Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/241252
2014 2 Stoke Test Preview: Sherco and GasGas A s you are probably aware, Sherco has joined the 2 stroke revolution. For 2014, their new 2-stroke SE line includes 250 and 300cc displacements. And as they are finally hitting the shores of the U.S. in bulk, we are heading down south over the next few weeks to try them all. The French motorcycle manufacturer, mostly noted for their trials machines, first produced off-road bikes last year with the release of their impressive 300i four stroke. We spent a couple of months with the 300i and it straight-up impressed us. It was as agile as most 2 strokes with a power plant that could crawl through the nastiest terrain and then rip deliberately through the top end. We liked it so much that we hailed it as The Most Impressive bike of 2013. With that kind of first impression, the expectations for the new Sherco 2 stroke line are high. Here's what we know about them so far. The chassis is basically the same as the 4 stroke 300i with the exception of the lower frame cradle being augmented to fit the 2 stroke motor. The suspension system features the WP open cartridge forks and WP shock fitted to linkage. According the Sherco web site, the valving specs are the same as the 300i, which were nice and plush. The motors are e-start only, meaning no kick starter. Like the Beta's, the e-start is located at the base of the engine The GasGas dropped 11lbs this year. Right: A lighter, slimmer motor is fitted to a proven chassis. ► 18 Trail Rider case, which I have mixed feeling about. I have dented the base of a ski plate before, right where the e-start is housed. Anyway, the absence of the kick starter and the big charging system (220 watts of DC power) suggest that Sherco is setting the stage for a fuel injected 2-stroke. FI requires a larger electrical system to initiate the fuel injection process, so it looks like that's where Sherco is headed. For now, the carbureted system is a 36mm Keihnin and a V force reeds Also worth noting is that the power valve is actuated electronically. Other notables include a mapping switch located to the right of the throttle, much like the 300i. The fuel tank holds roughly 2.5 gallons. With Sherco's trials background, it will be interesting to see what kind of motor they produce. We are hedging our bets on a motor that is torquey and produced with the technical off road riding and racing in mind. We know the chassis is great, so this bike will be an interesting addition to the 2-stroke market. 2014 GasGas XC Line he GasGas has been given a bad rap in some of the other media outlets lately. We think of the GasGas as an outstanding enduro machine and at its finest when in the throes of technical enduro terrain or flowing single track. The more technical the terrain is, the better the GasGas performs. Jeff Melik and Jim Senecal didn't win regional championships on their GasGas's because the bike was bad. They won them because they're good riders and the GasGas is well suited to the technical terrain of their regional series. The southern California desert is not the GasGas's specialty. The GasGas has also been the T www.TrailRider.com