By Jon Crowley
Originally published July 2013. This long-term review preserves our firsthand experience with a 2013 Can-Am Maverick 1000R after testing it at Prairie City SVRA and Sand Mountain, Nevada. The project included Elka Stage 4 shocks, a Muzzys exhaust and Digitune, STI tires, OMF wheels and an extensive collection of Turnkey UTV accessories.
The original Can-Am Maverick 1000R entered the sport side-by-side market with a claimed 101-horsepower Rotax V-twin, a 64-inch stance and 14 inches of suspension travel. Our initial experience showed that the engine delivered the performance Can-Am promised, but this longer-term project allowed us to see how the Maverick responded to different terrain, larger tires and carefully selected aftermarket upgrades.
We drove the Maverick on hard-packed trails, through rough track conditions and in deep summer sand. Although the machine’s power remained its most immediately impressive quality, suspension tuning and tire selection had a major effect on how well it worked in each environment.
For our original media introduction and stock vehicle impressions, read the 2013 Can-Am Maverick 1000R first-ride review. Our first-generation Can-Am Maverick 1000R guide covers the model’s specifications, packages and place in Can-Am history.
Our 2013 Can-Am Maverick 1000R Build
The project combined performance, suspension and chassis upgrades rather than concentrating on a single type of riding. Elka Stage 4 shocks added a much broader range of suspension adjustment. The Muzzys dual exhaust and Digitune sharpened the engine package, while STI tires and OMF Performance wheels gave us separate setups for dirt and sand.
Turnkey UTV supplied the doors, roof, nerf bars and several chassis-protection components. Together, those parts gave the Maverick more occupant protection and reinforced several areas that could be vulnerable during aggressive trail use.
Prairie City SVRA Testing: July 2013
For our July visit to Prairie City SVRA, we removed the sand tires and installed 28-inch STI Roctane tires on OMF Performance wheels. This configuration gave us another opportunity to evaluate the Maverick and its Elka Stage 4 shocks on hard-packed terrain and rough track conditions.
The 976cc Rotax V-twin continued to put a smile on our faces every time we pressed the throttle. More importantly, the Elka shocks absorbed everything we threw at them. Independent high- and low-speed compression adjustment, plus rebound adjustment, gave us enough control to tune the suspension for both chassis movement and sharper impacts.
Sand Mountain Testing: July 2013
We then installed the Maverick’s sand-tire package on OMF billet-center wheels and headed to Sand Mountain. Temperatures climbed above 100 degrees, while the dunes were smooth and the ridgelines were sharp.
The Maverick had strong power for the tire package, and the Elka suspension worked well across the dunes. The Muzzys dual exhaust produced an aggressive V-twin sound and appeared to improve the engine’s response. The Turnkey UTV accessories also gave the finished machine a much more complete appearance.
Prairie City SVRA Testing: April 2013
During an earlier Prairie City test, we drove the Maverick with both its stock Maxxis Bighorn tires and a set of 31×11.50R15 tires.
The engine’s power remained impressive even with the larger tires. Technical rock crawling was a different matter. The original Maverick’s slow-reacting Visco-Lok front differential and sport-focused chassis made it less effective in slow, technical terrain than it was on faster trails or in the dunes.
Read the complete report from our Can-Am Maverick tire test at Prairie City SVRA.
Performance and Suspension Upgrades
Muzzys Dual Exhaust and Digitune
The Muzzys system used equal-length stainless-steel headpipes and dual oval mufflers. Muzzys advertised a weight reduction of more than 28 pounds and an 11-percent power increase when the system was paired with its fuel controller. Those figures were manufacturer claims, but the exhaust gave our Maverick a more aggressive sound and appeared to improve performance.
The modular end caps accepted removable quiet-core inserts and U.S. Forest Service-approved spark arrestor screens, allowing the exhaust configuration to be adapted to different riding areas.
Elka Stage 4 Shocks
Elka’s Stage 4 shocks provided independent high- and low-speed compression adjustment along with adjustable rebound. Low-speed compression tuning controlled chassis movement during cornering, acceleration and braking, while high-speed compression affected the response to sharp edges, jumps and other rapid suspension impacts.
The additional adjustment range proved useful because our testing included hard-packed tracks, rough trails and sand dunes. Once properly tuned, the shocks gave the Maverick better control without sacrificing compliance.
More information: Elka Suspension
STI Roctane Tires and OMF Performance Wheels
For dirt testing, we ran 28-inch STI Roctane tires mounted on OMF Performance wheels. The tire’s durable construction suited rocky and hard-packed terrain, while the OMF wheels gave us a strong platform that could also be configured for our sand setup.
More information: OMF Performance
Turnkey UTV Accessories
Turnkey UTV supplied a comprehensive group of body, chassis and protection components for this project. These products are documented here as part of the historical build; availability may have changed since the Maverick was completed.
Sport Doors
The sport doors combined welded steel frames with hand-shaped aluminum skins. Multiple mounting points helped provide a solid fit, while exterior automotive-style paddle latches made the doors easy to operate. The removable hinge design also allowed the doors to be taken off when necessary.
Nerf Bars
The direct-fit Baja-style nerf bars added side protection for the body and rocker area.
Aluminum Sport Roof
The aluminum sport roof bolted directly to the Maverick’s factory cage and provided overhead protection without adding a bulky enclosure.
Heavy-Duty Tie Rods
The bolt-on tie-rod kit replaced the stock steering links with stronger aftermarket components.
Front Chassis Brace
The front chassis brace added lateral support around the suspension mounting points.
Front A-Arm Brace
The A-arm brace reinforced the front control-arm mounting area and distributed suspension loads across a wider section of the chassis.
Rear Radius Rods
The replacement rear radius rods were designed to provide more strength than the original components.
Under-Bed Panels
The under-bed panels helped direct airflow toward the rear shocks and exhaust system.
Aluminum A-Arm Guards
Front and rear aluminum guards protected the lower suspension arms and helped shield the CV axles from rocks and trail debris.
Rear Chassis Brace
The rear brace reinforced the chassis around the rear suspension mounting points.
Harness Bar
The bolt-on harness bar provided an appropriate mounting location for aftermarket shoulder harnesses when used with compatible seats and restraints.
Can-Am Maverick 1000R Long-Term Review Conclusion
The original Maverick 1000R remained most impressive in faster terrain and the dunes. Its 101-horsepower Rotax engine gave it the power expected from a dedicated sport UTV, while the Torsional Trailing A-arm rear suspension kept the chassis composed through rough terrain.
The Elka Stage 4 shocks were one of the most valuable changes because they allowed us to adapt the machine to several very different riding conditions. The Muzzys engine package complemented the Maverick’s strong V-twin, and separate dirt and sand tire combinations allowed us to use that performance effectively.
The Maverick was less convincing as a technical rock crawler. Its original Visco-Lok front differential did not engage as quickly as we wanted, especially when a front tire was unloaded. That limitation became more apparent with larger tires and in slow terrain.
Overall, this project reinforced our original conclusion: the first-generation Maverick was a legitimate high-performance sport UTV rather than a lightly modified Commander. The upgrades improved its suspension control, protection and versatility without changing the fast, aggressive character that made the original Maverick important.
