Can-Am entered the pure-sport side-by-side market with the introduction of the 2013 Can-Am Maverick 1000R. Unveiled in September 2012, the original Maverick paired a 101-horsepower Rotax V-twin with a purpose-built sport chassis, 14 inches of suspension travel and an aggressive two-seat layout.
The Maverick was not simply a sportier version of the Can-Am Commander. Can-Am developed a new frame, centralized mid-engine layout and Torsional Trailing A-arm rear suspension specifically for the high-performance model.
It arrived as the sport UTV market was growing rapidly, giving Can-Am a direct competitor to machines such as the Polaris RZR XP 900 and Arctic Cat Wildcat 1000. The Maverick would eventually grow into a broad family of two- and four-seat models before being succeeded by the Maverick X3.
For the complete evolution of this platform, including the MAX, X xc, X mr, X ds and factory-turbo models, see our first-generation Can-Am Maverick 1000R history and model guide.
101-Horsepower Rotax V-Twin
The 2013 Maverick was powered by a 976cc, liquid-cooled Rotax 1000R V-twin producing a claimed 101 horsepower. At its introduction, Can-Am described it as the most powerful production side-by-side engine available.
The four-valve-per-cylinder engine used electronic fuel injection, a 54mm throttle body, a 12.0:1 compression ratio and dual exhaust. Can-Am’s Intelligent Throttle Control used electronic throttle-by-wire operation to help filter unintended pedal movement over rough terrain.
Drivers could select between a progressive standard throttle response and a more direct Sport mode.
CVT and Drivetrain
The Rotax engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission featuring high and low ranges, park, neutral and reverse. The CVT used a Zylon-reinforced drive belt, an enlarged drive pulley and dedicated cooling ducts designed to control belt temperature under demanding conditions.
Selectable four-wheel drive and Can-Am’s Visco-Lok front differential were standard. Once four-wheel drive was selected, Visco-Lok progressively transferred power away from a slipping front wheel without requiring the driver to operate a separate differential-lock control.
Purpose-Built Maverick Chassis
Can-Am positioned the engine low and near the center of the Maverick’s 84.3-inch wheelbase. This centralized mass was intended to improve weight distribution, cornering response and directional changes.
The original Maverick measured approximately 64 inches wide and provided 13 inches of ground clearance. Four-wheel hydraulic disc brakes used 214mm rotors, with twin-piston front calipers and single-piston rear calipers.
Front and Rear Suspension
Double A-arms provided 14 inches of front-wheel travel. At the rear, Can-Am introduced its compact Torsional Trailing A-arm suspension, commonly abbreviated TTA.
The TTA layout functioned as a compact five-link system. Its design was intended to reduce bump steer and unsprung weight while maintaining consistent tire contact through the suspension stroke. Rear-wheel travel was also 14 inches.
2013 Maverick 1000R Highlights
- 976cc liquid-cooled Rotax V-twin
- 101 claimed horsepower
- Electronic fuel injection
- Intelligent Throttle Control with standard and Sport modes
- Dual exhaust
- CVT with high and low ranges
- Selectable two- and four-wheel drive
- Visco-Lok front differential
- Double A-arm front suspension
- Torsional Trailing A-arm rear suspension
- 14 inches of front and rear suspension travel
- 84.3-inch wheelbase
- Approximately 64-inch width
- 13 inches of ground clearance
- 10-gallon fuel tank
- 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 tires
- 200-pound rear rack capacity
Base Maverick 1000R
The standard Maverick 1000R used FOX Podium X Performance 2.0 piggyback shocks with adjustable spring preload and compression damping. It rode on 12-inch cast-aluminum wheels fitted with 27-inch Maxxis Bighorn 2.0 radial tires.
The base model was introduced in Can-Am’s familiar yellow bodywork. Other standard equipment included a digital gauge, removable seats, an adjustable driver’s seat, tilt steering and a multifunction rear rack compatible with Can-Am’s LinQ accessory system.
Can-Am Maverick 1000R X rs
The Maverick 1000R X rs was the higher-spec performance package. Its most important upgrade was a set of larger FOX Podium X Performance RC 2.5 piggyback shocks offering additional suspension adjustment.
The X rs package also added:
- 12-inch aluminum beadlock wheels
- Combined analog and digital instrumentation
- Custom steering wheel
- X-package seat trim
- Distinctive X-package graphics
Driver-Focused Cockpit
The Maverick’s cockpit included removable high-back seats with lateral and lumbar support. The driver’s seat adjusted fore and aft without tools, while the steering wheel and steering-column-mounted gauge tilted together.
The passenger received both a horizontal grab bar and a second handhold. Quick-release side nets, three-point seatbelts and a two-inch-diameter ROPS structure were standard.
Interior storage included a glove box and an additional compartment beneath the driver’s seat. The vehicle also featured dual cup holders, a 625-watt magneto and a centralized under-hood service area for access to the airbox, cooling system, fuses and relays.
Two D.E.S.S. Keys
Can-Am equipped the Maverick with its Digitally Encoded Security System. The electronic code in the key had to match the vehicle’s engine-control unit before the engine would start.
Two keys were included. The standard key limited vehicle speed to approximately 44 mph, while the performance key provided access to unrestricted engine power and vehicle speed.
Driving the Original Maverick
Specifications told only part of the story. UTV Guide drove the new Maverick at Nevada’s Logandale Trail System shortly after its introduction. Read our original Can-Am Maverick 1000R first-ride review for Jon Crowley’s firsthand impressions of its acceleration, suspension and handling.
Can-Am soon expanded the platform with the four-seat Maverick MAX 1000R. Additional terrain-specific packages and the industry’s first factory-turbocharged production side-by-side followed, turning the original Maverick into one of the defining sport UTV platforms of its era.
