VOLUME ISSUE JULY , P97
Closed-cartridge KYB forks and a
KYB shock are standard on the Fac-
tory SE and SEF models, along with
Brembo brakes and clutch systems.
Sherco is adamant about its
Factory line of bikes coming off the
production line with trail-ready items
like a radiator fan, handguards, skid
plate, gripper seat cover, frame
guards, a quality exhaust system,
and more. For 2025, Sherco will
also offer Racing-spec bikes, which
feature less protection and open-
cartridge forks in exchange for a
lower price point.
The last time I rode the SE 300
was a few years ago in the Southern
California desert, where it was dry,
sandy, and rocky, and the trails were
either slow-going or high-speed. I
remembered the Sherco performing
very well in the single-track technical
terrain but it was twitchy and ner
-
vous at speed. However, after having
ridden the 2025 bike in its home en-
vironment in France, I realized that
this made sense to me. The high-
speed sand washes and wide-open
spaces of America's West Coast
deserts simply don't exist in France.
It quickly became clear to me that
this bike is a product of its environ
-
ment, and it excels in the conditions
that it was built in. It indeed felt
right at home in the wet, muddy and
technical conditions when I rode the
latest Sherco SE 300.
The SE 300's engine was and still
is its greatest asset. Why mess with
a good thing? And they didn't. The
293.2cc motor is still mated to a six-
speed transmission and still utilizes
a Keihin carburetor for mixing air
with fuel, which it does very well.
There is still much to be said for the
Braking in slick conditions isn't scary
with the Sherco's top-notch components.
