Calling all Can-Am 850/1000 owners for insight!

[shenker10]

Hey folks,

Looking at picking up a new machine late this summer or into fall and am well underway into researching what I want. I have narrowed it down to either an Outlander 850 XMR, or a Renegade 1000 XMR and I keep going back and forth between them. The ideal machine would be a short chassis Outty 1000 XMR. I was hopeful for 2019 models to incorporate one but they have been released for a couple weeks now and no such luck.
So, I have scheduled to go in and speak with a reputable dealer in a couple weeks about some options, hopefully they have a couple machines I can throw a leg over. For now I am looking for some insight from "non-commission based opinions" if you will. Been riding 450 and 500 sport 4x4s (scramblers/wolverines) for close to 10 years now, and I think I am finally ready to step up to something more capable, with some more jam to it.


if you have an 850, is it enough? wish you had more?

Why you do you like your renegade/outlander over the outlander/renegade?


I'm really interested in the Outlander 850 XMR for the already racked rad, rear rack/storage, and the 2019 colour for the 850 is sick in my opinion.
The renegade looks flat out nasty, and I want that motor and the shocks... but to shell out an extra $4,000, plus a rad relocate, and probably a small aftermarket rear rack is hard to justify for essentially cut fenders and +10HP in my mind.


No matter which machine I end up with I plan on the basic mods (pipe, tuner, filter, clutches), and will be running SuperATV Assasinators.
Outlander 1000XMR is out of the question for right now unless someone changes my mind, I know people that have owned them and regretted it because the terrible turning radius and long wheelbase makes it tough to use anywhere but a mudhole.

 

[Cdnfireman]

I have the outlander 1k max and it’s a great machine. I’ve ridden a friends 800 renegade with a clutch kit and it’s absolutely insane! I can’t imagine what a renegade 1k would be like. Unless you’re a very experienced rider and used to big power I’d stick to the outlander. More than enough power and a more versatile and useful machine IMHO.

 

[whoDEANie]

I only like the XMR's for their value - cheapest way to get snorkel, rad relocate, lift, etc. Still need skid plates and can't stand tires that aggressive, so still a bit spendy. If you are bent on getting an XMR, I'd seriously urge you to consider demoing a 2-up chassis before making your choice. While it seems big (and any 850/1000 will after riding sport machines), a lot of people really like the 2-up for technical terrain and hills - it seems that the longer wheel base even works a bit better in the mud where you can easily get high centered.

With either option, you most likely want to also get yourself an aftermarket primary.

I went with the XTP because I wanted a 1000 and was dead set against 2-up. It was definitely way more expensive to go that way when it was all said an done, but I love the suspension have no intent on running anything bigger than 28" tires.

 

[bradb]

I ride an outy xmr 850, my son rides a renegade 800R that we have turned into an xmr. I prefer the outlander as i don't like to be covered in mud after the first hole. My son doesn't care, he just wears waders and a rain coat. Have rode with a 1K outlander, they are not that much faster than the 850. If you are coming off 450"s and 500's, the 850 will get your attention in the power department!
Don't expect a great ride with the xmr's, they are set up pretty stiff.

 

[SHREK1]

Have an 850 xmr, it’s plenty, pipe and chip sound like good and really Krisp, Little light on the front but all good, came off a 1000 xmr long and shorty way better

 

[DRD]

I like the long wheel base of the XMR/Max. Extra length seems to help climbing out of holes or dropping in. The XMR's are more tractors, get the Renny if you want to be sporty, regular outlander if you want something in the middle. All have decent power

 

[SHREK1]

I like the long wheel base of the XMR/Max. Extra length seems to help climbing out of holes or dropping in. The XMR's are more tractors, get the Renny if you want to be sporty, regular outlander if you want something in the middle. All have decent power

100% agree with the max but it’s night and day difference on handling, the max take a toll on ya by the end of the ride , the shorty not so much

 

[shenker10]

Thanks everyone, i'll see if I can throw a leg over a max just for curiosity sake, but it is really looking like ill be going for the 850 for my riding style. 2019 apparently has updated shocks for the XMR850, which would be good but i'm not terribly concerned about a stiffer ride anyway.

I suppose the decision will depend on what the dealer can do for me, if they can get me on a new-old stock XMR 1000 Gade for a similar price as a '19 850, then i'm sold.

 

[1200]

U should really ride the short and long wheel base canam s i like my reny but it is crazy all over the place . If thats what u like then u will love it. If u like keeping all 4 tires on the ground than maybe longer one . Reny is fun but u have to be ready for anything

 

[Zrock]

I ride with people that ride the xmr its a pretty stable machine due to the length only had a few times on tight trails we had to remove a tree or 2 to get them through. But this was trail creation so its a good measuring stick. Oly thing i hate and we have not been able to talk him out of it is the tires. They tear up the trails pretty bad and a more all around tire would be better. If it were me i would go with the xtp or xxc and build up from their if need be with the only reason being they come with the fox shocks.

