ARMSTRONG, proof of the creative vitality of the 80's

Text: Luís Cardoso

ARMSTRONG CF 250cc, 1984

ARMSTRONG-CCM Motorcycles was a company that produced motorcycles in the 80s of the last century.

In 1981 he bought a majority stake in CCM from Alan Clews, at the same time they bought the rights to produce a version of the XN Tornado model from the Italian company SWM, which served as the basis for the ARMSTRONG MT 500cc that the brand sold to the British army.

The same model, equipped with a starter, was also sold to the Canadian and Jordanian armies.

During the approximately 8 years in which it was active, the brand also produced Trial, Trail and Motocross motorcycles, in a total of around 3500 units.

Part of this range was, from 1983 onwards, produced under license by BOMBARDIER Corporation, which subcontracted the development and production of some models of its CAN-AM Motorcycles brand. The connection between the two companies was indeed important, since the ARMSTRONG used engines from the Austrian ROTAX, a company from the BOMBARDIER universe! In 1987, ARMSTRONG-CCM sold the military business to HARLEY DAVIDSON and CCM returned to Alan Clews.

ROTAX 250cc, 2T

Nial Mackenzie, Carlos Cardús and Donnie Mcleod

In 1983, ARMSTRONG, under the baton of technicians Mike Eatough and Barry Hart, designed and built a 250cc, equipped with a ROTAX twin cylinder (also used by other brands), which had in the use of carbon fiber for the construction of the frame a characteristic truly innovative. This motorcycle, in its different evolutions, has had sporting success in the United Kingdom and also internationally. Nial Mackenzie, Donnie McLeod and Carlos Cardús were some of the riders who achieved outstanding results under their command. The sale of the competition department and respective rights, including plans, stock of parts and tools, led Colin Hopper to produce and market his sidecars with engines derived from the ROTAX that equipped the racing motorcycle in the 350cc CM36 version . This company will also have produced replicas of the 250cc and 350cc racers, later sold to a Super Kart manufacturer who in 2009 passed this business on to RAVE Motosports.

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