Anyone have time on both? Ive never ridden a Sherco, but ive admired them from afar. I know one guy who loves his 450. I know there are some Sherco guys on here, lets hear it. How do they compare?
There are very few 450/510 Sherco enduros in the US... even fewer 250s. If you want to be in a situation where technical information is sometimes very hard to find, and aftermarket products can be near impossible to locate, get a Sherco. The bikes themselves are top-shelf, as evidenced by a recent overall win in the Redbull Romainiacs race and solid finishes in the last "Dakar"... one of the best hard enduro bikes I've ever owned. My local dealer/friend Frank Kergil does the best he can do for his customers, as does the importer Ryan Young, but factory support (information beyond what's available on the net) and aftermarket accessory support sucks. If you want to be the only kid on your block (or for that matter, in your state or region) with a real exotic bike, convenience of ownership be damned... get a Sherco or TM. Sherco isn't going away... they provide excellent support for their bread and butter trials bikes, they just haven't offered the same quality of support for their enduro line. I don't know about how Husky is these days (This is, of course the best place to ask huh? ). They're selling lots of bikes in the US now, but I don't know about parts and information availability. Obviously, with BMW at their backs, there's a good chance it can only get better than it's been in decades. As evidenced by folks like Kelly, there's a good and getting better aftermarket. Husqvarna isn't really an exotic any more, but then, the allure of an exotic can be a somewhat fleeting experience unless you've developed a owner support group and have either lots of money (not me) or have the knowledge and skills to do all your own work. All IMO of course. I'm keeping my Sherco... staying the course as it were. A worn out old geezer like me can't produce a rational justification to do otherwise. There's nothing out there that's appreciably better, only different, but... in most cases, (far) better supported. caveat emptor, C
hola Mike.. can't speak on the 510. Since I've been back on two wheels only for a year after a 15 year "absence" I've only ridden my 08 610, my buddies Husaberg 550, and another buddies 08 Sherco 5.1. To me the Husa was sweet because of the explosive power. Good torque but really JUMPED on the top end, Turned quick and sharp, esp. compared to the 610 of course, and made that cool "tweet-tweet" sound from the cool air filter set up. The Sherco was a blast. Good torque, almost as much as a hit as the Husa on top. Such a light feeling front end but still tracked great, whether through rocks and roots or sand. Fuel injection worked just as it should as it always has on the power-uped 610. nice and smooth rolling on and off the throttle in the tighter stuff, and the Sherco's switchable map really did seem to make a difference and make it that much easier to handle in snotty stuff. Also the bike was just a work of art, kickstand, swingarm, etc.. Just as previous poster said I'm sure you'd need to nail down your parts suppliers, but I bet once you do there's no worries. Sorry I couldn't give you BETTER feedback on the 5.1 Mike, or REALLY compare it to a 510. Between my limited time on it and the fact that I feel like I'm learning to ride allover again after all that time away from 2 wheels. I'm JUST now after almost a year, starting to feel REALLY comfortable on my 610. Good luck Mike and let us know what you do..!!! Roger
Thanks for taking the time to check in with your experiences on the Sherco. I have heard similar stuff. The fuel injection has been spot on for the last couple years. The bikes are reputed to be very fast, with top notch components. The company seems to have a strong support from the local governments in France and Spain, and theyve been around for awhile now. Longer than i thought. I know they are rare here in the US, but not so rare, even semi- common, in europe, at least at some races ive followed. The parts thing would be something to consider, but then again i raced a Husky 5 years ago when NOBODY raced or rode Husky. Well nobody except Norman and Dale and Kelley. OK, George too.... I ordered parts from overseas via the internet, and it was easy. So i suspect i could get to know a big French Sherco supplier easy enough for parts. Im the only one who works on my bikes, and i make lots of my own parts. In fact more than a few aftermarket guys have used my bikes and ideas for the Husky. What i am really drawn to is the passion Sherco has for their riders, and especially their little grass roots Dakar support efforts. Its just too cool for school. It reminds me of Husky a few years ago. I bought my first Husky 'cause i was anti-Honda. But i quickly came to see what being part of a small mom and pop dirt bike company was all about. I miss that Husky vibe. Dont get me wrong, i love my 610, and nobody, but nobldy has raced a 510 as many miles as yours truly, but yeah maybe its time to try something else, try to find just a little bit more. Thats the fun part of racing, always trying to get just a bit more. So Roger/Creeper, Who should i get in touch with? Who is 'the guy' for off road Sherco stuff in the US? Or am i gonna end up that guy?
I might be wrong, but i herd rumor that some of the engine parts might be interchangeable with the older style KTM 4 stroke line. I know when the first Sherco 4.5 and 5.1 came out the motor looked like a direct knock-off of the KTM engine at the time. Does anyone know if there is any truth to the rumor? Are any motor parts interchangeable? JustAsking
Yep... I've always done all my own work, so needing access to a mech or a service department has never been a concern with anything I've owned. Shercos are amazingly easy to work on... you could have one stripped to nothing but parts in a few hours. Regarding parts... OEM parts are quick and easy to get. Frank has most service stuff, and will jump thru hoops to get what ever else you need. If that doesn't work, Ryan Young does his level best to keep at least one of every single sherco enduro part made. It's the almost complete lack of aftermarket that gets annoying sometimes. The two guys I mentioned are "the guys"... Frank Kergil here in Washington and the importer, Ryan Young (RYP). There may be other "guys" elsewhere, but these are my guys. I can give you numbers/addresses etc if you need them. Nope. Yes, they have some visual similarities, but they are a whole different design. For example, they have a crank driven counter-balancer in the front of the engine... the bikes are incredibly smooth. They use, and have used since inception, a "shim on stem" valve lash adjustment method... while at that same timre, KTM was still using screw adjusters. My take on the bike when I first got it is here. C
Nice pics on the ADV write up. Thanks for the link. So now 2 years into the bike, are you satisfied? Whats been the problems, if any? Is there any chance of a bigger tank? Any rumors about a license plate in the future? Please send contact info for Ken. Ryan is on the website. Thanks! Is there a Sherco chat site? I couldnt find one. What do you think about the suspension? Is there a Sherco suspension guy? Do your own? So many questions.
