It’s a big day for BRP and its motorcycle brand, Can-Am. The launch of its first two electric motorcycles, the Can-Am Pulse and Origin, marks a return to grace for the legacy motorcycle maker that once dominated the tracks.
It’s been a while since we heard anything from Can-Am on the electric motorcycle front. But never fear, it doesn’t appear that Can-Am is going the way of Damon Motorcycles or other seemingly vaporware brands. Instead, Can-Am sounds like it is making good on its electric motorcycle promises dating back to early 2022.
The bike is priced at US $13,999, unless you want the Pulse ’73 model with a few extra colorway and body accoutrements, plus fancy LED lights, for a grand total of US$ 15,999.
Compared to the city-optimized Pulse, the Can-Am Origin is more of a dual sport that lets riders hit the trails on the weekend and then return to their two-wheel commute on Mondays.
The Origin comes with higher ground clearance and longer travel suspension, plus six riding modes. Riders give up a bit of storage with a smaller glovebox, but gain more freedom for off-road shenanigans as well as dual sport tires to help keep the rubber side down.
It costs just a bit more to get down and dirty, with the Origin starting at US $14,499 for the standard version or $16,499 for the Origin ’73 edition.
So you can drive about 80 “city” miles round trip for $16k? That’s insanely overpriced. For 25% more you can get a Zero with 100% more range. Of you can drive 72 “city” miles for $2k less. 8 miles for $2,000?? What? And this is all presuming you’ve got LFP cells in there charged to 90% before you ride, and you come right back home.
Good range for a city bike, sure. Bad range for anybody commuting into the city from the suburbs. And the price is foolish high for what you get.