall which to me is far more relevant. Thats assuming Bozz wants one as a trail bike, if he plans to circumnavigate the globe with it i would go with the DRZ.

Sorry about the tea by the way

Nige · Expert

Shock is a direct mount to swingarm.This makes the rear long and some times they will wheelspin when you actually want the front wheel up to get over an obistical . This shock position also restricts the exhaust design I honestly don't think it could out preform a DRZ E.
But if you want something a bit leftfield with solid underpinnings

RichT4 · Champion

Albert wrote:
Looks like a great bike, DRZ400 motor with the racey E cam. It has higher compression than a DRZ-E though, as well as a vastly superior FCR carb. According to CCM's specs it puts out 13hp more than an E, 53bhp total.
Weighs slightly less than the DRZ-E at 124kg, and has WP suspension front and back, the shock doesn't use a linkage which might matter if you like to lower bikes. Brembo brakes.
The main thing that put me off them was potential fuel range, the tank is 11 litres and it presumably is thirstier than a DRZ-E with the higher compression and bigger FCR carb. I was planning a lot of road miles and using it as an only bike, and would have bought one if an oversize aftermarket tank existed but it doesn't, im sure one from another bike could be made to fit but i searched pretty hard and found no info.

Ok Albert, I'll bite down on this one lol

You seem to be getting confused with your DRZ 'S' & 'E's Albert. wink

The DRZ E has the cams, the higher compression & the FCR39 carb etc...., the CCM motor is the DRZ E motor unaltered (39-40 HP at the rear wheel).

The DRZ S has softer cams, lower comp and BSR 36mm carb (34'ish HP at rear wheel).

The CCM is slightly heavier than the DRZ E, though only 5 Kgs by the looks of things, but lighter than the DRZ S.

DRZ E,S,SM has 10 litre fuel capacity total so CCM404 seems to have a litre more, very handy.

The CCM has some trick components but also some build quality issues from what I've read...

Albert · Clubman A

I stand corrected and bow before your superior DRZ expertise Rich

Seems that most of the motorcycle specs websites are wrong when it comes to the DRZ-E, i would probably have bought one when i was looking for a successor to my DR if i had known Fortunately i realised that my DR350 is superior* to all other offerings and so stopped looking.

My apologies for any confusion

*Except in power, weight and suspension terms of course.

RichT4 · Champion

lol - I do like the fact that the DR350 has 6 gears and loads of torque right off the bottom, it's nice bike.

For specs of various DRZ's here is a good site.

Or here

Albert · Clubman A

Ah thanks for the links, I generally compare bike specs using motorcyclespecs.co.za, but as you can see they have screwed up their DRZ-E info: http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_drz400e%2000.htm

Its funny i had seen people mention FCR's on their DRZ'd and i assumed it was a popular mod

Straying a bit off topic now!

I did just find a post on a different forum that compares the two bikes you might find it interesting Bozz, the guy who wrote it clearly knows his stuff wink :

"Bear in mind that there are three different models of DR-Z: S = trail, E = Enduro, and SM = super moto and four different models of CCM

404E = Enduro 404DS = trail, and each could be ordered in standard or supermoto trim, or with a conversion kit.

I've ridden a DR-Z400E and own a CCM404DS.

Early versions of the DR-Z E are illegally loud, that is to say they won't even pass scrutineering at an ACU event. They all lack the full road equipment of S version and the DS version of the CCM.

The DR-Z E and S suspension is not very good as standard, but can be made better. The SM suspension is good for its intended use, which is primarily road riding.

The CCM suspension is unbeatable, but needs to be set up properly. There is no linkage to wear out on the CCM.

The attention to detail on the Suzuki is better than on the CCM. The airbox on the CCM appears to have been designed by a lunatic, and have been inspired by the grass collection bin on a cylinder lawnmower.

Most CCMs have been used off-tarmac, with varying degrees of preparation and maintenance.

You can still get DR-Z SMs and Ss that have never seen mud.

There are various issues across both makes that are common to the Suzuki engine. These include the need to loctite certain bolts under the left-had side cover of the engine, and the output shaft seal failing. There's lots of info and fixes on various forums, or ask here.

My opinion is that if you want a bike primarily for trail riding and maybe the odd enduro, buy the CCM and learn to look after it. Be prepared to sort a few issues. You can buy spares with rapid delivery direct from the factory or from Haines Motorcycles in the Forest of Dean. Haines are a really helpful old-school motorcycle dealer.

If you want something that's predominantly going to be used on the road: either for commuting or a bit of touring with a few unmade roads thrown in, get the DR-Z400S. Similarly if you want a long range fuel tank, or any other accessories to suit the bike for a particular purpose then go Suzuki.

If you want something for sporty road riding get the SM version of the Suzuki.

The biggest drawback on all these bikes it the lack of a sixth gear. And for this reason, if the Suzuki DR-Z S ticked all the boxes for me, I wouldn't get one...I'd go for the Suzuki DR350S instead...slightly less power, no water-cooled complications, same suspension, lighter weight and six perfectly-spaced ratios in the nicest motorcycle gearbox ever built.

And yes, I used to own one of those too. I remember when it first launched, Cycle magazine said

"Hands-down, this is the best four-stroke trail bike ever to come out of Japan."

All these decades later, I think they are still right."

Treefiddy for the win! biggrin

delvey91 · Devon's Best

I had one it was a great bike but the build quality was appalling