Can am ATV

[Mursal]

Thanks, I'm fully aware of that ...........
Definitely a different ballgame when you see the cost of repair

 

[Nithsdale]

Thanks, I'm fully aware of that ...........
Definitely a different ballgame when you see the cost of repair

Can't beat a stick (pedal) shift with semi-automatic clutch for long term reliability. I only like the CVT when actually feeding the ewes with the snacker, happiest with real gears the rest of the time.

 

[Joe S]

The can am I am learning is not built to last.

They are very comfortable, rapid, and have a very sturdy chassis frame.

However comparing it to my Suzuki king quad, the can am bearings are of poor quality. The can am hardi spicers are so soft that most mechanics cans who work on them carry spares alongside consumables like oil filters and brake pads.

What alarms me most is the wonderful engine doesn't have any clutch between the flywheel and the drive belt. Unlike all Japanese bikes that have a centrifugal clutch driving the main belt, the can am belt is driven directly off the flywheel. Any slip must be taken up by the belt.

While many owners will never put the bike into hard enough work for this to be a problem, hill ground and trailer towing kills the belt.

This design makes the can am less expensive to manufacture, but vastly increases the maintenance and running costs. How it affects the used value will become apparent when I go to trade it in.

belt is the only good bit of a suzukican am must be shocking if there less reliable!!
nice bikes at the start but frankly not build to last, frame if soft in all the wrong places and mud lies in bits its impossible to wash off, suspension sags and goes all rolly, eats front brakes like there going out of style, they like a drink too compared to a honda but the main problem is that silly fuel injection system what a balls up
im guessing you don't do major mileage/ haven't had it long enough to find any of these problems?

 

[Nithsdale]

belt is the only good bit of a suzukican am must be shocking if there less reliable!!
nice bikes at the start but frankly not build to last, frame if soft in all the wrong places and mud lies in bits its impossible to wash off, suspension sags and goes all rolly, eats front brakes like there going out of style, they like a drink too compared to a honda but the main problem is that silly fuel injection system what a balls up
im guessing you don't do major mileage/ haven't had it long enough to find any of these problems?

Honestly though, same arguments can be had about Honda's.

Chassis break - even the new models. Trailing rear axel is still as soft as a fresh turd on the splines. The single rear shocker sags like feck after 18month. The ride is awful and will give you a bad back (my back has never been better since I stopped using them). The rack capacity and tow capacity is a joke - 600kg is IRS only, the rest are 385kg. They are seriously under powered compared to the rest, and thirsty for it!

I don't know much of the IRS, but I've seen 2 in some epic state - and they weren't very old

The best thing about them is the warranty.

 

[Andy84]

Have to disagree with a couple of things there! We have two 500 IRS the older one is 4 years old with over 10000 miles and is near as tight and solid as the newer one. Fuel usage is also a fraction of the Suzuki it replaced. A manual bike will always use less that a CVT.

Honestly though, same arguments can be had about Honda's.

Chassis break - even the new models. Trailing rear axel is still as soft as a fresh turd on the splines. The single rear shocker sags like feck after 18month. The ride is awful and will give you a bad back (my back has never been better since I stopped using them). The rack capacity and tow capacity is a joke - 600kg is IRS only, the rest are 385kg. They are seriously under powered compared to the rest, and thirsty for it!

I don't know much of the IRS, but I've seen 2 in some epic state - and they weren't very old

The best thing about them is the warranty.

Have

 

[Joe S]

Honestly though, same arguments can be had about Honda's.

Chassis break - even the new models. Trailing rear axel is still as soft as a fresh turd on the splines. The single rear shocker sags like feck after 18month. The ride is awful and will give you a bad back (my back has never been better since I stopped using them). The rack capacity and tow capacity is a joke - 600kg is IRS only, the rest are 385kg. They are seriously under powered compared to the rest, and thirsty for it!

I don't know much of the IRS, but I've seen 2 in some epic state - and they weren't very old

The best thing about them is the warranty.

hondas might not be what they were but i can tell you they dont give the bother suzukis do and they stand up to 10000-15000km a year and heavy towing (300-600kg) across the hill one hell of a lot better than they do! plus they dont burn as much fuel doing it. Its true they dont have the power but the suzukis just fall to bits so its no much help having the power is it?
last time i checked they are no cheaper new and worth less second hand because who wants a bike that falls to bits

 

[A1an]

Users have a BIG effect on the longevity of any particular marque and getting feedback should be taken lightly.

I am sympathetic towards my machinery, I believe if you look after it then itl look after you.

