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2012 Outlander 1000 - Initial Impressions

13K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  ATVIowa  
#1 · (Edited)
I just bought this Outlander 1000, and thought I would post some initial impressions.

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Maybe it was carma, but the song playing on my Sirius satellite radio when I pulled into the dealershp parking lot was AC/DC "Back in Black", and the song playing when I pulled out of the dealership parking lot was George Thorogood's "Bad to the Bone". I definitely have a good feeling about this ATV.

First impression: Its huge, absolutely huge, compared to the Outlander 800 X Xc I rode last year. The ATV actually isn't much different, if any, in wheelbase, trackwidth, or other physical dimensions, but the racks are big plastic affairs instead of the small steel tube racks that were on the X Xc. The fenders are taller and wider, especially the front fenders, and that gives you the impression that you're riding something akin to an Abrams tank.

Second impression: Its smooth. On the first ride I thought it rode alot smoother than the X Xc, and was surprised to find on a post ride check that the dealer had tire pressue set at 16 psi. After airing down to 6 psi and going for another ride I saw how truely smooth riding this ATV really is. Not only is the suspension smooth, but the transmission is smooth, and the 1000cc v-twin is sooooo buttery smooth that its incredible.

Third impression: Its not an X Xc. It feels much taller and more top heavy. On my first ride on pavement I made a quick 180 degree turn that I would not have even thought about with the 800 X Xc, but the 1000 XT leaned over, the outside front suspension compressed, and it carried the inside rear tire 6" off the ground the whole way around the turn. That would have never happened with the 800 X Xc and its KYB shocks and front and rear swaybars. My wife rode the 1000 XT around the block later on, and the very first thing she said when she pulled into the driveway was "this thing corners like crap. She was a little more blunt than I had been after my first ride. She rides a Renegade 800 X Xc.

The first time stopping this ATV left me grasping at air with my right hand, because there is no front brake lever. The X Xc had separate front and rear brakes, the 1000 XT has only one brake lever, on the left side. I still don't understand why Can Am puts an entry level braking system on their top of the line performance ATV. If they want an entry level braking system, put it on the entry level machines, and put a performance braking system on the performance ATVs. I liked the brakes better on the X Xc.

More impressions, and a better review after I get some more seat time.
 
#2 ·
Well 3TV, you don't seem thrilled with the purchase so far. It does look great though!

How is the power on that 1000 compared to the 800 Renegade?

I still haven't received my Renegade 1000 Xxc. I thought you had one of them ordered? Or do you still? The last time I spoke with my dealer, he said end of October or first of November. Hopefully that doesn't turn into mid-November since I have seen so many folks on the can-am boards already receiving them. I'm telling you, staring at parts waiting to be installed is killing me.

I've heard very good things about the power on teh new 1000 so I am hopeful it is as awesome as what I have heard.

I look forward to more udpates.

Buster
 
#4 · (Edited)
I decided we needed at least one ATV with racks, so we could do the long distance rides. I bought the Outlander instead of the Renegade.

The power of the 1000 feels almost exactly the same as the power of an 800 to me. The 1000 does make more power, but it weighs something like 150 lbs more, so they end up being the same speed.

If I could go back to the day I bought this Outlander, the results would be different. If I knew then what I know now, when I walked into the dealership and saw this Outlander 1000 parked next to a Renegade 1000 XXc, I would buy the Renegade. Its not that the Outlander is a bad ATV, it is actually a fantastic ATV. But the Renegade is better in really nasty terrain.
 
#3 ·
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I've logged about 130 miles on the Outlander so far, and have formed a few more impressions. Every component appears high quality; the dash gauges, the switches on the handlebars, the seat, the new racks, the Warn winch, the tires and wheels, and right on down to the nuts and bolts. Even the headlights are increadible, and are easily the best headlights of any ATV I've owned. Everything just exudes a quality feel, and is much more refined than other ATVs.

The engine starts instantly, and is super smooth. The transmission linkage shifts better than G1 Can Am's, and the linkage is less notchy and difficult to get from one gear to the next. The transmission is quieter, with much of the belt whine and gear whine now being gone. There are no problems with heat from the transmission or exhaust, and the exhaust is quieter yet still has a good tone to it. The suspension performs excellent at a regular trail pace, and is the perfect blend of firmness and plushness. This is the most comfortable ATV for trail riding that I have ever ridden. Engine braking is just right, even for steep downhills.

The G2 Outlander is too big and too tall though, and it is not as stable on sidehills as a G1 Outlander, at least not as stable as my XXc Outlander was. We rode in the low foothills of the mountains today, and found ourselves on a trail that ended in the middle of nowhere, two mountain ranges away from where we wanted to be. My wife and I found our own path over those two mountain ranges, and had to choose a path across a number of off camber areas. There were several areas where my wife did not want to ride her Renegade across an off camber, or down a rock ledge, etc. I would ride my Outlander 1000 across the area, then ride her Renegade across the same area, and the difference in the way the two machines felt was like night and day. The Renegade feels so much more stable and securely planted that it is increadible. The new Outlander feels an aweful lot like a Grizzly 700 or a King Quad 750 in regards to stability on sidehills, which is not as good as my Outlander XXc had been.

At the end of the day my wife and I drag raced the Outlander 1000 against her Renegade 800 on pavement. Two races, with the exact same results both times. We both got an even start, with the Renegade edging out the Outlander by just 6" between 0 and 10 mph. Then the two ATVs would stay exactly side by side until between 30 mph and 50 mph, where the Outlander would gain back the 6" it had lost on the Renegade, then the two ATVs would stay exactly side by side to 60 mph, which is where we ended the races. These two ATVs are EXACTLY the same speed, and neither one can pull more than 6" on the other.

So after the initial break in I would sum this up by saying ...

Likes:

Power
Suspension
Level of refinement

Dislikes:

Too big
Too tall
Single lever braking
 
#5 ·
It really sux knowing you are not happy with the purchase and I can tell you have buyer's remorse. I am really surprised the Outlander 1000 is dead on with the Rene 800 in a drag race, even with the extra weight of the Outty. I will be interested to know if that changes after break-in.

From what I have heard from Gary and others on other forums, the new 1000 is supposed to be a beast. I dunno, I'm just kinda surprised about your results.

I have a tune monster ordered for my new 1000 Rene as well as a cvtech and stm clutch. On the Rene, the cvtech and GoHard's speed resitrictor eliminator box made it shoot from 76 mph to 86 mph even without having a fuel controller.

We will see how that progresses right?

Since you also mentioned it seeming so top heavy, have you considered lowering ride height with your preload adjustment to see if it helps you?

Anyway, keep us posted on what you figure out.

Buster
 
#6 · (Edited)
I wouldn't call the 1000 a "beast". It is a very rifined and polished package that is safe enough that people shouldn't get hurt with it. The ATV horsepower wars are finally getting interesting, but there is still along ways to go before we get to the "beast" category.

I think the Outlander will work really well when I need to use it next summer for those long ATV trips in the mountains.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Koko, you have psychic abilities. I just ordered a set of stage IV Elka shocks today. But I ordered them for the Rzr XP 900, not for the Outlander 1000. How did you do that?
 
#10 ·
I went into my dealership to buy a 1000 and came home with a leftover Outty XXC. I thought the 800 got to mid 50s quicker than the 1000 did and noticed the tires were spinning too much on the 1000. I am very interested in the new Rene build though buster.