In 2007, BRP launched its
2007 all-terrain vehicle (ATV) line-up and re-branded its ATV products to
Can-Am.
ALTEC™ Aluminum Chassis:
The Can Am DS450 frame is very unique. The frame is made
from aerospace-grade aluminum and configured in a dual-pyramidal design.
Strength comes from computer-optimized design rather than heavier or added
materials. The pyramidal structure has been proven on BRP’s Ski-Doo® REV™
and REV-XP™ snowmobiles. Can-Am uses locking bolts instead of traditional
welds to hold the frame members together. The
frame is13% lighter than the best-in-class competitor.
Engine:
Rotax 449cc derived from BRP Can-Am's
Aprillia 1000R road bike. This is completely new Rotax® 4-TEC® 450cc
engine. It's a 449cc Electronic Fuel Injected engine that Can-Am says is by
far the most powerful in its class. 9% more HP
than the best-in-class competitor.
Suspension:
All-aluminum A-arms, Knuckles And Wheel Hubs
Unsprung weight is the weight of all the components that follow the wheel
travel, or everything not supported by the springs. The lower the unsprung
weight, the faster the wheel assembly can move up and down to follow terrain
irregularities and absorb impacts without transmitting too much movement to
the vehicle. This results in a smoother ride and keeps the tires in contact
with the ground. When unsprung weight is lower, the springs and shocks can
be tuned to handle motion induced by the terrain, instead of trying to
control inertia of the ATV’s suspension.
Inverted Brake Calipers And Peripheral Brake Discs
By putting the caliper "inside" a peripheral brake disc, the diameter can be
increased as close as possible to the inside of the wheel. Larger discs
improve potential braking power and precision feel.
Short Spindle Length
The spindle acts as a lever on the steering ball joints. The longer the
lever, the more kickback is transmitted to the steering when the wheel hits
an obstacle. With a long spindle lever, small impacts are felt as annoying
kickback, tracking in brake bumps requires steering corrections, and bigger
impacts take a toll on a rider's wrists. The DS 450’s short spindle lever
reduces the negative steering feedback, providing a more confidence-
inspiring ride.
Longest A-arms Possible For A Given ATV Width
When a double A-arm suspension travels up and down, the wheel moves in and
out, in a "butterfly" motion. A short A-arm results in a pronounced arc and
produces a significant amount of scrub. This sideways movement of the wheel
causes loss of tire lateral traction and makes the vehicle dart from side to
side in whoops sections. The DS 450 has longer A-arms so the radius of the
arc produced by the A-arms is larger, resulting in less scrub – or outward
movement of the wheel. The result: more predictable and precise handling.
Negative Scrub Radius
When braking, there is often a difference in grip between the two front
wheels. This difference sends the ATV pivoting around the wheel that has
more grip. This effect is amplified by a positive scrub radius, because that
wheel is also being steered outward by forces acting on the tire – the
positive scrub radius acts as the lever turning the wheels out around the
kingpin axis. However, a negative scrub radius will cause the wheel to turn
in under braking loads. So the turn-in effect fights against the pivoting
motion of the bike around the front wheel that has more grip. The result:
self- correcting behavior, providing the confidence to enter corners faster,
and brake harder and later.
Other Photos:
Specifications:
DS 450 EFI
X-package features:
Front KYB‡
HPG piggyback shocks; compression and rebound damping
adjustments; high and low speed compression adjusters
