Can-Am electric motorcycles Pulse and Origin: At the pulse of time

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The Canadian manufacturer Can-Am is known primarily for its ATVs, side-by-sides, jet skis, snowmobiles and tricycles, but from next year it wants to delight the world with electric motorcycles. The Austrian manufacturer Rotax, which belongs to the group, has developed the electric drive for this purpose. Can-Am is presenting two models: the Pulse as a naked bike and the Origin as an enduro with long suspension travel and off-road tires. The electric motorcycles can be pre-ordered online from October 1.

Can-Am likes to point out that it was founded as a motorcycle brand around half a century ago. At that time, of course, their motorcycles still had combustion engines and production ended in 1987. The electric motorcycles had been announced for some time and were actually due to be launched this year, but apparently development was not quite so straightforward and delivery has now been postponed until 2025.

8.9 kWh battery

The Pulse is intended for urban traffic, Can-Am sees commuters and city dwellers as the target group. The battery is hidden behind a fairing and there is a dummy fuel tank on top, so that the Can-Am is not immediately recognizable as an electric motorcycle. With a seat height of 785 mm, the Pulse makes it possible for shorter riders to get both feet on the ground. The manufacturer states a vehicle weight of 177 kg, which would be relatively light. The battery is integrated into the chassis as a load-bearing element. Its capacity is 8.9 kWh, which is rather meagre compared to the SR/S from Zero - the market leader in electric motorcycles. The latter's top model offers 17.3 kW and even the Zero S, which is roughly at the same price level as the Can-Am, has 14.4 kWh. The M50L cells in the Pulse come from LG. Can-Am estimates the range in city traffic at 160 km and promises a charging time of 20 to 80 percent in 50 minutes at a level 2 charging station. The Pulse has active and passive battery regeneration.

Interestingly, the battery, the charger, the inverter and the electric motor of the Can-Am are cooled by a liquid system. This should not only give the battery a longer life, but also improve the range and charging times. The Can-Am Pulse does not have a clutch, but instead has a continuously variable CVT gearbox and a reverse gear. The rear wheel is driven by a chain, which is encapsulated to reduce noise. The huge 10.25  inch touchscreen in the cockpit is striking. It has Apple CarPlay, which means it provides the driver with information via a whole host of apps, including navigation.

35 kW and 72 Nm at the top

The driver can select four different driving modes: Normal, Eco, Rain and Sport. The electric motor delivers 35 kW (48 hp) at peak power, 20 kW (27 hp) as continuous power and the manufacturer offers the option of 11 kW to make it eligible for the A1 driver's license. The engine delivers a maximum torque of 72 Nm at 4600 rpm. The Pulse should sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds. In addition to the mandatory ABS, the Can-AM has slip control. The non-adjustable 41 mm thick upside-down fork on the front wheel comes from Japanese supplier KYB and offers 140 mm of suspension travel.

At the rear, a preload-adjustable shock absorber from Sachs is used. A two-piston brake calliper with a 320 mm brake disk from J.Juan takes care of deceleration, while a single-piston brake calliper from the same manufacturer is fitted at the rear. For the 110/70-17 and 150/60-17 tires, Can-Am opts for Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300. All light sources are LEDs and there is a glove compartment with USB plug.

From 16,899 euros

The Can-Am Pulse is available from 16,899 Euro in "White" or "Carbon Black", for 19,199 Euro the buyer gets the Pulse '73 in "Sterling Silver" with improved equipment. The Origin costs a little more, with the Enduro starting at 17,499 Euro and the Origin '73 at 19,599 Euro. The Origin clearly stands out visually from the Pulse, with its fairing and slightly wider handlebars. At 255 mm front and rear, it offers significantly more suspension travel, while the fork has a diameter of 43 mm. Both suspension elements come from KYB and the ground clearance increases accordingly to 275 mm. Unfortunately, so does the seat height: at 865 mm, the Origin is already quite high. The wheelbase increases to 1503 mm (Pulse: 1412) and should therefore also change the steering behavior.

In addition, the Origin is fitted with larger wire-spoke rims instead of cast rims and 90/90-21 front and 120/80-18 rear tires for off-road use. The Origin reportedly weighs 187 kg, which would be quite low for an adventure bike. The performance of the electric motor is identical to that of the Pulse and, according to Can-Am, the Origin reaches 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.3 seconds. Its range is stated as 145 km in city traffic. Accessories include a small windshield, case and underguard.

Available from 2025

Can-Am offers a two-year warranty on the vehicle and a five-year or 50,000 km warranty on the battery. Production will start in the fourth quarter of 2024 at a Can-Am plant in Mexico. The Pulse and Origin are also due to come to Europe from the beginning of 2025, but it is not yet known exactly when.

(mma)