VOLUME 59 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 1, 2022 P71
in Moab. The more we rode
the 300 SE, the more we liked
the suspension, especially on
more flowing trails. It gives up
some plushness in favor of bet-
ter high-speed performance.
We found that the bike was
very predictable in corners in
all types of terrain.
The ergonomics are comfort-
able for most riders although
a few did not like the stock
grips that are dimpled all the
way around rather than a more
common half-waffle design.
Luckily, this is an easy and
inexpensive fix if you are picky
about your grips. The body-
work and junctions with the
frame and fuel tank are smooth
and comfortable to grip without
any snags. The stock seat is
very comfortable and grippy.
a KYB shock with linkage. The
settings are more aggressive
than a KTM XC-W (or sister
Husqvarna TE and GasGas
EC 300 models) so aggres-
sive riders will likely be more
comfortable with this setup but
those that prefer plush sus-
pension may not be as happy
with this direction. Our test
bike was brand new when we
got it, and we found it broke in
and felt more compliant on the
small stuff after about six hours
of riding time. As we have
noted before for Sherco and
Beta bikes that come with the
Michelin Medium Enduro tires,
those tires have extremely stiff
carcasses that make the sus-
pension feel stiff and that was
the case on this bike, espe-
cially in the sharp-edged rocks
