Fifty years later, Can-Am re-enters the motorcycle market.

There’s been much anticipation for the new Can-Am Pulse and Origin electric motorcycles, but in an industry where gas-powered machines are still so prevalent, can Can-Am change our minds?

Can-Am originated in 1973, with the introduction of its first motorcycle. It dominated off-road racing for its first three years but struggled competing with the larger production Japanese brands that had entered the scene. After ceasing production in 1980, the brand looked for other avenues into the motorcycle market and soon built a relationship with Armstrong. The company started building bikes again in 1982, and production lasted until 1987 when it closed its proverbial doors on motorcycling for good … or so we thought. 

Until 2022, we imagined Can-Am production would continue to be confined to its Spyder line as its only representation in the motorcycle industry. On top of Can-Am announcing its re-entry into the two-wheeled market with its electric lineup, it announced in fall of 2022 that it would be building a dedicated production plant for the motorcycles in Mexico, in the same area as its Sea-Doo plant. 

FIRST RIDE

I travelled to Austin, TX., to get a first ride on the new electric models. Seeing the bikes displayed out front of our hotel was a welcome reprieve from my trip thus far: I had delayed and cancelled flights and arrived late in the night. On top of that, the airline had lost my luggage; luckily Can-Am had some gear to lend me for the day. 

We were given a bit of instruction on start-up as it does require a short process to make sure you’ve started the silent bike and have the bike in the appropriate riding mode. 

It’s easy to see the difference in capability and style with a quick take of the Pulse and Origin. The Pulse, being a street-oriented machine, is almost shrunken in size compared to its sibling so it can easily fit a very wide range of riders. Meanwhile, the Origin’s styling is geared more toward the pseudo-adventure crowd, offering more ground clearance and more versatile suspension. 

Both the Pulse and Origin share the same base, with separate components added on to create completely different machines. 

The battery system is not only the heart of the bike, but it’s also an integral part of the frame. The battery itself is an 8.9 Kw liquid-cooled battery with thermal derating, meaning that it will adjust its output to ensure better battery performance and less degradation over time. Both models produce 47 hp and the Pulse can accelerate from 0-100 km in an impressive 3.8 seconds. The Origin is a tad slower, at 0-100 in 4.3 seconds. They also share an easy-to-read 10.25-inch screen that is easy to filter through using the left-hand switchgear buttons. The bikes…