Again in 2023, I reviewed the Zero DSR/X, an electrical bike that did not fairly reside as much as its journey advertising and marketing however made for a unbelievable metropolis commuter. I known as it the bike of a future higher than ours, a bike constructed for a world much less cyberpunk than our personal. However that was two years in the past. What are electrical bikes like now, in 2025?
To seek out out, I spent a while on Can-Am‘s Pulse bare bike. It is smaller and lighter than the DSR/X, narrower between the legs, and, crucially, cheaper. It is a greater match for our cities than the Zero, and a greater bike for our real-world future — it is simply right here a bit of bit early. Sadly, that is not totally an excellent factor.
Full Disclosure: Can-Am introduced me all the way in which to the far-off land of Greenpoint, Brooklyn for a presentation and demo of the Pulse, adopted by a monthlong mortgage of the bike I would demoed. The corporate additionally loaned me a charger, which I returned with the bike, and paid for rideshares to and from the occasion and end-of-loan dropoff.
Torquey, however not highly effective
The Pulse is one in every of Can-Am’s electrical two-wheeled twins, sharing its drivetrain and far of its building with the Origin dual-sport bike that Andy borrowed earlier this 12 months. It makes 47 peak horsepower (27 steady horsepower) and 53 pound-feet of torque, the latter of which will be had proper from zero rpm Can-Am claims a dry weight of 390 kilos,although with out a gasoline tank to replenish, the bike probably does not weigh way more when able to trip. The seat is a pleasant, approachable 30.9 inches above the bottom, and the bike is extraordinarily slender between the legs, so it is simple to face over.
Its battery has a capability of 8.9 kWh, which Can-Am claims is nice for 100 miles of metropolis using. That battery can cost from 20% to 80% in simply 50 minutes from a Degree 2 charger, although do not count on to go street tripping on it — the Pulse tops out at 80 mph, and at a sustained 50 mph Can-Am solely claims 55 miles of freeway vary.
Glossy and clear appears to be like
The Pulse appears to be like, in a phrase, clear. Stark colours, smooth straight traces, a taillight constructed into the pillion cowl, and a single-sided swingarm. I rode the Pulse’s ’73 trim, a mannequin commemorating the primary Can-Am bikes made again in 1973, which provides a pleasant silver coloration and a spoiler mixing the traces from the headlight to that 10.25-inch touchscreen sprint. The paint even echoes the outdated Can-Am MX higher than the Origin does, with a bright-colored tank and all the things beneath left darkish.
That paint pairs with the ’73’s daytime operating mild ring to echo the steel tanks and spherical headlights of outdated, however these are about the one nods to custom within the Pulse’s styling. It is a fashionable bike, made of contemporary supplies that contribute each to its low weight and its futuristic appears to be like, and I personally suppose all of it makes for a really sharp look.
EVs are nimbler than ICE bikes
If you happen to’ve by no means ridden an electrical bike, put together to relearn a little bit of muscle reminiscence. The Pulse does not conceal its weight in addition to the Zero did — a rider can really feel every of the bike’s 390 kilos — however the Can-Am nonetheless manages to be nimbler at low speeds than internal-combustion rivals, even these with shorter wheelbases.
See, electrical bikes haven’t got the rotating meeting of an inside combustion engine, which suggests there is a noticeable lack of the gyroscoping stability that every one that rotating weight lends to most bikes. Bear in mind protecting your revs up and feathering the clutch whereas doing the dreaded U-turn field in your MSF course? That is not an possibility right here, which will be each a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it makes the low-speed maneuvering needed for navigating cities a breeze; on the opposite, you lose the power to clutch-feather your means via a decent parking zone.
Fast off the road, however runs out of juice quick
The Pulse makes comparable torque to my very own Suzuki GSX-8R, although from zero rpm, and places all of it in a package deal that weighs about 40 kilos much less. That offers the bike a kind of keen, rowdy character down low, an virtually supermoto-ish really feel, however the torque writes checks that the horsepower cannot fairly money as soon as speeds improve. It runs out of steam shortly, particularly on the freeway, as soon as once more confirming the city-riding specialty of the Pulse.
Within the metropolis the Pulse is actually wonderful at chopping via visitors. Its slender stature and excessive torque make it good for lane-splitting, and its extensive bars make tight maneuvering a breeze. My very own Suzuki is slower via Brooklyn visitors than my Orbea gravel bike, however the Pulse is quicker from level A to level B — all with out the warmth of a gasoline engine cooking your legs when you find yourself, inevitably, caught in stop-and-go visitors.
