“Would you like the bike as it comes, or would you prefer us to pop some additional protective goods to the bike for you guys?”
That was the call from Sherco South Africa when they offered us a spankin new 300 to ride. Umm, well we know that occasionally when rocks are involved that things can go pear shaped, especially with our lot, so we waited just a couple of days until the bike arrived with the appropriate armour all bolted on…
“Flip Dad, that’s pretty. Please can we ride it!”
Those were the junior members of the team, both accomplished riders and eager to try out anything that arrives in the garage. This 2025 300 SE Factory lurked in our garage for a couple of days before we had the opportunity to take it out – but the wait made the ride just that much sweeter.
The day was set, and we took off for a perfect afternoon chase.
Chase?
Well yup. After fueling up the bike (premix) and taking a great outride through the rivers, flowing stuff and bushveld, which was a lot of fun, we decided to run a time trial test. Laps around our rocky track, perfect Rocky enduro terrain, just down from where we are based. Sherco is synonymous with hard enduro – so that made sense.
The new 300 SE factory:
It’s been a long time since we’ve had the opportunity to sample a Sherco.
The boys are quite correct, the new livery is really quite something, a bit of French flair, pretty damn gorgeous – and we guarantee that when you arrive, you’ll stand out from the crowd. Built in France, the Sherco brand has done really well in South Africa, with lots of silverware making its way onto the shelves and riding the bike, it’s easy to understand this. Climb aboard the slender gripper seat. The one thing we all commented on is the overall tall feel to the bike, but the suspension feels plush, so your feet are on the floor. The bike boasts just more than 35cms of ground clearance.
The cockpit feels perfect, wide Oxia handlebars, Brembo brake and clutch reservoirs, a cool digital display, Sherco branded grips and brush guards. On the right bar is the starter and the mapping switch. On the left is the kill switch. The dark anodised triple clamps, reservoir caps and handlebar compliment the red KYB suspension caps and blue frame. It’s all small details but they work together and the bike really all looks pretty trick.
The translucent tank is shrouded in blue, grey and yellow shrouds, all slim, narrow and sleek. Closed-cartridge KYB forks and a KYB shock are standard along with Brembo brake and clutch systems.
The KYB forks bolt on to silver hubs with black anodised Excel rims and Michelin tyres. Prior to the bike getting to us, Sherco fitted mousses in order to avoid any nasty punctures.
The 2025 model has a new subframe and airbox, complete with tool-less access to the redesigned quick-release air filter. Cool! Protecting the brakes are proudly SA Made PSP disc protectors. Moving along, you’ll notice the Spes 3 exhaust with a carbon end cap. It really is quite a work of art and on the latest model, the pipe tucks up and further out of harm’s way. .
Radiator braces, also by PSP are fitted on this bike, protecting the radiator and fan. Carbontek takes care of the header pipe, with a 69 design skid plate and Polisport frame and engine guards preventing our goons from hurting the bike.
So the good news is that you can get all the protection necessary for a Sherco.
Just take a look around.
300cc two-stroke’s are the preferred weapon for thousands of off-road riders and the SE 300’s engine is very sweet.
The 293cc donk is mated to a six-speed gearbox and is fed fuel via a Keihin carburetor. If you like raw two-stroke aggression, these bikes have plenty.
If, however, you’d prefer a slightly more chilled ride… well then there’s the map switch standard and aggressive—all controlled via the switch next to the throttle.
And yes, especially on the rocks and more technical bits, you can feel the difference, standard still gives great torque but the power is calmer.
Worried about a carb?
Well, we’ll tell you this, the Sherco team has that waxed, this bike felt perfectly tuned with no dead spots or splutters.
Ask if we had fun. Go on!
Yes, absolutely. This was not a case of go out and kill yourself on the rocks, it was a great trail ride with a big section of whatever techy stuff we could find – and man we had enormous fun.
That Sherco’s gorgeous exhaust note echoed through the surrounding farmlands – a 300 at full cry is quite something.
We aimed her at every rut and riverbed that we could find and that plush suspension just soaked it all up with the brakes and clutch working perfectly, even when the rivers got a bit deeper than expected.
For us, the best suspension is a setup that works in all terrains without having to adjust – and this one felt really good everywhere. Along the fast stuff or creeping up and down the rocks, it was smiles all the way.
We even had time for a time trial.
Right – here’s the loop, no cheating, on your marks… go!
Each rider zoomed off looking for the best time in standard and then aggressive modes.
Stop, swap, go again – man it was fun, the perfect way to spend any afternoon.
The Sherco SE300 feels light and nimble and climbs beautifully. The KYB suspension soaks it up and there’s more than enough torque to hoik that wheel up and over the step ups.
It’s easy to understand all the silverware on that shelf!
Sherco has been in SA for quite some time now, and their results in racing circles do kinda speak volumes about the bikes. With Seven dealers nationally and a dealer in Windhoek, Namibia, they have parts and accessories waxed.
For normal people like us, this is another great, easy to ride fun option. For the more hardcore racers, you’ll be hard pressed to find fault, the Sherco is a great choice. Did the lads cheat on the time trial? Well have a look at the vid.
Here’s a rundown of some changes for the 2025 year:
- New frame is 250g lighter and has a new lower tube geometry and lighter engine mount bolts.
- The new steering tube is lighter.
- New machined triple clamps.
- New steering lock and lower chain guide.
- New rear subframe 254g lighter to fit the new frame and airbox.
- New forged shock mounting point.
- New front and rear Galfer brake discs (with Brembo master cylinder and calipers).
- Improved bearing seals.
- 5mm taller handlebar position.
- New fuel tap.
- 250/300 new exhaust pipe more out the way from rocks.
Specifications on the 300:
- Engine: 2 Stroke “Single cylinder with electronically controlled exhaust valve and booster”
- Displacement: 293.14 cc (17.89 cu in)
- Bore and stroke: 72 x 72 mm (2.83 x 2.83 in)
- Carburetor: Keihin PWK 36
- Cooling: Liquid with forced circulation, expansion tank and electric fan.
- Starting: Electric
- Exhaust: SPES
- Transmission: 6 speed
- Chassis: High strength Chrome-Molybdenum steel semi-perimeter
- Fuel tank: 10.0 L capacity
- Brakes: Brembo Hydraulic Ø 260 mm (10.24 in) (front) Ø 220 mm (8.66 in) (rear)
- Front suspension: KYB 48mm closed cartridge forks
- Rear suspension: KYB 50mm shock
- Wheelbase: 1480 mm
- Ground clearance: 355 mm
- Seat height: 950 mm
