Can-Am unveiled plans to release a family of electric motorcycles for 2023, the year Can-Am will celebrate its 50th anniversary of producing motorcycles. Details were scarce, but this week Can-Am provided an update for two of those models—the street-going Pulse and the one we’re excited about, the Origin, a dual sport motorcycle.
Can-Am says the Origin is a tribute to its Track ‘n’ Trail heritage. Full specs are expected to be released in August 2023, but we now get some images and know that the all-new Rotax e-power engine powers the Origin.
A press release from parent company Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), based out of Montreal, says that the Origin is built for novices and seasoned riders alike. “Without any need for a standard clutch and transmission, riders can just twist the throttle and go. Riders will also appreciate the near-silent and vibration-free experience, as well as the smooth and precise power delivery even in tight, low-speed situations,” Can-Am reports.
The Origin will arrive with an onboard charger for quick charging times at home or at automotive standard Level 2 charging stations. This Rotax e-power will be used throughout the motorcycle EV lineup and other BRP electric vehicles, from snowmobiles to jet skis. Besides that, what we see in the pictures of the Origin are LED lights, Dunlop Trailmax Mission tires, and a 21/18 spoked wheel setup.
As for availability, BRP says the Can-Am Origin will hit the showroom floors in mid-2024.
“Today, our story of innovation reaches new heights,” BRP president and CEO José Boisjoli said. “We have set out to reclaim our motorcycle heritage and are very proud to reenter the market with the introduction of the first two models of our all-electric Can-Am motorcycle family. Half a century ago, Can-Am roared to victory on the track and the trail, and today, a legacy is reborn. In true BRP fashion, we are bringing our very own electric powerpack to our motorcycles and crafting thrilling riding experiences for a whole new generation.”
Can-Am is no stranger to motorcycles, introducing its first motorcycle in 1973, and the moto division ran through 1987. The dirt-focused lineups used engines developed by another BRP subsidiary, the Austrian-based Rotax, which also supplied engines for BMW, KTM, Aprilia, and Buell.
Can-Am’s dirt bikes were unstoppable in racing, winning gold, silver, and bronze medals at the International Six Days Trial (now International Six Days Enduro). In 1974, Can-Am became the first brand to sweep the AMA 250 Motocross National Championship with riders Gary Jones, Marty Tripes, and Jimmy Ellis at the controls of Can-Am MX 250s.
The Can-Am division dissolved in 1987 due to major budget cuts as BRP focused on other subsidiaries within the transportation and aviation sectors. Now Can-Am has returned to the motorcycle scene, but with EV bikes that will put up some much-needed competition to others.
An electric focus is nothing new for BRP. The company bought what remained of Alta Motors, creator of the promising Redshift EXR electric dirt bike, when the California brand went bust in 2018, providing BRP with access to EV motorcycle technology.
BRP also unveiled many electric prototypes, including an EV Can-Am Ryker, the company’s three-wheeler, and the CT1 scooter and CT2 motorcycle. But those concepts are much different from what we see with the Origin.
For additional information, visit Can-Am Motorcycle.
Comments