Ive seen some bikes that are wrecked at 18mnths old. The CanAm will stand the test of time in my hands but wouldn't last an afternoon in the hands of our shepherd.

Me and my big mouth.

Shot 2 stags on the hillside tonight, when I got back to bike it wouldn’t fuking start.

Don’t buy an CanAm, they’re sh1t.

 

[Andy84]

What kind of bike does the Shepherd have?

Users have a BIG effect on the longevity of any particular marque and getting feedback should be taken lightly.

I am sympathetic towards my machinery, I believe if you look after it then itl look after you.

Ive seen some bikes that are wrecked at 18mnths old. The CanAm will stand the test of time in my hands but wouldn't last an afternoon in the hands of our shepherd.

 

[high plains drifter]

Me and my big mouth.

Shot 2 stags on the hillside tonight, when I got back to bike it wouldn’t fuking start.

Don’t buy an CanAm, they’re sh1t.

No pull start either

 

[A1an]

No pull start either

Wouldn’t have made a difference, it just spun over but wouldn’t fire.

Started right up next morning though.

They are great bikes, they fix themselves if you swear at them and walk off home.

 

[Irish NZ]

@A1an silly questions but were you doing the classic mistake of giving it some gas as you were trying to start it. See it happen here with new people trying to start our can ams.

Been all can am for 5 seasons(2 bikes) now and can't complain. The 500 Honda it replaced had to under go a gearbox rebuild after 3 years the can am doing the same work pulling the same trailers needed a belt replacement in the same timeframe.

The only real problems we've had is with the switch gear(ignition and light switch) all replaced and upgraded under warranty. Current bike is at 10,000miles and does exactly the same job as day 1. It pulls our 1000l calf feeder and big calf trailer. It'll be swapped for the same again maybe next year.

All quads are as good and as bad as the operator some people can seem to break solid steel. The only brand I hear constant bad reports are Honda. Only got 1 mate left with 1 and hates it with a passion but he just bought a farm so has to suffer another year with it(his words) everyone else seems happy with their bikes(can am Suzuki yamaha) with no major complaints

 

[Jontym]

Not wishing to hi jack this thread, but has any one got a Can Am traxter ssv ? Got one on demo at moment and can’t really fault it, but just wondering longer term reliability!
Tried a new Honda Pioneer first, as we’ve always had Honda quads, very very disappointed.

 

[Hilly]

Not wishing to hi jack this thread, but has any one got a Can Am traxter ssv ? Got one on demo at moment and can’t really fault it, but just wondering longer term reliability!
Tried a new Honda Pioneer first, as we’ve always had Honda quads, very very disappointed.

I aint got a traxtor but know a man who has three, he highly recommends them.

 

[Hanspree]

Some good reports about can am on here, quite fancy having a look at 1 but our dealer hasn't rung me back for over 2 week....... better look elsewhere

 

[Nithsdale]

Coming to the decision all ATVs are shyte these days.


Just buy whatever you like the feel and ride of, and to hell with the naysayers.

 

[A1an]

@A1an silly questions but were you doing the classic mistake of giving it some gas as you were trying to start it. See it happen here with new people trying to start our can ams.

nope, I never give gas to anything that’s fuel injected.

 

[DaveGrohl]

We've got a Can Am on demo this week. I'm struggling to get on with it, it's soooo huge. Feels like your legs are being forced apart when you're sitting on it, it's so wide. Not really enjoying the CVT either so far. Hmmm.

 

[hally]

We've got a Can Am on demo this week. I'm struggling to get on with it, it's soooo huge. Feels like your legs are being forced apart when you're sitting on it, it's so wide. Not really enjoying the CVT either so far. Hmmm.

They are numb aren’t they, I was trying to bring in a limmy cow with a sunburnt calf (!!!!) this morning and the huge turning circle coupled with the very notchy gearstick almost drove me mental ( I said almost ), problem is I can’t see much better out there. Modern bikes are very disappointing.

 

[Nithsdale]

They are numb aren’t they, I was trying to bring in a limmy cow with a sunburnt calf (!!!!) this morning and the huge turning circle coupled with the very notchy gearstick almost drove me mental ( I said almost ), problem is I can’t see much better out there. Modern bikes are very disappointing.

I've had a quick go on one, not a demo or anything though so I wasn't on it for long.

The handling is awful I don't see why so many like them fast though

 

[hally]

Yea

I've had a quick go on one, not a demo or anything though so I wasn't on it for long.

The handling is awful I don't see why so many like them fast though

yeah I bought it as it’s sold by a good local lad/ dealer and we were used to auto hondas which you can’t get anymore and recommendations on here as I can’t be arsed to demo every bloomin make.....but I wished I had