What owners rate it on
What owners do with it
Real-world range13 owners said
15 to 30 mi38%
30 to 50 mi31%
Over 50 mi31%
Who rides it6 owners said
Adult 180 lb+67%
Age 10 to 1717%
Adult under 180 lb17%
Where it is ridden73 owners said
Trails and woods52%
Motocross track30%
Streets14%
Own land or yard4%
Stock or modified22 owners said
Upgraded parts77%
Stock23%
Specs
Performance
- Peak power
- 59.7 kW 80 hp.
- Battery
- 7.2 kWh
- Charge time
- 2 h
Size and rider
- Weight
- 260 lb
- Seat height
- 37.8 in 96.0 cm.
- Maker price
- $11,990
Prices
Charged Cycle Works$10,999In stockampedsportsman.com$11,900In stockLithium Powersports$11,990In stock
241 owner reviews
Hey Kyle I'm glad you're finally coming around. I reached out to you about 2 years ago to try the Stark varg because I had bought one at that time and was convinced at how good it was at doing everything my two-stroke did. I was very disappointed at how dismissive you were of it at that time and honestly it turned me off of your channel for the last few years not only because of my disappointment but also because I just have so much less interest in gas bikes now and that's really all that you review. I'm glad you're seeing how valuable these things are and now with traction control I guess that was the big thing that made the difference for you. I hope to see you get one in your stable as I do think they are a great supplements and even in my case a replacement since I don't ride very long distances.
the varg is heavy? comming from a drz400 its super light.
Funnest and at the time most expensive dirt bike motorcycle I had ever purchased (and I have owned well over 100). It was great on the Trail and Moto and for being stealthy near my neighborhood. But it needed a new motor under warranty at 32 hours, then a new battery at 42 hours. The warranty expired well the new battery was being installed and I cut my losses and sold it. Maybe it was a mistake. Maybe it was gonna work forever but those two repairs I think would cost me $8000 at the dealer. Anyway, will I buy another one? Maybe but the warranty‘s gotta be longer, service a little better and at least in my case more reliable.
@zackiaryruddick701 who says you cant push it? I push mine around in the garage when it's off all the time. And the solution is, dont run out of battery. What everyone fails to understand, is it's not a replacement for gas bikes in every scenario. Of course it wont go 130 miles. But in that case, ride a different bike. Range is only an issue depending on the style and type of trails that you ride. The kind of riding that I do, I am spent way before the bike is. Thats like saying, dress shoes suck, I cant run in them. Well, then wear running shoes if you want to run. Everything has its purpose.
If it shed 40 # it would kill every other bike hands down. But I love mine and don't ever plan on buying an ice bike again.
That's what I run also. Love it. Lets me pull the fake clutch... aka rear brake to keep things under control
I ride motocross and hard enduro , when I got my stark I already had thought in my mind it was going to be not good in single track but I was willing to accept that . But as soon as I rode it I found that the bike shines more in trails than it even does on a track which is crazy
While you’re riding it, it feels lighter than a 250 and I don’t feel like that get enough attention. I’m not kidding it’s weird. You only notice the weight once you mess up and have to move the bike around while off it and even then it has crawl mode. Plus compared to four stroke Enduro bikes it’s around the same weight.
Enjoy the smoke, vibration, air filter changes, top ends, clutches. I've ridden dirt bikes four almost four decades, and I love my Stark. Sold the YZ250x, never going back. The Stark hasn't needed anything in two years of riding, besides tires,, and it's in the garage ready to go next weekend.
They're are cool... When I rode one all I kept saying to myself was.... Don't pull in on the clutch ...
Excluding range, it’s not better. It’s beyond better. I’ve got a brand new husky that sits as my Stark EX goes everywhere with almost no maintenance. The Stark is also “ beyond” reliable. You have a custom motor that’s unlimited: 300, 125, 150, 450 or exceed factory motors with a couple clicks. I can go for a neighborhood cruise, go into a national forest (keep in mind street legal dirt bikes are not legal unless they are also emission compliant), hit the motocross tracks, slip some super moto treads on and I have a weapon on paved track, do gnarly enduro single track. It's like 5 bikes in one. Custom power maps is worth every penny!!! If you use the custom power curves(maps) it raises the fun bar even more, including braking-traction control. I have a custom 38hp setting that the power comes on early, proportional engine braking with traction control. I let people ride that map and they all say it's 60hp or higher. It easy to forget how important torque is. It's wicked fast on trails at that setting. Honestly, a bike that’s insane on technical trail stuff and a few clicks it’s the fastest motocross bike in the world. No 300 can do that. With all the racing I have done, and all the bikes I have owned, I really struggle to enjoy riding a gas bike anymore.
I have the EX for 1,5 years.. I made 8,5K Miles, 420Hrs and no problems.. I love it.. Ride it to work every day i can :D
Ngl I love my electric motorbike more than my YBR. Sure the YBR is louder, manual and can actually take me where I want to go but despite the shit range, I love my emoto. It’s nippy and slow literally can’t hit 60. I’ve done 55mph on it and it struggled getting there. But it’s great. Especially for shopping. I use half of the battery compartment as its dual battery for storage, it had a storage area above that too, it takes about 3 hours to charge from a 3pin plug socket. I can take batteries out and charge them in my home. And no gears. I can’t lie, automatic is way more fun with lower powered bikes. It doesn’t help I have nerve damage which was the main reason for an automatic bike. When I get my A2 licence I got my eye on a 2016 Honda NM4 vultus. They look funky but comfortable and faster than I need
I have a little electric pit bike. Thing is crazy fast and powerful. Even have 12” supermotos for it and it does 70mph.
I've had an R1, 1290 SDR, and other liter bikes and above. Atm got a 890 Duke R, and a stark ex, i take the stark 90% of the time. It never gonna replace a "real" bike, but right now i get 100x more fun on my stark. You dont really explore on a super bike, you dont really go offroad, you just ride and go fast, and that gets boring real fast. And when you beat liter bikes 0-100 whats the point then? You can go fast, you can do whatever you can on your R1, except going far - Give it 5-10 years you'll be able to ride a full day on a charge.
The instant torque is soooo good. missing the sound on mine, though.😢
we own 3 starks mx modles they are so fun for what they are
Glad your going electric ⚡️ it’s all I’ve ever known I mod them out to make them go over 100mph
The slider on the varg is really helpful for hp control, great video
Be careful that instant torque at 80 will buck you like a bronco
Stark Vargs are sick, Enjoy! The torque of these E-Bikes are something else, I like! I have a real nice E-Mountain Bike it’s a blast! Wish they had these around when I was a kid…lol
Rode an e dirtbike for the 1st time this summer weirdest thing ever use to hearing brap brap it made no noise and i had the same issue i kept reaching for a clutch out of instinct to a clutch that was not there
No oil changes, no winterization, no gas. It’s a banger.
Basically can provide close to 700 ft lbs from an absolute dead stop, from zero rpm to full throttle.
Fuel effiency and sound is the only downside.
the big con is that we cannot hear the engine but the pro is that we can hear you so.... that's something
Man I love the stark vark bud I dont like the hole no cluch and shifter thing.
As a 2 year owner with over 130hrs of ride time I will say this. Bike is fun and easy to ride, problem is you need to plan out how you are going to use that fun, cause it doesn't last long if you are aggressive on throttle. If you are a high level rider (intermediate- expert or pro) that is aggressive, then this bike will not last long for you on track. Beginner to novice is better suited for longer ride times. Having a 240v generator at the track is the best to get the most run time. But you can get away with only 120v as well if you don't mind taking long breaks. I average about 1hr 20min of ride time at the track with about 3 charge sessions of 15-30min. Most of my riding sessions will be 20-25min and I will typically do about 3 sessions.
