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Known affectionately as the “Canned Ham,” the Canadian-built Can-Am MX2 was a uniquely different machine from what was offered by the Japanese and Europe marques. The Austrian-built Rotax engine used a rotary valve intake system. The 32mm Bing carb was mounted behind the engine and the fuel was fed to the lower end via a tuned 30mm aluminum tube. The smaller intake tract increased fuel velocity so that when the pie-shaped rotary disc opened up the fuel would go directly into the lower-end. Rotary valve engines enjoyed popularity in the early 1970s on Kawasaki dirt bikes, most notably the 350 Big Horn, and on later-generation four-cylinder two-stroke road race engines. A unique feature included a gauze-type air filter that sat on top of a still-air box (air was drawn into the engine via a vent where the rear fender met the seat).
The 1975 Can-Am MX2 was based on the bike that Gary Jones, Marty Tripes and Jimmy Ellis used to sweep the 1974 AMA 250 National Championships.
Images are property of The Early Years of Motocross Museum, ®2006