The Can Am Renegade 1000 is one of the most visually appealing ATVs in the industry. And powered by a 1000 cc engine with a whopping 91 horsepower, it’s one of the most powerful quads as well.
While this model will take all comers in a race through soft terrain such as mud, sand, and snow, how fast can it actually go?
Well, it makes the list of fastest ATVs in the industry if that tells you anything.
This guide will tell you exactly how fast you can go on the Can Am Renegade 1000, along with:
- Why one Renegade 1000 model is much faster than the other
- Several ways to increase these models’ top speed
Can Am Renegade 1000 Top Speed
The Can Am Renegade 1000 is currently made up of two different models, which can reach two different top speeds when unmodified. These two models are the Renegade XMR 1000 and the Renegade XXC 1000.
The Cam Renegade XMR 1000 can reach a top speed of 65 mph, while the Can Am Renegade XXC 1000 can reach a top speed of around 75 mph.
Why the difference? The Renegade XMR is limited by a speed governor, while the Renegade XXC 1000 is not.
This speed governor is installed as a safety precaution in the Renegade XMR because its stock tires are so large, at 30 inches. Outfitted with smaller 25-inch stock tires, the XXC 1000 is not subject to the same precaution and comes free of any speed governor.
While top speeds of 65 mph and 78 mph are impressive, there is reason to continue reading for the speed demons out there. By making some modifications to your Renegade, you can have it outrunning the Polaris Scrambler XP 1000s and Yamaha Raptor 700 while reaching potential top speeds of 80+ mph in either model.
Increasing the Speed
There are several modifications that owners can make to their Renegade 1000 to make them a good deal faster in terms of top speed. And these modifications usually come with the added benefit of increased power and acceleration as well.
Upgrade the Clutch
Upgrading the primary clutch is another way to increase the top speed. While the factory clutch is fine, an upgraded primary clutch will put power to ground better with the bigger tires and give your quad more pull.
While an upgraded clutch will work wonders for the Renegade XMR and its 30-inch tires, it likely won’t make much difference with the 25-inch tires of the Renegade XXC.
There are a number of aftermarket primary clutches and clutch kits available, but both the CVTech and STM primary clutches come highly recommended among owners who have made this upgrade.
Upgrade The Air Intake System
The air intake system consists of the airbox and air filter. This system enables clean air into the engine and determines the amount of fuel that can be fed to the engine.
With an upgrade to the air intake system, more clean airflow will be able to find its way to the engine and make it run better. The more air in and out, the more power the engine will be able to generate.
Upgrade the Exhaust System
By upgrading the exhaust system, the added airflow from the upgraded air intake will have a more efficient escape once used up. An upgraded exhaust should provide a small increase in horsepower and torque for the Renegade 1000.
Some of the more highly recommended exhaust systems for this model are SLG Exhaust, RJWC Exhaust, Empire Exhaust, and HMF Exhaust.
Flash Tune The ECU
To ensure the Renegade reaches peak performance, especially if you’ve upgraded the intake and exhaust system, adding a flash tuner to sync with the ECU is highly recommended.
A flash tuner is a tuning device that monitors the air to fuel ratio and calculates the correct fuel adjustments needed to achieve the optimal proportions. It will provide an upgraded exhaust system with the proper amount of fuel it needs to perform optimally.
The addition of a flash tuner will help ensure the optimal air to fuel ratio at each throttle position and RPM level, resulting in improved throttle response and an overall increase in speed and acceleration.
If Can Am Renegade 1000 Won’t Reach Top Speed
If your Renegade 1000 was properly broken in but will not reach its top speed, there are a number of proven ways to attempt to correct this.
Decrease The Tire Size
This only applies to the Renegade 1000 XMR and its 30-inch tires, which are meant more for traction and power in soft terrains then top-end speed.
Downgrading to smaller 26-inch or 27-inch tires should help increase the top speed of the vehicle if desired, but will decrease the power and mudding ability to a degree.
Ensure The Tires Are Fully Inflated
Underinflation in the tires can lead to less speed. Ensure your tires are inflated to the recommended tire pressure settings in your owner’s manual.
Use High Octane Fuel
Using a high octane fuel in your Can Am Renegade 1000 is highly recommended for a number of reasons, with better engine performance being the main benefit. This better engine performance should lead to an increase in speed.
You’ll be able to tell a big difference in the way your Renegade runs on 91 or 93 octane gas vs lower octane.
Inspect The Spark Plug
If your Renegade does not seem to be reaching its top speed, check the spark plug for potential fouling. If the end appears burnt or worn, the spark plug may not be able to ignite fuel in the engine properly, which can result in lower speeds. If needed, replace it with a high performance iridium spark plug.
Can Am Renegade 1000 Top Speed & Break-In Period
For owners of a brand new Renegade 1000, there is an engine break-in period suggested in the owner’s manual. Do not overlook this, as failure to adhere to this break-in period can result in long-term negative consequences for your quad’s performance.
The manual states that during the break-in period, which is the first full 25 hours of operation or the time it takes to go through two full tanks of gas, it is extremely important to avoid excessive engine heat.
This is because during the break-in period, the various parts of the engine wear and polish themselves to their correct operating clearances.
Owners are advised to avoid continuous operation above half throttle for the first 10 hours of use and avoid continuous operation above ¾ throttle from 10 to 25 hours.
While brief accelerations and speed variations contribute to a good break-in, it should be noted that the top speed of the vehicle will likely be unreachable in the first 25 hours of operation either way.
Failure to properly break in the machine can result in the engine never reaching peak performance and the quad never being able to reach its top speed.
Final Thoughts
The Can Am Renegade 1000 top speed is dependent upon the model you own. The Renegade XMR can reach a top speed of 65 mph stock and the Renegade XXC can reach a top speed of 75 mph stock.
For owners who want to achieve a higher top speed in either model, there are a number of different modifications that can be made to have the Renegade 1000 topping out at 80+ mph.
