Sherco is a French motorcycle manufacturer known above all for its trials bikes, which are built in Caldes de Montbui, north of Barcelona. The trial range has been offered in a wide spread of engine sizes, from 80 cc to 320 cc, and the ST prefix has identified it since 2009.
Sherco Trial at a glance
| Maker | Sherco, Caldes de Montbui (Spain) and Nîmes (France) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 |
| First trial bike | 1999 |
| Trial engine sizes | 80, 125, 200, 250, 272 (the 2.9), 300 and 320 cc |
| Two-stroke trial sizes | 0.8, 1.25, 2.0, 2.5 and 2.9 |
| Four-stroke trial size | 3.2 (320 cc), introduced in 2005 |
| Chassis | main chassis unchanged until 2006 |
| Engine | main engine unchanged until 2011 |
| ST prefix | added in 2009 for the trials range |
| Current trial models | ST 125, ST 250, ST 300, ST-E 250, ST-E 300, ST-F 300, TY 125, TY Long Ride 125 |
| Racing | Emma Bristow, FIM Women’s Trials Championship 2014–2020 |
The trial models have no Wikipedia pages of their own; this page is based on the English article on the marque, with the Spanish article used for the company’s background.
History of the Sherco Trial
From Bultaco and Sherpa: the first years
Sherco was founded in 1998, and its name comes from the amalgamation of two words, Bultaco and Sherpa, looking back to the company’s origins. The factory in Caldes de Montbui, about 30 km north of Barcelona, specialises in the trial category; a second factory in Nîmes, France, established in 2003, builds the enduro and supermoto machines. The first trial bike was produced in 1999, and its main chassis and engine remained unchanged until 2006 and 2011 respectively.
A wide spread of engine sizes
The trials range was offered with 80 cc (called the 0.8), 125 cc (1.25), 200 cc (2.0), 250 cc (2.5), 272 cc (called the 2.9 for marketing purposes) and 300 cc two-stroke engines, the last as the 3.0 Cabestany replica of 2010. Sherco also introduced a 320 cc four-stroke, the 3.2, in 2005. In 2009 the company added the prefix initials ST to the engine range to signify the trials motorcycles, as distinct from the SE enduro and SU supermoto bikes.
2006: a softer 2.9 and a new chassis
In 2006 Sherco modified the tuning of the 272 cc 2.9 for a more mellow throttle response and better grip in wet conditions. The cylinder head combustion chamber was given more volume, lowering the compression ratio, and the cross-section area of the transfer ports was reduced. The same year brought a new chassis, now painted black rather than chrome plated, new gearbox ratios and a new front fork manufacturer. Sherco also introduced a Cabestany replica 2.9 with limited-edition graphics.
2009: the Sherco R
In 2009 Sherco introduced the Sherco R, a commercially available version of Albert Cabestany’s works machine offered in 2.9 two-stroke and 3.2 four-stroke form. Among other modifications it had a titanium exhaust front pipe, a high-compression cylinder head, a Keihin carburettor and numerous carbon fibre components.
2010: the tank and airbox swap places
For 2010 Sherco changed the look of its trials motorcycles by relocating key components: the fuel tank and the air inlet box swapped places. This put the weight of the fuel lower down, lowering the centre of gravity and moving it further back, while the relocated air box gave the engine a cleaner supply of air. The Cabestany replica returned the same year, based on the 2010 bike and now with a 300 cc engine that had never been commercially available before, a Dellorto VHST 28 mm carburettor, a blue frame colour scheme and a titanium front exhaust pipe.
The range today
The current trials line-up lists the ST 125, ST 250 and ST 300 alongside the ST-E 250 and ST-E 300, the ST-F 300 and the TY 125 and TY Long Ride 125. Sherco’s racing record includes Emma Bristow’s run of FIM Women’s Trials Championship titles from 2014 to 2020, and Jeroni Fajardo’s long membership of Spain’s winning Trial des Nations team up to 2019.
Design and features
- Wide engine range: trial machines from 80 cc to a 320 cc four-stroke, with the 2.9 name used for a 272 cc engine.
- ST naming: since 2009 the trials models carry the ST prefix, separating them from the SE enduro and SU supermoto ranges.
- 2006 refinement: a mellower 2.9, a black-painted chassis, new gearbox ratios and a different front fork supplier.
- Sherco R: a customer version of Cabestany’s works bike with titanium, high-compression and carbon fibre parts.
- 2010 layout: fuel tank and air box swapped places to lower and move back the centre of gravity.
Sherco Trial versions
- 0.8, 1.25 and 2.0: the 80, 125 and 200 cc two-stroke trial models.
- 2.5 and 2.9: the 250 cc and 272 cc two-strokes, the 2.9 retuned in 2006.
- 3.2: the 320 cc four-stroke added in 2005.
- Cabestany replica: a limited 2.9 in 2006 and a 300 cc version in 2010.
- Sherco R (2009): works-derived 2.9 two-stroke and 3.2 four-stroke.
- ST range: ST 125, ST 250, ST 300, ST-E 250, ST-E 300 and ST-F 300, plus the TY 125 models.
The trial range sits alongside Sherco’s enduro and supermoto machines; more models are in the Sherco collection.
Sources
- Sherco, English Wikipedia: history, trial range, engine sizes, 2006, 2009 and 2010 updates
- Sherco, Spanish Wikipedia: company background and factories