[CanAmRen800Rider]

I guess I'm a little in the dark on what happened to the original Can Am? If they were doing so well... why did they disappear? I hope it doesn't happen to the new Can-Am!
Mark

[Marc]

CanAmRen800Rider, on Dec 29 2006, 07:20 PM, said:

I guess I'm a little in the dark on what happened to the original Can Am? If they were doing so well... why did they disappear? I hope it doesn't happen to the new Can-Am!
Mark

Can-Am was a motorcycle producing subsidiary of the Canadian Bombardier Corporation.

In 1973, under the direction and leadership of an American Engineer named Gary Robinson and former motocross World Champion, Jeff Smith working with a team of California desert racers, Can-Am began producing motocross and enduro bikes using engines provided by the Austrian Rotax company, another Bombardier subsidiary. The machines made an immediate impact with riders winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the International Six Days Trial, a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics. The following year, the company swept the 1974 AMA 250cc motocross national championship with Can-Am riders finishing first, second and third. The bikes gained a reputation for their high horsepower outputs.

However, soon after the Can-Am introduction, the Bombardier corporation shifted its priority from recreational products towards diversification into the transit equipment industry and then, several years later, into aircraft manufacturing. As a result, investments in the young Can-Am division were reduced substantially. In 1983, Bombardier licensed the brand and outsourced development and production of the Can-Am motorcycles to Armstrong / CCM of Lancashire, England. 1987 was the final year Can-Am motorcycles were produced.

[CanAmRen800Rider]

Marc, on Mar 3 2007, 08:24 AM, said:

Can-Am was a motorcycle producing subsidiary of the Canadian Bombardier Corporation.

In 1973, under the direction and leadership of an American Engineer named Gary Robinson and former motocross World Champion, Jeff Smith working with a team of California desert racers, Can-Am began producing motocross and enduro bikes using engines provided by the Austrian Rotax company, another Bombardier subsidiary. The machines made an immediate impact with riders winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at the International Six Days Trial, a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics. The following year, the company swept the 1974 AMA 250cc motocross national championship with Can-Am riders finishing first, second and third. The bikes gained a reputation for their high horsepower outputs.

However, soon after the Can-Am introduction, the Bombardier corporation shifted its priority from recreational products towards diversification into the transit equipment industry and then, several years later, into aircraft manufacturing. As a result, investments in the young Can-Am division were reduced substantially. In 1983, Bombardier licensed the brand and outsourced development and production of the Can-Am motorcycles to Armstrong / CCM of Lancashire, England. 1987 was the final year Can-Am motorcycles were produced.

Let's hope they stay focused this time!!!!!! Interesting.

[Outlander 400xt]

CanAmRen800Rider, on Mar 3 2007, 09:41 AM, said:

Let's hope they stay focused this time!!!!!! Interesting.

Plus they were just ugly!The US likes Bikes to look nice! It had this square box looking Gas Tank so Sales never took off only in the Racing World !  gary_jones_c_a_1974_500t_CAN__AM.jpg (34.71K)
Number of downloads: 32  gary_jones_c_a_1974_500t_CAN__AM.jpg (34.71K)
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[Marc]

Outlander 400xt, on May 22 2007, 07:41 PM, said:

Plus they were just ugly!

Yeah...but they were sick fast. I rode a Can-Am 250 in my teens, lucky I'm alive

[r. john McKinley]

The 1974 can-ams were beautiful, the first manufacture to use plastic gas tanks, the new x quads have the graphics from the 1977 mx bikes, would love to see can-am produce a lightweight on off road enduro similar to the 1974 tnt but modernized maybe 2 stroke e-tec air cooled or and with liquid cooled models with electronic rave valves. lots of low end torque, plus wicked acceleration rush, the old 175 would make my eyes water when it hit midrange revs, but you could putt it around like a trails bike. Make it reliable and fully street legal with the white tank with the orange and red stripes, paint the engine shiny black enamel and I will buy one. Not everybody wants a quad for dirt riding, side by sides are a growth area, but price them the same as in the us. or at least close and I would put it on my list. ps bike shown 1977 mx can-am same graphics styling as the new x quads.

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This post has been edited by r. john McKinley: 17 April 2008 - 01:21 AM

[can amcanada]

r. john McKinley, on Apr 15 2008, 12:22 AM, said:

The 1974 can-ams were beautiful, the first manufacture to use plastic gas tanks, the new x quads have the graphics from the 1977 mx bikes, would love to see can-am produce a lightweight on off road enduro similar to the 1974 tnt but modernized maybe 2 stroke e-tec air cooled or and with liquid cooled models with electronic rave valves. lots of low end torque, plus wicked acceleration rush, the old 175 would make my eyes water when it hit midrange revs, but you could putt it around like a trails bike. Make it reliable and fully street legal with the white tank with the orange and red stripes, paint the engine shiny black enamel and I will buy one. Not everybody wants a quad for dirt riding, side by sides are a growth area, but price them the same as in the us. or at least close and I would put it on my list. ps bike shown 1977 mx can-am same graphics styling as the new x quads.

I had a 1981 Can-Am 250 Qualifier. Great bike 2-Stroke , kick start was on opposite side , little things that made it unique. Also very fast

[canammx1]

I have a 1974 can-am mx1/tnt(shown below), and I race it in vintage motocross. I also just mess around on it. It's the fastest bike Iv'e been on and I'm big guy(250 lbs)it's also the newest I've been on. This is because my grandpa got me into vintage racing and set me up on this bike.

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•  can_am_500.jpg (278.25K)
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[Go Hard]

Now that is cool, only if Can Am had the same feelings for it's riders.

[ifishinxs]

Can-Am's in the late 70's and Early 80's where great bikes..I rode Husqvarnas back then and The Can-ams where always in the top..Macco's and Bultaco's where the order of the day as well...Some great dirt bikes where developed in those days.

[couch]

i am glad the bombaidier family is going back to the roots of there buisness since it is what made them what they are today