We grabbed two of the best 300cc two-stroke enduro bikes and put them up against each other. This is our Beta 300 Racing v Sherco 300 SE Factory test.
Obviously, these bikes are both 300cc two-strokes but just how similar or different are they? It’s quite interesting how similar these bikes are which is why we wanted to do a Beta 300 Racing v Sherco 300 SE Factory test. Both have steel frames, both are six-speed, and electric start although the Sherco has no allowance for a kick-starter while the Beta does, as an aftermarket part.
Both run KYB suspension and Sherco has been running KYB in their factory stuff for many years. Beta introduced a KYB shock in their 2023 line-up which is by far their biggest upgrade for the new bike.
Both bikes are running Keihen PWK 36mm carbs and VForce reeds, and both have a counter-balancer to help with vibration. The power valves are different with the Beta running a more traditional setup while the Sherco is controlled electronically. Sherco run Brembo brakes and clutch while Beta run Brembo clutch and Nissin brakes. Both have easy to use map switches that give perfect mapping for the conditions.
The Sherco has a bigger 10.4L tank compared to the Beta 9.5L and the Beta sits about 15mm lower with ground clearances and seat heights at 320mm/930mm compared to the Sherco at 355mm/950mm. Finally, when you tally up all the extra ‘race ready’ bits and bling, the Beta retails for $16,295 plus ORC and the Sherco will set you back $15,499 plus ORC.
TRACK TIME
Time to do this Beta 300 Racing v Sherco 300 SE Factory test. I like the way the Beta looks, it’s sleek and edgy and I think with its lower bars and lower overall height, it looks more compact then the Sherco. Starting is a piece of cake and the electric starter is strong and has no issue cranking it over. When you fire it up, you realise this bike means business.
The Beta boys had the jetting absolutely spot on and the thing revved out as clean as you could ever want. This bike has a bark about it too, and it’s pretty clear that Beta aren’t kidding when they called this bike the “Racing” model.
I took off up the trail and boy does the Beta rip. It’s super responsive and the way the power is delivered has a bit of an old school two-stroke feel to it, despite having the counter-balancer and minimal vibration. It’s super torquey off the bottom and the mid-range power is epic. Make sure you are holding on tight because once that throttle is cracked, it pulls hard when you rev it out of a corner.
It’s also a super manageable power when playing around on the slow, technical stuff and with a quick flick of the clutch you can hop just about anything. I could not believe how clean it ran. Whether crawling along in first gear or pulling out of a corner in third, it didn’t matter, the bike was jetted perfectly. The two different ignition maps are a great feature and I feel the motor is that strong that running the mud map for when you’re tired after a long day, wouldn’t be such a bad option.
The KYB Suspension on the Beta is firm. I much prefer to have firmer suspension as I feel more confident in the bike being able to handle an unsuspected G-out or hidden obstacle and not buck me off. The Beta is balanced and gives you plenty of confidence out on the trail. I thought it was pretty impressive how well the new KYB rear shock reacts to the power delivery and gets really great drive out of corners regardless if you’re riding at low speed or race pace.
My only complaint about the Beta and is that I wish they would install some kind of padding in the seat! As great as this bike is, I don’t know if it’s possible for my arse to sit on that bit of wood with gripper material on it for more than an hour at a time.
Holy lounge chair, my butt was very thankful for the Sherco seat. It needed some attention after being on the RR for the morning, and right away the Sherco had me covered. I noticed when sitting on it, that the Sherco has a more open cockpit feel with a slightly higher bar bend and taller overall feel which some riders will prefer.
I also discovered right away that Sherco not only has the more comfortable seat, but the KYB suspension fitted offers a much plusher ride than the Beta. It’s still firmer than a stock enduro bike, but it’s a happy medium between a stock bike and what the Beta offers. The forks are firm yet feel very plush over the small, chattery stuff and didn’t react as much to those sections like the Beta, it just floated through them.
The whole feel of the bike on the track is actually really comfortable and I never felt out of my depth. They have very similar KYB suspension packages, the Sherco shock is 50mm vs Beta’s 46mm, yet the bikes feel so different.
Not only is the ride softer, the motor on the blue beast is also softer than the Beta. It too was jetted perfectly but I think since I rode the Sherco second and was a little tired, I had a bit more of an appreciation for the smoother, more manageable power.
The Sherco 300 is still a torquey powerhouse but the electronic power valve works totally different to that of the Beta and the power is delivered in an more rider friendly way. It’s still very grunty off the bottom and very strong throughout the entire rev range but it’s ever so slightly slower revving out. As a result, I felt like I could relax a bit more and I wasn’t as tired at the end of the lap. Unlike the Beta, I never felt the need to go to the mud map to tame the bike down.
During a sprint lap, I felt like my pace was very similar but I used less energy on the Sherco. Again, make no mistake, this bike is still a super strong 300 two-stroke, it’s just a little mellower and a more rider friendly bike when riding back-to-back against the Beta.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s epic to see these manufacturers putting the effort into developing these “Factory” and “Race” options for us enduro enthusiasts. Those words just give you that little extra pep in your step before you even get the bike off the car. How good is it that you can buy a bike off the showroom floor and just ride without any hassle? You have all the best bits on it and there is no shortage of trick parts on either of them.
It depends what flavour you want when making your decision of which of these powerhouses you want as your own. The Beta is the more ‘racey’ of the two bikes with its old school two-stroke grunt monster motor and firmer KYB suspension. I really enjoyed riding the RR300, it’s still a very manageable package that just about any rider can ride and Beta definitely aren’t messing around with this bike.
If your flavour is not red then you can choose the blue option in the Sherco SE300 Factory. It too has a fantastic motor and top shelf KYB suspension but it’s a little more forgiving out on the trail. The motor is fantastic as is the handling and I can guarantee that your bottom will be in better shape on the Sherco. It’s also a bit cheaper than the Beta so that could be your deciding factor.
Both bikes are epic and I’d happily have either. We are spoilt for choice these days and these bikes are proof of that and let me tell you, there is no shortage of fun and smiles when you ride a perfectly jetted, well set up 300 two-stroke. Especially when it’s ready to go like these are straight off the showroom floor!