Affordable Sherco wants to have fun
£4799 single blurs the lines between trials and enduro
French trials and enduro specialists, Sherco are offering a learner-legal trials bike with a mild-mannered twist.
The air cooled 125 TY Long Ride offers casual riders a relaxed experience miles away from the hyper-focused world of flighty competition bikes.
Sherco have pitched the Long Ride at a broad customer base, opting for usability over performance. Versatility is the name of the game here, and
Sherco have created a bike that should be equally at home tackling a short morning commute as it is splatting away over some seemingly impossible off-road terrain.
The 123.7cc motor propelling the TY is good for a claimed 7.3bhp and, thanks to frugal fuelling, its 4.2 litre fuel tank should just about squeeze 100 miles of gentle use.
Although hardly a powerhouse of performance, the Sherco is plenty light, tipping the scales at 85kg – meaning it should be very easy to muscle around.
Both kick- and electric start are in place to fire the motor into life, the engine itself is a copy of Yamaha’s stone reliable YBR, sharing the same capacity, bore and stroke.
Spares should therefore be plentiful, and the engine is unlikely to have any problems eating up road miles, whether that’s popping to the shops or heading off in search of off-road fun.
So called ‘play bikes’ motorcycles that blur the lines between enduro and trials machines, featuring low weight, seats for all-day use and long-travel suspension, are few and far between. The Sherco is certainly among the most economical at £4799.
Compared with Montesa’s more premium £6399 4Ride, or the £11,370 electric KTM Freeride and Electric Motion Escape models, which start at £8999, it’s very cheap.
That said, despite the wallet friendly price, Sherco have included an aluminium engine guard as standard, as well as a semi-hydraulic clutch for precise operation and easy action. Want one? Visit sherco.com for dealers.
1
Premium feeling
Sherco have also released a Limited Edition version featuring uprated Tech forks, a Reiger rear shock, Galfer wavey discs, and more. At the time of writing, Sherco were unable to provide a price for this version
4
Accessible for all
Both models share an 860mm seat height. While this may sound lofty, it’s considerably lower than most rival ‘play bikes’ on offer. Its narrow seat and low weight should make it suitable for a wide range of riders
2 Barely legal
The TY may be about as minimalist as bikes get, but it still comes with a horn, as well as lights front and rear
3 Trials DNA
Spoked 18/21in wheels feature at both ends and basic suspension provides 170mm of bounce at the front, with 165mm of travel available for the rear
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Wide ratio
Thanks to the Long Ride’s road bike derived engine, its five-speed gearbox should have an ample spread of cogs for mixed use