There had been some rumours swirling that Sherco would have some aggressive changes to the line-up for 2025. The rumours were put to rest at the unveiling, but we were very keen to take a look at the 2025 500 SEF Factory and what changes had been made and if it would stack up as another monster of a desert dweller.
In previous years we have tested the 2023 Sherco 500 SEF with the view of prepping the bike for racing Finke. Ben Grabham took the 2023 model through its paces and outlined how the French rocketship would be well suited to life in the desert which you can check out here.
If you haven’t got the time to check back, here is a quick cheat sheet of what he thought. The 2023 Sherco 500 SE-F had plenty of bottom end power and overall the bike would find itself at home in the Aussie red centre. Add a few things to the bike like a steering damper, Steg Pegz, desert tyres, UHD tubes, desert style larger foot-pegs and some fork and shock mods and you have yourself a Sherco 500 SEF Factory monster ready for Finke.
Fast forward 2 years, has anything changed? Sure there are long list of changes but the heart and soul of the bike remains the same. Although we did not have the fortune of testing the 500 SEF in ideal conditions there is no mistaking how much power the 2025 Sherco 500 SEF still produces. Right off the bottom you have more than enough torque and power that just keeps building as the revs increase.
By the time I had a chance to jump from each bike of the Sherco range I eventually found the 500 just before finishing up before rain halted the test session and we broke for morning tea and hoped the rain would ease up.
Being the last bike of the two hour test session the perfect grass track had deteriorated with most of the grass torn from the earth creating a slick mud fest. It was difficult to really get any grip anywhere on the track, even with the less aggressive map, and there was not much hope for any traction anywhere. Lugging the bike in a higher gear in a desperate attempt to find any traction and keep the big girl from spinning up, offered little help. If anything it did show how much torque and how easily the bike could cruise around in a higher gear and short shift easily.
However fast forward through the day, with a little reprieve from the rain and a switch to the fire roads and trails and the 500 SEF was the first bike I jumped on to try and get a gauge on how the new bike performed. The trails were still fairly wet, but did offer far more traction than the rain sodden grass track and a better idea of how the 2025 Sherco 500 SEF Factory performed.
Right across the Sherco four-stroke range the chassis and suspension are a real highlight to the whole package. The bike tracks well and feels incredibly stable, even in tricky conditions. One thing we did not get to experience was the bike in difficult or rough terrain.
Although the grass track was difficult, it was difficult for other reasons, due to lack of traction and the grass track turning into something resembling more of an ice skating rink with grass covering it. What the conditions did highlight was how much confidence you had in the front end once loading it up and transferring weight onto the front end as you tipped into corners. The KYB fork offered a good amount feel and the balance between the front and back felt very comfortable. On the faster rocky fire trails the bike again felt like it tracked well and true at high speeds.
So I realised that there is not much to offer here as a comparison to how the new 2025 Sherco 500 SEF matches up against the 2023 model that Grabbo tested in the link mentioned above. However from all accounts and specs the bikes have not gone backwards in development. So it is safe to say that the MY25 Sherco 500 SEF will still hold the same traits as the previous 2023 Model. But there have been so many other improvements on the bike worth talking about.
So let’s start with the obvious. The bodywork has been updated, there’s a flatter seat, in-mould graphics, new LED lighting, a new air filter box which improves engine efficiency and easier tool-less side access to the filter. The frame has had significant changes with lower tube geometry and new steering pipe with a weight saving of 250gm. Other changes to the frame are the new forged shock absorber arch and steering lock on the steering axle.
There is also a new lower chain guide for reduced noise and weight. The cooling system is all new which saves 157gm and is 15% more efficient. The cooling fan is now far more compact and lighter and easier to remove.
Other notable changes to the 2025 model are around the exhaust, sporting a full new Akropovic system front to back, new fuel pump, triple clamps, fuel tank, damper, new front and rear brake discs which increases braking power. The swingarm and wheel sets have been revised also saving weight and offering a new bearing and sealing system.
WRAP UP
My first chance at riding the Sherco range was back in 2016 and over the years I have had the opportunity to ride the full range on three different occasions. Each time the bikes have felt better and the build quality and overall package of the bikes has been getting better and better.
I am not saying that in the earlier days they were not up to standard, as reading back over those stories they were more of a sleeper or a dark horse in the market. I feel that Sherco have well surpassed that by a long way these days. The suspension, chassis and parts that come standard are right at the top of the pile when it comes to quality and performance. The new additions to the airbox, chassis, suspension and other furnishings are a testament to that.
Jumping on the 500 SEF and cracking the throttle, the response and power on tap is awesome and certainly shares the same power characteristics as previous years. The KYB suspension is really well adapted to the Sherco platform and there is no coincidence that the suspension features on many bikes on the market today. Along with the chassis the overall handling of the bike is stable and predictable and well planted.
Finishing off, I feel the bike still holds the same characteristics which Grabbo has talked about previously with the intent of taking a Sherco 500 SEF and turning it into a top 15 outright contender at Finke. Whether it’s in the desert or between the trees the 2025 Sherco 500 SEF Factory has plenty of power, especially down low and has a stable and predictable handling nature.
2025 Sherco 500 SEF Factory
ENGINE
Type Four-stroke, DOHC, four valve, electric Start
Displacement 478.22cc
Bore & Stroke 98mm x 63.40mm
Cooling Liquid -cooled
Compression ratio NA
Fuel metering VITESCO electronic injection
Tank capacity 9.8L
Transmission Six speed
Clutch Brembo hydraulic control, multi-disc in oil bath
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase 1465 mm
Ground clearance 355 mm
Seat height 950 mm
Claimed Weight NA
SUSPENSION
FRONT 48mm KYB fork, closed cartridge, 300mm travel
REAR KYB shock absorber, 330mm rear wheel travel
BRAKES
Front Brembo 260 mm
Rear Brembo 220 mm
RUNNING GEAR
Handlebar NA
Front tyre 21’’ Michelin Enduro Medium
Rear tyre 18’’ Michelin Enduro Medium
PRICE & CONTACTS
RRP $ $18,499
BROWSER Sherco.com.au
BLOWER 03 83631600
Warranty 6 months
WORDS | GUY STREETER
PHOTOS | SHERCO
