Opinion: Duncan Humm, NZ Farming

After a considerable amount of development by Can-Am on what could be done better to the outgoing models, much was taken into consideration from how NZ Farmers use their ATVs due to almost no other market working their bikes as hard or putting as many hours on clocks as we do here.

A few months ago I got to spend a day with the team from Can-Am learning about the new generation bikes and seeing the differences compared to the previous generation of which they had one there to ride so it was possible to see and feel in the same conditions.

One of the main changes begins with the engines, which are actually the same 650cc motor but with the HD5 being tuned so it makes 40 horsepower (similar to others in the 420-450cc class) and the HD7 puts out 50hp which is equivalent to its 700-750cc competitors.

The other change is the powerplant is now a single cylinder which makes the bike feel narrower and riding position more comfortable.

Particularly with the 40hp HD5 this engine should offer great longevity if it’s not having to work as hard as a smaller cc motor.

Transmission is a CVT that is factory calibrated to suit farming life but with 3 selectable drive modes being Work, Standard and Sport so it can adapt to whatever different tasks an operator is doing.

Cleverley incorporated into the design of the Outlanders is consideration of airflow for those times when you’re working the bike hard, or following a mob of animals slowly across the farm on a hot day, air moves in the front and out the rear well so the build up of heat on side panels and ultimately bare legs is minimised!

One of the main feedback points raised by Can-Am owners and mechanics was how could the new design make access to the inner workings of the bike as quick and easy as possible for things like daily checks, cleaning and servicing.

Most people would agree that it is a bit of a pain regardless of brand to get at hard to reach areas when cleaning bikes.

With only being shown once, Can-Am ambassador Sir David Fagan was able to pull all the access panels off in about the same time he could shear a sheep with far less effort!

Despite this ease of access one thing people using the bikes won’t have to do is pick up a grease gun, all drivelines and suspension are now sealed long life components so if you’re not a fan of having to grease stuff that’ll really be appealing without the big repair bills later.

With how Kiwi farmers use their ATVs in mind, load and towing capacity more in line with how they’re often utilised, the tow rating is a whopping 750kg, front carrier 55kg and rear 109kg, in a worse case scenario should a farmer have an accident where loading could be a factor, it would be less likely to be over these ratings (please don’t try!)

While on features that improve safety, the Outlander Pro’s can have their keys programmed by your dealer to not exceed any given limit a farm may have in place, engine braking with 3 selectable modes to suit how a rider wants to be assisted when slowing down, and disc brakes all round for dependable stopping power in any conditions.

Tougher 6 ply tyres come as standard whereas other brands typically come with 4 ply, so it is great value to get higher quality rubber underfoot.

Riding the bike it felt really smooth, stable and well planted.

Much to the concerned looks on the faces of the team from Can-Am, I did make sure to push the HD7 pretty hard to see that it would handle more than what most people would ask of it.

Since it makes more power than the 700cc quad I own I was expecting it to be more of a fire breathing dragon, but the power delivery and whole package keeps it very safe, manageable and comparatively mellow.

I was impressed.

The Outlander Pro HD5 and HD7 come with 3 year engine & transmission warranty, one year unlimited KM unit warranty.

Pricing for the Can-Am Outlander Pro XU is around $20500 for the HD5 and $21500 for the HD7.

There is also a more basic STD HD5 model without most of the bells and whistles for around $17500.

If you’d like to know more about this or any of my past reviews in more detail, please feel free to get in touch.

by Duncan Humm