I have a beautiful 90 hr 1980s 500 open class racing Honda cr500 built for factory riders. And I got a stark varg and have more fun on the stark varg w dirt bikes are fun and my stark varg is the motocross edition
I wish they'd do something about that brake hose out front; it doesn't look the best.
stark is awesome. as an old medium to fast C rider, i do Five to six 15min motos and am worn out before im out of battery. The charger is an issue when it comes to how they wired the charger box. But once i figured out how to wire up my own connectors, im good and will be charging with my Cybertruck when it comes in. just get the bike, and if you are 200 to 230 lbs stick with the medium suspension and then have a pro help adjust it.
Well here’s my experience, the good and the bad. First off, I’ve always said it’s the funnest Motorcycle I’ve ever ridden for its intended purpose, but it could never be my only Motorcycle as I do too much long distance riding as well. It was also awesome in the sense that, I could be super stealthy in the forest around my house and even if somebody did see me, they were more curious than irritated. As far as charging goes, I had a portable power station in the back of my hauler with solar panels on the roof that I used both to charge the Stark and power my RV. So that was cool. But here’s the bad. At 32 hours all fired up to go out to our favorite jumping spot with my buddies, I throw it on the charger and it will not charge. So I ended up having to take one of my Gas motorcycles. Being under warranty, I took it to the dealer. They ultimately replaced the motor with the Gen 2 motor. I thought cool I got the newer Motor under warranty. 10 hours later at 42 hours same thing, I’m fired up getting ready to go riding, I throw it on the charger and it won’t charge. Still under warranty I take it back to the dealer. It sits there for two months. They finally replace the battery and same thing, I think cool now I got the G2 motor and the newest battery under warranty. I get it home and it won’t charge. So frustrating. I took it to Aeo Powersports in Phoenix because they work on a lot more of these bikes than my local shop . They do a few updates and it was back and running. At this point, the warranty expired while it was getting worked on, and I said screw it. I told the dealer to throw it on the floor on consignment and dump it for me. I ended up getting $7000 for the bike I paid 14,500 for (because I jumped on the bandwagon on the early release putting my hundred bucks down). After their commission I end up with $6300 that went towards my new 350. So it cost me $8200 for 42 hours of fun and frustration. I really have no regrets. The experience was amazing, but obviously there’s some disappointment in it not working when I wanted it to, and then how much I lost on a bike that still looked pretty damn new. Yes I could’ve gotten a little more for it if I wanted to sale it myself, but at that point I just wanted it to go away. So will I own another one down the road? Maybe, it depends on the warranty, service history for issues, and manufactuer support to the dealer and customer. And to be honest, I hope the thing rips for the rest of its life for the new owner, that’s just not how it worked out for me. But that’s my experience.
Rode one yesterday...anything less than the full 80hp felt lazy imo but in the 80hp it was a literally missile i was blown away by how little throttle it needs to stand up and start boot scootin Kid that owned it said the 80hp drains the battery real fast though so personally i wouldn't spend 12k plus on one simply because i ride alot and charge times suck balls...faster than shit from a shanghi
Inari films stark varg turned street legal, having fun on the stark varg, beautiful beach, lol what's a wheelie is crazy, 80hp be zooming, still waiting on that track day it's gonna be a sick video/ you gonna have some fun when your on track, amazing video
FYI; Had my EX for 15 months & never had my bars come loose. Other then a few short phone pairing to bike glitches (just re-start fixed it) the bike has been fantastic!
Rode that bike for just a few hundred meters. That thing is an animal in Extreme mode. Way more snappy than a Stark. Feels a lott cheaper, but hey it is a lott cheaper as well.
You forgot one setting only 80hp bikes get (nevermind if you have the 60hp). The Traction Control. Call it cheating if you must, but it's there and worth mentioning. The TC works great and at 30% you don't really notice it. However it will prevent that big spin away you get in high speed corners. Where an ICE gets to the end of it's gear and stops breaking out further the Stark will keep breaking out further. 30% TC really makes it feel like an ICE in that regard. Also there is a tad less wheelspin wich makes it consume a bit less power and thus last longer. Didn't do any good measurements but i do notice it. Made a ride video about it on my channel. I don't have Dane's presentation skills but maybe it's of some use to ya'll.
The adjustability of this bike is insane….now with traction control it’s epic….love mine…buying another. The engine sound is so cool…sounds like an angry RC car…I actually like to try to push it to make a sound I haven’t heard yet.
I’ve had my stark varg for a month, and I would never go back to gas, these bikes are so much fun and sooo worth it!
I gotta say my bikes done 3.5k miles..I absolutely love it. Never take it off road. Mechanically, never really an issue, still stock brakes.. I highly recommend
Great vids! The handlebar bolts have not got loose for me in one year, have not had any issues with my 2024 Alpha, and dont ever need to recharge it at the track, hard packed, i runt 3, 20min motos on one day, from 100% to around 10%, i run it at 56hp and 40% regen
I've had my bike for almost 2.5 years, logging over 180 hrs and have never had to tighten up the handle bar mount bolts. My bike has been rock solid since day 1!
Bro I have a stark Varg and it feels like a dream
MY Stark drive train died after 4 hours The bike is total Junk stay away !!
@resolventdonkey1829funny I just got mine yesterday and it was probably 40 at max
@_th@_thisisdaneI’ve been racing since 1970 and have owned 52 motorcycles. 20 years of MX, then off-road HS, National enduros, D/S, Hard Enduro. I’m 72 and I’ve flatted tires every way possible. I built most every bike from the crate and have done most of my maintenance and repairs. My Stark has had 0 issues and is by far the easiest bike I have ever ridden!
i used a stark varg that had the logo switched off and called it a red rtr with a bigger body and gapped everyone in the start
the tubes are so shit mine broke before i rode it, replaced them that day and havent had a problem yet
My bikes charge at 1.5kw from 110 outlet. Probably should not use that extension cord.
I got an ex brand new after 1300 miles power train went but they replaced it and fixed it for free picking it back up this week and the customer service was good sorted within a few days to get it fixed with a dealership near me
NO ISSUES with mine. Bought the EX brand new
I got my 13 year old son a gen1 stark.every single bike we buy don’t last long at all the stark was no different 27hrs new power train and charger but under warrantee so fixed for free 👍.best to buy from a dealer then you can just drop it off when it shts itself.tubes lasted 1 ride both flat.suspension is soft. its broken the plastic fork guard from bottoming so hard and smashing into the triple clamp and tyre marks under back fender and needs a guts seat cover.if u got the money i would buy a electric car truck and you can silent charge it at the track👌ohh and the stand is gay would rather have a triangle stand and a lil charger.but its a awesome bike😅
Great review and very honest. I have the EX and can tell you, suspension is job one. I used Stillwell Performance and Kevin there makes the bike unbelievable. The rear spring is open ended and makes sag settings difficult. I recommend a closed end spring for normal adjustments. Checking connectors and di-electric grease are your friend, otherwise your hardest task is keeping a rear tire on it.
@MotoThingsUSA For what reason? Praising the warranty coverage from them? I'm since november '23 owner of an MX 1.0 and since april have an EX. The first model was quite plagued with some errors. Each itteration less and less. My 1.0 has had a new drivetrain (cracks in the inverter cover, fully functioning though but got a new one nonetheless), new battery due to software issue and some minor stuff. On the 2026 EX i just had a sticky On/Off switch, the tubes still blew out first day and the cradle ejected the phone during an Enduro ride (got that one replaced as well). Other than that it has been super reliable the past 65+ hours.
@BigNaijj I have the normal EX medium. With 85kg i'm a tad heavy for it in MX, but in Enduro it's fine enough. I will place hard EX springs though. Sorry to say, but with 110kg you're 100% too heavy for the medium. As for inner tubes... Black rubber ones. I normally run anything i can get my hands on. Normally regular 2.5mm, however for jumping i like the heavy duty 4.5mm ones in the rear since they are heavier and make the bike perfectly easy to control mid air with just the throttle without touching the brakes.
