2023 Can-Am Defender

Dragoon · Sep 26, 2022

The new 2023 Defender looks great and it looks like it also got some nice upgrades! Has anyone one picked one up yet or seen one at your local dealer?

ArcticHD8XTCab · Sep 27, 2022

The new doors and windows look nice, but my biggest gripe on them is there is no door locks now, and no aftermarket or accessory locks. You need to go with the clear doors or old style doors to get a locking door. I use my machine around town here during the week and the door locks are nice added feature for me. May not be an issue for others.

honda400ex2003 · Sep 27, 2022

i like the desert tan color, wish i could get one! same thing for the most part other than the new doors for the 22.5s though. now that the weather is getting colder, i wish i had got the limited as well for my 22. oh well... didnt want any issues with the weight and such on the max in WI, until they changed the rules to 3k# from 2k#, they were over weight and technically illegal.

im happy with my xt hd10, certainly enjoy it when im out. the seats get a little uncomfortable on longer trips and its about a 60-70 mile per day ride instead of 100-150 mile a day ride like the x3.

steve

Dragoon · Sep 27, 2022

ArcticHD8XTCab said:
The new doors and windows look nice, but my biggest gripe on them is there is no door locks now, and no aftermarket or accessory locks. You need to go with the clear doors or old style doors to get a locking door. I use my machine around town here during the week and the door locks are nice added feature for me. May not be an issue for others.

Interesting, I didn't know that about the door locks. It's nice that the rear windows roll down now. I always thought it was strange that they didn't have roll down rear windows on the older cabs.

The JL Audio roof looks really nice! That's definitely an upgrade worth having IMO. I had a Ranger Ultimate Northstar with audio and it mediocre at best.

Doublezbulls · Jan 15, 2023

Dragoon said:
Interesting, I didn't know that about the door locks. It's nice that the rear windows roll down now. I always thought it was strange that they didn't have roll down rear windows on the older cabs.

The JL Audio roof looks really nice! That's definitely an upgrade worth having IMO. I had a Ranger Ultimate Northstar with audio and it mediocre at best.

Pretty sure I can put a much nicer sound system for less. The roof is $4000+ on the crew. Not worth it. Quite enough in the cab a lil Bluetooth speaker is loud.

Doublezbulls · Jan 15, 2023

Doublezbulls said:
Pretty sure I can put a much nicer sound system for less. The roof is $4000+ on the crew. Not worth it. Quite enough in the cab a lil Bluetooth speaker is loud.

But the locks not being there does suck. Hate that. That was one my reasons I was gonna stay with Polaris. Just took delivery on my 2023. Not impressed. Doors leak everywhere

Dragoon · Jan 17, 2023

Doublezbulls said:
But the locks not being there does suck. Hate that. That was one my reasons I was gonna stay with Polaris. Just took delivery on my 2023. Not impressed. Doors leak everywhere

Do you think the doors could be adjusted so that they seal up better or do you think it's just part of the design?

dkdesign · Jan 18, 2023

Dragoon said:
Do you think the doors could be adjusted so that they seal up better or do you think it's just part of the design?

On my 22 limited max, doors (old style) were terrible as delivered. I spent a lot of time making better, but still not great. When I had them adjusted so they sealed the best, rubber seal ending up wearing a hole thru the top of the seal just above the door handle by rubbing on A pillar after 7 months. My dealer replaced seals no charge, and also adjusted doors. Then gaps again. After adjusting for better seal, I can see they will wear thru again. I now regularly condition/lubricate the seal in hopes to make last longer.
The doors just do not match the opening well. I assume this problem has not been resolved with new door design.
that is disappointing as they do look great and I love the fact you can roll rear windows down.

Outdoor Therapy · Jan 19, 2023

Has anyone seen issues with welds rusting on the 23' Defenders?

SaddleSore · Jan 22, 2023

ArcticHD8XTCab said:
The new doors and windows look nice, but my biggest gripe on them is there is no door locks now, and no aftermarket or accessory locks. You need to go with the clear doors or old style doors to get a locking door. I use my machine around town here during the week and the door locks are nice added feature for me. May not be an issue for others.

I have a '23 Defender Limited. All is good, but the lack of door locks absolutely sucks. Can't leave tools in it, or hunting / fishing gear, or cameras, or anything at all. Can't leave it outside overnight. What was Can-Am thinking? Let me know if anybody finds a solution (other than not driving it anywhere).

Andystoy19 · Jan 22, 2023

My 2019 Defender HD10 Cab XT came with keyed factory door locks, perhaps there is a way to retrofit them to your machine?

Doublezbulls · Jan 25, 2023

Doublezbulls said:
Pretty sure I can put a much nicer sound system for less. The roof is $4000+ on the crew. Not worth it. Quite enough in the cab a lil Bluetooth speaker is loud.

dkdesign said:
On my 22 limited max, doors (old style) were terrible as delivered. I spent a lot of time making better, but still not great. When I had them adjusted so they sealed the best, rubber seal ending up wearing a hole thru the top of the seal just above the door handle by rubbing on A pillar after 7 months. My dealer replaced seals no charge, and also adjusted doors. Then gaps again. After adjusting for better seal, I can see they will wear thru again. I now regularly condition/lubricate the seal in hopes to make last longer.
The doors just do not match the opening well. I assume this problem has not been resolved with new door design.
that is disappointing as they do look great and I love the fact you can roll rear windows down.

Ya the dealer just took my 23’ back in to do what they call a “frame reset”. Apparently taking the roof and doors off. Loosen all frame bolts and try to adjust the frame to allow for the doors to seal better. I feel like it’s all smoke n mirrors, but we will see… just saw a 2022 North Star and I’ve got to say I’m jealous of the door locks!!!

Doublezbulls · Jan 25, 2023

Dragoon said:
Do you think the doors could be adjusted so that they seal up better or do you think it's just part of the design?

We will see… the dealer is doing a “frame reset” now.

Dragoon · Jan 27, 2023

Doublezbulls said:
Ya the dealer just took my 23’ back in to do what they call a “frame reset”. Apparently taking the roof and doors off. Loosen all frame bolts and try to adjust the frame to allow for the doors to seal better. I feel like it’s all smoke n mirrors, but we will see… just saw a 2022 North Star and I’ve got to say I’m jealous of the door locks!!!

Hopefully, that does the trick! Keep us posted.

Jim-Mn · Jan 30, 2023

I’m glad that they are coming with 30 inch tires, and the forward A-arms now. One of my local dealers plans to get the 2023 limiteds shipped in May. I hope to get a deposit in on one soon.

Defender montello · Feb 8, 2023

Hello new to the forum. As a previous Atv guy I now have a Defender limited max and the first issue is that there is a lot of cold air coming through the right front door. Tried to put vasoline on the door seal to see if the seals are touching where they are suppose to and they are. Then I looked at where this air is coming from. Finally I found it the figment of the forward panels where the seal sits are not a good fit so I had to use weather seal to make up for the large gap.

Beaudog · Mar 12, 2023

I own a 2021 Defender 10 Limited. It has the 27" factory Maxxis tires. The 2023 comes with the 30" tires. All are on the 14" rims which I like the looks of them. According to the video posted the 2023 have the forward offset A arms. My question is, if at some point I change tires do you think one could put the 30" tires on without changing any factory A-arms? Just looking at the space between the front tire and the wheel well it looks like there would be room. I do understand if you have the fronts crammed one way or the other and the shorter travel distance could cause a rub. Would be nice to have a set to try. Has anyone put larger tires on their pre 2023 machine or what are your thoughts on running the 30"s? Thanks in advance.