Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/126804
"If I could personally test every Can-Am we ship, I'd be happy" TWice WOrld SOOcc MX pion Jeff Smith cnemtscsn-nnrs product manager . " In any kind of motorcycling en-, deaver, development iseverything. You must continuallystrive to be better and faster:' "For most moto rcycle builders, that development goes in fit s and starts. Because, when mass oroouct ion begins, problemsthat haven't been solved must live on until next year." . " Because every can-Am is virtualIy hand-made by the craftsmenat Armstrong in England, we have somet hing of an advantage in t his area. Development goes on as it must, cont inuously. Whether it's knowledge gained f rom our extensivet est-ndinq program or t hrough tough competition, when we f ind something we can make better, we do it. Then." "We don't'build manyCan-Am motorcycles each year. But what we do build, we build well!" Since the violent suspension revolution of th e late 7 0s, th e pace of 125 and 250cc motocrossdevelopment hasslowed. Every year ridersget a. lit t le faster. Bikes get a little better. It's a kind of inevit able evolution. What'sbeengoing on at can.Am. on the other hand, is heavv-dutv evolution. With each bike now hand· built by British craftsmen and Can-Am designers freed from long product ion deadlines, the climate for development is ideal. And th is year, the improvement s are trul y impressive. Performance of both th e Can·Am 125 MX and 250 MX engines has been increased dramatically with the new RAV.E. automatic variable exhaust port from Rotax. A new seat/tank combination allows a lower center-of-sravitv for the fuel and a further-forward cornering position for t he rider. Both the f ront and rear brakes havebeen revised for better stopping power with a double leading shoe arrangement up-front on the 250 MX. The alloy swingarm is longer for bet t er high speed stability. Thenew airbox gives increased volume. And Can-Am'sQuad Link rear suspension system has been revised to give an easier ride all 'round. Yet , with all t his change for the better, Can-Am MX·ersstill do what they've long done best: promise, and deliver, rock-solid reliability. Martinand Ballard have often been clean, but never thisneat! Having aclean scorecard or fin ishing 1·1 is what it's reallyall about. But looking great while you're doing it definitely runs a close second. John Martin (nylon mesh racing pants with Can-Am T shirt) and Geoff Ballard (sati n-fi nish Antron pants with Can-Am jersey) demonstrate a coupleof ways to go about it. Your Can-Am dealerhas lots more including hats, gloves, jackets; evena canvas Can-Am duffel bag. New IT head makes more thump than ever! Theway to build the best motocrossbike is pretty obvious. Put the best engine in the best chassis, As expected, this rule holdst rue for 4-stroke motacrossers aswell. Can-Am has the proof. Behold t he car-Am 560 Sonic MX! It s tough, light· weight Reynolds 531 frame is hung with loads of attract ive new hardware. Dual leading-shoe front brake. A compact, new exhaust system. Massive 5,50x 18 Metzelerrear knobby. And Can·Am's superb new Quad LinkIIrear suspension. .' , Now, th ink! What'sthe fastest, most successful 500cc4·stroke engine on the dirt?Noneother than the Rotax dirt-track IT en.gine. This powerplant and the Sonic MX engine share the same roots. Now they share a lot more. Like the same largevalved, charge·flowed cylinder head. And the elimination of the engine counter-balancerfor whiplash throttle response. Thebest chassis. Thebest engine. Guess what that makes the Can-Am 560 SonicMX! MORE FIREPOWER FOR THE OPEN-CLASS WARS The explosive Can·Am 500 MX has an arsenal of new features that help makeit mightier t han ever. More horsepowerfrom its reliable Rotax reed-valve engine. Double leadlnq-shoe front brake. A fat Metzeler 5.50x 18 rear knobby. Can-Am's new Quad Link II suspension. A bigger gas tank mated to a longer seat that allows a better rider position for t ight cornering. And to help keep the front wheel with in 90 degrees of the horizon.