Cozy sufficient for city using
The seat is comfy sufficient for bopping across the metropolis, although after a number of hours it begins to put on on you — it is no Gold Wing, nevertheless it’s a snug sufficient city bike. The brakes are ample, not nice, however the on-demand regenerative braking (activated by rolling the throttle ahead, which is extra intuitive than it sounds) has extra of the chew that the entrance calipers lack. That regenerative braking will not totally deliver you to a cease, although, because it cuts off beneath 5 mph. Regen adopted by precise brakes is the transfer.
As a lighter rider, I am used to suspensions feeling a bit stiff, however the Pulse was plush even beneath my 142-pound body. This had professionals and cons: On the tough cobblestones of Pink Hook, the bike was good and comfy, however below heavy braking, the fork dive was extreme. The rider triangle is comfy sufficient, upright and approachable, although the tank may use an excellent set of grips in your knees.
Tech and options
The Pulse’s gauge cluster is a ten.25-inch touchscreen, full with all of the accoutrement fashionable electronics can provide. It presents bluetooth for each telephones and headsets, media controls, even Apple CarPlay — solely wired, not wi-fi, although the bike has a built-in USB port to facilitate it. That touchscreen stays good and unobtrusive when using, to the purpose the place I discovered myself inadvertently leaving the flip alerts on much more usually than on some other bike. With out a tachometer or gear place indicator to observe, why trouble wanting down to note that flip sign indicator?
It additionally options onboard storage, each within the type of a cellphone cubby between the rider’s legs and connectors for snap-on baggage out on the rear of the bike. I did not get to check that proprietary baggage, however I would say that any journey large enough to require full panniers might be large enough to require a extra highway-ready bike. The cellphone storage does have a reasonably cheap-feeling lid and latch, however between it and the CarPlay integration, Can-Am saves you the price of a QuadLock or Peak Design bar mount in your cellphone.
The Pulse’s mirrors, although, are straight up dangerous. They’re too small, formed for fashion over perform, and so they’re warped sufficient to appear like tinfoil over cardboard somewhat than precise correct glass. They could look cool, however making an attempt to look via them is something however.
Folks both suppose it is cool, or a DoorDash scooter
Folks appear cut up. On the one hand, I’ve by no means gotten fewer waves from different riders whereas out on two wheels — small, electrical bikes do not learn as bikes right here in New York, however as DoorDash supply e-bikes. If each motorcyclist within the metropolis waved at each UberEats rider we noticed, we would by no means have time to work the clutch.
Alternatively, I made a run to Micro Heart on the Pulse sooner or later, and was stopped 3 times simply to speak about it. I did not even have time to take my helmet off earlier than a driver in a pickup whipped into an adjoining parking spot to inform me how cool he thought the Can-Am was. I then ended up between him and one other motorcyclist in line to take a look at, the place each requested me for extra particulars about this cool-running, nimble bike that did not require shifting. Each appeared very within the idea for metropolis using.
Wrapping it up
On the prime, I mentioned the Can-Am Pulse is town bike of the long run, out there at present. That is precisely as a lot of a praise and a criticism because it sounds. The Pulse is nimble but approachable, torquey but cool-running, it requires no valve checks or chain upkeep — it is the way in which bikes ought to be.
Nevertheless it’s not how bikes are but. The Pulse is a metropolis bike, but I am unable to stretch an extension wire out of my residence home windows and throughout the sidewalk to cost it with out creating a visit hazard for pedestrians. Its regenerative braking system is not fairly dialed in but, and will use an replace that permits it to perform all the way in which all the way down to a cease.
Probably the most egregious failing of the Can-Am Pulse, although, is the large quantity that I’ve dodged mentioning thus far: Its value. The Pulse begins at $10,999 earlier than meeting and vacation spot charges (and, admittedly, earlier than any EV incentives nonetheless out there in your space), but its 47 horsepower is lower than that of the $5,299 Kawasaki Ninja 500. For consumers who really need that EV really feel, the nimble dealing with and funky operating of an electrical drivetrain, it could be definitely worth the premium. For individuals who simply need a solution to get round on two wheels, although, electrical bikes aren’t low-cost sufficient to compete at this A2 energy stage but — and no quantity of CarPlay is value $4,700. The Pulse is not a nasty purchase now, it is a bike I would genuinely think about proudly owning myself at that value level if New York Metropolis made charging a bit simpler, nevertheless it’ll be an absolute killer in a number of years when battery tech will get low-cost. I really hope Can-Am retains the bike round lengthy sufficient to see that day.