I rode an older 604 ATK 3 weeks ago, the bike with the funnky rear brake disc on the side by yer foot. Great bike. Nearly as fast as my opened up TE610. ATK are cool. One of the fastest over 40 desert racers is on a ATK. Charlie Barney. Hauls the mail now and then at BITD on the only ATK on the starting line. Ive got 4 Huskys in my garage. Time to trim the heard and try something new. My work with Husky is nearly done. Husky is taking over, as planned. Project Sherco is on the horizon.
Mine is the last of the 406's and the most refined. Disk back on the rear wheel, slim ergos, actually a nice bike. I rode with a group of 07 and newer bikes Saturday and had no issues staying in the lead. So much so I have plenty of time for pix. It really is a good bike. Not refined feeling like a new bike but gets the job done all the same. The motor is very good, similar to a KTM300, torquey and powerful yet smooth and controllable. It's a goofy bike and people laugh at it until we get on the trail and I disappear, then the laughing stops.
Mike, Keep us posted on the quest. A man has to do.... What a man has to do! Only Sherco possibility in my future is a new modern trials bike. When you check in here, you'll find me where you found me before.... On a Husky BB, talking Huskys!
what is it that you don't care for on the Husky 510 or what would you have Husky/BMW change on it for future production?
Creeper... I believe Frank is the who my buddy bought his 5.1 from. I know he was extremely pleased with the bike and from who he bought it from. It was even delivered in crate to Long Island with a brand new Washington state plate, good for a couple years I believe .. Incidently though, he did sell it for a new Husaberg 450. Which I guess now has been replaced by some kinda KTM SM race bike. The only thing he seems to have held on to for a couple years is his R1 and SVX 550.. So Mike, Sounds like you might be starting a new bike / vibe adventure.. Kudos to you man.. Just don't forget us Husky newbies when we come back asking for your Husky veteran input.. ANd, if that is the same Frank from Wa. my buddy bought his 5.1 from, thumbs up from here to him....
Nice pics on the ADV write up. Thanks for the link. So now 2 years into the bike, are you satisfied? Whats been the problems, if any? Leaking oil sight glass... fixed it. Is there any chance of a bigger tank? Ha ha ha ha... I wish. I carry a couple 1L aluminum camp bottles in my fanny pack. Any rumors about a license plate in the future? Mines plated, been plated since day one. No "off road use only" on the MSO, so they don't care. Please send contact info for Ken. Ryan is on the website. Thanks! Actually, Frank Kergil is on the website to, listed under dealers. Or... http://www.franksmotorbikes.com/ Is there a Sherco chat site? I couldn't find one. More Ha ha ha ha. Hell, you just got a fine Husky chat room here... and BMW had to buy Husky for that to happen. (I'm sure Coffee has better reasons, but I'll run with that one... 'cause I'm an evil person. ) Actually... there is a Sherco chat site on the Ryan Young website, but it's 99% trials. (kinda tells you something don't it?) There's a good bunch of Sherco guys in the exotics section at TT too. What do you think about the suspension? Is there a Sherco suspension guy? Do your own? I like it... after I backed of the compression a little and the rebound a lot, I'm pretty happy with the valving. I like a quick reacting, "springy" suspension with not a lot of damping. Its all the rock climbing I do I guess. So many questions. Don't say I didn't give you fair warning.
Great looking bike Creeper. I have a 2001 Sherco 2.9 trials bike. Well made and reliable. A few quirks with them, but once you get to know Sherco you will love them.
Hey Mike... Just a note to give you the rundown of what I've done with the bike. Trailtech HID Eclipse X2 headlight/number plate (Thanks Lee). Very high quality stuff... best plastic quality I've ever seen on a number plate/light. OE lighting is afterthought crap. Zeta bars. A bit more rise and less pullback than stock... and they're green! I've been considering Fasst bars, but don't have the scratch at this time. Scott's top mount damper... a semi-complicated installation, as what Scott's thought would work... didn't. I have photos and instructions if you need them. Acerbis guards. Renthal kevlar grips. Touratech mount for Garmin 60. Rebuilt the seat... duh. Sicass LED tail light. Installed LED turn signals... then took 'em off, so now I'm a major criminal. That's about it. I've got some Motoz tires coming from Motosportz (Thanks Kelly) to try out, and I'm still looking for a tank that isn't for pro rallye and doesn't cost $4000. The new, '09 Shercos have Ceriani forks and Sachs shock, petal brake rotors and a few other minor changes including blue/white body work... pretty bike. We now return you to your regularly scheduled, Husqvarna programming. Ciao, C