They are good for the neighborhood or trail riding where the sand don't get thick. I get on mine and turn my neighborhood into my own racetrack late at night. Zippy. My Kawi 112 screams though. Stark varg I'm sure has bigger tires than my ebike. If I wanna get grip and fly,I'll hop on my 450. It tackles all the thick shit no problem 🤪🤪🤪
I recently purchased a Stark Varg and the drive train broke after 4 hours a total piece of JUnk
Mine has the same press a lot of buttons to get it to move. I still love it for the handle bar rear brake, light weight and insane wheelies. Support has been slow, but useful, including new VCU (?) from dealer. Disappointed it is not monitored online via the phone and no security tracking for a bike with no locks. I am 65 and I love it.
Poorly designed kickstand system, footpegs and hand brakes tells me everything I need to know about how the rest of the bike is designed... also explains why the manufacturer has to save the brand by giving out replacements.
Ventus one + with the new Aetos Pro controller. Hands down best bike I’ve had. Ive owned all the erides , 3.0 & sr. Stark varg etc.
@ScooterMcGee-iy1pu The varg would last longer than any motocrosser. I know this as my friends have various MX bikes and they always have to turn back before me. Nobodys riding more than 70 miles on an mx bike. I ride every day and would need to rebuilt a 2 stroke once a month at least. Ive been riding the varg since august with just oil changes and tyres. You sound really stupid.
With a Brembo rear break you definitely just dont have it dialed in right if its not working good
Love the Stark! but main complaints are freewheeling backwards like what happens with a recluse clutch a on a gas bike, the weight, the range. Other than those things it's the best bike I've ever owned by a lot
Rode stark varg yesterday on powerlines near me, was blown away by the torque. 40hp was the sweet spot. 60hp felt like more power than a 450 4 stroke, absolutely wild. I assume anything past 60hp is unusable though
Nobody ever talks about the finite battery life and huge battery replacement cost🤢
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME CARSON RIPS ON DE STARK. I RODE ONE ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSIVE!! ALTHOUGH NOT AS WELL AS CARSON!!
SV EX 60 hp 1200 miles. I average 2 hours of range. 😅 Typically ride in 30 Hp KTM 250xcfw is my adventure bike Having both bikes is a must. Thanks for the vid! Good job
So I was the official 1st person on the east coast to have the EX delivered to back in April 2025. So I’ve officially had it for just about a year. Currently have 5 bikes so I don’t ride it as my primary bike but, when I do ride it’s an experience like no other. Also, never had a single issue or glitch. The newer EX also has a redesigned phone. Maybe that was the. Highest issue. Ordering was a breeze. I was contacted right away by stark and walked be through the whole process. 1 million times easier than any dealer experience I’ve ever had. Is it the end all be all? No not really. It has its place just like everything else. But it’s definitely the best in its class by far. Light years!
Just need a fusion reactor in the bike, You would never run out of power....
Grew up on gas bikes and bought my Varg about 2 years ago. By far my favorite bike I have ever owned! Everything about this bike, with the exception of charging and battery life, makes riding more enjoyable. I have no regrets buying this bike. Gas will be so obsolete once battery tech improves!
Got a Stark Varg last year. 50 BHP, 50 miles range, Moto-X stand and fast charger, back pack charger, Android phone dash with 5 configurable modes for power & regen. Goes like a missile and turns like a Supermoto with left side handlebar rear brake.
@user-paullynchyes I have a stark and I hate the phone. Also the app for the second gen mx because you can’t set traction control etc. just Hp and Regen braking. There are 3rd party apps like SVAG now that let you monitor the battery system and motor temps also water pump etc. but the fact stark tied everything into a phone is ridiculous. It’s only so they can remote access it easier I am sure for repair orders within the software. But still I love my stark. Got 40 miles on it just cruisin on a dirt road and had 50% left. It’s basically unridable in 80 hp unless you are on a track or the highway. The mountains and trails 37hp is perfect. I just hate how you can’t change traction control or “flywheel” effect and they give all those nice software updates to the EX and new MX1.2 and the SM now too but the mx 1.0 got the shaft on further development. They treat the stark kind of like how Apple treats iPhone. Instead of making a badass all around couple models to choose from they just do one and then do all the upgrades in the next model…just like Apple. So that kind of sucks. Plus the fact you cannot remove and swap the battery. It is part of the actual framework.
You guys need to show some hard enduro riding. I love riding tech on my Stark! It tackles the gnarly climbs like no other bike!
This is exactly what it feels like riding my Stark at 80HP, but nothing like how it looks like You can just hear the constant wheelspin in
Electric is bullish!t not only bad for your health (like standing near a 5g mast type dangerous) but you gotta spend two hours charging for every forty mins riding True if petrol stops coming it goes off but we’ll worry about that when it happens having a ten grand electric paperweight won’t help will it. I think people need to say no to electric & people should stop pretending it’s gonna make a difference Support freedom Support petrol & diesel
A buddy and I just went out and roosted in the woods for 4 hours on our Stark Vargs today...yours was great when it was a dirt bike but turning it into a supermoto definitely made it less useful.
i got mine strake from dealer one of my grips were torn i sent them a photo of it they sent me 2 new grips overnight mail, i was stoked. gj varg.... support is awesome .. i also got a portable charger 800$ its the size of a book fits nicely of my rear rack iam 68 and i love it no maintenance free gota love it... gas power guys just sad cuz iam some much fast then them 80hp smoked a Nija 600 other day he was like wtf 👽👽👽👽
Thanks for the honesty... I tried one and it left me a little cold... I'm 100% sure it's not for me...
Prefiero el freno de manos ... ya que puedes frenar y sacar la pierna para apollarte...
This is exactly what it feels like riding my Stark at 80HP, but nothing like how it looks like 😅 You can just hear the constant wheelspin in this video.
I am 55 and I own an Stark. Nothing is more fun than this.
Looks like an absolute blast if you have the skills and strength to hang on! 60hp was too much for me on my Varg!
You couldn’t have picked a more well-rounded rider with no fear to showcase your bike. Carson Brown is a flipping beast on anything He throws his leg over. And the stark varg is a wild beast that Carson man handled. I had the opportunity this fall to test ride the bike and as a 50+ year-old overweight out of shape guy. It truly blew my mind on how easy it was to ride. I thought the throttle was gonna be super touchy and it was gonna yank my arms off as soon as I gave it a twist. But I came away a believer and was impressed on how light it felt even with how much weight it was carrying lol. Truly a great video and an even better bike.
@ethans6.0 Yes. I own a Stark since 5 months. Best bike I have ever owned.
I get 3-4 hours from mine. 50-70m miles. Maybe if youre a pro MX rider youll get less but a normal person will be riding it in 40hp as 80 will kill you.
7:48 , at least on the EX, I can put it in gear while rolling. Also, there are oil changes at every 40 hrs, but it’s less than 1 cup of oil.
It does need a transmission evidently because the engine revs up to 14200rpm. Transmission cannot be silent because it uses straight gearing which is much more efficient in order to not loose power and extend the range as much as possible. Thectes
I am loving my varg. Its my 3rd dirt bike. Yes my kickstand bracket broke yes 3rd party makes an upgraded bracket. Yes its silly. But i still like the product overal.
Lean forward stg people don’t know how to keep this beast on the ground it’s possible to so don’t say u try cause I have, stay tucked treat it like a road bike u can push 100mph +
It's not quiet at all. That metallic whine from the transmission is just awful. By comparison, a Tesla is practically silent. And don't tell me that one is a car and the other is a motorcycle. The transmission design is crucial. My personal opinion is that a motorcycle doesn't need one at all. The engine should transmit power directly to the wheel via a belt or chain. And an electric motor makes that possible because it has torque across the entire RPM range. It doesn't need a transmission. But the engineers simply couldn't do it. That's the level of engineering, basically.
I motocross with mine and get 1 hour to an hour and 20 mins of riding at 45hp. on two different good tracks. off a 110v plug it charges mine 1% every 2 mins. Super fun bike.
Electric is coming along, but drawbacks aplenty.
I live in high rockies. Friends with vargs get maybe 20 miles at best! Due to step climbs and colder weather. So, don't kid yourself! if you're into really short rides. Get one! But not a real rider's bike!
