Can-Am Innovations that Changed the ATV Industry

ATV and Side-by-Side vehicle owners have long benefited from Can-Am innovations. Here are five that really stand out.

There are always great features that define a brand. The group at Can-Am have a way of putting their spin on these items that will leave you wondering why no one else had ever thought of that and it is usually not just a better way, but a totally different approach to a need in the industry. We have looked through the industry to find five Can-Am innovations that have made a big impact on the off-road world and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering

Power steering has long been a debated feature that is either too much or too little when it comes to power assist. But how about three choices of assist that give the rider more or less of what they need for the trail. Can-Am’s Tri-mode DPS is a favorite among those who trail ride as well as those who race harsh conditions in the desert or mud bogs across the USA. With a minimum, medium and maximum assist level you can adapt the machine to the terrain, making this one of the key Can-Am innovations for ride comfort in our industry.

Air Ride Suspension

Used first on the Limited Edition Can-Am Outlander ATV, air ride suspension not only gave the rider a little boost in the rear suspension but also gave you an accessory pump for any trail mishaps that required air. The selectable settings for tautness of the rear shocks for those times when a passenger was aboard also made it safer to carry heavy loads on the rear rack. This feature was also used on the incredible Outlander X mr mud racing machine.

Big V-Twin Power

The heart of all Can-Am machines is the Rotax engine. These V-Twins are incredible stock and can be tuned from trail to take off in an instant with little to moderate modifications. The best kept secret among Can-Am racers in the beginning was that the 500cc bottom end was the same as the 800cc giant. Meaning that you simply needed a larger cylinder swap with fresh piston, a little head massage and bam, you were onto the moon. If you look at where we are today with the hand-built turbos from this same company, you must know that power is in its DNA. It’s a force to be reckoned with.

True Two-Up Riding

Many of us have ridden two-up on our old ATVs, but Can-Am wanted to develop a safer and better way. The Can-Am Outlander MAX set precedence in the industry with a raised passenger seating area and a longer frame to accommodate the weight as well as making the passenger feel more comfortable. This also gave the driver more confidence in the handling of their machine. As the years progressed Can-Am made the MAX an ATV that you could take the seating off of and replace it with a small toolbox for storage on those solo rides.

Race-Inspired Cockpit

A race-inspired cockpit is one feature that takes us back to the first time we sat in the Commander, Can-Am’s first Side-by-Side. The depth of the seating and the tight cockpit with raised center console gave us the feeling of incredible confidence before the engine ever fired. The push button start also added to this, but the high back fully bolstered seating planted the driver and passenger to prepare for lift off.