Posts
2694
Joined
10/17/2015
Location
Raleigh, NC, USA
Edited Date/Time
11/5/2019 1:56pm
So, long story kinda short. It is my goal, in the next few years, to race the Red Bull Romaniacs. In one of the easier classes, of course. 
I think I can swing everything but the big question mark is my left shoulder which has been giving me some issues. A career of drumming takes it's toll. But hey, I'm cautiously optimistic. So, we'll see.
With that being said, it was time to get a new hard enduro weapon. I recently moved a couple of my MX bikes as I have shifted to riding more hard enduro and technical terrain. I usually ride KTM (and still plan on getting a 2020 XC-W 300 TPI soon) but for this I wanted something different. After lengthy conversations with my friend and former Romaniacs track manager Klaus Sorenson and also a short talk with Pro rider Kyle Redmond, I made my decision.
So let me introduce you to my freshly uncrated, brand new 2020 Sherco SE 300 Factory Edition. Both Klaus and Kyle ride this bike and actually both said that they think it is THE best technical bike available and they preferred it over the orange bike, surprisingly. I'm not very mechanical so staying with the more simple carb could be to my benefit. We'll see. Honestly, any of the 300's out there aren't going to hold me back, trust me. I do know that it weighs a bit more than the KTM but it's also a bit smaller size wise which I like as I am just 5'8, 132 lbs.
Also, I know resale on this will be weak but I am getting this bike to keep for quite a while, for sure. So that didn't weigh a lot into my decision.
So anyway, I won't ramble on as I usually do but I wanted to share this with you guys. It is a beauty and comes with a lot of super nice components and extras. I've already got a few additions for the bike not installed yet such as a super trick Motothanes double GPS holder for my Garmin Etrex 20X and Etrex 10 units. I imported the Motothanes holder from South Africa. Also, a rear disc guard as well as pull straps. Still a few things to get like mousses, radiator guards, etc. And I'll change the gearing to 13/50.
But everything you see here comes stock minus the carbon fiber pipe guard. The Factory Edition comes with the Selle Dalla Velle seat cover, the KYB front and rear suspension (which is a major plus), the radiator fan, frame guards, skid plate, Neken clamps and the strongest e start I've ever encountered, which is important since everyone seems to be removing the backup kickstarters, regretfully.
I also thought it was cool that the week I brought her home that Mario Roman and Wade Young went 1-2 for Factory Sherco over Husqvarna's Graham Jarvis at the Sea To Sky hard enduro in Turkey.Plus Wade took home the inaugural American Hard Enduro championship. Nice. So Sherco is small here but making a push and are very successful in Europe
Anyway, enjoy.
I think I can swing everything but the big question mark is my left shoulder which has been giving me some issues. A career of drumming takes it's toll. But hey, I'm cautiously optimistic. So, we'll see.With that being said, it was time to get a new hard enduro weapon. I recently moved a couple of my MX bikes as I have shifted to riding more hard enduro and technical terrain. I usually ride KTM (and still plan on getting a 2020 XC-W 300 TPI soon) but for this I wanted something different. After lengthy conversations with my friend and former Romaniacs track manager Klaus Sorenson and also a short talk with Pro rider Kyle Redmond, I made my decision.
So let me introduce you to my freshly uncrated, brand new 2020 Sherco SE 300 Factory Edition. Both Klaus and Kyle ride this bike and actually both said that they think it is THE best technical bike available and they preferred it over the orange bike, surprisingly. I'm not very mechanical so staying with the more simple carb could be to my benefit. We'll see. Honestly, any of the 300's out there aren't going to hold me back, trust me. I do know that it weighs a bit more than the KTM but it's also a bit smaller size wise which I like as I am just 5'8, 132 lbs.
Also, I know resale on this will be weak but I am getting this bike to keep for quite a while, for sure. So that didn't weigh a lot into my decision.
So anyway, I won't ramble on as I usually do but I wanted to share this with you guys. It is a beauty and comes with a lot of super nice components and extras. I've already got a few additions for the bike not installed yet such as a super trick Motothanes double GPS holder for my Garmin Etrex 20X and Etrex 10 units. I imported the Motothanes holder from South Africa. Also, a rear disc guard as well as pull straps. Still a few things to get like mousses, radiator guards, etc. And I'll change the gearing to 13/50.
But everything you see here comes stock minus the carbon fiber pipe guard. The Factory Edition comes with the Selle Dalla Velle seat cover, the KYB front and rear suspension (which is a major plus), the radiator fan, frame guards, skid plate, Neken clamps and the strongest e start I've ever encountered, which is important since everyone seems to be removing the backup kickstarters, regretfully.
I also thought it was cool that the week I brought her home that Mario Roman and Wade Young went 1-2 for Factory Sherco over Husqvarna's Graham Jarvis at the Sea To Sky hard enduro in Turkey.Plus Wade took home the inaugural American Hard Enduro championship. Nice. So Sherco is small here but making a push and are very successful in Europe
Anyway, enjoy.
I have a 2016 Sherco trials bike which I have thoroughly abused and it has been very reliable.
Please keep us updated and give us a ride report after a few rides.
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It kinda boils down to how my shoulder does whether I'll be able to give it a go or not and that is something I honestly can't tell myself or anyone else. It will take a lot of prep and practice and strength and I'm doing light rehab on it now trying to avoid surgery. But as I said, I'm cautiously optimistic. Time will tell.
Either way,, the bike is sweet!
Don't get me wrong, I love the Orange bikes and will get one but I feel like I need to stand out a little in some way. It's not going to be in my riding so I chose a different bike.