Just out of curiosity why are you planning upgrades already? Your going from a 500 to 850 or a 1000. I would personally wait and see where it is lacking for u. I would also sit down and read a owners manual iv watched way to many people blow diffs, and shafts not knowing when to use low range. One of our 5 hour trips turned into a 12+ hour trip and back out a few days later to pull the machine out.

 

[DRD]

Another thing I like about the XMR is I grabbed a stock rear seat of a Max, can easily convert to 2 seater if the wife wants to come.

 

[the_real_wild1]

Long wheelbase is way better. Slightly wider helps too. I would buy a max over a xmr. Easy and cheap to add the factory rad relocate and snorkel.

 

[KWIK RACING INC.]

Been in the can am game for 11 years now with racing and pleasure riding these machines. Do your homework carefully, i suggest. I play heavily with building these machine to push big power over the years so i know these machines well. A few pointers without writing a book here. lol

The newer machines 2015 up run very lean from the factory, this is to meet emissions on them. On the dyno they run in high AFR numbers. This is totally stock. So you need to get a tuner to get AFR down into the good zone so you run cooler and the performance on the machine will go up cause of this. Adding anything, even just a slip on pipe and without a tuner your burning up your engine over time.

Second, running tires like you say there in those assassinators and you better have a heavy wallet that will get light very fast. Its not if you will break things, its now soon will you be bitching that your bank account is getting smaller. lol. Big heavy tires also requires a healthy bank account cause you don't have Honda or yamaha or Kawi power, you have can am power.

It also all depends if your a 100% performance minded person or a 20% performance minded person. Many mods on these machines are not worth the money you spend on them. For an example.... Clutching is one of the very first mods you do to these machines and i am not talking a clutch kit cause they only give you a small performance increase. Many reasons for this and you have to do your homework. If you do not understand how clutching works and why aftermarket clutches are the only way to go if your a 100% performance minded person, especially with bigger heavier tires.

Like i said, i could write a book here telling you the negatives and positives on can ams, but i am not going too. Just do your homework on these machines cause you will find out very fast once you own one.

 

[shenker10]

Thanks for the feedback guys! Some solid food for thought in here for sure, im still leaning towards an XMR due to the gear reduced trans, beefed up diff, etc. I do ride trails, but im far happier in a muskeg. For sure going to try to get on a LWB and see how I feel on it, im still skeptical to say the least.

As for why i'm looking into mods already, nature of the beast, I'll be immediately doing a pipe/tuner to let the ponies sing freely and fix the lean tuning. Next mod would be clutching (STM/QSC) and that would probably be it performance wise, i'm not building a race bike, nor doing mods just because they're cool, but wanting to build the best possible bike for me that will keep me happy for a solid few years.

Kwik; thanks for the words of advice, I have been doing TONS of research and I'll be looking after some of the mentioned issues ASAP. Like mentioned above AFR is the first thing id be taking care of, right off the floor. Then proper clutching. Definitely reconsidering the assassinators, not really afraid of breaking the odd thing here and there, that comes with the territory (I used to ride a couple polaris' after all ), but id be unhappy if it was every time I rode. the Cryptids would probably do me fine 90% of the time and have been getting good reviews it seems. If anything I may look into some OG 29.5 Outlaws if I need more bite.

 

[the_real_wild1]

Cryptids are a better tire then the outlaws. You can drive out of the ruts instead of sliding. Same goes for the silverbacks as outlaws

 

[neilsleder]

Cryptids are a better tire then the outlaws. You can drive out of the ruts instead of sliding. Same goes for the silverbacks as outlaws

Outlaws are terrible quality tire to. They work good but pack a tire pump. They are always flat!

 

[the_real_wild1]

Outlaws are terrible quality tire to. They work good but pack a tire pump. They are always flat!

Outlaws and silverbacks “were” the tire to have 10 years ago. Much better choices out there now. I forgot how good my outback Max’s were until I jumped back on the quad and saw how they do so much better then the silverbacks.

 

[pete gads]

I have a 17 850 xmr and have trouble with the rear outside axle bearing seizing, and have to replace the whole axle. Not trying to steal thread but this about the xmr.

 

[shenker10]

Just to update this thread, a decision has been made! I have a deposit on a 2019 sunburst yellow 850 XMR at a dealer in Calgary! The LWB chassis felt too big and cumbersome for me imo, and the determining factor between it and the renegade came down to purely price. I simply couldn't justify the added cost of the renegade. The 850 will have more than enough power to entertain me for quite some time.

First brand new vehicle of any kind I have ever bought! First Can-Am also! I am pretty stoked! Thanks again for all the input here. First mods will be snorkel extensions, looney tuned pipe, and a tuner!

 

[the_real_wild1]

Keep it stock. You don’t need that extra crap. Keep it reliable.