Can-Am DS 250 specifications, dimensions and price
Can-Am · Youth
Can-Am identifies the DS 250 as a transition model for ages 14 and older. It has a 250cc liquid-cooled engine, CVT and chain final drive. That manufacturer category differs from a 50cc or 110cc youth machine; do not choose it solely because a younger rider has become taller.
Can-Am DS 250
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model year | 2027 |
| Class | Youth |
| Engine | 250 cc 4-stroke single cylinder, liquid-cooled |
| Displacement | 250cc |
| Bore x stroke | 71x63 mm |
| Fuel system | Carburetion |
| Transmission | CVT F / N / R |
| Drive system | Chain driven / solid axle |
| Front suspension | Double A-arm 5.5 in travel |
| Rear suspension | Swingarm 6.7 in travel |
| Front brake | Dual hydraulic disc brakes |
| Rear brake | Single hydraulic disc brake |
| Front tire | Kenda 22x7x10 in |
| Rear tire | Kenda 20x11x9 in |
| Wheels | Front: 10 in black steel / Rear: 9 in black steel |
| Seat height | 31.5 in |
| Estimated dry weight | 429 lb |
| Ground clearance | 10.2 in center of ATV / 4.5 in under rear axle |
| Fuel capacity | 3.3 gal |
| Length x width x height | 72x40.5x43.5 in |
| Display | Neutral light, reverse light and oil/temperature light |
| Lighting | Halogen running headlights |
| Anti-theft system | Mechanical Key |
| Warranty | 1-year BRP Limited warranty |
| Starting MSRP | $5,149 |
Compare the DS 250 with another transition machine
The DS 250’s $5,149 listed base price is $150 above the Phoenix 200’s $4,999. The DS has 250cc against the Phoenix’s 196cc, a difference of 54cc; that is displacement, not a measured power difference.
Neither number establishes suitability for a younger rider. Both machines require the age and supervision checks on their own labels.
Ground clearance has two different measurement points
The DS specification separates 10.2 inches under the center of the ATV from 4.5 inches under the rear axle. The lower rear point can still contact an obstacle that clears the center. Do not compare the higher figure with a rival’s minimum ground-clearance figure as though they describe the same point.
Its liquid-cooled engine adds a radiator and coolant inspection to the service routine, while the solid rear axle and chain drive introduce chain-line and slack checks. Follow the DS instructions for the suspension position used to measure slack; a value from a 110cc machine is not a substitute. The CVT still has forward, neutral and reverse selections even though the operator does not manually select road gears.
For a transport estimate, 429 lb is an estimated dry figure, not the ready-to-ride weight with its 3.3-gallon tank filled. Record the actual loaded weight before relying on a ramp or trailer rating. The 72-inch length is exactly six feet; a six-foot deck provides no additional length for wheel placement or securement hardware.
The Can-Am DS 250 is the largest youth ATV Can-Am sells: a 250cc liquid-cooled four-stroke single with a carburetor, an automatic CVT and chain drive, made for riders 14 and up. Can-Am prices it at $5,149. Can-Am describes it as the last step before an adult-sized ATV.
Offroading Pro lists wheel travel of about 140 mm in front and 170 mm in the rear, calls the long-travel setup good for handling and rider fatigue, and gives a payload limit of 150 kg (330 lb) including rider, fuel and cargo. The same review criticizes the handling, weight and suspension as leaving much to be desired. So opinions split.
A specifications-and-review summary says the ride is comfortable on most terrain but that some users found the suspension stiff over rough ground.
Owner-oriented sources point at the engine. Time for Wheels says almost all reported DS 250 problems are engine-related and that overheating is most often traced to a faulty thermostat, and it faults the material quality as below par for a machine meant for early teens.
Offroading Pro adds a check that has nothing to do with the engine: if the quad seems weak or hard to start, look at the speed limiter, or throttle restrictor, before chasing mechanical problems. These are third-party summaries, not a survey with counts, so use them as a used-buyer checklist.
At 250cc and 429 lb it is much larger than the 110cc kids' quads and closer to an adult machine. It is sized for a teenager who is ready to graduate, not for a small child. Confirm your state's youth-ATV rules before buying.
The Polaris Phoenix 200 is the nearest rival by size. The Outlaw 110 is a step below for smaller riders. Compare the engine size and weight columns: the Can-Am is the biggest of the group.
Can-Am designs it for riders 14 and up and calls it the last step before an adult-sized ATV. It is a 250cc machine that weighs an estimated 429 lb dry. So it is not a first quad for a small child.
Reviews and owner summaries point to engine overheating traced to a faulty thermostat, a speed limiter that can be mistaken for a mechanical fault, and a ride some riders find stiff. Check the thermostat first on a used one.
Other models in this reference: Can-Am Outlander 1000, Can-Am Renegade X xc 1000R, Can-Am Outlander 6x6.