The KTM and Can-Am are just about neck-and-neck I'd say, the KTM has some nice parts thrown in and is built great, but they're definitely making you pay for it. As for the Can-Am, that thing is really built, BRP really did their homework, it handles great, jumps great, and has more power than anyone needs. I'm not saying its any better performing than the KTM, but with the Cam-Am you get more bang for your buck, mostly because it has just as much bang as the KTM, but at a better price. As for reliability, Bombardier has used Rotax engines in their sleds and pretty well everything else since the '50s, and the DS 650 was a bullet proof machine to boot. But just ride 'em, see what you think of each one, and you'll get your best answer and either way, you can't go wrong.

 

ZZ, i have ownes a ds450 since june and probably put close to 2000 miles on it. No problems to speak of, lots of oil changes at $15.00 a quart is expensive. I have hit 67 mph on a county rode at a slight incline, 73mph on the way down. The stock setting is down on torque espically in 4th and 5 th gears, once the revs build it takes off nicely. Most of the trails i ride on are wide open and fast ( old rail road sites at 8800 feet) I will be anxious to put a pipe and fuel management system for next year, maybe help out the lack of low end. The bike handles like a dream, front end is very, very light and responssive. In fact its so light i kept waiting for the bars to be pulled out of my hand with every bump - never happened. The only change i did to base model was put risers and handle bar from ds450 x.