Can-Am 175 Qualifier
CAN-AM 175 QUALIFIER
CYCLE WORLD TEST
Marzocchi Forks, Gabriel Gas-Bag Shocks and Super Reliability
What Can-Am lacks in size is compensated for with ingenuity. In 1977, CanAm's true enduro Qualifier was built in the Canadian firm's tradition, that is, careful sharing of parts from the street-legal
and motocross' models, mixed with components bought from the best outside sources.
For 1978, the Qualifier line looked much the same, so when the factory reps offered a 175 model for test, there was some question as to what the bike would have that hadn't been previously reviewed. An option. they said. Marzocchi forks. First, they cut the price of the basic model by $300, from $1599 suggested retail to $1299. Beyond that, a Qualifier buyer can put $225 back onto the price and get the 35mm Marzocchis. Then, the Betors deliv ered with the bike can be sold for what the market will bear, say $100 or more, and the option becomes a bargain.
The Marzocchi also improves the Quali fier.
The option is complete. With the Mar zocchis come a new set of triple clamps, with less offset to make up for the leading axle. The top clamp incorporates rear-set handlebar mounts. The package gives the machine a more modern look as well as increasing front wheel travel from 7.5 in. to 9 in.
Canadian Gabriel gas-bag shocks are mounted in a lay-down position at the rear. This gives the rider 7V4 in. of rear wheel travel, not an earth shaking amount, but adequate for most situations. >
The engine is also the same as 1977. A short stroke, rotary valve, highly finned and powerful motor. It has the carburetor mounted behind the barrel and fuel is fed to the rotary valve through a cast tube connecting the two. Also retained is oil injection. Automatic oil delivery is rare these days, because the injector adds weight and can misfunction without warn ing. But the advantages in this case, namely not having to mix fuel on the trail or haul cans of two-stroke oil cross-coun try, are worth the weight. As to the other, we've ridden Can-Ams in bad country for years and have yet to see a failed injector. The oil has its own tank, in the frame backbone. The gas tank carries three gal ions of the stuff, which gives the Qualifier good range. Can-Am produces its own ex cellent plastic, used for tank and fenders.
The seat is great. The covering is top quality, durable and attractive and there's plenty of padding. One gain in not going to extremes of wheel travel is that seat depth can be generous without seat height becoming too high for the average rider. The seat's top edges are widely radiused and it has enough width and depth to prevent saddle sores.
Serious Six Days items abound: good resettable speedo, centerstand, quickly ad justable rear wheel, enduro-legal lighting, number plates, a quiet high pipe with spark arrester and a tool bag with an internal strap to keep tools from jumping around.
Controls are all top drawer. The foot pegs and brake pedal are cleated to prevent slippage in mud, and the hand controls are first class Magura items.
Like all Can-Ams, the Qualifier has adjustable rake. By changing the steering head cones, the bike's rake and trail can be changed to suit rider preferences. Ours was set at 30 deg.
This setting gave a rather slow, but stable feel to the machine. In open country it was perfect. For mountainous terrain a change of cones to give 28-29 deg. will give the expert rider the desired quickness for dodging trees at higher speeds.
The Marzocchi forks are excellent. They soak up bumps superbly. On the fork dyno only 5 lb. of seal drag was registered. This is even more impressive when you remem ber they use double seals.
The shocks work in harmony with the forks and replacement won't be required. Primary kickstarting is employed so a stalled engine may be started without searching for neutral. Most of the time starting is a one-kick affair. Even a light weight can start it easily.
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Test riders registered only two serious complaints. One concerned the brakes, which seemed to require extra force with not much stopping power when dry and even less when wet, a situation for which a true enduro machine should be better pre pared.
Second, the Qualifiers come with cen terstand only. The stand is useful for servicing, fixing flat tires, etc., but it also requires time and attention when you must park on soft or angled ground. Perhaps the next option could be a sidestand. All in all, the 175 is fun to ride. The exhaust is quiet and forestry legal. The three-gallon gas tank will take the rider many miles without getting in the way. Handlebar-seat-peg relationship is right and it proved stone reliable.
CAN-AM 175
$1524
The optional Marzocchi LAF is a worth while improvement over the stock Be tors. Travel and engagement are each increased by nearly 2 in., and compres sion damping is less, for a softer ride. The extremely low seal friction (vs 19 lb. for a Betor leg) contributes to this unit's high compliance and excellent perfor mance.
These gas-bag shocks are acceptable for the bike's intended purpose, but might be a bit firm for lightweight riders. A 90 lb. or even 80 lb. spring set will soften things considerably, without de tracting from handling potential. Tests performed at Number 1 Products
Add the price reduction and the package becomes even more attractive. Price con scious individuals won't have to add the optional Marzocchi forks to he happy. What the buyer gets is a reliable machine with a broad powerband and torque that is comparable to a much larger motor.