I have never had any issues with my Stark and the very minor ones I did have Stark immediately resolved the issues they are very good at responding to emails you can also use the phone that came with the bike for support in my experience they have better support than Yamaha at least online and when they send you Parts it's quick. I have $200 on my Stark and the only problem that I had with it was the screen starting to separate from the phone but they sent me a brand new phone no charge. And they give you a complete tool set to work on the bike Stark is just awesome they even dropped a new Supermoto bike
I use a thumb rear brake on my V4 at the track. The “bicycle” style rear brake on the Varg bings the rear brake into road riding like a Supermoto.
The Stark is wonderful. We ride trails for 6 hours.
Owned a stark for 7 mos. Been at the dealer for 4.5 mos. Battery bricked from software update and noe the dealer says I need to come inspect frame damage and give them permission to weld it as it's not covered under warranty. They tell me it's so old it's got rust in the crack. Do your self a favor and don't buy this pile of junk. Funnest bike to ride til it died all by itself. I mostly would sneak this thing up the road a few miles to a trail that leads to my brother's house. Never even got to ride it hard. Front tire is new and the back has some broken knobbies because it's so torque heavy, the part I liked. Tech support and the dealer support have been horrible.
The bike going into neutral is a safety feature. After 15 seconds the bike will go into neutral to prevent someone grabbing the throttle by mistake and send the bike flying. Also getting only 35min of ride time at a MX is not fully true. The bike will out last the average vet rider on a full charge. Only people that have been able to get to 30-35min run times are pro level athletes. I run mine at 45hp with 55% re-gen and will be able to get about 1hr-1hr 10min from 100% to 20% battery level.
@shawntblin5423 Reporting back, 50hp was the call. Was able to pop up the front wheel for wheelies and the power curve felt wayy better. thanks again.
My EX lasted for 25 miles till 1% battery on fast flowy single trails (35-40 hp, 25-30 regen is close to my 300 2T). I felt like it was somewhat enough riding, but wish it can do more... Hopefully there will be a better bolt-on battery I can upgrade to in the future. As far as handling goes, it's the best dirt bike I've ever ridden! I opted for stiffer suspension for my weight (205 lb in birthday clothes) and fork springs came .46 and shock was way undersprung with .48 so had to go up to .60. I ended up revalving, which I would have loved to avoid, but the initial stroke was too harsh and made my arms tired let alone the uncomfortable feeling that stops you from pushing the bike... After this upgrades the bike is PERFECT! Stark needs to pay more attention to this because we end up paying for their mistakes.
i second the first reply, Ultra bee was the best decision i ever made. After fully modding it came out to a little more than an EX for me but ive beat every stark varg ive raced so far
i just got a stark cause less Maintenace
@ml5955 I ordered the heavy springs and the spring rates are great, but I wound up taking some oil out of the forks, now it feels great. Ergos, handling body position are legit and spot on. I've had a bunch of buddies swing a leg over it and they get used it in 2 seconds and you can hear them laughing as they ride off. Traction for days and feels plenty light, as there's no reciprocating weight.
I installed a traction control and it makes a difference. The mod came with an additional clutch lever, which I will disassemble again because i do not use it.
They say its my folt for not cleaning shock, it was wet even befor 20h but i made picuture later at around 27h because i thought that they will cover it. @respawnmodtrolling Preaty sad that i will have to pay for it and also cant ride it
yes I agree the weight is heavy - if your not riding full size enduro before then this can make it hard in really technical situations. I had a hell of a time on a hillside when I dropped it with the seat and bars downhill , I had to slide /spin the bike 180 to have any chance of lifting it - do this 3 or 4 times and your done. If you are attacking super technical or walk up obstacles a smaller bike like talaria sting or surron may be easier and more fun and more adapted for beginner / intermediate riders. I have the EX 80 HP model agree 60hp is enough and would be cheaper to register for the road and insure. I am coming from offroad dt125 experience and can say the stark bikes get up all the tech stuff with ease that I was struggling with on the dt - mainly due to the dt bogging down and not having enough power to climb, even if giving the dt plenty of revs eventually it ran out of speed and torque - which never happens on the stark.
I got my stark MX a little rubberized map switch cover from a UK seller on ebay and you can still operate the buttons with it on. Highly recommend running that while you ride. Keeps it clean/dry if you crash or raining and havent had any issues with the buttons so far. Also got it resprung and revalved with racetech gold valves and it is incredible everywhere from slow to fast stuff. Completely changed the bike for me. Highly reccomend if running the MX model for offroad.
Until they can go 150 to 200 miles on a single charge. They are paperweights. Next topic!!
I've had both the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Stark, they have been absolutely nothing but technical support issues. SAM chat is a joke, Stark has thrown over 23k worth of parts at my bike (3 new batteries, 1 new drive train), just for it to fail as soon as I gave it the first charge. Going back to Gas powered bikes.
Actually no it’s battery can last up to 8 hours mine last that long and I see other people riding for a long time the 2 hour mark it would probably be on 70 percent
So this is a gen 3 MX now already …dam guys my gen 2 is outdated before I barely broke it in, oh wait it broke itself with those crap tubes… …give it a break already and us a chance to breathe as you promised us great updates for our current new bikes but yet you keep failing us and disappointing in that aspect and instead just keep putting out a newer bike that’s basically the same but better, but not ours via any great and similar updates …seems all STARK really has is deep , greedy pockets 😢😡⁉️
I've had mine for 18 months, love it in all conditions from desert to track. 62 years old, had kinds of motor bikes since 1974 - most fun of them all. But I do feel like i'm cheating a bit on the track.
No matter how much you guys spend on promotion, or videos, there is still one problem, the short range it gets on a charge, then the time it takes to re-charge it, and how you re-charge it. If I ride it hard, using 3/4 throttle, or more, it gets 1.5 to maybe 2 hours on a charge. Then I have to re-charge it, that takes a gas generator and time. So while my friends are riding, I am sitting at the truck waiting for my battery to charge, if I even have a portable generator to re-charge it at the place where I am riding. That can take 2 hours, or more. Until I can ride it for at least 4 hours at 3/4 or more throttle, and then re-charge it in an hour, or less, I will not be buying one.
I am a woods rider here in America. Much of the community scoffs at the idea of electric bikes. Most of this is probably due to peoples inability to adapt and let go of tradition, but i had the opportunity to ride one last week and i must say I have been baptized in lighting lol. I have not come off a bike laughing and smiling like that since the first time I threw a leg over a dirt bike. Well done from a recent convert and fan of the brand.
I’ve gotten a couple hours on one in the mountains in Oregon, they are unbelievable. Definitely going to take peoples riding to the next level
I've been very happy with my varg, no major issues, it threw a warning code that turned out to be a leaking radiator, its a smart bike, it detected the coolant loss and was flashing and beeping at me. Stark replaced the radiator and supplied an updated water pump cover under warranty, very nice. My only issue has been how quick the suspension went off, both ends were cooked at 15 hours, oil came out like guiness.. Serviced the shock and its good, serviced the forks but they are still collapsing thrugh the stroke..I suspect that I have worn out the mid valve shims , just like what would happen on a yamaha. I will get the forks re valved, but for my riding, the suspension will need service at 10 hours minimum, and valving most likely replaced in the forks mid valve at that interval.. The bike is heavy and fast and works its suspension components very hard when pushing on a fast and properly rough mx track. The bike does feel like a 125, you dont feel the weight, it will make you both faster and able to ride fast for longer. Not having to shift or clutch or ever stall the bike is a massive advantage. Getting the hand rear brake option is a no brainer, it only takes a few lap to get used to, then try going back to a regular bike 🤣🤣 The biggest advantage of the hand rear brake is that you now don't need to use your feet for anything. It is amazing the difference in your riding when you can keep the balls of your feet on the pegs and stay off your arches...the Varg makes this easy, no more riding flat footed and no more having to take your feet off the peg to shift or brake. The bike is cheap to run and super reliable, you will never blow a top end or punch a rod throght the cases and have to part the bike out..100% guaranteed that will never happen😂😂 The bike is amazing, just service the suspension often if you ride hard mx and nothing else..I think the manual say service the suspension at 40 hours...umm no..service it at 10 hours minimum
Great bike and some nice improvents as always! Had mine nearly 2 years and absolutely love the thing. So please take anything below as constructive criticism! I'm almost ready to get an EX. However a few questions. - I can see you offer the MX 1.2 with the option for Enduro suspension, but i would love to see the other way around, will that become possible? - Will the sidestand issue be fixed? I installed the longer EX version after i snapped a few MX versions. But that snapped as well when i parked it in the grass. I never had such issues with any of my bikes and i owned a lott... For now i'm running a Chinese part that just works and doesn't snap. Solid aluminium and just 12 grams heavier... We know you love titanium, so do we, but you might want to admit defeat here, nothing shamefull about that! - Will there be a faster charger and/or a way to charge an extra battery ''off-the-bike''? As of now i can't finish longer races on the Stark (either 6.5 or 7.2 won't do) and have to move to my ICE. However i can limit the amount of riding the ICE with faster charging OR a swappable battery that i can actually charge without dismantling the bike again.
