Watsonian rolls out sidecar kit for CCM Spitfire Bobber
You won’t be going fast on a sidecar-equipped 600cc single-cylinder motorcycle, but you’ll be going in style.
Gotta question the timing of this one. Iconic sidecar makers Watsonian have announced a new sidecar kit that can be used to fit one of its sidecars to the CCM Spitfire Bobber.
You may remember that CCM went into administration at the start of this summer.
But, in fairness, that’s not a reason in and of itself to avoid attaching a stylish sidecar to the British-assembled machine. First introduced in 2019, the Spitfire Bobber was powered by a Chinese-made 600cc single-cylinder engine derived from an old Husqvarna design.
Founded back in 1971 by motocross rider and engineer Alan Clews, Clews Competition Machines (CCM) carved out a reputation for lightweight, hand-built bikes with bags of character.
Notably vibey, according to owners, the Spitfire Bobber’s engine claimed peak outputs of 56 bhp and 43 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps the weight of the sidecar will help ease those vibrations?
“Designed and developed specifically for the British-built bikes, the [sidecar] kit bolts onto four mounting points on the Spitfire's steel tube frame,” explains a Watsonian media release. “These are expertly positioned to allow optimum triangulation when attaching the arms linking the bike to the sidecar, to ensure everything stays firmly in place.”
Manufactured in the Cotswolds, this Watsonian sidecar kit sells for £1,250 - including VAT. That’s just the kit, mind. The actual sidecar will cost more beyond that.
For example, the Watsonian Prescott sidecar pictured here has a starting price of £5,795. It fits the spirit of the Spitfire well, carrying its own aeronautical links. According to Watsonian, “the original version was made using surplus RAF drop tanks from Mosquito fighter-bombers.”
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Chris Cope is a fourth-generation journalist, originally from Texas. He has lived in the UK for roughly two decades and has been writing about motorcycles for most of that time. He has written for dozens of publications and websites in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
