Get a first look at the Dirt Trax cew aboard Can-Am’s exciting and highly anticipated new Commander side-x-side.
Check out Dirt Trax Television’s YouTube page for more Test Rides at YouTube.com/dirttraxtv.
Click here to purchase you own DVD set of the Dirt Trax Television season!
BRP’s 2011 Can-Am ATV line-up features two new ATV models with upgrades to existing models. The Can-Am Outlander 800R X xc and the Can-Am Outlander 800R X mr bring the success of BRP’s X-Package concept to its popular Outlander line of recreational-utility ATVs.
“The expansion of our popular X-Package concept to the Can-Am Outlander 800R is a natural progression as we bring more to the ATV enthusiast,” said Yves Leduc, vice president and general manager, North American division. “Two important customer segments are addressed with these two new models. For the aggressive trail rider and the weekend warrior we have the Outlander 800R X xc and for the mud-riding enthusiast we offer the most complete and advanced mud-specific ATV the industry with the Outlander 800R X mr,” added Leduc.
The Outlander 800R X xc model was developed closely with Can-Am racers and race-team partner companies in the Can-Am Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) series. After multiple championships in the GNCC race series BRP has taken valuable feedback from this strenuous form of off-road racing to develop the Outlander X xc ATV. Both the racer and the aggressive trail rider see a direct benefit of the racing experience in this model.
For the mud-riding enthusiast, the Can-Am Outlander 800R X mr represents the most-advanced mud-specific ATV the industry has ever seen. Developed closely with Gorilla Axle, a leading company in mud riding and racing, this ATV has a variety of features that make it the clear choice for the mud rider.
At the heart of the machine is the Can-Am-Exclusive Air-Controlled Suspension (ACS), which allows the rider to adjust the ground clearance of the machine. With ACS, the mud rider no longer has to sacrifice comfort for ground clearance. BRP engineers did not stop there.
The radiator has been relocated above the front rack for the ultimate in mud performance and a seamlessly integrated snorkel system places critical intakes to the highest point on the ATV. Finally, the Can-Am Outlander 800R X mr comes equipped with 30-inch Gorilla Axle Silverback tires making it ready to tackle the deepest mud holes.
Can-Am also highlighted changes to its graphics across its ATV line with new color offerings. For 2011, Can-Am has gone to a more streamlined graphic approach across its ATV line and has a new white coloration for its Renegade ATV line. Finally, the Outlander XT-P line gets the addition of a sleek silver and black coloration package.
BRP also previewed its 2011 Can-Am ATV accessories line-up and off-road riding collections. Consumers can choose off-road gear based on their riding style and needs, no matter the weather. With lightweight breathable water repellence, race-ready quick-dry mobility, and the Can-Am ST-1 helmet that’s the ultimate quick-change artist, BRP has the Can-Am riding gear to enhance every ride.
BRP brings Can-Am DNA to the side-by-side market by introducing the 2011 Can-Am Commander line-up. The five model line-up with two engine options delivers on the Can-Am promise of cutting-edge design, meaningful innovation and a focus on convenience, maximum value and more usability for the consumer.
This very unique side-by-side family has been designed to bring a new level of power, handling and user-focused features to the industry. Power comes from two engine options: a powerful Rotax 800 V-Twin EFI engine, and now a Rotax 1000 V-Twin EFI engine.
This gives the Commander the most power and best fuel efficiency in the industry. For example, the Commander 1000 is 39 percent more fuel efficient than its class competitor.
“BRP continues to set the pace in product innovations. Capitalizing on the Can-Am brand growth momentum, we are entering in a new business segment with the Commander, which completes our product offering for on and off-road customers,” said José Boisjoli, president and chief executive officer.
The Can-Am Commander line reflects BRP’s commitment to offering the side-by-side customer a machine that does not force the rider to compromise performance for functionality. Innovative features like the Dual-Level cargo box, TTI rear suspension, anti-dive front-end geometry and more, throttle-by-wire through its Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) system, a 2-inch diameter rollover protection system (ROPS-approved), the most fuel capacity in the industry (38 liters or 10 gallons); and the most cockpit storage of any other side-by-side. Combined with the most powerful and fuel-efficient engines in the industry, this means the Can-Am Commander is immediately the vehicle of choice for the side-by-side customer.
“When we started to design the vehicle, we were determined to offer consumers a vehicle that would meet our Can-Am brand promise of delivering an exceptional riding experience. This focus on the customer also means our dealer network will have a vehicle that will raise industry standards and re-shape market dynamics as we know them today,” added Boisjoli.
