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• 250 SEF-R, 300 SEF-R and 450 SEF-R
• WP Suspension spring elements now dampened more tightly
• The single-cylinder already appears bulky in the lower rev range
• Sherco models 2016 – what’s new?
• Interview with Marc Teissier

Sherco

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Sherco

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Compared to the previous year’s model, not much has changed for 2016 – but that’s a good thing.

Sherco

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The Sherco 450 SEF-R is also equipped with a motor developed by Sherco itself.

Sherco

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… for the 300s. The only difference between the engines is the bore.

Sherco

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The engine of the 250 also serves as the base …

Sherco

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Peter Mayer drove the new Shercos. The Sherco 250 SEF-R attests to great handling and very good steering precision.

Sherco

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In France, Sherco rose to the top of the charts in recent years and was even able to leave top dog KTM behind when it comes to the best-selling sports enduro.

Sherco

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The 2016 models in action.

Sherco

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The 2016 models in action.

Sherco

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Marc Teissier founded Sherco and is on the road to success with his company.

Sherco

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In addition to the four-stroke models, Sherco also offers two-stroke models.

Sherco

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The differences in the mappings are considerable.

Sherco

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… select the mapping using the handlebar switch.

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The 300 model is the bestseller in the Sherco range. On all three models …

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… very compact.

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The dohc cylinder head is built thanks to the gear reduction …

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It feels even stronger than the Austrian competition.

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In contrast to its little sisters, it has plenty of torque even at lower speeds.

MOTORCYCLE

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This is new for the 2016 models.

Sherco Sportenduros 2016 in the driving report

250 SEF-R, 300 SEF-R and 450 SEF-R

The Sherco 300 SEF-R rose to the top of the charts in recent years and even holds a record in its French homeland: it was the best-selling sports enduro last year. We drove the 2016 models.

It has advanced to the top of the charts in recent years and even holds a remarkable record in its French homeland: the Sherco 300 S.EF-R was the best-selling sports enduro last year. Cross-class and in front of all models of the off-road top dog KTM. 

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Sherco Sportenduros 2016 in the driving report
250 SEF-R, 300 SEF-R and 450 SEF-R

Sherco 250 SEF-R. A little fine-tuning of the engine and electrics – that’s it. Which is why at least the 300 is pretty much the same as in the most recent mid-range sports enduro comparison test by MOTORRAD (issue 26/2014).

WP Suspension spring elements now dampened more tightly

Your strength: the formidable steering precision. Like a rolling knife through the tarte flambee, the front cuts through the residents, making the Frenchwoman the queen of the inner lane and tightly spaced special stages. The graceful ergonomics, the finely adjustable Brembo brakes and the lively engine of this class with the highest revving speed at 13,000 rpm give the Sherco 300 SEF-R a playful lightness. All the more so because the injection programmers have now got to grips with the irritating lag in overrun with the previous model. The spring elements from WP Suspension, which were previously rather softly tuned, are more tightly damped, no longer respond so sensitively to smaller waves, but offer greater reserves for hardcore use. In spite of everything: The 300 SEF-R still cannot hide the displacement disadvantage of almost 50 cm³ compared to the 350 competition. If you want to be fast, you have to let the dohc engine turn.

This is especially true for the equivalent in the Sherco 250 SEF-R, which is based on the same motor housing. The quarter-liter unit loves to celebrate the speed orgies that are common in this displacement category, but pays for the cheers – also typical for this class – with a tentative acceleration in the speed cellar. That’s why the following applies even more to the 250: Speed ​​needs revs. The rest of the lively appearance is contributed by the chassis, which has also been re-tuned with firmer suspension and is identical to the 300 series.

Enduro

Beta RR 350 EFI, Husqvarna FE 350, KTM 350 EXC-F and Sherco 300 SEF-R

350cc sports enduro in comparison test

read more

Everything about Sherco

The single-cylinder already appears bulky in the lower rev range

Ultimately, the reluctance to develop the two small four-stroke engines is probably due to the new Sherco 450 SEF-R. The mere courage to venture into the highly competitive sports segment with an engine that has been developed in-house demands respect. Despite the dohc valve train, the engineers from Nîmes managed to create a very compact single. The character of the 450 clearly differs from its smaller sisters. The single-cylinder already appears bulky in the lower rev range. 

Even feels stronger than the Austrian competition. But also with less polished manners. At least with the aggressive mapping, it takes the whole guy to keep the blue rocket under control. Especially after the single – now all Sherco – doesn’t shy away from high speeds, and keeps pushing forward. The young stew is easier to control with the more moderate mapping that can be selected using the handlebar switch. Then the performance is more condition-friendly and also more efficient. At least for those who can handle an extremely powerful 450. The even stiffer suspension compared to the 250/300 duo and the chassis reactions, which are much more strongly influenced by the 450 engine, clearly define the target group of the newcomers: the strikers of the championship charts.

Sherco models 2016 – what’s new?

Sherco

In addition to the three four-stroke engines, two-stroke engines expand the product range.

Engine:

• Sherco 450 SEF-R: engine completely redesigned.
• Sherco 250/300 SEF-R: Water jacket of the cylinder revised, gearbox and star switch reinforced, water pump better sealed

Landing gear:

• Reinforced rear frame.

Miscellaneous:

• Electrics more reliable and compact thanks to a new manufacturing process (ultrasonic welding).

Interview with Marc Teissier

Sherco

Marc Teissier, company founder Sherco.

With one plant each in Spain and France, Sherco focuses on the trial and sport enduro segment. With his down-to-earth company policy, founder Marc Teissier leads Sherco on the road to success. 

MOTORCYCLE: How did you come up with the idea of ​​building off-road motorcycles??

Marc Teissier: I was involved in trials at a young age, but then had to join my parents’ business – a remote kitchen. Business was good. After seven years I was able to sell the company and decided to build trial motorcycles with Rotax engines. In 1994 the first Scorpa was created in a small factory in Spain.

MOTORCYCLE: Scorpa? You’re the owner of Sherco.

Marc Teissier: Yes, three years later, I and my then business partner parted ways – and I founded Sherco. That was in 1998.

MOTORCYCLE: In the meantime you have expanded the Sherco portfolio to include the sports enduro segment. What does the company structure look like now?

Marc Teissier: We have been producing 2,000 trial machines a year near Barcelona and since 2004 enduros and mopeds in our new plant in Nîmes in the south of France. The proportion of enduros is growing steadily. We currently deliver 3000 enduros and 1500 mopeds per year. We employ around 100 people in total.

MOTORCYCLE: With the enduros, however, there is strong competitive pressure. KTM dominates the market. How can a small manufacturer like Sherco hold its own against it?

Marc Teissier: With a sharp profile. In 2004, for example, we were the first off-road manufacturer to use gasoline injection in series production. Our motorcycles are still in-house developments through and through. 

MOTORCYCLE: Have you never considered purchasing motors from suppliers??

Marc Teissier Not a second.

MOTORCYCLE: But a development like the new 450 four-stroke engine is expensive. Is it worth it?

Marc Teissier Developing the 450 cost around four million euros. But don’t worry: Sherco is profitable. 

MOTORCYCLE: Are you planning further models with this engine? 

Marc Teissier: Not at the moment. We are currently working on an entry-level 125 model and above all on our new two-stroke engines with direct injection. We want to be pioneers in this too. If everything goes well, we will bring the engine into series production as early as 2016.

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