Three of us recently rode the Sherco 500SEF Factory for two days,
here is our 2023 Sherco review.
These are 2022 models but the only change for 2023 is injected plastic molds.
I love a big bore thumper for open tracks.
You just ride in that meaty mid-range power and fly!
This is the advantage of 500cc enduro engines.
They are less snappy compared to their 450cc cousins.
They don't rev so quickly.
And you get extra grunt.
If you aren't racing, it's a great combination.
Let's start with the known issues.
These Shercos are from an Australian tour company,
their entire fleet now has several thousand hours of engine time.
Problems?
The tour manager scratched his head and eventually said this radiator overflow pipe has a sharp curve
and they are worried the rubber might eventually crack.
Apart from that, their Shercos have been flawless.
I contacted the guy who helped to create our Sherco two-stroke known issues vid.
He said the modern four strokes are problem-free.
Years ago, the early models were apparently a bit heavy.
Some riders didn't like the weird ergonomics.
And the engines were a bit under-powered.
But it seems those days are long gone.
What didn't I like?
In the past, I did not like the snappy throttle response of big four-strokes with fuel injection.
The Sherco is much better than my previous 'thumpers'.
But I would probably use a G2 Throttle Tamer to make it even smoother.
For open tracks? No problem.
But I would want to soften that throttle for gnarly terrain.
Sherco ergonomics tend to suit short and mid-sized riders.
The 500SEF is no exception.
A steering stabiliser was fitted which raised the handlebars so I was quite comfortable.
But I would probably add handlebar risers too to feel completely comfortable.
What did we like?
The lack of known issues is a great start.
The power delivery is brilliant.
The big Sherco handles well and feels quite light.
With the steering stabiliser it felt very steady at higher speeds.
I don't know if it would feel twitchy at high speed without the stabiliser.
The KYB suspension works better the harder you ride.
At slower speeds it can feel a bit harsh.
Similar to my two-stroke Sherco,
you can reduce the compression setting to zero which makes a big difference.
Another tip for Shero owners is to remove 10cc of fork oil from each leg.
I haven't tried this yet.
But I am told this makes the Factory KYB suspension very plush.
If you like bling, you will be happy with the Factory model.
It's interesting to see that the Factory models are so
popular that Sherco is dropping some of the base Racing models.
One of the best things is the apparent reliability.
As mentioned, this tour company
have several thousand hours across their fleet now with zero problems.
It would be interesting to try an adventure conversion with the Sherco 500SEF.
A big fuel tank.
Comfortable seat.
Cush drive hub.
Extra oil capacity.
A windscreen.
It might be an interesting project for the future.
Have you ridden or owned the 450SEF or 500SEF?
We are keen to hear what you liked. And what you didn't like!
Let us know in the comments.