Whatever, someone else can explain why you don't hear the same problems from other brands. Considering there are thousands sold, and I heard of three incidents from just my dealership, who maybe sold a few dozen, maybe, do the math, it's more than a few. The rest just haven't had it happen yet. Sorry, bottom line is frames should not bend from minor incidents, especially if the a arms are left without as much of a scratch on them. All I'm saying is, if you have a minor incident with a tree, don't be surprised when you find out what the parts and labor are going to cost instead of spending a few hundred on a new set of a arms. Don't say you weren't warned. Then again if you can guarantee you're never ever going to bump into a tree, whether it's from not being able to steer because you're on ice, or are going down a techical part of the trail you might have difficulty with, it can happen and will to most eventually. Can you guarantee that's never going to happen? I didn't think so, just hope you have collision when it does.

 

Yes, this has been beat to death. By the way, check the KQ forums if you think CanAm's are the only ones that can have a bent frame. Oh well, no more time on this one. C-Ya

 

well of course if you slam something hard enough eventually something's go to give, but in this case, no it was so minor, the frame was the last thing that should've bent.

 

i think it is a issue if they bend at all but it does happen with over hitting or hitting something to hard
for the exrta money the can am cost they could improve the frame if there is a issue

 

Absolutley my thought as well, I know I said it already but the frame shouldn't be the weakest part of the quad. Should it be indestructible no of course not but it should be durable enough to withstand minor trail hazards.

 

I have not bee around in awhile and never was much so I am sure I don't have much credibility. I don't post this to take a side, but merely so that potential buyers can take the info and do what they will with it.

I had an 06 outlander 400 that bent in almost exactly the same place. I was riding too fast for the trail because me and a friend had managed to get lost and were trying to get out before it got completely dark. Both machines were also nearly out of gas. I was going about 40 in pretty low light when I came over a rise. It took a moment for the headlights to come back to the ground. When they did they came down on a mound of dirt about 1.5 feet high where some animal (badger I think) had dug a hole in the middle of the trail. I had no time to do anything and plowed through it off center with the frame and the right arm taking the hit. The bike barely slowed down and I had no reason to suspect damage. I continued on through some twisty trail until we joined the main trail, no longer lost, and sped up to 50+ on the wide smooth main trail. At this point I noticed the bike was pulling to one side. Upon close inspection at home I found it was the frame that had given. I take all the blame as 40mph was waaaaay too much for the conditions but I can't help but thinking that a frame-damaging hit should have felt like more.

I had zero money to fix it and IIRC the local dealer was quoting ~$1000. I ended up striking a deal with a mechanic at the dealership for him to buy it from me. The mechanic told me that the frame itself is pretty inexpensive (~400 IIRC) but the labor to move everything over is the bulk of the cost. I paid $5600 for the bike new and sold it for $4000 with only 40 hours and 600 mi on it. But Oh well.

I have been bikeless for a while now but I am back because I am finally buying a new machine. I really considered the outlander but I was a bit turned off by the whole experience and and the outtys are pretty pricey have decided to go with a Honda. That said, there were several things about my outty that were superior to the Honda and I would actually tell someone in that price range to buy an Outty. I talked My Dad INTO a 800 Max AFTER my experience so I am not anti BRP in any way. In fact I am mainly choosing the Rancher for budget considerations. Still I would tell BRP owners to be careful.

Well, there it is. Do with it what you will. I think I have all the required info in this post but will check back tomorrow if anyone wants further info.

PS - I went back in daylight the next day to inspect the mound. I moved a good chunk of earth and a couple 3"x3" rocks. All in all I would guess about 40+lb of rock and dirt. It was pretty packed as it had clearly been rained and dried several times after the critter dug it out. There was a good 18" animal den behind the mound and the animal had not removed the dirt from the hole yet.

 

sorry to hear that i think in alot of cases like yours and the maker of this post these would happen to most quad
i plan i going with the LTD and renagade 800 if i have any proplems i will let you all know <div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: UTCoyote

I have not bee around in awhile and never was much so I am sure I don't have much credibility. I don't post this to take a side, but merely so that potential buyers can take the info and do what they will with it.



I had an 06 outlander 400 that bent in almost exactly the same place. I was riding too fast for the trail because me and a friend had managed to get lost and were trying to get out before it got completely dark. Both machines were also nearly out of gas. I was going about 40 in pretty low light when I came over a rise. It took a moment for the headlights to come back to the ground. When they did they came down on a mound of dirt about 1.5 feet high where some animal (badger I think) had dug a hole in the middle of the trail. I had no time to do anything and plowed through it off center with the frame and the right arm taking the hit. The bike barely slowed down and I had no reason to suspect damage. I continued on through some twisty trail until we joined the main trail, no longer lost, and sped up to 50+ on the wide smooth main trail. At this point I noticed the bike was pulling to one side. Upon close inspection at home I found it was the frame that had given. I take all the blame as 40mph was waaaaay too much for the conditions but I can't help but thinking that a frame-damaging hit should have felt like more.



I had zero money to fix it and IIRC the local dealer was quoting ~$1000. I ended up striking a deal with a mechanic at the dealership for him to buy it from me. The mechanic told me that the frame itself is pretty inexpensive (~400 IIRC) but the labor to move everything over is the bulk of the cost. I paid $5600 for the bike new and sold it for $4000 with only 40 hours and 600 mi on it. But Oh well.



I have been bikeless for a while now but I am back because I am finally buying a new machine. I really considered the outlander but I was a bit turned off by the whole experience and and the outtys are pretty pricey have decided to go with a Honda. That said, there were several things about my outty that were superior to the Honda and I would actually tell someone in that price range to buy an Outty. I talked My Dad INTO a 800 Max AFTER my experience so I am not anti BRP in any way. In fact I am mainly choosing the Rancher for budget considerations. Still I would tell BRP owners to be careful.



Well, there it is. Do with it what you will. I think I have all the required info in this post but will check back tomorrow if anyone wants further info.



PS - I went back in daylight the next day to inspect the mound. I moved a good chunk of earth and a couple 3"x3" rocks. All in all I would guess about 40+lb of rock and dirt. It was pretty packed as it had clearly been rained and dried several times after the critter dug it out. There was a good 18" animal den behind the mound and the animal had not removed the dirt from the hole yet.</end quote></div>

 

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

"I just know that no one knows all the facts. It is a fact that the have very thin frames to save weight"

Sometimes my mouth goes off before my brain is in gear too. Do you have any idea what the gauge is in the metal used in the spar frame? Do you have any idea what the gauge is in the tubing on say a KQ or maybe a Popo? Thought so!</end quote></div>

You and topgun need to settle down a bit. I never once said Can Am is junk. All I am sayin is this is possible there is a weak point on there frames, and you guys are over reacting and then countering with polaris is junk, blah blah blah. Heard it before dont care. It is my preference. I had 6 frinds with Predators, no frame problems at all with us. A few others had some problems and according to everyone else preddys are junk. Whatever, I may not of had a frame problem but there was an issue and I realize that. Thats all kas and others who had problems are sayin. I am not here to bash every brand but the one I ride as you two are!

 

yeh seriously, we're not here to bash anyone, or their brands, we're just here to share our experiences so everyone can learn a little something from others. I would love to get another Can Am, and probably will, but I'd feel a lot better about another purchase if I hear they have reinforced the frame somehow.

 

Nobody is bashing just trying to get the facts, not a myth. Your experiences can be taken at face value once the story comes out straight and we know the 'facts'. Once you can tell us that the frame is indeed engineered 'thin' and base it with numbers then we will all know the facts. Hearsay and half truth stories do not do any of us any good.