By Will Burgess

Salt Lake City, UT — Here they come! The major reveal the fully-electric motorcycles and return to two wheels Can-Am teased back in the spring, finally arrived Sunday night with the reveal of the Can-Am Origin and Pulse motorcycles.

“Half a century ago, Can-Am roared to victory on the track and the trail, and today, a new legacy begins,” said José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP. “With the Can-Am Origin and Can-Am Pulse, the first two models of our electric 2-wheel family, we are gearing up to reclaim our motorcycle heritage by crafting thrilling riding experiences for a whole new generation.”

The Origin is a tribute to Can-Am’s history as a championship winning bike feared by the competition and revered by fans of the red and yellow livery, harkening back to the early 1970s under the legacy of the first ever Supercross Champion Jimmy Ellis, riding exclusively for Can-Am as motocross races took the nation by storm.

Revived as a dual-sport, the Origin brings a more modern multi-terrain experience to the Can-Am brand name. Being powered by an all-electric motor, the Origin has no clutch, it’s just a twist of the throttle, and you’re off.

While 0-60 times, top speed, and other specs have not yet been published for this motorcycle, EVs like the Zero Motorcycles FX or the Alta Redshift dirt bikes before it, have established these kinds of bikes have an impressively quick launch time at the gate drop.

“Today, our story of innovation reaches new heights with the reveal of market-shaping electric products that will enhance consumer experience on the road…” said Boisjoli at the unveiling of the Can-Am Pulse motorcycle.

BRP refers to the Pulse as a “balanced and agile motorcycle designed to immerse riders in the energy of the city and transform their daily commute into an electric joyride.”

These bikes mark Can-Am’s return to 2-wheeled vehicles for the first time in 35 years.
Specs and model-specific details for the Pulse, as well as the Origin will be revealed next year prior to the consumer launch of these 2024 models.

What we do know is both models feature safety features like high-performance LED headlights, and BRP promises that these bikes can be repaired and maintained by the already massive network of Can-Am dealerships around the country and the world.

While EV motorcycles require less of the traditional maintenance of their gas-powered counterparts, BRP is already underway training the service technician network to be able to diagnose and repair these vehicles, as Can-Am and BRP seek to electrify more of their lineup.

In addition to ease of ownership, BRP has stated that both veteran and new riders alike will find these motorcycles to be accessible regardless of skill level. Without the need for a standard clutch and transmission, the expertise required to ride these bikes is adaptable to the rider and their style.

Additionally the lack of vibrations and noise produced by these bikes should instill more confidence in new riders, in addition to the precise throttle and power delivery produced by the Rotax e-Power motor.

Can-Am has been leading the charge for bringing first time riders and a more diverse ridership to the sport, and this initiative is sure to continue as new riders come to experience EV motorcycles for the first time. Whether as a commuter vehicle or an off-roading toy, the future of electric motorcycles is looking bright.

Cover: the Origin (left), and the Pulse (right) were unveiled to the public and press late on Sunday at the BRP conference in Salt Lake City, UT. | credit: BRP.

Will Burgess is a journalist with Adrenaline Powersports Mag