The Sherco 300 SEF-R gathered some serious attention after Tasmanian Matthew Phillips won the world title on one. Here's what you need to know if you're thinking of buying one.
The Sherco 300 SEF-R has great power for its capacity but the real advantage is how nimble and easy they are to ride. They are not as hard to ride as a 500 as there is not so much rotating mass in the engine controlling your direction.
It will turn on a dime while still having enough power to keep you screaming along the trails. The big difference is when it comes to changing gears. A 500 will lug through the bush in almost any gear whereas you need to be on point with the 300 to keep it in the right rev range.
It comes with WP suspension, which is great for trailriding. It is set up on the plush side so sand whoops or rough race tracks won’t be kind to it but trailriding will be a breeze. If you are a bigger rider or someone looking to go racing then you’ll need to stiffen up the suspension.
Sherco 300 SEF-R Repairs
More and more Sherco dealers are popping up, so service is better than ever.
Parts are readily available and easy to source so repairing the French bikes are just as easy as any other brand. The 300 is a reliable machine and wears very well.
I haven’t come across any regular problems with the Shercos. They are built well and built to last. Sherco is a family-owned company and they take pride in what they are building. This has always been evident to me when I have spent time with the company at launches or rides.
When looking at a second-hand Sherco, be sure to do all the same checks you would with any other brand. Make sure the bike starts quickly and easily without blowing excessive smoke. Make sure the engine does not have any rattles or serious oil leaks.
Ask if the bike has any service or repair history and ask if there is any record of how many hours the bike has done.
Owners who care for their bikes are always able to provide such documents. Check all the wheel and frame bearings, check the fork and shock for leaks and ride the bike to make sure the clutch doesn’t slip and the gearbox selects all gears without slipping or jumping out. Tech Ed Mat Boyd