2014 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X Xc Review – Video

Rick Sosebee
by Rick Sosebee
A Maverick for the rest of us

The last few years have been a race in displacement and track width to see who could carry the crown for the wide-open world of no limits suspension and BRP has been a big part of the thunder. Seemingly forgotten in this off-road arms race were folks who spend most of their time in tighter, wooded trails. BRP has righted that wrong with the release of the new Can-Am Maverick 1000R X xc.

BRP took us up north to Albany, New York to see just what this newer, narrower Maverick had to offer. Just outside of New York state’s capital city lies a private club of off-road riders who have secured a 2000-acre parcel of land just to get down on. This vast landscape of wide open gravel roads, tight twisty root-laden and rock-covered trails gave the Maverick 1000R X xc a chance to shine. Our goal was to get to know the machine that would fit the common areas where we ride very well in hopes that we may see one here soon!

As you would expect, the Maverick X xc shares much with its big brother. At the heart of this monster machine is Rotax V-Twin power and it gets very sensitive when you step on its go pedal. The liquid cooled, fuel injected, four valve per cylinder, four-stroke engine pumps out massive power to the tune of about 101 ponies. That’s plenty of juice for any ride down the trail and then some. The Maverick breathes its life through a 54mm throttle body and spits napalm into the cylinders with twin VDO Seimens fuel injectors via a throttle-by-wire arrangement. A specifically tuned dual exhaust system with a beastly, throaty sound just gets better as the RPMs get higher. A push button start gets the adventurous-minded driver right into blastoff mode.

2014 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X xc Action

Despite its more compact stance, the Can-Am Maveirck 1000R X xc doesn’t hold back in the power department.

Transferring the pounds of torque and power to the ground is BRP’s CVT transmission that has been specifically tuned to work at its best with the narrower track width in the X xc version of the Maverick. A wear resistant “Zylon” belt is cooled by a dual exhaust enclosure design developed to help prolong belt life. This was laid in place because BRP knows you’re not going to be easy on the Maverick!

COMPARISON: 2013 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs Review – Video

Getting into the suspension is where we find the differences from the original Maverick to the Maverick 1000R X xc. The narrower overall width of the machine gets its tighter dimensions courtesy of shorter arms and legs. Providing an awesome 14 inches of travel front and rear, the suspension is controlled by FOX 2.0 Podium X performance piggyback shocks. FOX has become a staple in the world of Side-by-Side fun and with the 2.0 bodies comes many points of adjustment for the discriminating driver. Making changes to the damping has never been easier as there are pre-load and rebound as well as High/Low Speed compression adjustments. Dual rate springs make the progressive damping even more comfortable. All of this great news combined with the 13 inches of ground clearance makes sure you can get over or around any trail you may drive off into.

2014 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X xc Front Suspension

FOX 2.0 Podium X shocks control 14 inches of travel front and rear.

Another notable feature on the 2014 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X xc is Tri-Mode Dynamic Power Steering (DPS). Steering a big rig is tough when the monster gets into 4WD or even 4WD diff lock, but not in this Maverick. Tri-Mode DPS offers three levels of comfort fit for a king. The steering gets progressively easier from MIN to MED and on to the MAX settings. You will find more assist in the lower speeds and more control in the higher speed sections of the trail. We consider this a type of regressive steering assist as it goes away as the speed picks up.

Speaking of 4WD we must not forget that this machine is also equipped with Can-Am’s signature Visco-Lok QE front differential that transfers power from the slipping wheel to the one getting the grip. This quick engagement is seamless for the driver and passengers and all you feel is the forward motion of the machine.

COMPARISON: 2014 Arctic Cat Wildcat Trail Review

2014 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X xc Front Right

The X-Package includes color-matched seats, shock springs and wheels.

BRP offers the Maverick 1000R X xc in two eye-catching color combinations. You can choose from the traditional X-Package yellow and black, but we especially like the new white with black and a shade of Can-Am red to set off the combo. These colors are sewn into the high back race-inspired seats as well and with other accents such as the upper arms and trailing arms getting colored up.

The Ride

From the twist of the key and the press of the start button my expectations were high. Setting out across the road from our staging area I was able to find some really good tight woods to give the new toy a workout. The cockpit of these machines is unmatched in my opinion. I love the feel of the seating and the driver positioning makes you feel as if you have a mission to accomplish. With the new updated 3D analog/digital gauges giving me the 411, I felt like I could conquer the world.

Pressing the go pedal on this machine gives you almost instant head jerking response as the tires grab for traction to propel the Maverick forward. There is no problem in the power department as the big Rotax V-Twin makes it happen for real. Running the tight trails I found that I really liked the amount of assist the Tri-Mode DPS gave up in the MAX setting. I’m pretty sure I set this and left it alone the entire time I was in the Maverick.

2014 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X xc Action Cornering

Throttle response on the Maverick 1000R X xc is fantastic.

Hitting trail debris like roots and rocks seemed as if it had no effect on the Maverick. The big FOX shocks soaked in the hits every time and I felt like I could just roll over anything in the trail with the tall 13 inches of ground clearance. Once we encountered a spot in the trail requiring a little extra traction, I simply pressed the switch on the center dash along with my go pedal and the Maverick began to move forward – no questions asked.

COMPARISON: 2014 Polaris RZR XP 1000 Review

Climbing a steep hill with no spot to gather speed really impressed me as the Maverick didn’t even whimper as it shrugged off the embankment. Cornering the big Maverick was a thrill as well – it has enough reserve power to drive with the back tires, if you catch my drift! If I was able to spend a little more time in the machine I probably would have tried some simple adjustments to the suspension settings to experiment with my driving style.

Conclusion

2014 Can-Am Maverick 1000R X xc Right Rear

Overall I think we have a winner here and I’m glad these machines are being developed for us tree-laden woods drivers over here on the east coast. The 2014 Maverick 1000R X xc has really grabbed my attention and I hope to get even more time in this machine in the coming months.

Rick Sosebee
Rick Sosebee

Whether he is in Mexico covering the Baja 1000, building ATVs for local racers, or out enjoying the trails, Rick’s passion shows in his stories. Learning to wrench his own machines from his grandfather, Rick also has an undying appreciation for the mechanics of off-road vehicles. Do not let the dirt and mud fool you, though, as Rick also has a deep love for street cars.

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