The entire Can-Am Commander line consists of the following models: Commander 800, Commander 800 XT, Commander 1000, Commander 1000 XT and Commander 1000 X. With its XT and X packages, BRP, through its Can-Am brand continues the tradition of bringing unprecedented value through its factory-built packages.
BRP also previewed its 2011 Can-Am Commander accessories line-up and off-road riding collections with a large assortment of the most sought-after accessories developed simultaneously with the new vehicles. The 50 accessories currently available offer total integration in form and function as well as the best riding experience.
Those who are interested in a demo ride of the Can-Am Commander line of side-by-side vehicles will be able to do so on the Can-Am Ride Says It All Tour. For more information on the tour and a list of tour stop locations, please visit www.trycan-am.com.
With the addition of the Can-Am Commander line of side-by-side vehicles, BRP is poised to address just about any need for the passionate off-road enthusiast and for consumers looking for more from the side-by-side experience. For details on the complete 2011 Can-Am off-road line-up and more information on each specific model, visit www.canam.brp.com.
YES, its true. Can-Am finally released its long anticipated side-x-side UTV.
Prior to the introduction I was just a tiny bit skeptical about what this vehicle would look like and where it would fit into the UTV market. Once the sheets were pulled off though, my skepticism went straight out the window.
The Commander is exactly what the side-x-side market has been missing, a capable sport vehicle with innovative, class leading utility features. After putting the boots to this thing for 2 days in all types of conditions I can honestly say this is one capable vehicle in either of its dual purposes.
In terms of sport driving, its crazy fast as an 800 and obviously even more insane with the 1000 EFI twin. Its long travel TTI rear suspension soaks up anything you can throw at it and its wide stance and low center of gravity keep it planted at high speeds. Furthermore, the cockpit is very well laid out. Its comfortable and ergonomically correct for high speed driving.
On the utility side, the double level box is amazing. As big as the biggest dump box up top, but with that cool second level adding so many more possibilities. With motor options this powerful you might think power modulation would be difficult, but the drive by wire thottle with its dual modes makes it easy to keep the power under control even in the tightest places.
I tried my best to push this thing as hard and far as I could during out short test run and in almost every condition it exceeded my expectations.
I’d love to tell you everything about this vehicle right now, but your gonna have to to tune in to Dirt Trax Television to get the full story and all the details your dying to know.
Visit www.dirttraxtv.com for more!
Riding Asphalt in a Completely Different Way
BRP claims the Spyder isn’t targeted at motorcyclists. Its appeal is different from a 2-wheeler and thus, the company is exposing it to all manner of powersport disciplines including ATV and snowmobile owners.
As you know, weÂ’re gearheads and when the opportunity to wring out the new Spyder came our way, we were there in a heartbeat to get a ride on the RS version of the Spyder. It came with custom features like a Can-Am-Hindle exhaust, nifty optional hand sewn seat and a host of glittery blue anodized bits claimed to make it “personalized”.
The Spyder is not a motorcycle. It’s a different animal and, if you’ve never ridden a motorcycle, we think it might actually be a better idea. Why? Very simply, it doesn’t fall over when you walk away from it.
The stability and safety afforded Spyder riders goes far beyond what is offered to motorcycle riders. Riding on wet or loose surfaces does not phase the Spyder one scintilla. Its incredibly sophisticated anti-lock brake, traction and stability control systems prevent even a neophyte rider from losing control. Trust us, we made every attempt to get this thing sideways and it will not lose control.
The electronics used on the Spyder will intervene by activating alternate wheel braking and throttle adjustments to forbid it from breaking loose whether youÂ’re panic braking or avoiding a collision. It was a revelation to pull panic stops from 70 per without any fuss whatsoever. Just jump on the right foot mounted brake lever and let the computer do the rest.
So powerful are braking forces from the Spyder’s three vented discs we actually had to hold ourselves down on the seat. Few, if any, vehicles we’ve been exposed to are able to stop this hard.
The Spyder’s ergonomic experience is decidedly on the motorcycle side of the ledger yet definitely non-motorcycle from others. Shifting gears while blipping the loud handle on the Spyder’s 106hp 996cc Rotax V-twin qualifies as extremely motorcycle-ish. However, not having to put your foot down at intersections is very much unlike a motorcycle.
Leaning your body in the twisties feels similar to a motorcycle but more like a 4-wheeler or a snowmobile. The Spyder doesn’t lean over in turns and your body English is focused more on the upper body and cranking the bars – not a 2-wheeler trait.
