2008 Can-Am Outlander 800XT 4×4

 

 Since joining the ATV marketplace in 1999, Can-Am has become a very legitimate player in the utility ranks. Today, at a time where six major manufacturers are producing machines over 700cc, Can-Am has managed to separate themselves from the crowd by releasing ATVs that not only work hard, but offer innovative new features and radical performance — making Can-Am a great choice for die-hard sport utility trail riders, mudders, and work-minded individuals alike.

In recent years, some companies have begun offering “special edition” versions of specific sport models, featuring various upgraded parts that consumers commonly add or replace after purchase. As utility machines have increased in performance, more owners have begun to modify their 4x4s. Recognizing this, Cam-Am decided to build a machine that would offer features most coveted by the sport-oriented Utility rider — the mighty Outlander 800XT.

800XT 101
Based on the Outlander 800, the Outlander 800XT is powered by a liquid-cooled fuel injected 800cc 90 degree V-Twin four stroke Rotax engine. Its transmission features high and low ranges with reverse, plus neutral and park.

 Surrounding the motor is Can-Am’s unique SST or, “Surround Spar Technology” frame. Surround Spar refers to the massive single lower frame rail that actually encompasses the entire engine. This design helps reduce weight, better centralize mass and reduces the number of parts needed to construct the chassis.

Up front, the chassis features double A-arm suspension with aluminum upper A-arms to save weight. Five-way preload adjustable front shocks deliver eight inches of suspension travel. Out back, their TTI, “Trailing Torsion Independent” rear suspension is another feature unique to Can-Am ATVs. The TTI setup is designed to offer more ground clearance and less weight than a conventional dual rear A-arm design. With its five way preload adjustable rear shocks, the Outlander’s rear suspension offers nine full inches of travel.

The Shaft driven machine features both 2wd and 4wd settings with Can-Am’s Visco-Lok front differential. You can engage 4WD while riding, as long as the engine isn’t under a hard load. This is done by flipping the switch on the right side of the handlebars. While in 4WD, the front wheels don’t start to engage until the rear wheels begin to lose traction.

While the Outlander 800 does not have a fully lockable front differential, its Visco-Lock system virtually eliminates the need for it by transferring maximum power to whichever front wheel that is on the ground and getting traction. Most other non-locking front differentials actually send more power to the wheel with less traction – making slick situations even tougher; this is not an issue for Can-Am pilots.

To stop this powerful monster, Can-Am outfitted the Outlander with dual hydraulic disc brakes up front and a single inboard disc in the rear. The rear disc is rotated 90 degrees and is mounted on the drive shaft just in front of the rear differential. Our initial concern is that the rear disc location could prove to be a debris collector out on the trail. A single left hand brake lever activates braking at both ends while the right foot brake pedal activates the rear brake independently. For long descents, the Outlander features a compression braking system, a feature typical to most modern full-size utility quads.

With an 800cc V-twin motor we expect the Outlander to work as hard as it plays, and its towing capacity of 1300 pounds confirms just that. Its steel racks have a capacity of 100 pounds up front and 200 pounds in the rear and a trunk at each end offers water resistant storage for items you want to keep dry and clean on the trail or work place.

 The Outlander measured in at 86 inches long, 46 inches wide and 45 inches tall, with a wheelbase of 51 inches. Can-Am claims a weight of 639 pounds; however, they list the same weight for both the standard Outlander 800 and the XT. We figure that number has to be 40 or 50 pounds more with the XT accessories installed.

Speaking of the XT features, here is what your extra $950 gets you….
• A BRP XL3000 winch, rated at 3000 pounds — an accessory everyone will appreciate at one time or another. The winch is wired with both handlebar mount and wired remote controls.
• Heavy-duty front and rear bumpers offer good looks and improved protection.
• For improved looks and good traction in all conditions, the XT comes with Carlisile ACT Radial tires mounted on five-spoke cast aluminum rims, improving looks and traction in all conditions.
• Additional rider protection is provided by the XT’s hand guards.

Ride Review
The Outlander is very stable. We felt very comfortable. In fact it was hard to hand it off to the next rider for their turn. To put our machine to test we assembled a team of three very different riders: Rob Frede, a 22 year old trail rider and occasional motocross racer, 21 year old Aaron Meyer, a Pro-Am level motocross racer and experienced utility rider, and 61 year old Ted Barnett, farm owner, hunter and experienced utility rider.

