sir dabs alot Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 I asked the question recently on the GG board of the strengths/weaknesses of the Gas Gas. After riding a 300 GG Pro, I was very impressed with its turning abilities. I was wondering if the Sherco has a strength/strengths that offsets its turning abilities that I don't realize? Are they more stable in certain situations? Easier to ride overall? Many on the GG board spoke out about GGs reliability but I've also heard the same about Shercos reliablity. What's a guy to do? Let's hear it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted April 5, 2006 Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 Anything you do to a bike is a tradeoff in most cases. Weight vs strength and typically reliability, quickness vs stability in handling, and quickness vs smoothness in power delivery. The Sherco has a very good balance of most all characteristics and the overall package is very good as well as very competitive at the upper end of the scale with very good reliability. Some folks prefer a bit smoother, heavier and possibly even more reliable platform that works well for their style of riding. I know all too well that these folks get along quite well with their Betas, Monts and Scorpas. If you are riding a section and find yourself limited by the power of a Scorpa or even a 4RT, then maybe you need to seek something more aggressive to ride, but chances are that you would actually do better overall on a less aggressive bike as an average rider. Your ride may not be as exciting, but sometimes that is a good thing that most people do not realize and their scores actually improve drastically! The new '06 Sherco has quicker steering than previous models yet with possibly shorter stops, go figure? It actually feels a bit more like a Gasser, which is very quick and possibly less stable for an average rider! If you are worried about your steering bouncing off the stops, I am sure that they might consider a change when or if Cabestany thinks it to be an issue. Untill then, you may want to consider your riding style once again as you will seldom see any top riders come near the stops. Go figure again! Did I mention that most Euro riders prefer the 2.0's and 2.5's as compared to the 2.8's 2.9's and 3.0's, again, go figure! It is just personal preferance and after coming off of TWO 2.9's I have found I really like my "05 2.5 with a bit less arm jerking torque, but that is just me. My Blog! MC ps- hope you make OK at Tish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir dabs alot Posted April 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2006 I rode an '06 Sherco 2.5 and liked the way it turned a lot better than my '02. I also like the power delivery better. By stops, I'm assuming you mean the point at which the forks stop turning? I know a guy who has been on Shercos for years and swears the '05 and earlier turn better than the '06. This confused me a little after hearing that the head angle is steeper on the '06. I assume this guy uses a full lock steer a lot and the "worse" turning is a result of the stops??? I found out today that the '02 Shercos had long swingarms which doesn't do any favors for the steering. The '04 Sherco that I rode didn't feel dramatically different from what I have as the '04 Gas Gas did. I also had the opportunity to take a spin on the '06 4RT. I loved the power and handling. It was a very balanced chasis and very easy to ride. The torque of the 300 was nice but I might like the tamer feel of the 2.5??? Tish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 I think you got my points on all accounts! As all the bikes are very good, I am still very comfortable on the Sherco from last year and will probably trade up when able. Where did you find an '06 2.5 to ride , as most of the new bikes brought in have been 2.9's? And "TISH" is the Oklahoma National event this coming weekend in Tishamingo! Cheers! MC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir dabs alot Posted April 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 (edited) I took a class at TTC and Alex Bedley and Louise Forsley both had 2.5s. Alex let me ride his around for a bit. The suspension was light years ahead of mine, both front and rear. The power seemed somewhat muted compared to a 2.9 but very easy to ride and controllable. The 2.5 and the 300 both seem easier to ride than the 2.9 to me. Less dramatic when caught off gaurd. Brent Le Riche tought the class that I took and let me ride his 4RT. The only upgrades that he had was a larger diameter header pipe, fat bars and the baffles were removed. The bike rides a lot better than some of the chat you hear. It might be heavier but it isn't apparent while riding. Balanced is the characteristic that stood out immediatley. The power was very smooth but it would also come on when you wanted it to. I'm probably not going to get anything new for quiet a while, just sorting out the differences of all of the options right now. Edited April 6, 2006 by Sir Dabs Alot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
essex rider Posted April 6, 2006 Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 It might be heavier but it isn't apparent while riding. Dont let stuhrc see this because the monts arent heavier than betas (73KG) Are the new monts (2006) lighter than the previous year???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir dabs alot Posted April 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2006 I'm not sure if it's any lighter or not. The extra weight was a non-issue for me after riding it! All of the things it does right more than makes up for the extra weight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 I liked playing around on one of the 4RT's a while back. Just think, you can get a new one all tricked out with that Mitani stuff for less than ten grand!HA! I really don't want to do any bike bashing here, but I do still like the lighter front end of the Sherco without feeling like im riding a pogo stick, which is the feeling those gassers give me! Not sure the exact year of your bike, but the '05 is really nice as the latest of that generation and the '06 seem even better to me! I'll see Louise and Alex this weekend and steal a ride! Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir dabs alot Posted April 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 What do you mean by pogo stick? My Sherco is an '02. The suspension is lacking. It's not terrible just not great. I'm not sure what it needs but it could be better. There's nothing wrong with it just newer shocks/forks have a better feel to them. Obviously I don't really want to dump a load of money into an '02 model. Maybe I'll pick up a used '06 at the end of the year. I understand what you mean about the 4RTs price. Basically, a bone stock 4RT will cost an extra $1K over most any 2T. Obviously money is an issue for me or I'd be on a newer rig! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted April 7, 2006 Report Share Posted April 7, 2006 To me the Gassers feel a bit stiffer in the springs and lacking in the dampening as compared to the Sherco. This quickness and stiffness works great for some, especially if your last name is RAGA, but it does not work well for me as an OLD FART club rider! The new Sherco has a quicker rear shock as well which helps in hopping the rear wheel and the front springs seem a bit stiffer which is what "to me " gives it a bit more of the Gas Gas similarity but with a smoother motor on the bottom. But in my class of rider, which is normally SR amature, I have found that the slower and more stable approach usually works best. Lets face facts, I cannot live up to the bikes potential as it is! Dustin Allen frrom KS just won the Sportsman Class in the AZ nationals as I recall. Last time I seen his bike, it was a "well worn" '01 model. He manages just fine and does not have a lot of money to spend on a new bike. Go figure! Again, just my blog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n.wales_sherco_lad1 Posted April 9, 2006 Report Share Posted April 9, 2006 i like my sherco very much. i like the torque of it, im going to get a kehin carb for it which should give me more top end power. the one weakness i have found on the sherco is the back shock! they still haven't sorted it as the gasgas, the gassers back shock absorbs everything and doesnt bottom out as much. the turning on it is good easier to move bounce n move around than the gasgas. i feel the sherco grips more aswell, there is a different riding technique for the gassers. maintence wise the sherco is alot better, easier to work with. hope this helps scottdd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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