@stark_future I tried the Varg at Red Stag last month and I couldn’t imagine riding it in tough terrain. It’s awesome on the track but feels very unpredictable at low speeds. However I didn’t know about the adjustable power curves and as you guys mentioned below, it probably just needs to be ridden in a different style, meaning I’d have to change my own riding technique. Thanks for your answer and I’m still quietly hoping for a clutch. :))
@stark_futurecan’t say thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to live out a dream of mine…. To have my own private backyard track was always a dream but impossible due to neighbor complaints for noise and now that the varg not only is the best bike I’ve ever owned I finally built my dream back yard track and have had zero complaints in the last 8 months of riding almost every other day on the varg. Thank you for making an excellent product that helps makes dreams comes true!
I've had my Varg for a bit of time now. I hate to say it, but it's certainly not my favorite. There's just something weird about it that I've never been able to get over. If I had to define it, it would probably be in the steering or handling. It's simply too fast or loose to build confidence in it. Maybe I'm weird, but I just can't wing it around corners in the trail like I can with my other electric. The other thing is the hand brake. I don't think I get along with that functionality and wish I had gotten a foot brake instead. I really thought it might be a learn to use it situation, but no matter how many times I switch back to it from another bike, I'm just a fish out of water with it. On a lesser note, the kickstand is absolutely horrible!!! Other then it being the only option, it's just trash. The geometry is way off. I'm surprised because they seemed to do great on a lot of the things on the bike. It's like they have the design project to the summer interns and nobody checked their work. An upgrade idea or two: I kind of wish it just had standardized maps and then customize from there. The regen seems to be either brutal, or nonexistent. I haven't found a happy place to go along with any of the maps yet. I just kind of live with it. Oh, and I guess I really dislike the charging stand. The bike is incredibly heavy, so lifting it is no fun, and it can really only use the stock one because of the slant of the frame. I never charge it on there, so it would be nice to have the charger in a case as an option.
As a company stark has excellent marketing and great innovative ideas a very exciting new company I think a lot of over brands will be wise to look at what they are doing. Although apparently the only difference between the 60hp and 80hp versions is a un-lockable map which is a very KTM like idea that puts a bad taste in people’s mouths. As a bike it’s probably the best and most fun iv ever ridden but the range just isn’t there for what I need to do. Hopefully with the advancement in solid state battery’s with potentially 3x the power and 15 minutes change times in years to come this is going to be a real game changer and where electric cars and bike really take over. We’re not quite there yet, but exciting times to come. And time to reopen all of those tracks that got closed down for noise complaints in the UK.
I've had my 1.0 for a little over a year. I've owned a lot of dirtbikes in my 57 years, and I have said many times that this is my favorite or best bike I've ever owned...now I mean it. It is fun, in any condition, on any dirt type it is fun, but it is absolutely a fast lap weapon as well. Kudos to the Stark team for the intelligent design and for just building a fantastic dirtbike!
@stark_future I need help Stark !! I bought my MX 2 months ago and had zero issues until I did the update and bike would wouldn’t turn back on. Stark meeting diagnosed it as it needs a new battery but I have to bring it to a dealer to get it replaced. But the dealer is refusing to work on any bike that wasn’t bought specifically through them. I told stark this and now i haven’t got any replies??? GOING ON 3 weeks now with a bike that Broke because of an update.
Glad to see further improvement and innovation. I wish I could work for Stark Future. I had my stark under water and powered out which would have drowned any ITC bike. It out climbed other bikes in the sand dunes and doesn’t over heat. It’s a flying carpet compared to other bikes. I’m building a Ducati 698 into a desert racer for long distance rides but the stark is always my choice for technical terrain and shorter rides. Thanks to Swedish born innovation.
My EX is my favorite motorcycle ever. My gasser 300 & 350 aren't getting much love these days since I added the Varg to the mix. I agree 100% with the notion that this bike makes one a better rider: I focus on fundamentals without having to constantly move my feet (rear hand brake is amazing) or think about what gear to be in. Every single ride is such a pleasure on this thing!
Can the one piece new control switch be retrofitted to my gen 1 Varg, or is not compatible due to the new wiring harness? Thanks! Love my Varg, almost 2 years, used all year round, trails and track in the summer, ice tires on in the winter. Other than an early issue with the kick stand, and a hiccup with the handle switch ( I did drop it in 2 feet of water during a dumb attempted water crossing, I had to go looking for it under the water! Found it and rode it out)! Had some connection issues a few days later.. Quick fix with dialectic grease and a reseal of the switch… Bike has been bullet proof! Battery life is as good or better than when it was new! I would vote for a horn option, great for letting other riders find you when you get separated, or to pass.
Both me and my friends EX punctured on the first rides. This is with the new tube with the pad. I suspect the rim lock slipping might have contributed to this issue. I still have one Stark tube in the bike and it's holding up. Maybe you should have a warning about tightening the rim lock.
Good to see Stark is offering different seats. Could you also consider a taller seat which is more suitable for a sit down riding style? The current seat can be a torture device after an hour or two. Overall, very impressed with my EX riding single track!
@HarlanVaughan no, not really, it's been really good ... I'd say I'm a slow expert / slow B rider, I get about 3 hard 20 mins sessions from the battery, but I also have a small generator which makes it last all day ...
Best bike I’ve ever owned my entire collection of bikes ranging from 110s to 450s all collect dust now. I haven’t even had to adjust the chain after 50 hours of motocross riding at B class level. It’s insane how good everything is.
Brilliant video guys. Unfortunately you have put me in a real predicament. Love my Varg 1.0 but now you have dangled the carrot and I feel the need to trade it for a new 1.2!!! If these are available in dealerships now, I might need to take a visit and talk turkey. Love the new upgrades. And I think you are right about turning faster lap times too. I feel quicker on my Varg than I do on my CRF450. If I can get a deal I might😊 swap both bikes for 2 new 1.2 Vargs. Decisions decisions. Keep up the amazing work guys and send me an invitation to check out your headquarters soon please 😅. Thanks in advance
had my Varg MX for nearly 2 years and it's the best bike I've ridden, by a long way. Awesome to see the company innovating, tweaking what's already a great bike and listening to customer feedback. Nice work!
What an absolute pleasure supporting a brand and a team like Stark Future. Bought my MX 1.0 about 3 months ago, and it is literally the best thing I have ever done for my riding. Love everything about it, and this latest 1.2 release just proves that you are here for the long run, are pushing boundries and outperforming everything. Keep it up, you guys and gals are one of a kind! 🤩
I got it a good month ago.. But was away for 2 weeks on vacation in the meantime.. So 2-3 weeks riding and about 350Km and the front tube went to hell.. 😂. I regret not choosing the moose from factory, because the mechanic scratched the rims when changing the tubes.. I put in the fat ones Michelin HD.. It's funny that the tubes are 2 or 3rd gen and still not good enough 😂 And for the road the tyres are too bumpy, might wanna change the tires and tubes at the same time when you get a flat 👍
good call on the suspension changes. while its great at riding at maximum, it does feel kinda harsh over small bumps right now. will probably need to get mine revalved. the seat was my next big gripe with it as its super slippery. great changes overall.
