I had never ridden or even seen a 2023 Sherco 125 SE Factory, so it was interesting to check out the list of quality parts that come attached to it. Premium KYB fork and shock, plated-steel pipe with FES aluminium silencer, Excel Takasago rims, billet triple clamps, heavy-duty 6mm AXP HDPE bash plate, Selle Dalla Valle seat, dual map switch and translucent tank. Even though electric start is basically standard on all current enduro bikes, it still seems out of the ordinary for me to jump on a 125cc and start it with the press of a button. I only ever remember 125s’ having kick starters that you could push with your hand if you wanted to fire them into life.
Heading out onto the Broadford test loop I did not expect the 2023 Sherco 125 SE Factory to feel overly different to what I remembered of the one I raced at the end of 2018. It does not have any major specification differences apart from the KYB suspension. I did not need to ride it any longer than ten minutes to feel that even though the engine specifications look basically the same on paper, the engine has quite a different feel to what I remember.
It now produces a lot more bottom-end power and torque, this makes pulling out of tight corners and gear selection not near as tricky as I remember. The good thing is even with the added bottom end, the engine doesn’t feel to have lost any of its mid to top end power. The best part about the power gains that Sherco have made with this engine is that it is easier to ride in all situations and it has not lost any of its strong top end power. Just to confirm I was not going crazy, I confirmed with the Sherco technicians when I got back from the test loop that Sherco had made some internal changes to the engine and they confirmed that the mapping and cylinder porting had seen updates over the last few years.
HOW IT HANDLES
In my opinion the most important aspect of a 125cc enduro bike is the handling. I say this because the only way to keep a 125cc on the boil and log fast laps is with maximum corner speed. To do this you need excellent suspension and a chassis that can carve a line like big bores can only dream of.
So does the 2023 Sherco 125 SE Factory do this? My answer is yes and no. Yes the geometry of this frame can have you carving any line you desire as it is pretty effortless to place the front tyre on any line. The no part for me is how the KYB suspension reacts on snotty loose terrain. As both ends of the KYB suspension felt very similar I will talk about them as one.
On the motocross sections of the test loop I found the overall feel perfect for slamming into berms and jumps. On loose stony terrain like you often encounter in the bush, I found the suspension action too firm for me to keep maximum traction with both tyres. On a 125cc this costs you valuable time when you have to back off the throttle. I feel that Sherco have either set this bike up for a rider that is heavier than my 80kgs or they did all of their testing and setup on a track that has much more traction than our dry Aussie terrain.
VERDICT
The gains Sherco have made with this engine package have made it quite versatile and easy to ride for a 125cc. The overall base handling of this bike is exceptional, it can carve the tightest of lines with ease and is still very stable at speed. The ergonomics are quite neutral as the seat is easy to move around on with its flattish profile, the handlebars are Sherco’s trademark low bend and because the engine produces minimal inertia it feels super light to manage in tight conditions.
There is no need to say much about the quality Brembo brakes on this bike as they work as good as anything I have experienced, and so they should, as 125s have a lot less weight to pull up compared to larger capacity bikes. The only point I feel that Sherco have slightly missed the mark is with the suspension and its firm action that keeps the bike from feeling fully settled on sketchy terrain. It does not help Sherco, as I know the potential of this quality KYB suspension and how amazing it can potentially be setup.
Overall, it makes me happy to see Sherco producing a 125cc that can potentially still carve a special test time as fast as anything with the right rider twisting the throttle. I also believe if you want your up-and-coming youngster to learn priceless off-road bike skills that they will benefit from for life, then this could be the perfect bike to do that on.
