Can-Am’s vision: radical step into the future through innovative technologies and unconventional design

11. March 2023

4 min read

Canadian company Can-Am plans to develop a revolutionary motorcycle design. The two electric models, Pulse and Origin, are expected to hit the market as early as 2024, but that's not all. The company is also working on a new motorcycle with an innovative hub-steered system.

Canadian company Can-Am plans to develop a revolutionary motorcycle design. The two electric models, Pulse and Origin, are expected to hit the market as early as 2024, but that’s not all. The company is also working on a new motorcycle with an innovative hub-steered system.

Bombardier Recreational Products patents revolutionary motorcycle design

The system has been patented by Bombardier Recreational Products, the parent company of Can-Am. Work on this new motorcycle began back in 2019, and it is a completely different design than the more conventional Pulse roadster or Origin adventure bike.

The bike was designed by Bombardier’s Advanced Concept Engineer Daniel Mercier, who has also been involved in the company’s other unusual projects, such as the Can-Am Spyder trike’s tilt technology and a snowmobile with chain drive on the front and rear axles.

Hub-steered front suspension: Can-Am revolutionizes motorcycle technology?

The new motorcycle’s hub-steered system uses two single-sided front swingarms that run parallel, one above the other, between the frame and the front hub. The lower swingarm is longer than the upper swingarm, resulting in a traditional geometry with fork angle and caster. Unlike traditional telescopic forks where the braking and suspension forces are linked, the hub-controlled system can separate the forces. This can eliminate or at least reduce front-end dive under braking, allowing for better suspension under hard braking because the suspension is not pushed to its load limit and can still work.

It differs from other hub-controlled motorcycles in that it has a sort of auto-steering column that uses a pitman arm and a steering rod end to control steering movement. The rider sits further back than on a conventional motorcycle, lengthening the wheelbase and reducing the width of the front suspension. This increases the possible lean angle.

Can-Am: Combination of innovative technology and proven drive concept.

The patent mainly deals with the steering system and front suspension, but it also reveals interesting information about the rest of the motorcycle. It will probably have an internal combustion engine, which comes from the Can-Am Ryker. The frame is a trellis design and the rear part of the motorcycle has an independent suspension with a shaft as the final drive.

Hub-steered technology and unconventional design: Can-Am’s radical step into the future

It remains to be seen if the new motorcycle will ever hit the market, but it is definitely an exciting project. A hub-controlled system offers many advantages over traditional telescopic forks, and the bike’s unconventional design could also provide better performance.

Can-Am’s future is promising, as the company has already proven that it can develop and implement innovative technologies. Whether the new motorcycle will revolutionize the motorcycle industry remains to be seen. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: with this new motorcycle, Can-Am is planning a radical step into the future.