Over 40 years after the last motorcycle rolled off the production line of its parent company, Bombardier, Can-Am is back in the motorcycle business. While the Can-Am name has been used on street-going three-wheelers and off-road four-wheelers since 2006, the return to two-wheeled motorcycles has been a long wait. Getting the ball rolling again is electricity, which powers the all-new 2025 Can-Am Pulse naked upright urban sport bike that is the subject of this review, along with the 2025 Can-Am Origin dual-sport bike. With a push of a button, let’s get going.
- Can-Am leveraged technology from its battery-powered snowmobiles to create its new line of motorcycles. The basic Bombardier-owned Rotax battery and drive system used in the 2025 Can-Am Grand Touring Electric and Expedition Electric snowmobiles is replicated for the 2025 Can-Am Pulse and Origin. This R&D is the biggest obstacle in building an electric vehicle, so the more products produced from the same platform, the better for consumers and producers. In this case, it’s powered by a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery with a maximum capacity of 8.9 kilowatt-hours.
- The battery capacity chosen for the 2025 Can-Am Pulse puts it squarely in the category of urban mobility. At a steady 50 mph, you have a range of just over an hour. Run the Pulse at its maximum speed of 80 mph, and you’ll be looking for a charger very quickly. However, around town, 80 miles between charges is likely reasonable. Our ride was a one-day affair under strictly controlled conditions, so we can’t tell you what our real-world range would be. Also, the range is highly dependent on how you treat the throttle. If you twist hard, the range is reduced accordingly. A light touch can get you extra miles before plugging in.
- The 2025 Can-Am Pulse has multiple modes, though they are only there to save you from yourself. The Pulse has Sport+, Normal, Eco, and Rain modes for you to choose from. As you’d expect, Sport+ has the snappiest throttle response, with the other modes progressively less aggressive—ABS and traction control is adjusted accordingly. As the Can-Am engineers told us, however, the modes don’t directly increase range. If you are in Sport+ mode and ride conservatively, you can have a longer range than riding the Eco mode as hard as possible. The Sport+ mode is great urban fun, while the Normal mode offers reasonable throttle response. However, the Eco mode is slow and dicey when you want to point and shoot through a gap in traffic. We tested the Pulse in 100-degree weather, with no rain in sight, so Rain mode testing will have to wait.
- The throttle has a couple of tricks up its sleeves, including active regenerative braking. If you push the Pulse’s throttle forward past the stop, additional regenerative braking checks in. This predictably slows the Pulse without touching the brakes and adds a bit of juice to the battery, though not much, Can-Am engineers acknowledge. It’s adjustable and defeatable, or you can just not use it—all options are covered. There are two odd behaviors, though. You can almost come to a stop using regenerative braking, though when you get under 5 mph, it stops regenning. Also, if the battery is full, regen doesn’t work, which can be quite a surprise when you try to implement it fresh off the charger. A warning light would be nice, Can-Am. In this case, tap into the power of the J.Juan calipers—they’re good.
- Reverse is another throttle parlor trick, and it’s a good one. Reverse requires a short sequence of button pushing to prevent accidental implementation, though it’s still easily accomplished. In Reverse, the speed is limited to walking speed, as expected. You will likely be surprised how convenient it is, especially when parking nose-first on a downhill. Oh, and note that you must be careful when parking on inclines, as the Pulse has no parking brake and is essentially neutral when turned off.
- Can-Am put a lot of work into the Pulse chassis, and it is evident. The KYB 41mm inverted fork and Sachs shock are nicely sorted out—a good thing, as the damping action is fixed. They are responsive enough to handle the rough and tumble you can see on urban roads, while firm enough for a good ride at freeway speeds. Though we didn’t get a shot at any canyon riding—the Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300 tires are enticing—the Pulse is agile around town, which is its natural habitat. It has no strange handling quirks; a new rider can hop on and feel comfortable immediately. The 2025 Can-Am Pulse is an intuitive ride.
- In addition to being an easy ride, the Pulse is also a quiet one. The drivetrain is definitely something different. It uses an oil-bath-enclosed tensioned multi-row chain, with the electric motor mounted on the swingarm near the pivot point. While this sounds like a lot of unsprung hardware, and it is, you don’t have the kind of heavy rear wheel feel you’d expect. Other than the near-silent running, you wouldn’t notice the unsprung weight in this context. As a bonus, there’s no adjustment, and it’s low maintenance.
