Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles

Infobox Defunct Company
company_name = Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles
company_
fate = Sold back to CCM
successor = CCM
foundation = 1980
defunct = 1987
location = Bolton Lancashire
industry = manufacturing and engineering
key_people = Alan Clews
products = motorcycles
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =

Armstrong-CCM Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer. Based in Bolton Lancashire. Alan Clews formed CCM in 1971 from what was left of BSA's off-road competition team and bought spares to produce his own motorcycles. This was a successful business and the Bolton factory was established. In 1981 Armstrong bought a majority share and Clews designed a road race competition motorcycle. They acquired the rights to the Rotax engine enduro motorcycle SWM XN Tornado from the Italian owners and developed the Armstrong MT500 military motorcycle used by the British Army in the Falklands war.

For most of the 1980s Armstrong-CCM was producing about 3,500 trails and motocross bikes, as well as the military off-road machines. [cite web|url=http://www.dropbears.com/m/models/harley/armstrong.htm|title=Armstrong Military Motorcycles|accessdate=2008-06-08] Electric start models were built for the Jordanian and Canadian armed forces.cite web|url=http://www.realclassic.co.uk/arms030307.html|title=Military Might |accessdate=2008-06-08]

In 1983, the Canadian company Bombardier Recreational Products licensed the brand and outsourced development and production of the Can-Am motorcycles to Armstrong-CCM who produced Can-Ams until closure in 1987 when Armstrong sold the military motorcycle business to Harley Davidson and CCM back to Clews, who continues to produce motorcycles to this day.cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2000/08/29/emfccm29.xml|title=CCM: a brief history|date=August 2000|publisher=The Telegraph|accessdate=2008-06-08]

ee also

Clews Competition Motorcycles

[http://www.ins1.nl/history.htm CCM History]

References