The Outlander fires up in any temperature without hesitation and warms up quickly, thanks to its EFI system. The motor is extremely fast, but easier to control than we expected. Our test riders were able to push the chassis to its limits in most situations, but the surplus power came in handy while roosting through a foot of snow in 4WD, or while putting the machine’s pulling capabilities to the ultimate test. While there’s more power than most riders will ever use, it’s nice to know there’s an abundance there when you need it. For a rider with extensive experience and a good amount of common sense, the Outlander’s impressively powerful engine makes this thing an effective yet thrilling quad to ride.

In muddy, snowy, or otherwise challenging conditions where 4WD is necessary, the Outlander’s Visco-Loc front end seemed to work flawlessly. We never noticed the machine losing traction before the front wheels engaged. On the down side, in wet conditions; water seems to find its way into the CVT tranny, causing belt slip. This isn’t an issue in thick mud or snow. It only happened to us while traversing deep water holes. If you plan to get the most out of your quad, we suggest you look into some water-proofing solutions.

 

 We especially like the Visco-Lock system which transfers maximum power to whichever front wheel that is on the ground and getting traction. Most other non-locking front differentials actually send more power to the wheel wiIn the handling department the 800XT is surprisingly nimble for a machine in the 700 pound club. Compared to its newest open class competitor, the Arctic Cat Thunder Cat 1000, the Outlander steers and feels a bit lighter everywhere on the trail, whether dodging trees or lifting the front wheels for a large trail obstacle.

Steering is generally precise with only some minor pushing under extremely aggressive riding. Body roll made things a bit spooky while sidehilling. We cranked the preload on the front shocks to their second to the stiffest setting which helped tame the body roll, while not negatively affecting the overall ride quality.

Speaking of ride quality, the Outlander’s suspension is very plush. Its front shocks are good in all situations and the rear suspension is nothing short of spectacular! The trailing arm design provides a full foot of ground clearance and we were amazed how hard we could hammer through gnarly creek beds with little regard for line selection. In fact, the suspension works well enough that you can get lulled into a false sense of security. This is a 700lb quad, when you find the limits of the suspension while airing it out, bad things can and do happen. We managed to bend our test unit’s right rear trailing arm on one harsh landing. To prevent this, Can-Am welds angle iron onto the trailing arms on its factory race quads. If you plan on racing or airing out your Outlander we recommend you perform this mod. If you plan on sticking to aggressive trail riding, mud bogging, or general utility work, you will most likely never experience this problem.

 The Outlander climbs like a mountain goat no matter how slippery the trail gets, and descends with equal prowess thanks to its engine braking system. Keep it straight, forget the brakes – just let the engine braking handle the decent. Slowing from speed, the brakes work reasonably well, although our test unit got a bit noisy when wet. Since this machine is designed for experienced riders only, we would like to see completely separate front and rear brakes. If you don’t know how to use separate brakes you have no business on this machine.

On long rides the seat, grips, and ergonomics are comfortable. However, one rider mentioned that he would have liked a bit taller pegs for muddy and snowy conditions.

The biggest weakness on the Outlander 800 XT is its unprotected undercarriage. We wish that a full chassis aluminum skid plate was a part of the XT package. In fact, we would gladly trade the front and rear bumpers for it. Still, the XT package is worth the extra thousand dollars. One thing we wouldn’t part with is the BRP winch. A die-hard 4×4 enthusiast is going to get in trouble from time to time, and it’s nice to be able to easily get out of a stuck situation. There were a few times out on the trail when it really saved the day for us.

 

Conclusion

The Outlander 800 is one of the true muscle cars of the ATV world. The $950 XT package takes a very cool quad, further enhances its appearance and makes it a more capable go-anywhere try-anything trail machine/work horse. While it’s not the perfect machine for everyone, for the rider with enough experience and the $9699 it takes to purchase it, there aren’t too many quads out there that can touch it in terms of looks, performance, intimidation factor and potential to make it even better. Yes the 2008 Outlander 800XT is a winner in our book.

Likes
— A ridiculous amount of power – yet still surprisingly easy to ride.
— Easy to use and effective 4wd system
— Awesome suspension, especially in the rear
— Nimble handling
— No vibration
— Very comfortable on long rides
— Large, easy to read digital display
— Stunning aggressive looks
— Sweet XT Package improves looks and effectiveness out on the trail.

Dislikes
— Poor undercarriage protection
— Trailing arms could be tougher
— Drive belt tends to get wet
— Noisy brakes when wet
— Pegs are a bit low – especially if conditions include deep mud and snow

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