Two bikes, same brand, same components, same motor size yet one is a 300cc two-stroke, and one is a 300cc four-stroke. Just how different could they be? You would think that having the same size displacement equates to the bikes feeling kind of similar, right? Well, we were fortunate enough to be able to test these weapons out back-to-back and really find their respective strengths out on the tracks and trails. Here’s what we think of the Sherco 300 two-stroke and Sherco 300 four-stroke.
Sherco as a brand have come a long way over the last few years and they have developed some seriously cool bikes, and the 2024 editions are for sure keeping that trend alive.
I’ll start with the Sherco 300 SEF Factory four-stroke first because this bike in particular is an all-new motorcycle for 2024 and it has been a long time coming. I find it’s always awesome to have a brand release a new bike because everyone is excited, and it seems that all the brand representatives have an extra pep in their step showing off their new toy. Sherco have made some pretty bold claims when it comes to the new SEF300 saying its ‘widely regarded as the best four-stroke enduro motorcycle available today.’ I don’t know about you but that makes me want to ride this bike!
As for the SE 300, Sherco also have high hopes for this machine and for 2024, they’ve gone for the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ approach and simply gone over it with a fine-tooth comb and refined it even more. This is Sherco’s flagship two-stroke model and there has been a ton of Aussie riders out there that choose this bike as their weapon of choice for hard enduro events. Just like the 300 SEF, Sherco boldly post on their website that the SE 300 is ‘Built to ride, Race to Win, straight out of the crate.’ Geez these French guys really know how to get you keen to ride some bikes don’t they?
AT A GLANCE
Side by side, these bikes both looks sweet. The new blue, yellow and grey colour scheme is easily the best looking Sherco’s to date and the closer you get, the more you realise how much factory fruit is on these bikes. Both bikes have some sweet looking KYB twin chambers forks on them and the updated KYB shock looks the goods too.
The four-stroke like I said earlier is packing a brand-new motor and it’s epic to see that this machine comes stock with a beautiful Akrapovic exhaust system which is as factory as it gets. While on the other side of it, the two-stroke has a nice and super shiny SPES pipe paired up with a FES muffler. The two-stroke is still like an old school smoker with a good old 36mm carb feeding the fuel into the motor along with an electronic power valve and the counter balancer inside the motor helps eliminate the vibration that a big bore two-stroke can produce.
Both bikes have the Selle Dalla Valle factory gripper seat, wet/dry map switch, billet clamps, large clear tank, Excel rims with Michelin tyres and we can’t forget about the Brembo brakes taking care of the stopping business. The 300 SE is slightly cheaper at $16,249 while the 300 SEF is $16,749. Still, plenty of value for money when purchasing yourself a Sherco.
OUT ON THE TRACK
As the rain set in on a test day, I decided to go out on the 300 SE first and tackle the slick trails. I’ve ridden the 300 SE in the past and it’s always been a grunt machine that sometimes would get away from you. Thankfully, for 2024, Sherco seemed to have refined the power delivery and while it is still super grunty, it seems to be much more useable and the power delivery, while still very strong, is precise and useable. I was impressed with the low-down crawling capabilities on the 300 SE especially when I would ride down into the valleys of the loop and need to get back up the other side. The electronic power valve creates a smooth and confidence inspiring motor.
I can see why the 300 SE is so popular amongst the hard enduro guys. The motor runs super clean and crisp and boy does it sound awesome when revved out. I forgot how good the Sherco 300 sounds!
Riding around the loop in second and third gear was incredibly easy, and I rarely had to use the clutch as I could just rely on the torque that the motor produces. The KYB suspension is pretty awesome on the 300 SE as well with the 48mm twin chamber fork doing everything I asked and giving me plenty of confidence out on the trail.
As I switched over to the 300 SEF, my world shifted from riding smooth and precise to riding aggressive and revving the bike out. The 300 SEF is a totally different animal and while it took me a lap or two to figure it out, once I did, I had a smile from ear to ear. The four-stroke is easy to ride, and I found myself just cutting lap after lap without getting tired.
The new motor is a lot faster than the previous version and I appreciate what Sherco have done for the 2024 edition. It’s stronger than a 250F but doesn’t wear you down like a 450 so it’s a perfect mix for an old, retired guy like me.
300 vs 300
Just how different are these bikes? The answer is a lot. However, they both are awesome in their own way. Both bikes produce great power, both bikes handle great and both bikes were a pleasure to ride around our loop.
The 300 smoker is an awesome trail weapon and if you’re into hard enduro, it’s hard to look past the 300 SE. The sheer grunt that this bike produces is enough to get you out of any sticky situation with ease and I was very impressed with the capabilities of where this bike can go.