I have have a varg alpha , it’s its own animal. It’ll never replace a done up 450 they are in their own category. Love both
have a new 2025 varg. came today. looks and feels amazing. i agree with the rear hand break so far. not so strong
Only clocked up 16 hours 45 minutes on my "ex". Handguards don't do what they're supposed to. Of course it could use more, much more and probably even VERY much more range. But as a package, the overall bike is just FANTASTIC imo, best compromise of weight, range and rideability, with almost flawless finish to boot! Traction control or "something like a clutch" would be helpful to some, although I was told by "mx" and "ex" riders that its more like a getting used to. It certainly is for me. Nothing to HATE about this! Consider what is DONE and what you get in the light of current tech!
And the experience is doo doo without phone
I touched on that at the end, silence is amazing.
1. Still sucks 2. Yeah for $15k give me good peg 3. Coo 4. It's vented 5. Did you watch the video 6. I use Milwaukee like real man
Whoaaaah throwing out that D word is crazy. There's cons to everything, I listed 10, those 10 suck, but the good out weighs the bad.
I've been at 82mph at 40hp... Soo 164mph top speed 😂 To scared to go past 40hp and had it nearly 3 weeks... Insane power
When I take my bike out I use it all day I'm not going for a 35-minute ride LOL
@sbenn6917 I get about an hour and a half ride or 30 miles if I'm riding it hard like a dirtbike. You could go a lot further on level ground and reasonable speeds but where's the fun in that? :)
I'm over 50 and I love my EX. It lets me ride off road in places where a gas bike would attract some unwanted attention. Low maintenance and always ready for some fun - just press the button and GO!
44 and I love mine! I loved 2-strokes, never a fan of 4-strokes, for dirt bikes I skipped straight from 2-strokes to electric. Love it.
I hate it because the company took over 6 months to deliver an EX just for it to have A BUSTED MOTOR! And now, Bobby J’s, in New Mexico is saying they’ll charge me for the labor costs on the “warranty” repair. It’s been a NIGHTMARE! I regret buying this joke.
There is so much positive about the bike that you missed because you never go it off the road. They are more than just fast. I recently picked up an EX for trail riding. My previous trail bike was a 2018 Beta 390. I rode it several years and just two years ago put a Recluse clutch in it, and it felt like a cheat code. These Starks take all the little irritants of gas and gears away and distills trail riding down to its pure fun aspects. There is a learning curve to them, but that's overcome within the first real ride. There's a lot of people that say I just like a gas motor, and that's cool. People have their preferences, 2 strole vs four stroke, V8 vs V6, V-twin vs In-line 4. I personally like function over form and when you take a Stark out on the trail, there's no denying it's performance. There's several guys, over 40 in my area that have decades of MX and Hair Scramble experience that love their Starks. I was resistant to them for a while until I took one for loop through the trails.
Got my ex yesterday first thing I did was experience the charging port thing falling apart. 😂
Just got mine EX last week feels like a toy but it is not ... I have been teleported from my garage when I accidentally gave 40 HP mode instead crawl :D need to say nothing happened to motorcycle. I am little bit scratched but I really need to get used to that. I miss clutch and gearbox tho 😭😭😭.
yes it can i have one, i do 6 20 min sessions at my local track every weekend and finish at 20 percent battery after 2 hours of riding
Love my Varg. I’m almost 60 and don’t do 10 hour days. For my ‘speed’ and trails I ride (don’t do moto) it lasts as long as I do. No problems with my 23’ model. Have the Brembo left hand brake and it works good. But yes, I have other gas bikes for longer adventures. And every rider I know has multiple bikes anyway…..
Had my "ex" for two weeks/7 hours now and love it! Range is an issue, and I might not get used to the noise it makes. It sounds disproportionate in pitch and, foremost, volume for me. Should, for what reason ever, the varg become unrideable, I'd clean it up and mount it on a pedestal in my living room, I honestly think it looks and feels that good! I wish Stark all the best in ANY way, no matter what they do! I love everything about you and your video, especially the very calm, objective and experienced manner in which you address your points. Looking forward to more content from you!
As for 45hp, go to 50, 55 or even 60hp. I regularly have the throttle pinned in 45hp mode and feel I could use a little more here and there at that power level. With good track flow you can still hit all the jumps with ease and can ride at that (45hp) setting till the battery runs out. I feel it’s easier to exit the corners on 45hp, less likely for the rear to step out.
I think that just a glitch. Mine does the same.
You have a 1st gen. Can tell by the charging port. I switched to an oversized rotor in the rear and bled the hand brake repeatedly and it finally clicked. Works great now.
I hate NOTHING about my Varg, and I’ve been dirt biking for 40 years. Short learning curve, and it’s the best bike I’ve ever owned. Alpha, naturally!
I recently purchased a new late model Varg MX. Sure it cost more, but the battery is more than twice the capacity and 60,000 watts of power. Absolutely a blast to ride. Runs a long time on trails.
Which bike is cheap to own? Sure, ppl have swapped engine.. Most of the time on warranty.. Which other manufactor sends new engines on warranty? The kickstand IS heavy but mine (EX) has long enough cables, I can have the bike beside the stand and charge it without any issues. You forgot the tubes, they do honeestly suck!
I have over 1500mi on my Stark and over 130 hours and I'm telling you it is by far the best bike I've ever owned it's not perfect and I have the second generation because the charge port is lower the kickstand sucks the phone is a bit laggy at times but other than that it is way better ..no maintenance hardly. I even have Nitro mousse (tubeless) in mine which probably puts it around 280 or so.. although it feels really light end the suspension is perfect and I can ride it anywhere I want without being bothered.. Especially here in the high desert where there's a lot of houses but there's also a lot of good trails.. There's nothing else like it it's a totally different experience you have to try it at least once in your life to really understand
I'd want battery capacity around 5x what it presently is to come close to gas bikes. Still a long way to go.
"4 hours of technical riding and still has over 60% charge" LIES! Are they riding on the lowest setting and riding at 5 MPH? LOL I rode my friends bike for 20 minutes on a track and it was under 40%
But I also agree as a second third or fourth Motorcycle I love the thing for its intended purpose. Being able to be super stealthy around my home and local trails is a huge bonus, and it’s a blast on the motocross track and trail as well. I charge mine through a solar generator on my RV, but definitely have to plan my trail rides accordingly.
My Stark experience is awesome becuase, like you've said, it's not only the riding that improves: the ownership improves, too. The main problem of most of the riders is that accruing hours of experience takes way more hours of maintenance, transportation, etcetera. Much less maintenance is the main reason for which I've bought mine and I'm enjoying it a lot! I really hope to start seeing motocross tracks for electric bikes only placed in towns instead of in the sticks.
get the seat comforts seat, I did it on day 1 and I can stay on that seat until the battery dies. Very comfy.
I'm a diehard Android user and I want to throw that phone out. I wish there was a dedicated display with basic info and you can use the app to access more advanced features like mapping. I have the EX, zero issues aside from being locked out of my bike after locking it. Had to figure out how to reboot everything in order to finally get it to work.
I have a gen 1, and Stark sent me a new power train and a new battery quickly after I had issues. For me, it’s the best and easiest bike to ride single track, hillclimbs, and any trail. Doesn’t last in a full race but that’s what gas bikes are for!! Great review!
Good one, had few problems with my gen1 but my "gen2" have not had a single problem. Maybe luck but damn stable bike, my Ex have had a few from start tho..:))
@mxoudi hand brake still a bit weak imo, I'll just change the rear rotor for something bigger when I get my sumos in and another caliper, was gonna do that anyways, but the rear foot pedal is strong. Kickstand is weird but not junk. No tubes popping on mine 😂 but all this things altho they shouldn't be a problem given the price is to be expected with the first versions of things, still, amazingly fun to ride around, quiet and it has a weird but good thing with the popo, they don't seem to mind me at all.
