Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

(Above) The Can-Am starts very easily which is an uncommon feature for a four-stroke. (Bottom right) This year the Soni'c has been bumped up 60cc more over last year's 500. The difference is noticeable. will motor away from the thumper with ease. But no matter how smooth and controlable the power is, on a dry track the Can-Am will still slide around a bit. While the rear end won't shoot out from underneath you like a skateboard, trying to keep the Sonic in a straight line through the marbles will tire you out, thanks 'to the 256-plus pounds. Bringing the Sonic down to a sane speed for the turns requires very powerful brakes, which the Can-Am forfunately has - and they're not even discs. They work very well" but we would like to see a disc brake setup next year, at least up front. Entering a turn, don't even think about downshifting into first gearstay away from it as much as possible. There is so much engine braking that if you use first, the rear end will lock up, slide sideways and will most likely stall. Second gear is low enough to pull you out of just about any turn and is best off the start line in just about any condition. Although the Sonic stands very tall, and the fork rake is rather wide, the Can-Am turns exceptionally well. It feels best out in the berms through wide turns, but still is very comfortable negotiating tight, bermless turns. The Sonic's suspension is firstrate. In the rear, the thumper sports a White Power shock for more adjustability. The White Power shock has both compression and rebound dampening adjustments while last year's Ohlins did not. As received, the Sonic was already dialed in so we did not fiddle with the shock. The rear end soaked up the bumps through the 12.5 inches of wheel travel with ease. Up front, the 40rom Marzocchi fork with 11.5 inches of travel was unnoticed - and that's the way a fork should work. We had no complaints with that department. Our biggest gripe about the way the Sonic handled is how it lands orr bigjumps, It lands hard, and the only way to cure this problem is to grit your teeth and hold on tightly, then hope you land straight. If you don't, the Sonic has a tendency to swap sideways in the opposite·direction. It's scary but not deadly. In a long section of whoops the Sonic is very stable. Rarely would it kick to the side as long as the throttle is twisted and your weight is perched over the rear fender. No sweat. The handlebar, footpeg and seat relationship is comfortable. Last year the Sonic's seat was a tad too soft, but the 560 has eliminated that problem with a slightly firmer cushion. Both the tank and seat are very slim which enables the rider to slide about the bike with ease. It takes a special kind of rider to own the Sonic. Being rich doesn't hurt, because the Can-Am costs a little over $3000 and that's a healthy sum of money. But for a true fourstroke fanatic, $3000 isn't really all that much, considering how much money it takes to build a serious thumper and the time and effort it involves. Can-Am has done it for him and has done a good job. Even though the Sonic isn't the best Open motocrosser around, it is still the king of the thumper class. It performs well and defying thumper lore, it starts super easy. The Sonic also makes an excellent playbike out in the desert and mountains, as long as the trails don't get too tight (but a silencer and spark arrestor is a must). On the track the Can-Am might eat a two-stroke or two for lunch, however, with its weight problem, the Sonic is on a diet. • S pacifications Engine Type Displacement Bore x stroke Compression ratip Starting system Ignition system Transmission Carburetor Single-cylinder OHC four-stroke. 562.1cc. 94 X 81 mm. 9.8 X 1. "Primary kick. N ippondenso, C. 0.1. 5 speed constant mesh. 38mm Mikuni. Frame Type Front tire Rea, tire Nickel single-cradle. 3.25 Metzeler. 4.50 Metzeler. Dimensions Wheelbase Seat height Dry weight (claimed) Fuel capacity Oil capacity Suggested retail price 59.5 in. 38 in. 256.1 Ibs. 2.3 gal. 3.18 L. $3045. 17

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