And the all important tool kit that converts to a fanny pack!
Seems like the smaller brands are starting to gain a little traction in the US and I think that’s great, much more passion driven and they fill a great void on the enduro side left by the Jap manufacturers.
On a side note it really sucked to see Kyle retire from racing, I think a lot of us knew it was likely coming but man is he an incredible rider.
My Garmin Etrex 20X and Etrex 10 units. One zoomed in, one zoomed out. (Thank you Paul Bolton for teaching me about this.)
Thanks, man. I agree. I love KTM but I'm glad we have other manufacturers doing well. I've heard Sherco is the second biggest enduro manufacturer in Europe after KTM/Husky of course so they are nothing to sneeze at though they are a super, super distant 2nd. Like way back. And in extreme events it's either KTM, Husky or Sherco. No other brands are even close to the top though I would think Beta will be soon. They were when Cody was with them.
Now if Yamaha would just make that 300X with E start. You know Honda, Kawi and Suzuki will never do it but I could see Yamaha maybe doing it one day. Blake Gutzuit finished the 2018 Romaniacs on a kickstart Yamaha YZ250X (though it was called a WR250X in Europe). Watching his videos of him constantly having to kickstart that Yamaha is brutal and clear proof that e start is huge in hard enduro. Might not be so critical in other disciplines but when you are on the side of a cliff, off the ike, and it stalls...yeah, you need e start. Though, props to him. He did it.
I concur. I wish Kyle the best with family life but I first became a Redmond fan when he took on the 2007 red Bull Romaniacs and the Roof of Africa. He was like 18 and the only US guy giving it a shot. And he's still got it. He and CW2 (Cody, not Cooper) ride alot and CW2 sometimes says things KR7 does are beyond him. Crazy.
I'm not saying the Sherco is better or worse than the orange and white. Heck, I plan on getting a 2020 KTM XC-W 300 TPI soon as they are my favorite bikes over the years. But again, if I was like a super skilled tech rider it may make a difference but when riders like Klaus and Kyle tell me first hand how good it is and riders like Wade and Mario (freaks though they are) are putting it on top at several extreme events, yeah, it is def good enough for somebody like me. No question. I know my skill range. Very average at best. But it is exciting to get something different as I have been riding all orange since 2002. (Other than 1 Suzuki RMZ450, 1 BMW G450X and 1 GasGas EC300).
This may sound like a real insignificant point but one thing I noticed right off hand is just how strong the battery and e start system is. I mean it is noticeably better than any of the e start KTM's I've had. Granted, most of the were MX and going for super light weight batteries that are just enough to fire it but count me in as someone who will take a little extra weight to have a strong e start. Esp with nothing having backup kick starters these days. Sigh.
To me, a good, strong e start is huge, esp in the techy terrain. And I've seen Manni, Jonny and Letti's e start die several times so there may be something to that with the orange. The factory KTM guys always run a backup kickstart.
Pit Row
I have a feeling we'll also see a few Beta's around here before too long as well. Nice looking machines. Hell, I loved my Gas Gas EC300. It was basically a red 08 KTM but it still rocked. The 300's are amazing and everyone shouldn't write off the 250 enduros either as there is really only very subtle differences between the two that can be made up for with clutch work.
I'm just impressed with all the European bike makers to be honest. They don't skimp on high quality components and it shows.
Of course, nothing beats the reliability of a Honda or Yamaha but I do wish they would realize how huge the two stroke enduro market actually is and be more aggressive about it. Yamaha has done so to a degree with cross country but I'm talking pure enduro.
And you Beta guys gotta love the KYB coming to you as well in 2020. Good stuff.
Sure, you can say it's the rider and it prob is in a large part but the bike withstands the toughest races in the world. And unlike most moto factory bikes, the enduro machines are pretty close in most regards to what you can buy off the showroom floor other than stuff like cone valves.
So, I have zero doubt in the quality of this machine. Zero. And again, it's way better than someone of my skills can use.
I hope Beta makes a dive into the extreme market. They have done well in world enduro. Time they got back into the extreme side more with a factory team, if financially feasible.
I also think it was huge for Sherco to get Wade to come over to the US and race all of the US extreme races. He won the American Hard Enduro title and it also helped get Sherco some exposure here as well. Smart.That guy is a beast and one of the few top extreme guys to not come from a trials background.
Btw, thanks for all the cool video content of the Dakar and moto games man. Love your channel and encourage everyone here who enjoys moto or enduro gaming to check out Resolute's stuff. Top notch!
Its all in the valving and I've ridden a Gas Gas with kyb's they were pretty poor compared to a yz kyb...
thanks!
Ghost
I’ve been saying forever, if Yamaha would pull their head out and simply put the four stroke swingarm, e start, and a steeper head angle on the YZs they’d be KTM killers. I’m a Yamaha guy but it’s getting harder and harder to justify another yz, the TMs are looking very tempting to me or maybe even the Shercos if they work alright for moto to (I’m about 50/50 moto and off-road). The nice thing with Yamaha though is parts are very cheap and that’s a big deal for me being on a budget, new bike probabky isn’t on the horizon for a while but I know that time is coming.
I’m really happy to see these smaller brands increase their presence. Moto guys are probably not going to give them a second look but off-road guys are a lot more receptive to change.
I did lower the suspension through Factory Connection 1.25 in the rear and .75 in the front. I also have the KTM low seat and just put on the guts racing Wing seat cover. I also added the Cyclops bulb that puts up 7400 lumens. You should add that to the Sherco for sure. Good luck with your new bike!
Nice KTM, man.
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