Sherco 2.5i

I've thought long and hard about the Sherco 2.5i. I rode it plenty, but I got brain pump trying to figure out what I thought of it. It truly feels like no other bike I've ridden. I like that. It took some time to get used to and then to ride properly, and I wasn't sure if I was ever going to get there.

Not so long ago I rode the Sherco 450 and 510; or in French/Italian speak that would be the 4.5i and the 5.1i. At least it's not as bad as Vegemite's attempt to be hip by naming its new spread iSnack 2.0; that particular marketing genius should be hit over the head with a Husky sidestand.

Anyway, I love the big-bore Shercos. They are fast, nimble, light and fun. They aren't perfect, but the ride is good.

BITS AND PIECES
To sit on, the $12,490 2.5i feels unique and yet in some ways strangely familiar. It's got a flat and slightly hard seat. The bars are wide (but oddly thin) Neken jobs, and the footpegs are good things.

It has a slender overall feel, similar to a cross between a Gas Gas and a KTM, with a splash of Yamaha thrown in. Whatever the mix, it's a pretty comfortable bike to sit on.

The air filter access is excellent but comes at the expense of burying the battery at the bottom of the airbox. The general rule on most other machines is to keep the battery as high as possible.

The switch blocks are good quality, with the only gripe stemming from the fact that the left side is serviced by a Phillips head screwdriver, while the right requires an Allen key.

There's a variable ignition switch on the right side which indicates that it was made in Italy, but not what you're changing the settings to. One side sets the ignition curve for slippery tracks and the other for hard-packed. It works alright once you find out which is which.

The LCD display is big by common standards and I like it. The information can be accessed via two thumb buttons on the left side of the bars.

The throttle is a two-stage number that can be run as either a standard or 'race' throttle with less rotation. You get some good bang for your bucks just on the handlebars.

Braking is via a set of AJP anchors and what they lack in feel they make up with power. No complaints there. The sidestand however sucks.

THE RIDE
Here's where things get confused and I'll need you to stick with me for a bit. Did I like the Sherco straight away? No I didn't -- not at all actually. It felt stiff and unsteady and slow.

So, on the next ride I shared it with a former factory off-road rider. On the first lap of a pretty tight loop, he rode his bike and I rode the Sherco. He took off and left me for dead; no surprise there.

On the next lap we swapped bikes. He came in after that and said he thought the Sherco felt slow and difficult in corners. But I noted he lapped about the same pace as he did on his own bike.

Next ride, I got another opinion from someone who rides not too dissimilar to me. He too thought that the 2.5i was slow and that the suspension was ordinary. Again I noticed he was actually riding fairly quick, but didn't even know it.

Unfortunately, a 30-amp fuse on the Sherco didn't like him and its subsequent suicide put an end to that day's ride.

TRY, TRY AGAIN
I went out again a couple of days later to get my head around this bike that outwardly feels slow and unwieldy, and yet seems to get along at a fine pace. I learnt everything I needed to know over the next two hours.

First of all, the Ceriani forks are harsh, particularly in the early part of the stroke. They are also very susceptible to being upset by an incorrect set-up on the Sachs rear shock. The test bike was unbalanced for where and how I ride, so I went clicker crazy to find a compliant set-up.

I found it by softening the feel considerably and a very different ride experience emerged. It's not suspension that would have a broad appeal on standard settings, but once sorted I had reasonable if not complete faith in it. Interestingly, Sherco uses Ohlins on its 250F motocross machine - but not the 2.5i enduro model.   

The engine has some serious mumbo, but none of it's down low. The bottom end serves merely as a welcoming mat for you to step up to a meaty mid-range and then ultimately a balls-out top end that is entirely unique for a 250F.

Rev it and you'll be rewarded. Once the 2.5i has some room to run it stretches its legs like no other 250F that springs to mind.  

So yes, it took some time to find the right set-up. You may remember we went through the same thing with BMW's G 450 X, but once we got there the ride was excellent. This is the beauty of the modern dirt bike - they can be adjusted on the side of the track to suit your needs.

THE VERDICT
Traditionally, 250F riders aren't looking for masses of top end, as most of their work is done in the bottom to mid-range, so the 2.5i is kind of arse about in that respect. If the Sherco was in my garage I'd change the gearing to get some bottom end back.
Spend some time on the suspension set-up and you'll find a sweet spot. We weren't able to completely eradicate some nervousness on fast, rough stretches but on the twisty stuff it was pretty good. I preferred the forks dropped right down in the triple clamps, but this comes down to personal preference.

It took a little effort to tip into single line corners at times, particularly off-camber stuff, but once it's engaged it's simply clutch work and blast out from there.

The Sherco 2.5i is a good bike and it's a lot of fun. It's deceptive in its capabilities and while it may not be as rounded as something like the KTM 250EXC-F, it has plenty to offer.

For specifications and more information, visit the Sherco 2.5i in Bike Showroom.