HereÂ’s something weÂ’re convinced is key in the marketing and acceptability of the Spyder: Stability and braking in emergencies. The staff of All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine have been around all manner of motorcycles for decades and are convinced many of the current crop of “cruiser bike” pilots are not fully capable of pinpoint braking in an emergency, particularly when it’s wet.
Safely stopping a large motorcycle requires practice and considerable skill. Modulation of the front and rear brakes requires a sensitive and precarious balance. In a panic situation it can be the difference between life and death.
2-wheeled motorcycles are tricky to throw around in an emergency. Too often riders, in a heartbeat, learn the hard way their sparkly, trusted 2-wheeled cruiser can come back and bite them.
Even a squeaky-new pilot can safely stop and maneuver the 3-pointed Spyder with proficiency exceeding many self-professing “experienced” motorcycle riders.
The Spyder is a safe, open air vehicle that provides thrills equal to that of a motorcyle with performance thatÂ’ll make your desire for a Corvette fade away. We think this is the heart of the issue: For many buyers, stability and safety are paramount.
BRP calls the Spyder a Roadster. We like this name. It more clearly reflects the vehicle’s personality. It’s not a motorcycle and it’s not a sports car. It’s something completely new and completely different.
Dirt Trax Television Co-Hosts Mark and Luke Lester review Can-Am’s Spyder and talk about how it differs from your average sport touring motorcycle.
Check out Dirt Trax Television’s YouTube page for more Test Rides at YouTube.com/dirttraxtv.
Click here to purchase you own DVD set of the Dirt Trax Television season!
Luke displays the awesome power of Polaris’ RZR Sport as he puts both dirt and air under all 4 tires.
Check out Dirt Trax Television’s YouTube page for more Test Rides at YouTube.com/dirttraxtv.
Click here to purchase you own DVD set of the Dirt Trax Television season!
The staff of All-Terrain Vehicle Magazine does much of its testing in a geographic area strewn with rocks, roots, stumps and some of the gnarliest terrain you can imagine. We get flats all the time and we hate it when it happens in the middle of a great day of riding.
No doubt you’ve experienced the frustration of tire failure and have wondered why someone hasn’t come up with a bulletproof way to prevent tires from getting holes in them.
We think we may have found the answer. We’ve been testing Rhino Tire Gel for a while now and haven’t had a flat. To bring more perspective to this story we decided we had better try harder.
As you can see, the screws inserted into the Rhino coated tire haven’t had any effect on the tire’s ability to remain inflated. What you can’t see is when the screws were extracted the semi-solid but pliable Rhino coating actually moved into the hole left by the screws. Amazingly, the tire didn’t go flat and hasn’t lost a pound of air pressure since this test.
Our first exposure to Rhino Tire Gel left us with some questions. Specifically, the issue of sidewall pinches, something we get more often than tread punctures.
Initially, the crew at Rhino were applying the coating only to the inner side of the tread surface – completely adequate for on-road vehicles like cars, trucks and motorcycles. However, soft sidewall, low pressure ATV skins need protection on the non-tread surface of the sidewall, too. Rhino has responded and is now applying the coating to sidewalls on ATV tires.
Don’t write this product off as just “more sloppy guck inside a tire”. The Rhino coating is applied evenly using a techy machine that actually sprays the coating into the tire while it’s rotating so it won’t affect wheel balance.
The coating dries to a semi-firm state that’s solid enough to stay in place but soft enough to instantly fill any holes coming from the tire’s exterior surface. The stuff feels kinda gummy but doesn’t stick to your fingers when touched. Once it’s sprayed in place and your tire is mounted, you’ll likely never see it again, and that’s good.
Our initial reaction to this innovative technology is overwhelmingly positive. We think Rhino Gel should be used in every ATV tire right from the factory. There’s no downside to having your meats coated with Rhino Tire Gel – it’s a win-win deal and we recommend it.
Go to RhinoTire.com and check out this product.
Kyle Golding, a 16-year-old SC native, pulled out a first place finish riding a KYMCO Maxxer 375 in the Yadkin Valley Stomp GNCC Race held May 8 – 9, 2010.
This win follows two back-to-back third place finishes in two previous GNCC races and puts him in fourth place in his class overall.
Golding’s rise to fourth place in the 4×4 Lites class is even more impressive when you realize that he did not even participate in the first three races of the series.
The Yadkin Valley Stomp is held in Yadkinville, NC, which is wine country. The name of this event comes from its roots in wine – you stomp on the grapes to make wine.
