2018 Yamaha Grizzly EPS LE vs. Can-Am Outlander North Edition 650: By the Numbers

Both the 2018 Yamaha Grizzly EPS LE and Can-Am Outlander North Edition 650 are built for cold-weather climates. Let’s see how they stack up.

For those of us lucky enough to live in the northern reaches of the continent, cold, winter weather is creeping in to every forecast. That means it’s time to add a few layers and try to stay at least a little warm while we go about our daily lives. Just because the mercury is dropping, that doesn’t mean the fun stops. Both Yamaha and Can-Am make special editions of their popular ATVs that are designed just for cold weather activities. The 2018 Yamaha Grizzly EPS LE and the Can-Am Outlander North Edition 650 are ready to turn up the heat this winter and let you enjoy some off-road fun.

Familiarity

We’re already fans of the Yamaha Grizzly. It has proven to be a fun and extremely capable machine that is well balanced and powerful. The 708cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder powerplant pumps out some very usable, torquey performance. If you’re riding down the trail and need to wheelie over an obstacle, just lean back and blip the throttle. Gearing through Yamaha’s perfect Ultramatic CVT transmission is an excellent blend of low-end grunt, mid-range hit and top-end fun. There are bigger machines out there, but the Yamaha is so good that it remains a favorite for many riders across North America.

The Can-Am Outlander 650 runs on a 649.6cc Rotax V-Twin motor that thumps out an impressive 62 horsepower. Of course, horsepower is just a number. It’s how that horsepower gets used that means the most. With the Can-Am, it is really solid in the mid-range, with a great low and top end to boot. It’s a fun-to-ride machine with a CVT transmission that has an extra-low low range, perfect for plowing snow or dealing with snow and slop. This lower than low range lets you dig into the mid-range pop of the motor. It’s fun and a gnarly workhorse.

Cold Weather Gear

The 2018 Yamaha Grizzly EPS LE gets some sweet stuff to make even the coldest weather bearable. The first thing you’ll warm up to is the heated seat, which will have your buns toasty like sitting by the campfire. There are heated grips and a thumb warmer on the throttle, too. Yamaha added a quick-release fairing to help block wind as well. Then, to make the Griz styling and profiling, Yamaha added its LE painted plastics, limited edition graphics and alloy wheels. It’s a cool ride that keeps you warm.

The Can-Am Outlander North Edition comes with added mud guards to keep mud and snow off you. There is also a quick-release fairing, and heated grips and a thumb warmer with four settings for custom comfort. If you wear a heated shield on your helmet, there is a special outlet on the handlebar to plug in to. The Outlander also comes with a 3,000-pound winch. The North Editions (Can-Am also offers an 850) come in Arctic white color with matching, painted aluminum wheels.

So which one for you?

That’s a tough question, and one you’ll have to answer for yourself. On one hand, you have Yamaha’s legendary reliability and durability, and on the other, Can-Am’s legendary power and performance. If this were a shootout, it’d be too close to call. The Yamaha carries an MSRP of $10,899 and the Can-Am starts out with an MSRP of $10,699.

Winter is coming. The right ATV can help you prepare for it. (Photo by S_Photo/Shutterstock.com)

Experience the 2018 Yamaha Grizzly EPS LE for yourself at your local Yamaha dealership. You can find out more by going to their website.

Learn more about the Can-Am Outlander North Edition 650 by going to their website. Better yet, visit a Can-Am dealership near you.