Review: Can-Am DS 250 – Blazing Trails with the Meat & Potatoes Class

It’s easy to get excited about the latest 1000cc all-wheel-drive mud master or featherweight 450cc race ATV. What’s interesting is that year after year it isn’t the big monster 4x4s or the high-tech race units that make up the bulk of annual sales. Instead it’s the non-flashy middleweight contenders; the affordable automatic transmission-equipped trail quads that represent the meat and potatoes of the ATV sales curve.

These are the machines that appeal to beginners, to riders advancing up from minis and to just about anyone who is looking to go out and experience the joys of off-roading without worrying about frequent maintenance, poor fuel economy or specialized skills to master.

Enter the DS250 from Can-Am. We’re as guilty as the next guy in overlooking the automatic-250 on the showroom floor to gawk at the Commander 1000 or DS450, but we recently had an opportunity to spend some time in the saddle of a 2012 DS250 on the snowy trails of Western NY. Here’s what we found out:

Mounting Up

While it is true the 250cc class is geared towards beginners and smaller riders the DS250 isn’t small at all. The cockpit is easily one of the roomiest of the 250s with a look and feel that pays homage to the sport-side of Can-Am’s product line. It’s no lightweight either, weighing in at a surprisingly robust 429 pounds dry weight. In fact, because the DS250 uses traditional foot pegs with heel guards rather than integrated floorboards like most automatic quads, it’s very easy to mistake the quad for its DS450 brethren at a glance.

The reach to the bars is comfortable and the seat is flat enough to allow for easy movement and quick seated to standing transitions. The controls are a bit more complicated than what we’re used to on a beginner-class machine consisting of an oil pressure, neutral and reverse indicator light, a bar mounted choke, electric start button, and twin bar-mounted master cylinders for the hydraulic brakes. The gear selector comes in the form of a right side shift lever mounted to the side of the gas tank.

Getting the DS250 to bark to life is a very drama-free affair. From the saddle, the rider simply turns on the keyed ignition, dials in a bit of choke on the left-side handlebar and presses the yellow electric-start button. Our unit fired up after only a few seconds with full choke on even in single digit temps during our time with it. The exhaust note is surprisingly mellow even when blipping the throttle and has a smooth, almost electric sound to it at idle.

The Ride

The fully automatic CVT system makes powering away on the DS250 a matter of pushing the (rather stiff) thumb-throttle toward its stop and holding on. Throttle response is decent, especially in the low-end, with typical spooling lag manifesting momentarily before the revs become acceleration. Speaking of, Can-Am engineers can certainly be proud of the performance they’ve managed to extract out of the 249.4cc single cylinder engine. Can-am has decided to go beyond the normal air-cooled, two-valve units used in beginner-class models with a liquid cooled, four valve motor. The result is extremely predictable power delivery.

The riding experience can best be described as smooth and linear. It gets off the line cleanly without excessive wheel spin and transitions into a midrange with a little more snap on tap than even down low. Top end junkies aren’t going to find a whole lot of over-rev here, but at the same time we were pleased to note that the power doesn’t just fall-off when you reach top it out. When ridden responsibly, the DS250 is absolutely ideal for trail riding, low-speed exploration and even an occasional sporty romp. We managed to get the front end skyward with a stab of the throttle and a solid tug on the bars. Getting the front wheels to lighten for successive trail clutter isn’t impossible, but the little DS seems happier to just ride on through the chop rather than hopping on top of it.

The suspension is adequate for trail use but taking this machine airborne is pretty much out of the question for all but the lightest riders. The fairly hefty weight and non-adjustable, short travel (5.5 inches up front/ 6.7 rear) shocks make bottoming out a regular (and harsh) occurrence when taking jumps.

Odds & Ends

Like all Can-Ams, the DS250 has excellent brakes fore and aft. The steel tube frame and fairly narrow chassis aren’t ideal for high speed drifts, but otherwise it remained stable and planted. It’s clear Can-Am’s goal with the design is tight trail handling over high speeds or racing applications.

Finally, one of the first questions we encountered on the trails was whether the DS250 had a chance against the sportier Yamaha Raptor 250. Despite the fact that the DS is designed for a very different purpose and weighs nearly 100 lbs over the Yamaha, it could be made to compete. The Can-Am’s secret weapon is it’s engine. Stock, it’s performance is passable, but only because it’s been detuned. A freer flowing exhaust system is an efficient mod capable of tapping into the performance potential. Suspension upgrades would have to be on the short-list of recommended modifications if serious track work is to be considered.

Verdict

After a week of zipping around on the DS250, we think it’s pretty clear why models like this remain so popular with riders of all ages/ skill levels. Sure there are more specialized models for those committed to one aspect of the ATV experience, but the DS250 is a reminder of the simple joys that get people into the sport in the first place. What it lacks in specialization, it more than makes up for by doing everything pretty darn well. Aside from the occasional chain adjustment/ lube and oil change, we would expect years of trouble-free performance out of the Can-Am.

As a bonus, at $3,699, it’s the most affordable of all the sporty 250s currently offered.

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Can-Am DS 250