This track is very tight and is very unforgiving. Racers need a good start and cannot make any mistakes to do well here. The track features a large water section and a large tunnel for the riders, making it a fun venue for spectators as well.
However, this track worked well for Golding and his break-through race. He won with a last-lap pass, ending the 4×4 Lites points leader, Kevin Trantham’s five-race winning streak.
Al Golding, KYMCO USA’s Accessories Manager and Kyle’s father was on site in Yadkinville to provide support and cheer his son on. “Kyle has been riding ATVs since he was eight years old and has been racing for five years. The whole family rides, but Kyle really has a special talent for the sport and he loves the mud!”
The Maxxer 375 is a good fit for Golding in the 4×4 Lites class, which is made up of 201-560cc ATVs. While it is not the most powerful in the class, its performance and agility give it the edge necessary to be a winner.
Designed for both sport-performance on the trail and rugged, comfortable utility use, the Maxxer 375 offers ATV buyers the best of both worlds. With the Maxxer’s shift on-the-fly 2WD and 4WD and a class-leading sport-tuned independent rear suspension (IRS), KYMCO has created a versatile ATV that will give years of trouble-free service and exceptional value.
The Maxxer 375 also features KYMCO’s proven CVT transmission, low-maintenance shaft-final-drive, single cylinder DOHC four-stroke engine with electric start, sure stopping hydraulic disc brakes all around, aluminum alloy wheels and distinctive new body styling. It is backed by KYMCO’s standard one-year factory warranty.
About KYMCO USA – KYMCO’s roots in the motorsports industry go back to its founding in 1963 as the Kwang Yang Motor Company, Ltd., with headquarters in Taiwan. Long a leader in quality, fuel economy, and versatility, today KYMCO manufactures motor scooters, motorcycles, and ATVs at five plants in Asia, including the main facility in the city of Kaohsiung.
KYMCO is the largest scooter manufacturer in Taiwan and currently exports to 88 countries worldwide. All KYMCO plants use the latest technology for the engineering and production of reliable engine, chassis, and other components. Since 2004, KYMCO has been officially accredited for ISO-9001 quality in manufacturing. KYMCO is committed to maximum customer satisfaction and constant innovation, making use of the most advanced CAD/CAE tools to bring superior engineering and design to their products.
The company’s partner in the United States is KYMCO USA with headquarters, marketing and distribution centered in Spartanburg, South Carolina. KYMCO USA is dedicated to building the brand’s reputation and market share through superior value, frequent new product introductions, strategic industry partnerships, and excellence in dealer network support. KYMCO USA has a reputation and expertise gained through over 30 years in the U.S. motorsports industry.
In many jurisdictions, trails built strictly for motorized use are a shared asset. However, the other side of the coin is that in some places we are legally bound to share some of our trails with non-motorized users.
Shared use trails where motorized and non-motorized users come together can be a source of great angst. Virtually 100 percent of the time it’s the motorized users who pay to build and maintain these “multi-use” routes.
Often, non-motorized users have been allowed access to these trails as a result of political wrangling. It’s like we’ve been held hostage with our own gun. If we let non-motorized users on our trails we can keep our trails? As much as I resent this reality, we have little choice but to deal with hikers and bikers using the trails we’ve developed and maintained at our expense.
This idea of shared use is what politicians and bureaucrats want from the motorized community. The success of multi-use trails lies mainly in understanding and managing how motorized and non-motorized users behave in close proximity.
If hikers walk 5-wide on rail-grade trails while displaying intolerance in the face of approaching motorized users there will be a confrontation.
If motorized users wick-up the throttle when meeting hikers and bikers, leaving them gasping in a cloud of dust, there will be problems.
As is almost always the case, this issue will ultimately come down to continued tolerance on the part of the motorized fraternity. You can be sure a pair of hikers complaining to local authorities about a motorized trail user will get way more traction than an ATVer complaining about renegade hikers not moving out of the way on a trail. It’s just the way it is.
So get behind our motorized allies and then muster as much tolerance as you can for the non-motorized users we have to share our trails with. Take one for the team!
DIRT TRAX is an international award winning offroad motorsports program with National broadcast coverage on Sportsman Channel in the United States and in Canada on City TV, Wild TV, REV TV, Cowboy Channel, RFD TV and Sportsman Channel Canada, as well as international coverage on our popular YOUTUBE channel.
For all media, sponsorship, and other queries, please visit our Contact Us page.
© TRAX MEDIA INC 2022
