The low down on Can-Am's Monster 4x4 ATV
The Outlander is very stable. We felt very comfortable. In fact it was hard to hand it off to the next rider for their turn.
To put our machine to test we assembled a team of three very different riders: Rob Frede, a 22 year old trail rider and occasional motocross racer, 21 year old Aaron Meyer, a Pro-Am level motocross racer and experienced utility rider, and 61 year old Ted Barnett, farm owner, hunter and experienced utility rider.
The Outlander fires up in any temperature without hesitation and warms up quickly, thanks to its EFI system. The motor is extremely fast, but easier to control than we expected. Our test riders were able to push the chassis to its limits in most situations, but the surplus power came in handy while roosting through a foot of snow in 4WD, or while putting the machine’s pulling capabilities to the ultimate test. While there’s more power than most riders will ever use, it’s nice to know there’s an abundance there when you need it. For a rider with extensive experience and a good amount of common sense, the Outlander’s impressively powerful engine makes this thing an effective yet thrilling quad to ride.
In muddy, snowy, or otherwise challenging conditions where 4WD is necessary, the Outlander’s Visco-Loc front end seemed to work flawlessly. We never noticed the machine losing traction before the front wheels engaged. On the down side, in wet conditions; water seems to find its way into the CVT tranny, causing belt slip. This isn’t an issue in thick mud or snow. It only happened to us while traversing deep water holes. If you plan to get the most out of your quad, we suggest you look into some water-proofing solutions.
Muddy conditions were a breeze. We especially like the Visco-Lock system which transfers maximum power to whichever front wheel that is on the ground and getting traction. Most other non-locking front differentials actually send more power to the wheel with less traction – which can make slick situations even tougher.
In the handling department the 800XT is surprisingly nimble for a machine in the 700 pound club. Compared to its newest open class competitor, the Arctic Cat Thunder Cat 1000, the Outlander steers and feels a bit lighter everywhere on the trail, whether dodging trees or lifting the front wheels for a large trail obstacle.
Steering is generally precise with only some minor pushing under extremely aggressive riding. Body roll made things a bit spooky while sidehilling. We cranked the preload on the front shocks to their second to the stiffest setting which helped tame the body roll, while not negatively affecting the overall ride quality.
Speaking of ride quality, the Outlander’s suspension is very plush. Its front shocks are good in all situations and the rear suspension is nothing short of spectacular! The trailing arm design provides a full foot of ground clearance and we were amazed how hard we could hammer through gnarly creek beds with little regard for line selection. In fact, the suspension works well enough that you can get lulled into a false sense of security. This is a 700lb quad, when you find the limits of the suspension while airing it out, bad things can and do happen. We managed to bend our test unit’s right rear trailing arm on one harsh landing. To prevent this, Can-Am welds angle iron onto the trailing arms on its factory race quads. If you plan on racing or airing out your Outlander we recommend you perform this mod. If you plan on sticking to aggressive trail riding, mud bogging, or general utility work, you will most likely never experience this problem.
