Thinking About the Can-Am Outlander X MR 1000R

I’m going through a small issue right now. I currently live in a state that allows ATV riding. No, wait – it doesn’t just allow it, it actually encourages it. ATVing, snowmobiling, skiing, swimming, hiking, boating – they’re all large parts of the Maine economy and because of that, many residents and visitors live in and visit various parts of the entire area to take advantage of what we have to offer.

Think about it this way – the original large part of Maine’s economy was, and still is, logging. To get to those trees that become logs, companies had to create roads. You’ve seen these roads before. I’ve written about them. Actually, Laura and I just went for a walk on one. Almost all of the roads that exist in the area I live were originally logging roads.

Because there are so many logging roads and so many hills, mountains, lakes, trees and rivers, it’s a natural fit for taking advantage of recreational vehicles. The state decided it could capitalize on what’s already going on and currently allows residents to register their ATVs and snowmobiles. What this gets us, I have no idea. What I do know is that if you’re on one of these machines and you pass a cop in the woods, he’ll likely just wave and pass you by. This blows my mind. I’ve never experienced something like this before. Where I grew up, the fuzz would wait for you to merely have a conversation about riding off road before they would jump out from behind a tree to throw you in shackles. They didn’t like ATVs in New York, that’s for sure.

When I was a kid, autumn was the time to ride. My friends and I would hop on whatever it was we owned and would take the main road or some trails to a field or a hill or someplace that gave us the opportunity to let out some of our aggression. It was a wonderful time and more and more, I’m considering doing it again. Fall is here and the leaves are hitting the ground. All I can think about is getting out there in the woods and riding to a mountaintop to take photographs.

Here’s the problem – I only want to do this once. Whatever it is I purchase, I’d like it to be the last one for a very, very long time. I have very particular tastes and have trouble allowing myself to become attached to something I’m not totally in love with. Unfortunately, what I currently love costs over $14,000. I know. Here, take a look – it’s called the Can-Am Outlander X MR 1000R and it’s built like a truck.

Here’s a video of it. If you’re reading this in an email, please click through to the post because videos don’t appear in emails.

2016 Can-Am Outlander xMR 1000R Review

I started thinking about this topic in earnest during a trip Laura and I recently took to Kingfield, Maine. While we were there, we enjoyed lunch at a restaurant called Longfellows, which has tons of brochures, maps and things like that sitting on a table in their entrance. One of the items I picked up and took with me was an ATV trail map for the area.

Each area in Maine has its own ATV and snowmobile club. These clubs educate the public about trails and responsibilities, gain permission from landowners to ride on private land and maintain the trails themselves by excavating, pruning and cutting down trees. They’re an invaluable resource and are really the ones who make it possible to ride.

Laura is on board just as much as I am. Our primary goal is to get out there to see nature at its finest and to capture it digitally. Can you imagine all the awesome video and photography I could share on this blog with one of these things? I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. The only thing is, I keep thinking about how many years of property tax I could cover with the cost of a toy. That’s the responsible side of me talking. The irresponsible side wakes up one morning, only to realize later in the day that I’ve got a huge chunk of my bank account missing.

I’ll keep you updated.