Hand brake that works properly is way better than a foot brake. Be that as it may, this bike is just way too heavy for enduro use.
On the hand brake issue. KTM 500 Recluse clutch and recluse rear brake kit. If someone would bring MOTO brakes to MTB level of throw and sensitivity. I too want to lock the rear wheel without having to super crush the brake lever. No one has it. Checked with so many industry people. For me the rear hand brake is WAY BETTER Just tired of having to pull the lever 3 inches to lockup the rear end.
Also having the formula hand brake is another clear sign you have a Gen1
@frencvoo1960basically compare it to the front Brembo brake. The formula rear to me was under powered and has no modulation. When you order the Brembo kit you get the master cylinder and a new brake line. Now the front and rear have the same feel and action
And with the battery range, this is with it being NEW. Wait a year or two or 10. The range will only go down. You can get on a 30 year old XR250 and it runs as good when it was new. And bring a generator. So... what is the point of a electric dirt bike? just no noise. which is the point to ride a dirt bike. BRAAAAP!
I've got a throttle error when I unplug the bike from the charger warning that its not closed. But I don't get a yellow LED or anything indicating a fault. I'm also feeling like I need to turn the throttle too much in 45hp mode to get it to a good power range. I'm wondering if it's my throttle faulting or if I'm just not use to the throttle yet. I'm hoping that the power curve update coming soon can fix my experience with it.
Battery capacity with double range = double charging time. Unless you have a charging point with double capacity. 🧐
How were the rear brakes on the Ultra bee? Mine are great. I got a varg and the rear is awful like you said not enough bite. If I zip tie the rear brake closed the night before I ride it gives it a more firm feel. But still not near the ultra bee.
Personally i love my Ex, not a replacement for my beta 250rr but the varg is the one i constantly pick up if i wanna have fun around town, quick trips, wheelies, go to any trip or put on the sumos and go track, thing is amazing and in my use case, im not staying in that seat for more than 2 hours, i wasnt ass-blessed.
Gen 1, Alpha 80, foot brake, have over 80hrs no isues at all ! Plated for the street also !
These bikes have a lot of problems, but the riding experience isn't one of them. The handling is amazing, and my god the sitting on the bikes and the ergos themselves are just outstanding. Like you said, the thing wears that weight really well for the most part.
Idk what material they used for the hand brake line to the caliper but getting a higher quality line, maybe try bleeding the system or if all that fails maybe find a better master cylinder. Other wise foot brake
The Stark VARG is a great choice — it’s highly adjustable, so you can map and tone down the power to fit your experience level. It’s a super fun bike, and while it has 80 HP at max, you definitely don’t need to use all of it right off the bat. That said, you should definitely consider the length of your daily trips and battery life, as that’ll impact how far you can go between charges. We’ve only used it on dirt so far, but we imagine the street version would be just as fun! Enjoy the ride! ⚡
Love the Sharks! We tried all 5 modes up a big sand hill climb. 80hp just flies up! 😍
I did big obstacles on day one after i purchased, absolutely no need for a clutch yet
I did that exact same time with my electric dirt bike at 4:17.. because you heard no sound you assumed it was off.. happened while I was sitting and managed to nail the the railing 2 feet in front of me and flew off. went from 0-10 in like .5seconds
Stark Varg is thee 🐐 no doubt. But it’s no a play bike 😂 also mine already has issues 😭😭
Just took one out,absolutely insane,think it’s the fastest accelerating thing I’ve ever ridden.👍
@MisterRoads Depends on how i ride, trails i get about 3-4 hours of ride time at 45hp. 55hp on mx track i would say about 2 hours.
@LarrenCole 50hrs on mine without a single issue. I've adjusted the chain once. Thats it! I ride moto, hard enduro, singletrack, double track all on the same bike and its killer on all of it.
@LarrenCole Yes sir. Not having to move your foot from the the balls of your feet is excellent. Right hand corners with your leg stuck out,metering the speed with the hand brake is outstanding. I cannot recommend the Varg enough.
I rode one this year and just couldn’t believe how different this is. Felt like riding a Mountainbike with crazy torque.
@lifewithbreak4450 are you riding in hot weather conditions? I’ve never had anything like that . I went on a ride and when battery got down to 15% I gave it one last rip in 60hp at the end of a trail ride and the thing still had crazy response
If your bike feels less powerful below 70% battery there’s something wrong with it. Mine feels the same right down to about 15%🤔 . Mine is only 60 hp version so not sure about running them above that
I just got one. Absolutely love it . Done with gas bikes .
@Ozrider2504 100%! I mean foot brake is just a solution since gas needs a clutch. Just run the brake on the handlebar. I was just used to that left lever was clutch so i didn't want a brake there but i got used to it so fast and damn it so good! I can have my right leg out in curves and still brake if i need to. Love it!
I have a hard time getting back on my buddy’s 350 after getting one, kinda sad but I absolutely love the Varg.
I think it would be a great tool for correcting some bad habits that you learn by abusing a clutch! I found that you have to have perfect lean-angle while entering a rut because you don't have the clutch to modulate the power if you're leaning too much or too little. For example, if I don't lean quite enough on a normal bike, I just pull the clutch in slightly and it helps me fall into the turn. Without a clutch, you must have perfect lean angle
65hp, 30% regen. Rear brake on the bars. That’s nirvana right there. The cornering is 2 fold. A because of the low down weight and B because of the lack of engine inertia. Come to the Uk, I got one here for you brother 😂👍🏻
I rode of these last weekend at 50HP and was so impressed bro. The ergo's felt so good and the stock suspension was great. I love the feeling of not shifting where you don't run out of gear. Just rev it and it goes! I'm for sure getting one in the next year or so as I literally JUST bought a new GG 450 FE. LOL.
Had one since last October, really glad you enjoy it. Obvioulsy the power of these is insane, but the handling of the Stark is so good. Its the safest most confidence inspiring bike I've ever rode. Also anything below ~70% battery it starts to lose its edge, so you starting at 44% would be a little less responsive right away. Need to try it on 100% & 60hp and its super snappy. 👊
I thought I had a flat tire multiple times haha. Hitting a rut is so much harder with no clutch as well
I rode one a few weeks back and for the first few laps I was reaching for the clutch lever that wasn’t there🤦🏻♂️😂 is it me or does it sound like you’re constantly riding round with a flat tyre when you accelerate aswell?😅 proper good fun to ride though!
Yeah I'm thinking I might need that! Mine is pretty early, vin in the 500s, so basically as gen 1 as it gets. I did get a battery replacement under warranty though. It was in the 60s so wouldn't expect it to overheat that quick!
I have about 15 hours on mine right now. There is no way I'm going back to a gas bike.
damn, you just got on it and started ripping lol I just bought one to ride around my property, they are pretty incredible bikes to say the least. Sold my 24 kx450 and going to ride this for a while, it's too much fun.
Just bought it. Used with 20 miles on it. In California. Last weekend was the sprint enduro race. Started with 92%, finished with 25%. Average speed was 14mph. So far so good. Will see how it performs this weekend at a longer dual euro race
Greatt!!! But a couple hours the e bikes dead for the day and the fuel bike is just feeling abit hot an bothered an abit thirsty i have a e bike mtb but id never be serious about riding e bikes against fuel bikes😂
These are awesome if you want to tear up the trails behind the house in the morning and not piss off all your neighbors. I had one that decimated all the pit bikes and 125s. Especially on climbs.
у меня электробайк проезжает около 300 км на одной зарядке. можно неделю ездить, не заряжаясь... но ты успокаивай себя мыслями про "несколько минут"... 8)))
Too the suspension being stiff: It's made as an MX bike and suspension is set likewise. In the jumps and sand it's as close to perfect as you might expect from any OEM tune. Using it for enduro it's way too stiff, i found out during a Cross Country competition. However they use just 3 different fork and 2 shock springs, the rest is in the clickers. So if it's too stiff and you would have liked 10 kg lighter probably a flat screedriver will do. I have a spreadsheet of their settings wich i sadly can't upload in a comment.
