Cleveland Cyclewerks Hooligun 450 coming to Canada

By
CMG Staff
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Here's another look at CCW's latest. They are also making a supermoto version of this machine.
CCW Cleveland Cyclewerks Hooligun 450
Here’s another look at CCW’s latest. They are also making a supermoto version of this machine.

According to their Facebook page, Cleveland Cyclewerks is bringing their Hooligun 450 dual-sport to Canada.

CCW Cleveland Cyclewerks Hooligun 450
Here’s the view of CCW’s Hooligun from the back.

While CCW doesn’t nail down a specific arrival date (probably a wise decision), they’re saying they hope to have the bike here by the summer of 2013. Usually, Chinese bikes end up coming to the country behind schedule, but their page says they weren’t planning to unveil the bike so soon – it was leaked ahead of schedule, and there might be more kinks to work out. So, take that summer of 2013 date as a guideline.

The Facebook page isn’t clear as to whether the supermoto, or just the dual-sport versions are coming to Canada.

In the past couple years, CCW’s bikes were made in Ohio from parts imported from China. We don’t know if that’s the case with the Hooligun or not.

By the way – when the Hooligun was unveiled, many folks around the interwebs started talking about how similar it was to Christini’s 2WD 450. Here’s what CCW head honcho Scott Colosimo had to say about that, via email:

“CCW has been working with the Hooligun manufacturer for some time now.  The frame geometry of Christini and our bike is essentially the same … So yes, we both work with the same manufacturer.  Christini and CCW are in two very different markets.  We have been in contact and are friendly with each other, but they are going for ultimate competition, while we are more concentrated on the average riders experience and all around qualities of the bike”

CCW did not come up with the original design for this bike, he added. Instead, Colosimo said his company came aboard at the manufacturer’s request after development was already underway:

“We were brought in as a consultant and as we got deeper and deeper into the development of the bike, it became clear that CCW needed this bike in the lineup (why do all the work and give it to another company?).  This is just one step in the right direction for us.  By 2014, it should become clear why we took this step and where we are going to go with the modern bikes in our lineup.

For CCW, this is a lower volume product that we will be able to release and give excellent support to our consumers.  We will look to our customers to tell us what parts they want as aftermarket upgrades and accessories, we already have a good number of aftermarket parts available for the product and are going to grow this list as customers demand them.  We are pushing our expertise, growing our engineering and professional capabilities so we can continue to grow the company, our product range and offerings to the consumer. “

 

 

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13 COMMENTS

  1. This bike is sold and known in many countries :

    Argentina (Heikon TT450 and Backfire BXF450),
    Australia (Odes MCF450E),
    Brazil (Tokens TXR450),
    Chile (Takasaki LX450),
    China (Asiawing LD450),
    Finland (Menopeli LD450),
    France (Upower PZF 450),
    Germany (Borossi BT 450 LX),
    Italy (GioItalia 450 Motard),
    Russia (Forsage 450),
    South Africa (BigBoy SMR450),
    United States (Christini AWD 450).

    And also in competitions : cross, enduro, supermotard

  2. China’s entry into the powersports market is no different than Hyundai or Kia’s entry into the automobile industry. The initial perception may be negative, but with the right focus and determination it won’t take long before this changes. Hyundai seems to be doing pretty good now with a lot of manufacturing in the US, looks like CCW is on the same path. Can’t please everyone, but what CCW is doing is admirable and should be respected. I for sure am looking forward to getting my Misfit, no other bike has captured my imagination in the same way (well at least none that I could afford lol). I’ll have my made in China iphone in my pocket as I cruise the streets.

    • You may be waiting for a long time for that Misfit, their Canadian website has been saying that it will be available September 2012 but as far as I know they are still not TC approved. If you are looking for the retro look check out http://www.symcanada.com. They have it covered and it’s fit and finish is far better. I saw it at the Ottawa bike show and the guys told me about an article in the reviews section of their website that compares tha Misfit and the Wolf. Good read and I’m glad little bikes with big style are back!

  3. “Now you have to convince the buyer yours is not junk.”

    That’s a LONG & STEEP climb you’re facing there Rocketman. It will take many years for the perception (and in many cases, the reality) to change.

  4. Many of the current Jap bikes are made in China. Look at the Yamaha TTR series of bikes and you will find the smallest 4 are made in at least 3 different countries. As for vin #s My reaserch shows the first didget is the country of origen; L = mainland China, A or 1 = USA, R = the republic of China aka Taiwan, 9 = Brazil and so on.
    As a small Canadian dealer I see 3 factors to the success of these bikes.
    1st. A Canadian distributor that will be around longer than 5 years. As the end of the line I need to support my customers.
    2nd. A bike that is sorted at the factory. The last thing I need is warranty issues arising from a tird chain or?
    3rd. The tough one. Price. The bike has to be conciderably cheeper than its brand name competitor with cheeper parts as 70% of people buy on price.
    With the support needed at the distributor level the price is going to be higher than most of the junk currently available. Now you have to convince the buyer yours is not junk.

  5. How low-priced (cheap) would this bike have to be to make the risk worthwhile?
    I would much rather buy a used CRF450X and budget an extra grand for new top end parts if needed.

    This isn’t the same situation as the 70’s, when Japanese bikes replaced the Brit bikes. Current Japanese bikes are NOT crap, oil leaking, underperforming dinosaurs.

  7. I know the components are made in China. There was never any debate about that. The question is where they are assembled. I’m not so sure that link is to the manufacturer – it could be another company selling a similar bike based on that engine. When I had my Lifan GY-5, there were dozens of other companies selling similar bikes. They weren’t all the manufacturer, they just placed an order for components made to their specs. It’s the same deal with the Konker that I long-termed a couple years ago. It was based on a Suzuki DR200 (made in the same factory) and several other companies used the same basic bike and just slapped their names on it. That doesn’t mean they were the manufacturers.

    Of course, that doesn’t mean they aren’t the manufacturers either. But from my meager experience in the China bike scene, the only way to really know who’s making what is to visit the factory yourself, which I haven’t had a chance to do yet.

    • The VIN tells the story all CCW products VIN start with “LTB” or “L4Y” which is the WMI for two Chinese manufacturers. if it was “assembled” in the USA they would need their own WMI and it would start with a 1,4 or 5.

  8. For starters The Cleveland Misfit and Heist are 100% made and assembled in China. The Misfit is made by CPI with Lifan engine. Now this new 450 is a chinese Honda CRF450 clone bike. The only real development i see is the stickers. Good luck luck with that Scott!

    • Yeah, I’m familiar with the Misfit and Heist’s roots. I had a Lifan myself once. Are you sure on the “assembled in China” bit? Because that was not the original story, I don’t believe. I may be mis-remembering.

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