Comparo: 2021 Sherco ‘Racing’ vs ‘Factory’ Models

Sherco is not the only European manufacturer to offer up-specced versions of their ‘standard’ enduro models. But it is the only brand to sell more of them! Yes, Sherco’s ‘Factory’ variant – the up-specced machines that come with Kayaba (not WP) suspension, along with a bunch of other high-end components that the standard ‘Racing’ model Shercos don’t get – actually sell somewhere between two and three times as many units as their Racing counterparts do in Australia. And that is in spite of the fact the Factory models retail for between $1400 and $2200 more, depending on the model.

But how do Sherco’s two model-variants compare to ride? And what sort of rider and terrain do they best suit? With the help of a couple of former Pro off-road pilots, Damian Smith and Scott Keegan, we put Sherco’s Racing and Factory models back-to-back for a day to find out…