[Justin Stiltner]

As an additional point of interest:

Keep in mind that your program will need to send the data to a specific address on the CAN bus, so that means that each of your speed controllers will need a unique number... can you guess where this is going?

If you need to replace a speed controller on your can bus, you will need to do one of 2 things, either program your new speed controller with the old ones address, or determine the address of the new one (its not imprinted on it anywhere) and change your code.

Its one of those rock and a hard place problems.

Also, as a network engineer, and working in IT for 8 years now, if you use high quality connectors, and don't abuse them you shouldn't need to worry about those connectors. I have actually seen the cable come apart before the connector came out of the jack in the wall!
However If you buy your cables at the dollar / 50 cent / dumpster store good luck to you!