- The electronics are controlled via left-thumb switchgear and an expansive 10.25-inch TFT touchscreen display. With no clutch or gearshifter on the fully automatic one-speed 2025 Can-Am Pulse, the switchgear will keep your left side busy. It’s all fairly easy to operate, and the dash has all the latest interactive features that bring your smartphone into the act, including Apple CarPlay—no Android Auto, however. If you prefer, you can also make changes by touch. Disappointingly, the screen gets washed out in direct sunlight, but looks fantastic after dark.
- The 2025 Can-Am Pulse has a nice selection of features and options for its intended urban use. In the traditional fuel tank area, there’s a small glovebox and a smartphone storage compartment with a charging port. Beyond that, Can-Am has a LinQ system that allows you to install and remove a broad range of accessories easily and without tools—the Ryker three-wheel has the same sort of system. Goodies range from soft bags to top boxes to a windshield.
- We haven’t talked about charging because we didn’t do that. Can-Am had a giant battery truck that followed us around, adding juice during coffee and lunch stops. So, we can’t tell you anything solid about range or charge rates. Can-Am has claims, which are in the specs. However, we view EV charge and range claims with skepticism. We’re promised test bikes early next year, so we’ll do a real-life urban test when we get a Pulse at home.
- Electric mobility still doesn’t come cheap. The 2025 Can-Am Pulse has a list price of $13,999—$804 more than a ’24 Ducati Monster +, and a substantial $3500 more than a Yamaha MT-09. Sure, the Pulse will have a lower operating cost, but it will take a long time to bridge the gap to the MT-09. We tested the posh Origin 73 variant, which adds another $2000 to the price. For that, you get a short windshield, extra LED lighting, a cover, and some cosmetic upgrades. Keep in mind that some states offer rebates for electric motorcycles. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act eliminated the federal tax credit for electric motorcycles.
- It’s abundantly clear that the 2025 Can-Am Pulse is a great urban motorcycle. While some may scoff at battery-powered motorcycles, an electric bike makes total sense when throttling between skyscrapers and Ubers. They’ll even stretch into suburbia, as long as the sprawl isn’t as big as the megalopolis that is Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Superb acceleration within city speed limits, freeway capability for short distances, low maintenance, and plenty of fun make the 2025 Can-Am Pulse an attractive urban commuter for early adopters who don’t mind the stiff entry fee.
Photography by Align Media
RIDING STYLE
2025 Can-Am Pulse Specs
MOTOR
- Type: Rotax E-Power
- Maximum power: 47 horsepower (peak); 27 horsepower (continuous)
- Maximum torque: 53 ft-lbs from 0 to 4600 rpm
- Top speed: 80 mph
- 0-60 mph: 3.8 seconds
- Cooling: Liquid
- Transmission: Clutchless single-speed w/ reverse
- Final drive: Enclosed chain
BATTERY
- Type: Lithium-ion
- Maximum capacity: 8.9 kWh
- Level 1 120-volt charge time: 20-80%, 3 hours, 10 minutes; 0-100%, 5 hours, 15 minutes
- Level 2 240-volt charge time: 20-80%, 50 minutes; 0-100%, 90 minutes
- City range: 100 miles
- Highway range: 55 miles @ 50 mph
- Combined WMTC estimate: 80 miles
CHASSIS
- Front suspension; travel: Non-adjustable KYB inverted 41mm fork; 5.5 inches
- Rear suspension; travel: Spring-preload adjustable Sachs shock; 5.5 inches
- Wheels: Cast aluminum
- Front wheel: 17 x 3.50
- Rear wheel: 17 x 4.50
- Tires: Dunlop Sportmax GPR-300
- Front tire: 110/70 x 17
- Rear tire: 150/60 x 17
- Front brake: 320mm disc w/ J.Juan 2-piston caliper
- Rear brake: 240mm floating disc w/ J.Juan single-piston caliper
- ABS: Standard
DIMENSIONS and CAPACITIES
- Wheelbase: 55.6 inches
- Rake: 27.2 degrees
- Trail: 4.0 inches
- Seat height: 30.9 inches
- Curb weight: 390 pounds
- Colors: Bright White; Carbon Black (+$500); Sterling Silver Satin (’73 only; +$2000)
2025 Can-Am Pulse Price: From $13,999 MSRP
2025 Can-Am Pulse Review Photo Gallery
