Can-Am is back with two electric motorcycles

Canadian brand Can-Am has officially heralded its return to the two-wheel motorcycle market with the unveiling of the strikingly styled, electric-powered Can-Am Pulse and Can-Am Origin.

Coming just six months after parent company BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) announced plans to revive Can-Am as a motorcycle manufacturer, the Pulse and Origin reveal signals its first two-wheel models in 35 years.

Famed in the 1970 and 1980s for its high-performance Motocross and Trials bikes, Can-Am quietly wound down its motorcycle operations in 1987, though the name itself returned in 2006 on a range of three-wheelers and trike bikes.

However, acquiring technological assets developed by Alta Motors - an American EV motorcycle company that went bust in 2018 - Can-Am has set about applying it to a new range of its own electric models, beginning with the Origin and Pulse.

As the larger of the two models presented, the Can-Am Origin reflects the company's 'Track 'n' Trail' history as a dual-sport which it says is 'designed to bring new exhilaration to both the street and the trail for a modern multi-terrain experience'.

The Can-Am Pulse, meanwhile, appears to be a small-to-mid-sized 'commuter' roadster and designed for a nimble experience in urban environments. It is likely to be targeted at the new LiveWire Del Mar.

While Can-Am hasn't detailed the performance specifications of either model, it has utilised its part-ownership of German engine builders Rotax - which has worked with the likes of BMW, Aprilia and KTM, and is renowned for its ubiquitousness in the Kart machines - to develop 'Rotax E-POWER' technology which it says, 'yields highway-worthy speeds with plenty of horsepower and torque'.

However, it is the Pulse and Origin's engaging take on the design front that is likely to earn it plenty of attention.

Indeed, while primary target rivals LiveWire failed to wow with the look of the recently revealed Del Mar - which follows on from the decidedly bland ONE - the Pulse and Origin are brimming with plenty of visual flair by comparison, even if the design and choice of brand colours is a touch reminiscent of the Husqvarna Svartpilen roadster and Husqvarna Norden 901 ADV

Nevertheless, both the Pulse and Origin boast smart detailing throughout, not least in the eye-catching headlight arrangement, while both models feature edgy, moulded fairings that incorporate the bulky battery pack into the design more stylishly and discreetly than other EVs before it.

"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 José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP, an arm of Bombardier's well-known aviation division.

"Half a century ago, Can-Am roared to victory on the track and the trail, and today, a new legacy begins. 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 Can-Am Origin and Can-Am Pulse are due to go on sale in 2024, with two smaller models - as previewed during a presentation in March 2022 - also expected to be revealed soon.