The Can-Am Pulse and Origin electric motorcycles kept it cool in the Texas heat
Remember when you once raced little remote-controlled cars around the house? The thrill of taking a corner much too quickly and smashing your tiny electric treasure into a couch just to pick it up and do it again? Fast forward to your first car or motorcycle. If you’re anything like me, it was far from a modern electric vehicle (EV). It was a noisy, full-sensory experience with a temperament.
Starting my first car read a bit like a sports gambler pleading with their favorite team. “C’mon. Don’t do this. You’re better than this. Let’s go!” Far more complicated than those hilariously quick and fun RC cars. Well, there’s a formula for that. You could opt for an electric car like a Tesla. Yes. You could do that. Or you could listen to the little devil on your shoulder and dip your toes into the world of electric motorcycles. That’s exactly what I did in Central Texas.
The Can-Am Pulse and Origin electric motorcycles put the brand on the map for high-voltage rides on and off-road
I didn’t pass up the opportunity to ride the new electric motorcycles from Can-Am: the road-going Pulse and the adventure-ready Origin. I took a ride on the Pulse first, choosing to stay true to my street bike roots. Admittedly, I don’t have much of a history with electric motorcycles. Save for some seat time on the Harley-Davidson LiveWire.
Upon approaching the Pulse, I noticed the chaincase was a single, structural component. With a low-maintenance silent-chain drive, the Pulse was indeed quiet. And with a lengthy service interval span, riders won’t be spending much time on lubrication or tensioning.
Shortly after taking off (and throughout the day, really) I was reminded of one of the few things I don’t miss about Texas: the heat. By the end of a day of city, country, and off-road riding, the Austin sun beat down on us to the tune of 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Still, the spicy Central Texas heat was no match for the liquid-cooled battery system on the Can-Am bikes. That, and the lack of an ICE powerplant meant no rising heat from hot cylinders and exhaust pipes. Happy days, indeed.
Despite its 47-horsepower output, Can-Am asserts that the Pulse will target commuters with a spirited EV option capable of hitting 60 mph in around 3.8 seconds. Understandably, then, I was delighted to find gaps in traffic to let the Pulse squat and sprint. Better yet, city riding didn’t require as much liberal braking as it typically would due to the regen facility on the electric motorcycle. Simply reverse throttle and the bike will slow while also repurposing some of the energy for its 8.9 kWh battery.
That said, there were features on the Pulse and Origin that may require some familiarity to master. Most notably, I would repeatedly stab at a shifter and reach for a clutch lever that, well, simply wasn’t there. These EV bikes are point-and-shoot; No measured application of gears, clutch, and engine braking here.
Moreover, the left-hand control module on the Can-Am Pulse and Origin is complicated. With my less-than-dextrous gloves, I repeatedly toggled through menu pages rather than activating or canceling my signals. However, getting back on track was straightforward with the 10.25-inch infotainment screen. Better yet, had I brought my Cardo PACKTALK PRO setup in my helmet, I may have been able to connect to the Pulse’s Apple CarPlay suite.
I also had the opportunity to ride the Can-Am Origin off-road at a dirt track in Central Texas. Now, I’m no carver when it comes to off-road riding. However, the Origin’s knobby tires, balance, and instant torque made for a compliant off-road companion. Kicking up dirt and sliding the back tire around tight turns was simple enough even for a novice off-roader.
Moreover, even with noisy off-road rubber, the Origin was an eager road bike as well. Of course, my tenure with street bikes prompted me to opt for the Pulse for the long ride back to Austin.
When automotive journalists get into writing, they have to keep an open mind and set aside their preconceived conclusions about marques, cylinder counts, and propulsion. That is, if they wish to keep their integrity intact. Admittedly, the vast majority of my time in the saddle is with standard and cruiser motorcycles. I’m delighted to say, though, that my time on the Can-Am Pulse and Origin has opened my eyes to a new kind of motorcycle riding. One of near-silent electric drive, instant torque, and squished-cheek smiles.
