Well fellows I do appreciate the replies, but I decided I needed the bigger bed for planting food plots and working the machine a little more but I still wanna have very little play with it so I went with the can am defender xmr hd10

 

We all have our reasons for picking a machine for the purpose we are going to use them for. I think you made a good choice for yours. Happy trails!

 

I had to make a decision today, around here they’re selling like Debbie cakes to a fat kid lol

 

In my opinion the RMAX is a more reliable machine but a CanAm guy would likely disagree. I have a friend that has a CanAm. He has high mileage and it’s been bulletproof. I think you would enjoy driving the RMAX more. It has a powerful motor, great ride and good handling. In my opinion it’s best in its class.

 

I ride with friends who have the Maverick sport. They complain of the heat in the cab. This is not a problem with the Rmax.

 

My maverick sport xrc has no cab heat. 2 1/2 years no problems What so ever.

 

To each their own on these subjects. I mean, I’ve got buddies who love their Polaris’s regardless of the issues. The same goes for Can-am/BRP, or any other brand. Some folks get brand loyal/or brand bias for one reason or another. I’ve been unhappy with numerous Honda products but I always give them another shot because I grew up riding Honda’s. I tried a Pioneer 1000-5 but I honestly felt my brothers Yamaha X4 was built better and more thought out. So, I bought the RMAX...but I’ve found things on this thing that I wasn’t thrilled about (manufacturing wise). Even with that, when I compare it to buddies machines...it’s years ahead in build quality. And on the other side of the spectrum, I’ve always had a negative bias towards Can-Am because in grew up working at a dealer that sold them, Harleys, and Japanese products. Can-Am and Harley products keep service slammed. I mean, 90% of the machines back there were newer Can-Ams or Harleys. I think that’s always lingered in my head and it’s hard to see past. (But...a lot of time has passed since then)

I really tried convincing myself to get a Can-Am/BRP but although there are a lot of folks who love them, there were a lot of horror stories. One friend swore by their defender but I also knew that they literally only rode the thing on dirt roads to/from the farm. There’s numerous videos of their front ends collapsing with impacts...supposedly and issue that they’ve had across their UTV line. What’s frustrating with them as well is that the name changes the last few years makes it difficult to track BBB or Consumer Reports data. But...regardless of what name you find them under, the reviews were overly favorable. Now, I always keep in mind the unhappy customers are usually the most likely to complete those surveys.

So, it’s a toss up. I think overall, the Japanese brands will always have a larger percentage of overall reliability and dependability. They produced most of all their products where as Can-Am and Polaris outsource much of their machines to China and Mexico to remain price competitive...and I think that effects their reliability.

 

Good Lord!! You only asked for help 4 hours ago and you already bought one!!? I guess you really didn't need that much help...

 

I am sure the RMAX will/can go faster than you'd want to drive it. D switch doles out what you want as well which is a plus for many. Getting the RMAX from a good dealer is key if something needs addressing. They have to back you as a customer.

 

Getting the RMAX from a good dealer is key if something needs addressing. They have to back you as a customer.

I couldn't stress this more. I looked at a defender at a small local dealer who I have some connections with but the machine would clearly struggle when I went out riding with my friends and their full sport machines.

So I went with the rmax and I am very pleased in the machines capability to hang behind a rzr sport and maverick. I would have been parked at staging or out riding alone if I went with the defender.

With that said I didn't research my dealer and have learned how horrible my local dealer is. I even started traveling a hour+ one way only to get the same song and dance. Lucky I haven't had any warranty issues yet but if I do I'm screwed.

If I could do it all over again I would of waited for the new commander and bough from a decent dealer. Still may go take a look at them if my local dealer gets one.

 

My dad just ordered a 2021 HD10 Defender because of the bench seating, he also ordered elka stage 3 shocks with it. He should get his next month. I ordered an RMAX. The nice thing is we can trade off. He purpose was different than mine. I wanted a mountain machine that could also do decent at the sand dunes but had a sport feel. My dad just wants a roomy cab and a plush ride. His did not need to be as sporty but he will rip the trails a lot. He does often wonder if he should have ordered an RMAX as well. Only time will tell.

 

Agree, snooze and they are gone

 

Congrats. Enjoy your new ride!

 

Enjoy! Comeback and talk and share. Please do we love to hear back from people. And post some pictures - everyone loves pictures!

 

apples to oranges comparison.

 

Two if my good hunting buddies have defender hd8’s. They are beefy, stout, and powerful, but very utilty-like compared to the r-max. I would not take them in some sketchy spots I’ve taken my X2 and gen 1 wolverine through.

 

congrats on the purchase.. love the camo! If you are using it for work, i would swap out the mud tires asap for a more AT type tire

 

Currently have a Yamaha with no problems, although it is nearly new.
Have had two Can Ams, 14 Maverick and a 19 X3, no problems with either.
They have completely different target markets, so you have to decide if you want more sport or more utility.

 

That’s my problem, I want three seats with a bed but I want sporty, kind of can’t have the best of both worlds there

 

surprised no one has asked this question yet.. how do you plan on using the machine? Trail riding, work, play?

you mention you want 3 seats and a bed. Both of those machines give you that. the Defender XMR is set up to be a mud machine. Ultra aggressive tires for 'mudding', while the rmax is setup to be a dual purpose trail/work machine.

Do you plan on hitting the deep mud holes or mud bogs? Or do you plan on doing trail riding with puddle splashing? Working around the farm or plowing through the sheet pasture to chase down bessie your prized cow who got out?

 

Depends on your intended use, reliability should theoretically be better with the Yamaha but it is a first year machine and things do happen. If you want a more trail capable machine I say RMAX over the defender, if you want something to work with then the defender if you only had to choose between those 2 machines. My buddy has a X3 and so far its been alright with no major issues that weren't self inflicted.

 

Ouuuh, Bench seating turning me off the first few machines. I'd be sliding around and belts wouldn't keep me in place. I wonder whats going on the bench that it was key for him.

 

I am in a similar boat....but for a different reason. I have no need to work with my unit, nor a desire to. Been there done that. Going to buy 1 last one in my life, purely for fun so trying to decide base Rmax or Base X3.

It's all about riding ditches, fire roads and 64 inch trails for me. Was at the yamaha dealer this morning, they have a base for $20k. Man the thing looks very beefy. Doors shut like a car door. For a year 1 machine, the reliability seems to be amazing. The can am has way more legroom (I am 6-1) 16 inch longer wheelbase and few more ponies. $19,600. What to do...

 

My response is the RMax will smoke the Can Am hands down. Ride, performance, and quality.

 

Test drive it. Also work the D Mode Switch. I believe it talks back to the driver upon throttle.

 

Surprisingly, on the defender XT HD10, the seat bolstering is really good. Its like 3 individual sits in it. So in theory, you shouldn't move much.