I love my Renegade but skids is a needed item, however, depending on where you live and what kind of terrain you're going to be riding on, it might be better to someone to not have them if they aren't going to benefit from them. It does have pretty good clearance already so if you really arent going to ride in any kind of rocky terrain, skids aren't needed. Besides there is some truth to Can Am's claim as to their single spar easily skiing over obstacles, however, mine skis over obstacles just as easy with ricochet skids on it. As for the weak frame, I wouldn't be concerned as long as you're not going to run it into a tree at fifty mph or roll it down a cliff. Mine is awesome, it is a little expensive but nothing else can compare to it either. I agree with what others mentioned about price being an issue, otherwise get a Can Am. The punch will leave a smile on your face. It handles extremely well considering it's size, you can pitch it sideways almost as easy as anything else out there plus you got 4wd and low range when the going gets real tough. It is simply put the most versatile, powerful 4wd quad on the market. It has just as much punch and snap as any sport quad and will go anywhere any 4wd will. I was afraid of going to a 4wd after having a Raptor 660, but to my surprise I'm not disappointed. It's pretty high tech as well too. From the motor, and EFI and independant suspension to the digital coded keyed security system. Can Am is going to be the next big thing to happen to the ATV industry wait and see!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

i guess i don't see it. can am makes a nice machine, but they lack in certain areas and shine in others just as any other atv. the single brake and the visco lock are two "features" i could do without.

monty

 

Checked out the Can Am a few months back at the sportsman show....they had it on a lift. the frame sucks. Its a rail and everything bolted to the rail...very weak if you ask me...
Have about 65 miles on the new 650i and only regret with it was that I waited too long...

 

Yeah, you must be right because thin tubular frames on other machines are so much stronger than a single spar frame on the Can Am's.

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

The Single spar frames arent all they are cracked up to be, either. My buddies, outty 800 has been repaired twice. We dont go rock crawling, running into trees at 50 mph, or roll off a cliff. Its either liesure trailriding, or ussually fast trail riding, Hill climbs, etc. The BRP dealer even told us that they have been having frame problems, and has been directing his customers towards his line of Polaris he also sells. Can-ams are very nice, great power, but the frame has totally turned me off.

 

All I'm saying is, conventional tubular cradle frames aren't necessarly any stronger. If anything, I think the Can Am frames seem like a stronger idea than thin cradle tubular style frames. Other Japanes companies use a simlar idea on the front of their quads where the A arms are mounted to, Can Am just uses the same idea for the whole machine. I dont think it's the single spar frame that's a bad idea, but maybe how thin they make them. A friend of mine went to drill a couple holes through the bottom for a plow mount plate and noticed how quickly he drilled through it. If Can Am frames are weak, it's not because of their design, it's because they're two thin. Otherwise I think people greatly exaggerate how weak Can Am frames are, however, I do think the aluminum supports under the foot wells are weak, while they aren't really part of the frame, they could be stronger in my opinion. Tweaked mine the second ride, not bad by any means but noticeable, a set of richochet plates eliminated any future problem because they protect them from being hit by rocks etc.

 

I understand your theory and as an owner I can see your disdane for anything suggesting otherwise about a Can Am, point was that if it looks weak to a weekend warrioir like myself, coupled with all the press refering to its intergrity, and an owner as yourself making mods, then would could probably assume that they make a weak machine frame...

I never dissed the design theory. All I know is I have a 2005 Prairie that I watched tumbled down a hill of rocks and the only carnage is the plastic and bent down "tubular" racks...otherwise frame straight. From what I saw on the Can's NO WAY they surviuve that type of roll....

This is all one mans opinion ofcourse, but I dont ride like a sissy, so I want something a lil' tougher on the trails than what I saw on the Can Am machine...

 

Here is my 2 cents worth, or maybe peso's worth...LOL.

RIDE: The can-am will ride slightly better, however when I test rode the 650 two-up a month ago, the front end dives alot.
POWER: The can-am will have slightly more HP (I believe the bf650 has 49hp and the can-am 650 has 52hp)
GROUND CLEARANCE: Both are good, but the can-am has slightly more.
COMFORT: This is where you need to have seat time on both, but I think the bf650i is more comfortable.
4WD SYSTEM: To me, it is hands down the bf650i. I love having the front progressive diff locker on my bf750i and the can-am has to rotate 3 times around before engauging fully.
TRAIL RIDING: Both are about the same for either fast or slow trail riding.
TOWING: This should be equal, but I give the edge to the bf650i b/c of having a progressive front diff locker.
DURABILITY: Kawie has proven for the last 5+ years that their vtwin quads are great. If I was getting a can-am, I would purchase the sid plates for extra protection.
PRICE: Hands down the kawie bf650i.

In a drag race, I have beat a can-am 650 several times on my bf750 and my friends bf650i is only about 1 quad length behind the can-am at best. This was in stock for, however my friend has added the copper head CDI and he beats the can-am 650 each time.

You can save a lot of money and get the bf650i and with the money saved buy the copper head CDI and other mods and then beat the can-am 650 with no problem. Yes can-am makes a great product, but personally you can get a bf650i or bf750i and with the money saved get motor mods and shocks and come out ahead and faster. JUST MY 2 PESO's worth.

 

allso the canam IS NOT MADE IN CANADA any more they took them jops and went south to YOU KNOW MEXICO UUURRR guess us canuks can,t do as good a jop building them mexams.I FOR ONE WILL NEVER BUY ONE JUST FOR THAT REASON.but if you must THERE FREAKIN UGLY .there i feel better now LOL sorry for shouting .have a great night

 

on the dvd can am sent out, the kawasaki was a 650 sra.