In the firing line, we have the 2022 Sherco 125 SE Factory up against the 2022 Beta RR200. Both Sherco and Beta have really strong roots in the two-stroke world and both have become powerhouses among the enduro world over the last few years. They have continued to develop their two-stroke technology, and I think that it’s really cool to see these types of small-bore weapons still being developed and improved every year.

I commend Sherco, Beta, KTM and Yamaha for that matter, for continuing to have a small bore enduro and/or motocross machine as part of their production line. I believe it is a really good thing for growing our sport. Nowadays, it’s very easy for a young rider to jump from an 85c two-stroke or 150 four-stroke straight onto a 250F and skip the all-important small-bore years developing as a moto rider.

I know I’ve said this before in many previous two-stroke articles but riding a 125 will teach you so many valuable on track skills that, in my opinion, a 250F won’t. Having less power, you learn so much about carrying momentum through every section of a track, your line selection has to be on point and carrying a shit ton of corner speed is an absolute must. Not to mention they are super fun to ride.

For this comparo, we decided that we would put the Sherco 125 v Beta 200 side by side. The test conditions were about perfect and we played around on some sweet single line special test loops as well as attacking some technical trails with some pretty steep hill climbs topped off with some wide open fireroad sections. It was a fun day on the bikes that’s for sure.

I’ll start with the smaller bike of the two, the Sherco 125 SE Factory. The little French rocket comes with a new power valve design for 22, and the SBS electronic exhaust power valve is a new programmable system. This allows the Sherco engineers to give the 125 the perfect valve opening depending on engine speed and not  throttle opening. It still runs the good old Keihen PWK 36 carby so you know that it’s going to be running nice and crisp at just about every track.

The 125 SE is equipped with some sweet 48mm KYB twin chamber forks and a KYB shock, so you know it’s built to handle the fast stuff. The quality of the build is top notch and other features include an AXP skid plate, Brembo brakes front and rear, new in-mould graphics and a set of Michelin tyres and finally, it retails for $13,299.

The second bike at our disposal is the 2022 Beta RR200. The RR200 is kind of a lone wolf in the enduro world as it is the only dedicated 200cc two-stroke available. It’s been 2 years now since Beta unleashed their complete overhaul of the entire model line-up so the engineers have focused their attention of refining some things for the new model.

The 2022 models receive updated suspension in both the forks and the rear shock as well as a fresh new look via the new graphics. Beta have stuck with the ZF forks and shock on the RR models while the ‘Racing’ models come up-specced with a 48mm closed cartridge fork and tuned up ZF shock. The red frame and matching red plastics colour scheme is a cool look and the quality of the finish, just like the Sherco, is second to none and it retails for $12,995.

So, let’s go head-to-head with these bikes. Now, both of these are awesome machines so I’m clutching at straws to separate them. I have broken things down into a few different categories to which one I would pick.

Ease of riding: BETA RR200

Out of the two bikes, the Beta RR200 is far easier to ride than the Sherco 125. It’s not really a surprise as having that extra 75cc in the engine means the bike has more torque and therefore you can be a bit lazier on the bike. The bottom end power of the 200 is stronger especially at slower speeds so I found myself riding a little more relaxed and revving the bike less than the 125.

During the course of a long day on the bike, being more relaxed and using less energy will help you a lot. The motor on the Beta is much more forgiving and I think that it caters to a broader spectrum of rider. You don’t have to be as on the ball with the power delivery and as precise with your gear changing as you do on the 125.

Technical trail riding: Beta RR200

Much the same as the ease of riding category, the Beta RR200 is better for the tighter, more technical trails. It all boils down to the extra size of the motor. The 125 needs more rider feedback and more clutch in order to achieve the same things the 200 can. Make no mistake, The Sherco 125 is a great trail bike in its own right, but when you back-to-back the two bikes, the RR200 will get you through the snottier stuff, up the steeper hills, and through gnarly rock gardens easier than the 125.

Open fireroad/open trail: Sherco 125 SE

Once you get yourself out onto the faster, rougher stuff, the Sherco 125, with its firmer, racier KYB suspension comes into its own and asks you to keep pushing it. The ZF suspension on the Beta is night and day better than the ZF package that the bikes came out with a few years back but it still isn’t as aggressive as the KYB units on the Sherco. Now, it would be very interesting to see what the RR200 is like in its ‘Racing’ model as it has KYB forks. As for now, we have KYB vs ZF and the KYB is firmer and for me, more confidence inspiring.

Feel of bike: Beta RR200

Personally, I felt more comfortable sitting on the Beta. A combination of the ‘bars being a little lower and the seat height being 20mm lower made me feel like the Beta is a little more planted and easier to get over the top of, especially when doing a fast lap on our test track. The seat is also a tad flatter on the 200 which I preferred. Obviously, everything I’m describing is not ideal for a taller rider so if you are taller than 180cm and don’t like flat bars, then maybe the Sherco would be the pick for you.

