On The Pegs VOL . 4 ISSUE 12 - DECEMBER 2020 55
At this level , I ’ d like to say most of us guys can just jump on anything and learn how to ride it and learn how to be comfortable . But I would say for me , after the first thirty-minute period or that first ride basically , just like putting on a new pair of knee braces . It takes one ride to get used to it , and then the second ride you ’ re like , this feels pretty good . This feels just like home , kind of . But the first ride you ’ re like , this feels goofy . So same with the Sherco . The first ride on it , I was like , man , this thing feels kind of goofy . But we had the stop watch on my first lap out on the bike and I was instantly faster on the bike . So it felt goofy , but I was faster . The bikes are great . They handle so well . The power is great on the 450 . It ’ s perfect for enduro , I think . It ’ s got a good , smooth delivery and a strong power . But it ’ s not too much . The bikes , you can ’ t beat the way that they turn . They turn so well and handle so well that I ’ d say that ’ s a big key in the enduros .
Do you think that ’ s the strong point of this bike is how good it turns ?
Yeah , I would say that ’ s probably the strongest point of the bike would be I would say the turning on it and the handling , the tire placement . You can just basically say you want to put your tires right here on this exact inch of trail , with the Sherco you can do that . The tires just stick . They ’ re just planted . It feels like the bike has got a magnet holding it to the ground , almost . If that makes sense . But I would say that ’ s definitely the best thing about the Sherco is the way they ride with the handling .
So , you and your brother and Ben Kelley off and on , I think he ’ s riding a 450 tomorrow , are riding 450s . So how hard is that in really tight stuff ?
I ’ ve ridden the 450 almost all my career in the national enduros . Back when I was on the KTM I tried the 350 a little bit here and there , and just the only difference you can tell from what I could tell at least , is in the super , super tight stuff , where you ’ re really working to pull the bike back and forth and move it between those really tight trees . That ’ s the only place you can really tell the difference of that , the weight and the inertia of the engine moving . Because it ’ s not really that much heavier . It ’ s only two pounds heavier , but just that inertia of the engine adds a lot more weight and fuel to the bike . But for me , I would never give up the 450 . That ’ s just what I feel most comfortable on . I really like how I can just ride it in the bottom range of power . I ride that bottom range of power in a tall gear and just try to carry the speed , where on the 350 you got to really ride the bike . It ’ s almost like comparing a two-stroke to a four-stroke . You really got to work on the 350 . You can ’ t just be kind of a lazy , I guess you could say , and rely on the engine , where you can on the 450 . You can just keep it in a tall gear and keep your speed up .