Can-am Defender 800

[Downton_shep]

I've got one here at the moment (bikes in for service and tyres) wow it's a beast! Now fitted with eco, work and normal mode. Even in eco it's faster than a geared quad in normal it's got even more go. Will do 90kph easy on the road and pulls heavy trailer up hill easier than my 570 quad. Much smoother pulling away than Polaris ranger which makes backing up to trailers much safer! And there's no belt slap when you take your foot off the accelerator or go down a bank! Not as much engine braking as the quad but the brakes are good.
First fill up it did 105 miles used 25L fuel (wasn't empty has 35L tank) which I think isn't that bad considering everyone's had a play on it and just floored it everywhere! And with it being a new engine will get better as it wears in. I think it could get through tyres quite fast mind!
Has anyone actually got one?

 

[Old Tip]

Sounds like it needs a restrictor on it !

 

[Downton_shep]

Sounds like it needs a restrictor on it !

Only does 70kph in eco

 

[It was already broken.]

Two keepers on the estate here have got Polaris Rangers. Never known any vehicle break down as much. One blew up last thursday, engine. Had another do the same last year, took 3 months to get engine from the states. I had the other one Friday and Saturday on the shoot and the ignition switch is dodgy and the drive shaft to front right sounds like it is about to give up. They have had so many problems the rep doesn't return their calls anymore. I said to them the Can Am always gets a good write up on here.

 

[Downton_shep]

Apparently 3 grand cheaper than a diesel as well!

 

[Spartacus]

I tried the 570 can am a couple of weeks ago, went with the trailer to get some firewood and got it stuck with a load on, moved it about and got it out eventually, was disappointed in its pulling power. Got the bike out of the wood and asking a rough track where the trailer tyre caught on a rock and it wouldn't move, it was only then I realised the kids had put it in 2 wheel drive back in 4 wheel drive it pulled like a dream.

 

[sherg]

I had a play on one in the dealers yard it was probably quicker than my 500 can am, I've never been a massive fan of gators and mules etc but for using as a machine to shepherd with I reckon one of these would be as good as anything
If a rappa could go on one I'd definitely have one

 

[neilo]

I tried the 570 can am a couple of weeks ago, went with the trailer to get some firewood and got it stuck with a load on, moved it about and got it out eventually, was disappointed in its pulling power. Got the bike out of the wood and asking a rough track where the trailer tyre caught on a rock and it wouldn't move, it was only then I realised the kids had put it in 2 wheel drive back in 4 wheel drive it pulled like a dream.

Mrs NeilO did the same a few years back. She went off to collect some logs up with the quad trailer and managed to head back through a wet patch (broken drain) and got it bellied out. Not wanting to ring me, she unloaded all the logs by hand and kept trying, before eventually giving in. I went down with the pick up, attached the winch from the quad, and pulled it out. Then I noticed she'd flicked the switch into 2wd. Oh, how I laughed..... and still do, every time I remind her.

 

[neilo]

I've got one here at the moment (bikes in for service and tyres) wow it's a beast! Now fitted with eco, work and normal mode. Even in eco it's faster than a geared quad in normal it's got even more go. Will do 90kph easy on the road and pulls heavy trailer up hill easier than my 570 quad. Much smoother pulling away than Polaris ranger which makes backing up to trailers much safer! And there's no belt slap when you take your foot off the accelerator or go down a bank! Not as much engine braking as the quad but the brakes are good.
First fill up it did 105 miles used 25L fuel (wasn't empty has 35L tank) which I think isn't that bad considering everyone's had a play on it and just floored it everywhere! And with it being a new engine will get better as it wears in. I think it could get through tyres quite fast mind!
Has anyone actually got one?

I had my Outlander serviced a couple of weeks ago. Phil was very keen to lend me that Defender as a demo too. Sounds like it worked.

I told him that, if I wanted a UTV, it would be a small pick up with proper tyres on every time.

 

[sherg]

I had my Outlander serviced a couple of weeks ago. Phil was very keen to lend me that Defender as a demo too. Sounds like it worked.

I told him that, if I wanted a UTV, it would be a small pick up with proper tyres on every time.

He told me when I take mine to be serviced I could have it as well they must be keen to get them out

 

[Downton_shep]

I had my Outlander serviced a couple of weeks ago. Phil was very keen to lend me that Defender as a demo too. Sounds like it worked.

I told him that, if I wanted a UTV, it would be a small pick up with proper tyres on every time.

I'm not due anything till 2018
Plus new manager starting next year so he might have other ideas!

 

[Downton_shep]

Forgot to say they are rather noisy! Would take quite a bit of getting used to.

 

[Tarw Coch]

He told me when I take mine to be serviced I could have it as well they must be keen to get them out

Yep, he told me that too, trouble is I quite like only filling the kioti every few weeks...............OTOH , a Maverick might just make me change my mind

 

[Downton_shep]

Yep, he told me that too, trouble is I quite like only filling the kioti every few weeks...............OTOH , a Maverick might just make me change my mind

He's got one of them there as well!!

 

[Tarw Coch]

Apparently 3 grand cheaper than a diesel as well!

What diesel? As far as I'm aware CanAm don't do a diesel so would that be another make?

 

[Downton_shep]

Think he means Ranger or Gator.

 

[Nithsdale]

Yep, he told me that too, trouble is I quite like only filling the kioti every few weeks...............OTOH , a Maverick might just make me change my mind

Aye, puts me off these straight away.

Could be the best machine in the world, but you can get to feck filling up 25l of petrol every hundred or so miles (plus going to the pumps to get it!) - compared to my bike filling up with 20l of red diesel every 110 miles

 

[Tarw Coch]

Think he means Ranger or Gator.

Thing is, you can get a cheap diesel UTV for about 10k, top spec gators are more like 15k so 3k less than a diesel could be anywhere between 7 and 12 k. In all fairness I'd say the defender was better built than my kioti but I'm amazed at its fuel savings over a quad along with the convenience of filling up at the tank.

 

[Downton_shep]

Think it's 9k I found the diesels just to slow. We've a fair few banks here which makes it even worse! Especially when I go home for lunch each day. End up only there for 15 mins then I have to leave again! We've got fuel pumps on the farm and I don't pay the bill myself (it does go against the sheep) If I was on my own farm I would probably make a diesel work for me.

 

[exmoor dave]

Have any of the manufacturers ever made LPG quads or buggies?

Not as cheap as diesel but could have a tank on farm unlike petrol