In China it was still possible to buy a brand new
sidevalve-engined bike designed in the 1930s, in the form of the ChangJiang
CJ750 M1 – based on the WW2-era Russian IMZ M-72, itself a copy of the pre-war
BMW R71 – until it was finally killed by emissions rules in 2009. But now
there’s this new ChangJiang to replace it.
Powered by CFMoto’s 650cc parallel-twin, itself a
close replica of the Kawasaki ER-6 engine, the CJ650 has 71 bhp – which is three
times more than the old CJ750 M1’s wheezing 22 bhp. It’s emissions-legal around
the world and far more reliable than the old boxer engines, although also now
chain drive, rather than being a shaftie.
The bike’s steel chassis is new, with swingarm rear
suspension instead of the old M1’s plungers, and the sidecar is detachable to
make a retro solo, while the styling is still very much in the WWII vein of its
CJ750 predecessor.
ChangJiang’s target price is around £ 6000; half what
the old CJ750 cost. At the moment, export plans aren’t clear, but given the
engine’s ability to meet Euro rules, some might eventually reach these shores.