The 300 SEF on the other hand is the bike you want if you’re more into cutting laps and doing a race or two. Don’t get me wrong, it will do everything the two-strokes will do, however, the 300 SE is so refined for the hard enduro stuff, you really can’t go past it. But, like I said, if you’re into going fast and racing against the clock, then the four-stroke 300 is the bike for you. I never really got tired riding the 300 SEF whereas I would get arm pump trying to push the same speed on the big bore 300 SE.
While on paper these bikes have the same ground clearance and ride height, I reckon that the SEF feels a little smaller and more compact compared to the SE. I seemed to feel like I sat into the bike more and that feeling kind of mentally preps you to push the limits and go fast. Once I got to know our loop and figured out where I could push, I definitely felt like I could go faster during a sprint lap on the four-stroke machine. Whereas, on the trail sections of the loop, I felt like I could climb any mountain on the two-stroke.
The power is so different on each of these bikes. The two-stroke has so much power across the board and it’s incredibly fast. The four-stroke has a shorter ‘meat’ of the power and it’s slower revving, but it feels more useable and easier to handle especially if you’re tired after a long day on the bike. I would say that the 300 SEF is easily the more ‘newbie’ friendly bike although, if you switch the 300 SE to the wet map, it mellows the motor out a lot.
Of course both bikes handle pretty damn awesome thanks to the KYB suspension and rest assured the Brembo brakes are bloody impressive! I was very impressed with both of these bikes, and I would happily race the 300 SEF in AORC and attempt, and I stress, attempt, a hard enduro on the 300 SE.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It was cool to have these bikes at my disposal back-to-back on the same track for a day. I knew they were going to have their own strengths, but I didn’t realise just how strong each of the bikes are. Both bikes are extremely rideable and confidence inspiring and that means that they have a huge appeal to just about anyone out there. However, Sherco weren’t kidding when they say the 300 SEF is a race machine. As soon as you start pushing it along and really riding it aggressively, the bike shines through. And as for the 300 SE, it really is an all-round beast when it comes to hard enduro.
2024 SHERCO 300 SE FACTORY
ENGINE
Type Single cylinder, two-stroke, anti-vibration balancer, SBS electronically-controlled exhaust valve
Displacement 293.14cc
Bore & Stroke 72mm x 72mm
Cooling Liquid-cooled with radiator thermo fan and expansion tank
Compression ratio NA
Fuel metering 36mm Keihin PWK carburettor, VForce4R reed valve system
Tank capacity 10.4L
Transmission Six-speed
Clutch Brembo hydraulic multi-disc in oil bath
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase 1480mm
Seat height 950mm (930mm with optional low seat)
Ground clearance 355mm
Claimed Weight NA
SUSPENSION
FRONT 48mm KYB closed-cartridge fork, fully adjustable with model-specific settings, 300mm travel
REAR 50mm KYB shock absorber, 18mm shaft, fully adjustable with model-specific settings, 330mm travel
BRAKES
Front Brembo hydraulic, 260mm Galfer disc
Rear Brembo hydraulic, 220mm Galfer solid rear disc
RUNNING GEAR
Handlebar NA
Front tyre Michelin 90/90-21
Rear tyre Michelin 140/80-18
PRICE & CONTACTS
RRP $16,249
BROWSER Sherco.com.au
BLOWER 03 83631600
Warranty 6 months
2024 SHERCO 300 SEF FACTORY
ENGINE
Type Single-cylinder, four-stroke, DOHC, 4-valve
Displacement 303.68cc
Bore & Stroke 84mm x 54.8mm
Cooling Liquid-cooled with radiator thermo fan and expansion tank
Compression ratio NA
Fuel metering Synerject digital electronic fuel injection
Tank capacity 9.7L
Transmission Six-speed
Clutch Brembo hydraulic, multi-disc in oil bath
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase 1480mm
Seat height 950mm (930mm with accessory low seat)
Ground clearance 355mm
Claimed Weight NA
SUSPENSION
FRONT 48mm KYB closed-cartridge fork, fully adjustable with model-specific settings, 300mm travel
REAR 50mm KYB shock absorber, 18mm shaft, fully adjustable with model-specific settings, 330mm travel
BRAKES
Front Brembo hydraulic system, Galfer 260mm disc
Rear Brembo hydraulic system, 220mm rear disc
RUNNING GEAR
Handlebar NA
Front tyre Michelin 90/90-21
Rear tyre Michelin 140/80-18
PRICE & CONTACTS
RRP $16,749
BROWSER Sherco.com.au
BLOWER 03 83631600
Warranty 6 months
WORDS | Geoff Braico
PHOTOS | Mitch Lees
