history
Can-Am, the motorcycle subsidiary of the Canadian Bombardier Corporation traced its roots back in 1973 when Gary Robinson, an American engineer and Jeff Smith, former motocross World Championship began producing motocross and enduro bikes. The machines, dressed up with Rotax engines, were well received by riders because they managed to win a lot of medals at the International races.
Specially equipped, these bikes had been used by the British Army in the early '70's. The Belgian Army still use them. Even if those bikes were a real success, the Bombardier Corporation chose to reduce the investments. In 1983 there was an intention to relaunch the bikes with no success, so the 1987 year was the last when Can-Am motorcycles were produced. In February 1997, the company enters the ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE segment, by introducing a prototype, the Traxter, which one year later was named " The ATV of the year".
Last year, the Can-Am brand was put again on the list. It arrived with the Spyder Roadster, the first different vehicle of the company. I say different because till now Can-Am produced snowmobiles, ATVs, karts, etc. The Spyder beast, manufactured by BRP-Rotax subsidiary company, is powered by a V-Twin 990cc engine, which feeds 106hp. Having an Y design, meaning 3 wheels, the Spyder can be described as a motorcycle-convertible car hybrid.
Bombardier is a Canadian conglomerate whose history began thanks to Joseph Armand Bombardier, in 1942, in Quebec. It was a manufacturer of business jets, mass transportation and recreational equipment. Bombardier Recreational Products has also become well known for the Sea-Doo personal watercraft division. Two years ago, in 2006, the ATV line changed the name, in the certificate being written CAN-AM, the name the dirt bikes wore in the '80s.
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