Can-Am Maverick X3 Width: 72 Inches VS 64 Inches

Depending on who you ask, you’ll get a variety of responses regarding Can-Am Maverick X3 widths. But before we tell you our opinion, let’s first be thankful that Can-Am gives us a choice between 72 inches and 64 inches — both of which are hands down great machines. Similar to things like tires lifts, and suspension setups, different machine widths have their place, and depending on how you ride as well as where you ride, you may benefit from one width over the other. However, many riders often wonder if the extra cost of the 72-inch Can-Am Maverick X3 is worth it. Furthermore, as the wider X3 is heavier than its 64-inch counterpart, people also question if the added weight will detract from the overall performance of the vehicle. We’d like to put the rumors to rest, and give you a more conclusive, non-bias analysis of this topic. So if you’re questioning which edition of the Can-Am Maverick X3 will be best for you and the areas where you ride, keep reading, because we’re about to get deep into the mechanics of vehicle width as well as the other differences between the 72-inch and 64-inch Maverick X3.

Where The 72-Inch Maverick X3 Excels

Many riders shy away from the 72-inch Maverick X3 due to worries about tight trails, dense forests, and a lack of maneuverability. However, we have first-hand experience in the matter, having traveled and ridden in multiple states across the US, and have never once found a spot that the 72-inch X3 couldn’t pass through. Surely there are places where a skinnier machine will do better, and if you ride exclusively in such areas, the 64-inch X3 might be for you. There are also areas with 50" and 60" gated trails for ATVs, but even the 64" Maverick X3 is too wide for such trails. Plus, if you’re located in an area where tight trails are the exception and not the norm, the flexibility and stability of the 72-inch Can-Am Maverick X3 will prove superior to the 64 incher. From sand dunes and open deserts to logging roads and grassland parries, a wider vehicle provides enormous benefits. And while you might be doubting how much of a difference 8 inches can truly make, the width isn’t the only factor that comes into play.

Yes the 72-inch Can-Am Maverick X3 is more expensive, but the extra cost isn’t due primarily to the extended a-arms, radius rods, and tie rods. Rather, it’s the suspension that accounts for the added cost, and this suspension is also the thing that brings a lot of the performance benefits. Don’t get us wrong, the increased width does contribute to a better and more stable ride in many circumstances, but it’s the angle of the shocks in the 72-inch Maverick X3 that give it a plusher ride — and with 24 inches of travel, what’s not to love? On top of that, it's the extra ground clearance, the better stability, and the way you can hit things differently that sets the wider X3 apart from its thinner brother. The 64-inch X3 is a fantastic rig, but the 72-inch X3 is ten times the machine. We’ve talked to guys who’ve converted their 64" machines to 72" machines and have never looked back. And in addition to being more stable on trails, the wider Maverick X3 is better at climbing, and the control gains on dunes is night and day.

Where The 64-Inch Maverick X3 Excels

Anyone who knows anything about suspension is aware that hitting big whoops and big jumps requires longer suspension. But the extra length and longer suspension of the 72-inch Maverick X3 comes at a cost — and we’re talking more than just a monetary cost. A bigger machine will obviously weight more. And don’t let anyone fool you, the extra 20 pounds or so on the 72-inch Can-Am Maverick X3 will certainly affect the performance of the machine at the track. For this reason, many racers and speed demons prefer the 64-inch X3 because it is lighter. It might take more talent from a driving perspective to keep the wheels on the ground, but what the 64-inch X3 lacks in stability, it makes up for with speed — due to the simple fact that it’s lighter — and nimbleness. 

On top of being lighter and more nimble, as we mentioned earlier, some places do have width restrictions. And although the 64-inch Can-Am Maverick X3 cannot make it through all trail gates, it can oftentimes go places where its wider cousin can't. If you go with the 72-inch X3, you might find yourself having to back out of a few trails here and there, which is not a huge deal, but a bit annoying to say the least.

In Conclusion

In the end, both versos of the Can-Am Maverick X3 are plenty capable. Knowing where you’ll be riding and what you want to do in your side-by-side will ultimately help you make the right call on which machine to get. There will be some places the 64-inch Can-Am Maverick X3 can go that the 72-inch can’t. If you're riding in the great wide open, the 72-inch Can-Am Maverick X3 is hands down the better choice. But if you’re on the trails the majority of the time, that extra width can prove problematic.

The 64-inch X3 is faster than the 72-inch X3 — weight and tire height really help with that — and you can throttle the 64" X3s around corners easier than 72-inch X3s. But the stability, shocks, and overall suspension on the 72s are better for sure. Some might say that the 64-incher is for kids, or that if you’re going to go that skinny you may as well get an RZR 800. Others would say that if you need the extra 8 inches, then you probably can’t drive worth a darn. But there is one thing that we can say for sure, no matter which size X3 you get, you’ll be more than happy and ready to rip wherever you go!