We were riding back across the dunes late one eve. My friend drove his outty into a hole on the back side of a dune going about 40 mph. His spar frame got bent over an inch. He got lucky and had a local body shop pull it back out for only 350.00.

 

Getting a dent in the center spar frame isn't bending it!!!!!!! If that's the case, every machine I have ever ridden, was easily bent. The center spar frame gets bent up no differently than any other frame, it's more noticeable because it's a much wider, visible area compared to a hollow steel tube getting dented up. There is some truth to Can Am's slide and glide theory, not that a set of skid plates similar to Ricochet skid plates wouldn't do the same. Granted the center spar will show damage from hitting rocks etc, but unless the center spar is actually bowed, buckled, or cracked, I can't see calling it weak. If you ride over a large rock and it leaves a large indentation in the center spar, then you should have a skid plate on it in order to prevent that from happening. That doesn't mean the frame is weaker than any other in my book. I kind of wish other manufacturers would use a similar design. Any machine Can Am or otherwise that doesn't have skid plates on it are going to get dented up, of course it's not as obvious because those tubular frames aren't as visible. I do agree however that Can Am should include a skid plate, if for no other reason to protect the "weak" aluminum floor board supports. I have seen my aluminum floor boards bent from hitting a large rock, which actually bent. If the center spar frame ever actually bows, buckles or cracks from normal trail riding, then I'll criticize Can Am for having a weak structural design.

 

Listen guys, if you take a straight rod and grab hold of it and bend it over 1/4", that's what my frame looks like. This was of a freak accident more than anything, but all in all I am not upset about it. The frame is not designed to take that kind of hit. Good news, insurance will take care of it.

 

Hmmm.... my gade just slides over the rocks

 

I got one good sized dent where the stock skid plate was in the front before putting on a Ricochet skid plate, otherwise I can't complain about my frame either, especially now that I have the Ricochet skid plate on. Looks like they used a similar design ont the 450 too.

 

Hello,

New to the site. Have a Renegade.
13 hours and 183 miles.
I have bent the frame.

Munds Park Arizona, on jeep trail 949, I hit a small rock with my front left that kicked my front end to the right and into a tree.
Was in the 12-18 mph range. Now this was a strike off the bumper and into the wheel. Inside of front wheel bent as well.
I drove it 4 miles back to camp as if nothing was wrong. Tweaked front end to the right about and inch.Just a small squeal now
and then from the front drive shaft being in a bind. Part of the collar on the spline broke off also.
I do have pictures and will try to post in this response.


If I cannot figure it out. Someone please e-mail me at kwess@***.net and lets get them up.
I feel this is very important and a design flaw.
The enertia energies from an impact should not transfer to the frame. Bumper and/or an upper or lower control arm should bend or break first in my opinion.
At least the top arm, as it is cast aluminum.
The pictures will explain. BRP denys my claim and the dealer says it will be $5,000 to fix it all.
This will include a new front diff as they say the whole assembly needs replacement.

Be carefull guys and check this area frequently on your bikes.
I think it may develop over time if a rider occaisionally takes a few front end landings to a single wheel as well.

 

I don't doubt anyone's claims, however the frame and such is almost identical to the outlander's and you don't hear of all these frame problems with the outlander. Did you have any skidplates? I guess fortunately I haven't had any frame issues sounds strange to need to replace your front diff from the limited amount of abuse 4 miles in a bindcould possibly do to it. I can host your pictures on my ftp if you email them to me.

 

I'm a little confused about what bent on the center spar. Did it twist, buckle, or bow in some way. I Understand that it sounds like the control arms bent backwards but what happened to the center spar frame? Hitting an immovable object at almost twenty mph is pretty significant, if I hit a tree with my car going almost twenty mph I'd expect some significant damge to have to repair, it almost sounds like you were going faster than you were able to keep control of the machine otherwise. I'd like to hear from people who claim there frame bowed or buckled from normal trailriding, (not getting a dent on the bottom of the center spar frame from going over a rock) or from people who watched their machine go tumbling down a hill, or hitting trees at 20mph. Almost any machine that hits a tree tree twenty mph is going to sustain alot of damage, even structural damage. I have yet to hear from someone who had a Can Am frame suffer from bowing, buckling or cracking from normal abuse. I have heard of Suzuki Z400's having cracked frames though.

 

Will my frame bend if I hit a softwood tree instead of a hardwood tree? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: xFreebirdx

Will my frame bend if I hit a softwood tree instead of a hardwood tree? [img][/img]</end quote></div>

It will, but if it's in the forest, it won't make any sound. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]