There are plenty of reasons why certain motorcycle manufacturers don’t give North Americans the full catalog, and none of those reasons are particularly exciting. The cruiser market is probably the big one, as a large percentage of America’s riding population still gravitates towards Harley-Davidson. The USA also doesn’t have engine displacement limitations attached to their licenses like some other countries do, which tends to spice up lower cc offerings.
Even with plenty of good ways to spend my hard-earned powersports allowance, I’m still lusting after the things I can’t have. If a blank check were to arrive tomorrow, and the government turned a blind eye, here are just a few of the exotic machines from my international shopping list.
Brixton Crossfire 500 With a name like Brixton, you’d assume you’re looking at the next generation of affordable British motorcycles. But the firm is actually Austrian, and their products are assembled in China.
Not to be dismissed, Brixton has introduced a whole line of retro-themed motorcycles with rock-solid build quality and name-brand components, and there’s more than one that’s caught our eye. The Crossfire 500 XC is unanimously our favorite, but for the less off-roady crowd, the Crossfire 500 X has a slick factory-custom look for the street.
Tall and flat, we’d wager the Crossfire 500 X takes inspiration from Husqvarna’s Vitpilen and Svartpilen models—or maybe it’s just an Austrian thing. The Crossfire is armed with a liquid-cooled, 486 cc DOHC twin rated at 47.6 hp, which helps to offset its 419-pound heft. Stopping power comes from J. Juan single discs front and rear with BOSCH ABS, and suspension is adjustable KYB at both ends.
While the majority of the mechanical bits are shared across the Crossfire 500 line, the 500 X occupies a happy medium between the standard Crossfire and XC models. Its seating position is more relaxed than the Crossfire, and the seat is wider and flatter. Wearing Pirelli MT60 rubber, the Crossfire X will take on the occasional off-road endeavor, but lacks the skid plates, tall bars and 19” front wheel of the Crossfire XC.
There are multiple contenders in the pseudo-scrambler market in the US, but Brixton’s Crossfire models bring a certain flare to the segment. The Crossfire’s long sculpted fuel tank and flat, full-length saddle are great-looking parts for original equipment, as is the full stainless-steel exhaust system. Priced right around $7,670, we’re confident the Crossfire X could carve its share of the market—if given the chance. [Brixton]
CCM Motorcycles Street Tracker It’s tough to compete with mass production when you’re a small firm with a handbuilt product, but the folks at CCM Motorcycles have found a strategy that works. Using a single liquid-cooled 600 cc platform, the company has built a catalog of 20 fun-loving retro models with distinctive panache. The Ultimate Maverick and Street Tracker are a couple of our favorites from CCM’s lineup, but since our list is a little dirt heavy already, let’s focus on the Tracker for now.
Simplicity is the key to CCM’s product versatility, and probably a big part of the fun as well. The entire model range is based on a TIG-welded steel tubular chassis, with adjustable suspension front and rear with 4.72” of travel. Power comes from a liquid-cooled 600 cc single, rated at 55 bhp, and a six-speed transmission makes the most of it. Thanks to its stripped-down nature, the bike weighs just 319 pounds dry.
While we’re big fans of the Maverick scrambler, the Street Tracker model is probably the better pick given the platform’s limited suspension travel. The Tracker takes its inspiration from CCM’s flat track race bikes, and is fit with number plates, a titanium exhaust, a Magura hydraulic clutch and a 19F/19R wheel combo with street-legal Maxxis flat-track rubber.
Given CCM’s handbuilt, low-volume business model, it comes as no surprise that the Street Tracker is a pricey little thing. The Tracker would set you back around $14,368 in base form by the latest exchange rate—and that’s not counting a one-way ticket across the pond. [CCM]
Fantic Caballero 500 Rally If you’re one of our regulars, then you probably already know that the Fantic Caballero 500 Rally is high on our international wish list. The Caballero combines rugged, real-deal off-road hardware with a timeless scrambler aesthetic, and it’s certainly one of the most unique motorcycles you can buy on somewhat of a budget.
Unlike many other scramblers on the market, the Caballero’s foundation was built with real off-road prowess in mind. The chassis is tubular chromoly steel, with inverted 43 mm forks and an aluminum rear swingarm. Suspension is adjustable on both ends, and provides 8″ of travel, which is competitive even in the performance dual-sport scene.
Peak power is rated at 40 hp, courtesy of a liquid-cooled 449 cc four-valve engine sourced from Zongshen, and the transmission is a standard six-speed. That all makes for a pretty intriguing machine, but it’s the combination of the off-roady mechanicals and the classic scrambler aesthetic that makes the Fantic unique. To nail the look, the Caballero is finished off with a retro 3.2-gallon tank, a slim scrambler saddle, high fenders, a skid plate and a stainless steel exhaust by Arrow.
Looking a bit like a dirt bike/scrambler lovechild, we’re confident the Fantic Caballero 500 Rally is the best way to go wherever you want—and look cool as hell doing it. The 500 Rally sells for the equivalent of $9,100, and if you could get it here, I’d have one. [Fantic]
Sherco 50 SM-RS Silver What’s the big deal, it’s a 50? Okay, hear me out on this one. Think of your local kart track on supermoto day. Now imagine carving deep into the chicken strips and passing all the DRZs and 450s on a two-stroke 50. Sounds awesome, right?
50 cc bikes are a big deal in Europe, and Sherco is one of the top names in this bracket. Sherco doesn’t disclose power figures for these bikes, but by the specs, the 50 SM-RS Silver is a ripper. The liquid-cooled Minarelli AM6 engine is fed by a single Dell’Orto, and sends power to a six-speed transmission.
With a seat height right of around 33″, the 50 SM-RS is a full-size machine that’s fine-tuned for the sharp and twisties. It has an inverted fork, a big 300 mm front disc and 17” sumo wheels, and the bike looks ready to rock right off the showroom floor.
The Sherco USA pricelist includes many of the company’s offerings, but none of the 50s, so it’s safe to assume I won’t be ripping one of these anytime soon. Beyond that, we don’t even know what it costs, as there are no published MSRPs for these bikes. Based on the 2021 pricelist, we’d assume the 50 SM-RS sells for north of $4,000. [Sherco]
TM Racing SMR 450 ES Fi 4T Let’s end things on an optimistic note, shall we? On the surface, Pesaro, Italy, based TM Racing doesn’t seem to do nearly as much business in the States, but they do have a few North American dealers on file. Whether they have the SMR 450 ES Fi 4T in stock or not is another matter, but if they do, I’m certainly listening.
TM Racing started building bikes in Italy in the late 1970s, and today, the company’s catalog has a full docket of enduro and motocross bikes, along with a go-kart division. With MX bikes and karts in inventory, it’s safe to say that TM goes heavy in supermoto, and they’ve got nine models to choose from. My choice has to be the SMR 450 ES Fi 4T.
That’s quite the assemblage of letters, but the takeaway is that this is the closest thing to TM’s competition 450 you can get with lights and indicators, The bike is based on an aluminum chassis with a 48 mm Kayaba front fork and a proprietary rear suspension—both good for around 11” of travel. Induction comes courtesy of Keihin and the brake system is designed by Brembo.
Info is scarce on the web, and we’re still unclear on whether the SMR 450 4T is actually readily available here, or if it complies with U.S. DOT regulations. If we can get it, the TM won’t come cheap, and would likely set you back around $12,000. [TM Racing]
