Sherco or Beta?
 

At this point it is apparent that GG will not be producing 2016 models - and if they somehow managed it, I wouldn't buy one. Let's hope they get sorted and return as a viable manufacturer in a couple of years.

I am buying a 2016 ride. 2 brands on the radar - Sherco and Beta - Bike will be a 300 2-t. Info for both MY16 bikes is out. Beta has gone to oil injection (like the X-Trainer). Not sure about going to new-school oil injection ... more stuff to break, I know how to mix gas, and I share fuel cans with my race buddy at the enduros we ride (we both ride 2-t, and he's not buying a Beta for next year).

I've seen both in person, but not ridden either. I've trolled the forums on the bikes. Useful, but certainly ... big grains of salt with that ...

My local dealer sells GG, Sherco and Beta - whatever it means to sell GG as of today - so that's not an issue. I ride mostly tight single-track in decent soil.

So ... thoughts and opinions. Anybody ridden both back to back? Got a friend who owns one? Ridden one extensively?

Thanks,

Jason

I'm on my second Sherco SE-R 300. Very stable, yet very nimble bike. No need for a damper. Also very light. Climbs hills like a hero. I had a bit of trouble with my 14 getting a bit hot on some of the slow nasty climbs, especially if you get stuck and have to spin it a bit.( the bike is very light compared to the gasgas and does not have that heat sink in the motor as such) That seems to be cured on my 15. The mapping seems better on the 15 as well. Works much better in the soft map on the 15 over the 14. I call it the 200 button. Works great when the trail gets messy or you get tired. Suspension has really good build quality and is easy to service with a big aftermarket for suspension parts and tools. The linkage is stupid simple to service with 1/2 the bearings to clean and grease compared to my GasGas. Very easy bike to work on with not too many different fasteners. Mostly 8 and 10 mm heads. The electric start is flawless. The 15 even starts well in second gear for race starts. I could really care less if I ever owned a bike with a kick start again, it works that good. And works even better with a lithium ion battery. Tool less air filter access. Good solid dependable bike, just like a GasGas. But way more refined.

My buddy has a Beta 300 2t. I have ridden it a few times. It has a strong smooth motor and does not over heat easily. That's where the love ends for me though. To me, it feels very old technology when riding. It reminds me of the older Italian husky 250/300 but with a squatter chassis. I liked the old school Husky more than the beta. I just found I didn't get the feed back I needed from the Beta that you do from most bikes. I would almost describe a yz chassis like that too, but it turns better. Definitely feels very slow handling compared to the GasGas and Sherco. The guys that own them like them, but their not for me. My buddy has great luck with his as far as dependability goes.

They all have ktm beat when it come to stability. Don't judge the sherco for it's WP suspension. It's nothing like a ktm to ride. Swing a leg over and judge for yourself.

Thanks for the info. What is the gear spacing like on the trans? Is it lots of shifting or relatively wide ratio?

What he said.
The sherco handles like a Gasser, but is a bit lighter.

Whelp, took the plunge and brought home a 2014 SEF-R300i today. The build quality and attention to detail is outstanding on this bike. It is weird for sure, but I'm very excited.

Let us know how you like the 300?

The best on the Sherlock it the function of the ignition switch, it affects not only the ignition, it affects the electrical power valve as well. The difference between mild and wild is enormous! Mild feels like a 250 four stroke and wild like a 300 two stroke. The difference is 200% mir than the switch on the gasser.


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Sounds like Jason and his buddy ordered new Shercos as well.

Your are correct Scott, I put a deposit on a 2016 Sherco 300 SE-R (WP suspension). Wasn't too keen on the Sachs fork on the Beta.

For anyone that cares the Sachs fork is a copy of the open chamber wp.

I take it you are referring to the Beta sachs not GG sachs?

Yes the Beta Sachs.

After riding the 2017 GG EC300 and 2017 Sherco, I bought a 2017 Sherco 300 SE-R. The Sherco had better power and handling and a modern design.
Now that GG has had the 2018 models out for a while, I was wondering if anyone has had a chance to ride both and could comment on the differences between the two. How about a ready to ride weight on the GG? All this competition is good for the consumer, and I hope to see GG, Sherco and Beta keep selling bikes in the US.

Time for a new bike this summer. I will be keeping my 2011 EC250R as my rock bike.

So, I am strongly considering adding a four stroke, and on that list, by way of elimination is something like a left-over 2018 Sherco 300SEF-R, ideally in ?Factory? trim.

Any updates on your Shercos in 2017?

Did you end up with a Sherco? I sold my 300EC...trying to decide between 18+GG, Sherco, or Beta

I tried to love the 4-strokes, but the 2Ts still called my name.

The Beta was okay, but felt generally lacking. It felt old, I guess. And $400 for a kicker.

The Sherco felt really good underneath me... ergos and handling, but my research amd polling of current Sherco owners concinved me it was a few years away in R&D, that is, I had a concern for reliabilty (eStart only, charging system, motor in a bike I would keep for years).

I demoed the KTMs and they were okay. I decided if I were to go 2T it would be Gas Gas. The Air Forks were too MX-y. The XPlor forks were plush. The power on the carbed 2Ts was too peaky. The fuel-injected 2T was too mellow.

I went with the 2018 300 Gasser. The KYB suspension works very well. The motor is dandy. The handling is a nice mix of old GG and new (longer traits). I actually feel like *I* can turn it better (and tigher) than my 2011 250.

I got to test ride the 2017 and 2018 GG ec 300 back to back. WOW what a difference. the 2018 was great, handling, power, smoothness. All the way around I like the 2018.
I would love to hear what you think about your 2018 since the season is about over and how it did for you.