Take a look: Paul Laban's 1979 CCM
By Team TMX on 31st Jan 18
Paul Laban bought this bike in the late 80s hoping to emulate his hero - CCM legend Battling Bob Wright.
However, being brought up on Japanese MX bikes, notably the Honda CR250R Red Rocket and Kawasaki KX420, Paul never clicked with the BSA-based CCMs right foot gear change.
The CCM was actually getting tired and ready for a rebuild, so it was stripped down pending major refurbishment, meanwhile Paul bought a new 560 Rotax CCM, racing again with the AMCA.
Fast forward to 2016 and due to the usual pressures of work and family life, the 1979 CCM was still in bits - but a plan was being hatched with Pauls old Derby Sporting AMCA club mate another ex CR250R Red Rocket pilot Steve Parkins.
1979 500cc 4-valve CCM
The brief to Steve was to use as many of the original parts as possible for a sympathetic restoration. The tank and frame still have a few small dings here and there, part of the old 4-valve warhorses race history.
The engine was full of R40 gunge, so every bearing had to be replaced, along with a rebore and new piston, plus a regrind on the worn rocker shafts the 4-valves Achilles heel.
The magnesium rear hub had rotted, so a new P.E.S. one was supplied with engine parts and a rebore.
Racing Lines of Derby rebuilt the crank and SEP of Kegworth repaired the rocker shafts. Burton Bike Bits supplied the complete kickstart mechanism and a gearchange repair shaft.
A VM34 Mikuni carb was fitted in place of the worn out Mk2 Amal, the original Ohlins shocks rebuilt and the self-generating Interspan electronic ignition system still worked after nearly 40 years...
All in all, a proper team effort bringing a classic British MXer back to life!
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