Can-Am Commander FAILS the FLEX test?!

UTV Driver

How well does the 2023 Can-Am Commander XT 700 perform on our RTI ramp? We test the articulation of the small-but-mighty rec-ute rig.   Check out the full feature at https://www.utvdriver.com/reviews/can-am-commander-xt-700-rti-test-score-2023/  Bonus: We threw our 2018 Can-Am Defender HD8 (Tuk-Tuk) on the ramp just to see how our beloved support UTV held up.  For more stories, reviews, and first-looks check out https://www.utvdriver.com/  Want to see even more shenanigans from the UTV Driver team? Give us a like and follow:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UTVdriver/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utvdrivermagazine/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/utvdriver/

Transcript

00:00 What's up, Cage?

00:02 How's it going?

00:04 We got the old 2023 Commander out here and it's time for some testing.

00:09 Today we're doing the RTI ramp.

00:11 20 degree ramp, see how far the rig can go up without lifting a wheel.

00:22 Stop, measure that distance, divide that distance by the wheelbase.

00:26 Gives you a score. So, let's see how she does.

00:28 This rig has sway bars front and rear, including a really big beefy one actually.

00:32 Where you get going here, Cage, let's take a look.

00:34 So, pretty big beefy guy up front, but in the rear, this sucker is huge.

00:39 Look at that guy. That's chunky.

00:42 Sway bars are great for stability, right?

00:45 And typically that's the thing that you want on a utility rig.

00:49 You don't want a whole lot of articulation.

00:51 You want something nice and stable because it gives you a better tow rating,

00:54 more confidence while towing, all the rest of that stuff.

00:56 Really ruins you when it comes to articulation on the trail.

01:01 So, we're going to see how this thing does.

01:03 Fire up, Cage.

01:05 So, we're going to keep an eye on this wheel here.

01:11 Ready when you are.

01:13 Nice and easy. Nice and easy.

01:19 Alright, back just a little bit.

01:25 A little bit more, a little bit more, a little bit more.

01:28 Right there.

01:29 Okay, get our measuring device.

01:32 Measure, measure, measure.

01:37 Alright.

01:38 Hook on the end of the ramp.

01:42 Measure up to center line.

01:45 25 and three quarter. Okay.

01:54 So, 25 and three quarter.

01:56 This has a 90.6 inch wheelbase.

02:00 So, we cheated. We already did this.

02:03 90.6 inch wheelbase divided by 25 and three quarter.

02:08 You get a final score of 284.3.

02:12 And as you can see, that is the worst score of anything we have tested so far.

02:21 And, you know, if you're confident, that's not the end of the world.

02:25 But if you're a new rider and you're out on the trail,

02:27 that's going to feel a little on the sketchy side.

02:29 Which means this is more of a utility side rig than a recreation side rig.

02:35 You know, we've seen other machines like the Armax,

02:39 which, you know, much larger engine in a higher class.

02:42 That machine toes the line a little bit better.

02:46 Much better articulation.

02:49 Which, for us, in the East Coast, that's really what matters.

02:53 But, you know, that's kind of the difference between Yamaha, Polaris, and Can-Am.

02:58 And to an extent, Honda, right?

03:01 Because even Honda tends to lean more towards the flexi suspension side than either Polaris or Can-Am.

03:09 Our X3, our big turbo RR guy, has the next worst score, I believe.

03:17 Yeah, 372.5.

03:19 And then the General XP1000 Trail Edition, 370.5.

03:25 So, you know, again, the General's a wreck.

03:28 The Maverick, she's a sport rig.

03:31 But again, not a whole lot of focus on articulation.

03:34 You know how we love a bonus.

03:36 So, let's figure out how the old tuk-tuk does.

03:39 This is our 2016 Can-Am Defender HD8.

03:44 It's got about 17,000 miles on it.

03:47 And just a bunch of Thumper Fab goodies.

03:50 Oh, the power. The fury.

03:53 Oh, look at her.

03:55 That's a good looking rig right there.

03:59 There she goes.

04:03 Back just a skosh.

04:12 A little bit more.

04:14 Let's grab the old misery boy here.

04:22 Oh man, oh man, this might be embarrassing.

04:26 We might have a new lowest winner here.

04:29 26! Ha ha!

04:38 Alright, I have some tabulation.

04:41 313.3, which puts us ahead of the Commander.

04:45 And, let's see.

04:49 That's about it.

04:52 But, you know what?

04:55 At least it's not the worst.

04:57 I, for one, am proud of the old tuk-tuk.

04:59 I mean, come on. I'm working ass.

05:01 So yeah, now you know how we test rigs on our RTI ramp.

05:06 Why is that important?

05:08 You know, Flexi's suspension is more confident off-road.

05:11 Especially in rock climbing type stuff.

05:14 So, if you like what you saw and want to see more of this type stuff,

05:18 check us out at UTVDriver.com, including all the regular social media channels.

05:22 We'll see you there.

05:24 [Music]

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