Suspension: Sherco 125 SE Factory

As I mentioned before the KYB units on the Sherco are the goods. They are firm, plush and they gave me plenty of confidence to push the 125 along. Since a 125 is supposed to be ridden mostly on the edge, it is great to have that feeling of confidence and support that the KYB forks and shock provide. At slower speeds, the ZF units hold their own, but overall, they just miss the mark compared to the KYB.

Carburation: Beta RR200

Both bikes are equipped with the tried and trusted Keihen PWK 36 carby so you know they’re going to run spot on. Being such a freezing cold day when we tested these bikes, they were running a tad on the rich side, so we actually played around with jetting on each one and leaned them off a touch. Jetting is crucial in the small-bore world and both the 125 and 200 benefited a lot from leaning them off.

However, the Beta oil injection system seemed to run a little cleaner than the Sherco and the throttle response was more direct. Maybe it’s the Sherco’s electronic power valve, but I just found that there was almost a slight hesitation right off the bottom. It was no issue if you were able to keep the revs up and keep it in the meat of the power, but if I went down to almost no revs and cracked the throttle, it would take a fraction of a second longer to wake up and get me out of the corner.

Fun Factor: Sherco 125 SE Factory

You just can’t beat the sound of a 125. Sure the 200 is damn close but the 125 exhaust note is just something that never gets old. There is no doubt that both bikes are extremely fun to ride, but damn that Sherco 125 sings pretty loud when it’s let loose and it sounds awesome.

Bang for buck: Sherco 125 SE Factory

Despite being around $300 more expensive than the Beta, the Sherco 125 gets the nod in this category for me just because of the KYB Suspension. It also has a bigger 10.4L clear tank (vs 9.5L), super powerful Brembo brakes, AXP bash plate, solid rear Galfer disc and Michelin tyres. As I said earlier, for an extra $1200, Beta do offer an up-specced “Racing” version that comes with 48mm KYB Forks, a modified cylinder head and power valve design for increased mid to top end power and they have also gone away from the oil injection in order to keep their racing tradition.

Final thoughts: Sherco 125 v Beta 200

For me, by a slim margin, I am going to give it to the Beta RR200. I just found that in the situations that we put both of the bikes in, I felt more at home on the red machine. Don’t get me wrong, the Sherco 125 SE Factory is a super solid bike in its own right and I had a blast on it. This is to be expected as it has 75cc less in the donk so that little bit less torque and outright power just made it harder to ride than the 200.

It handles great, better than the Beta especially when you are pushing the limits but I felt like that extra rider feedback needed to keep on top of it made me more tired than being on the 200. Either way, I can guarantee you’ll have a ton of fun on both of these bikes, just depends if you want to take the blue pill or the red pill.

Bike specifications

SHERCO 125 SE FACTORY

ENGINE

Type                           Two-stroke single-cylinder with electronically controlled valve and booster
Displacement            124.81cc
Bore & Stroke           54mm x 54.5mm
Cooling                      Liquid system with forced circulation
Fuel metering           Keihen PWK 36
Tank capacity           10.4L
Transmission            Six-speed sequential gearbox
Clutch                        Hydraulic multi-disc in oil bath

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase                1465mm
Seat height               950mm
Ground clearance    355mm

SUSPENSION

FRONT                      48mm KYB closed-cartridge fork with compression, rebound and preload adjustment, 300mm travel
REAR                         KYB monoshock with compression, rebound and preload adjustment, 330mm travel

BRAKES

Front                          Brembo hydraulically activated 260mm disc
Rear                           Brembo hydraulically activated 220mm disc

RUNNING GEAR

Front tyre               21” Michelin Enduro Medium
Rear tyre                  18” Michelin Enduro Medium

PRICE & CONTACTS

RRP $13,299

BROWSER Sherco.com.au

BLOWER 03 83631600

Warranty 6 months

BETA RR200

ENGINE

Type                            Single cylinder 2 stroke
Displacement               190.2cc
Bore & Stroke           62mm x 63mm
Cooling                      liquid cooled
Compression ratio    13.5:1
Fuel metering               Keihin PWK 36
Tank capacity              9.5L
Transmission            6 speed
Clutch                         Wet multi-disc with reverse opening

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase                1477mm
Seat height                    930 mm
Ground clearance     325 mm
Claimed Weight          97.0kg dry

SUSPENSION

FRONT                             48mm Hydraulic USD Fork 295mm travel
REAR                                 Monoshock with progressive compound lever 290mm travel

BRAKES

Front                            260 mm Wave disc, double-piston floating caliper
Rear                              240 mm Wave disc, single-piston floating caliper

RUNNING GEAR

Front tyre                         90/90 – 21
Rear tyre                         140/80 -18

PRICE & CONTACTS

RRP $12,995

BROWSER Beta motor.com.au

BLOWER 07 35184000

Warranty 6 months parts and labour

This Sherco 125 v Beta 200 comparison appeared in ADB issue 517

WORDS // Geoff Braico

PHOTOS // Josh Evans