Stark Varg and Beta 250 2 stroke owner here. Quite a good review, but i will add my critical look on both your video and the Stark: 1) Where did you find the flywheel effect etc etc? The only adjustments i'm aware off are HP and engine braking. 2) A experienced MX rider will not get 1hr at the track. Maybe a hardpacked tight one, but not on sand/ruts/speed. I get about 40 minutes and i'm far from a pro. Riders at the National level here get about 20-25 minutes. 3) The weight. Well it does feel lighter than my Beta 250 2 stroke. A blindfold review would say about 10kg both in MX and Enduro. It only really gets heavy when you need to lift it on the too high centre stand. A bit of rounding on the metal grips wouldn't have hurt too, wich the grips now actually do. 4) The sidestand just sucks. No way around it. Allready lost 2 sidestand brackets wich the first they did replace under warranty, the second they promised me they are working on a better and longer bracket wich i will be getting. Good thing you can lay the bike on it's side without leaking. 5) The tubes are too thin. In MX jumping i blasted both. I had a KTM wheel with BIB mouse in it and installed it, the heavy mouse made it more controleable mid flight. Not that controleabilty was bad, it just got better. 6) Broken the switch. Sand gets in between the button and the casing. so i could not ''downshift'' and ended up in 80 hp in the CrossCountry race, wich is quite a challenge riding over wet obstacles. Also after shutting it wouldn't go into ''gear'' because you need the down button. There is a dashboard, why not add redundancy there? 7) I do miss the clutch a bit. Taddy saying he doesn't miss it is not good evidence since he is on Stark's payroll. When stuck in axle deep mud and sand the Stark is a bit underpowered. A LOTT of torque x low rpm is still low power. In those situations on my 250 i can pull the clutch, build revs and drop clutch to unleash all the power and more you will ever need in such situation. Also after an obstacle or ''wheeliejump'' it can be very usefull to cut the power with something that's not rolling backwards while going faster. Got myself hit into a tree once. 8) Good point on it rolling downhill. A parking brake be it electrical or mechanical would be nice on the enduro version (lets not forget this is a MX bike). 9) Where is our reverse? A E bike does not have 1 single good excuse not to have it. When we go out riding 1 bike goes forward, the other backwards into the van. How nice would it be if it could power itself up. Not to speak of all the situations being stuk and needing to get of the bike to pull it back. 10) I will not stop ranting about the dashboard disconnecting a lott of times and not storing my rides. Even worse not showing my battery levels on a riding day. STARK FUTURE, I WANT A PROPER DASHBOARD! I do however love riding the bike. It's so good i actually feel disappointed when i need to ride the 250 wich is also a bike i love.
I did have a lot of rides with one during last year. The adaptation was not a problem. You do have to fight the tendency to pull the clutch when facing a log or rock climbing, only to understand that's not right at all. That's probably also one of the reasons why pro riders do not use the hand rear brake lever and go with the pedal. You have the chance to set 5 power maps with tunable engine brake and horsepower. I would tend to set like 30 hp with no engine break, and so on to 80 hp at full engine break, only to be used when you know you're going to get back to the truck... or when going on long descents. Why? Yes, because it has regenerative breaking. If you're not accelerating, you're breaking, aka getting some juice back. That's key to get the battery to last. You just have to understand what power goes better with what terrain taking in account the feeling won't be the same as the battery goes weaker. Its major flaw for me is the so exposed transmission cover that is prone to break. A full replica in titanium solved that for good until now. It also likes to chew spokes heads like candy or bend the rear sprocket just due to - I assume - a brutal and instantaneous torque. If on one hand having no clutch is a big advantage, it really bites back on you if you really don't make that ledge because it will fling back with no pity into the bushes if it gets a chance... After the suspension and shock were dialed at a pro tuner the ride was superior to WPs when speeding. It felt way too hard at the beginning. The bike does everything standard bikes do. We can normally get around 2 to 3 hour moving time out of a full battery. It tends to last longer on trails rather than just going full blast. Plastics last very very long! Great design and they're Polisport make (Portugal). Recommend installing ktm handguards with added closed end guards. It's an absolute beast! Highly recommend it to the weekend rider that goes for short rides up to 40 km - 50 km, or MX tracks. TMDesigns has an awesome chain guard that I cannit recommend more, original one will not last much for the river beds and rock garden warriors. Don't mind about those bladders, for enduro, the best is bib mousse, front and back, period. Still loyal to ktm, though. Best regards, mates! 😉🍻
The answer is yes. I hop logs, stumps, and rocks all the time on the stock valving. I get about 26 miles with 10% battery remaining. ICE is great but I like to listen to the birds chirping while I ride. I am still getting use to hearing the sounds the tires make. The best part is the feel you get with no vibration through the bars like you get with ICE.
I've got one and love it. Everyone who has had a ride of mine likes it alot - and a bunch of them only rode it on 35hp and were too scared to turn it up. Yesterday during some hard enduro single track nonsense i gave a guy a go and his immediate feedback was that it felt so quick and nimble (after he stopped for me cause i couldn't keep up). Rec rego wasn't too hard to arrange. Being able to hear what the tyres are doing is going to help me be a better rider, plus its quite the challenge to ride efficiently to maximize the range. The fact that its going to get better with age via software updates is awesome. I can't wait for the auto-wheelie function. Yes, it's not going to work for some of the rides we do, so i'll have to keep at least 1 other bike. Left hand rear brake for the win. Yes, i could have waited for triple the battery range and half the weight, which would have been ideal, but i don't regret getting it now for 1 second.
My thoughts after a good amount of time owing an EM is the lack of a gear box is equally important to the clutch for technical riding. A general lack of flywheel inertia coupled with the fact that you are stuck in the equivalent of say 5th gear all the time just kills the ability to have a quick clutch acceleration based on stored energy rather than outright motor torque. This kills the ability to get the bike to lift and ride up a big obstacle. This might sound like a lot of over technical BS but look at some videos. You don’t typically see single speed electric bikes going up a bigger obstacle and being able to hold the front wheel high. They kind of bash into things and hopefully bounce up it. 5th gear on a petro bike in a rock garden wouldn’t be very good either for some of these very same reasons. For moto and general single track riding though I would agree, this probably is a great bike for the right users! Thanks for the review!
Personally I didn't find the noise annoying although it can get loud when you hit the throttle hard. But I was just trying to hang on and not really noticing it lol. It's still very quiet from a distance, only potentially loud for the rider.
@zxcvbnmnz no guarantees, everyone's different, but it suits me like a glove 🤣
@paulsmithbc Depends on the length of those trails. I rode my Varg for 4hrs today on very rocky singletrack mixed with flowing double track (connectors) and I had 36% charge left. Also depends on what you consider 3hrs of riding. 3hrs straight with no stops? Or 3hrs like most people stopping to BS or wait on others? Most riders, myself included, don't actually ride 3-4 hrs straight. Battery life is better than I expected. I have a few videos on my "channel". Just short clips but it shows the kind of terrain we were on today. I wear out before the battery does.
We’ve all heard how good it is to ride so I focused on the niggling problems. Over all it’s a fantastic bike to ride. It tracks well. Hooks up like crazy and gives you a lot of confidence. I have the handbrake version and was surprised how quickly I was able to adapt. Of course for a half an hour or so I’d try to use it as a clutch and went for the foot brake under heavy braking. But I soon got the hang of it. Brake tapping in the air is so easy now! Other than really wishing the phone was a display (I’ve forgotten the phone and lost the padding already) and having to pay Mike at bds to respring it and replace the tubes. I’m happy with the bike. I bought the alpha model and haven’t ridden it in higher than 60hp yet. And that was just to try it!
I rode mine for the 3rd time this weekend at pheonix creek. I'm Brisbane based. The bike is awesome and mine is set up for mx. But there are down sides. I paid for it 4 whole moths before it arrived, which you wont suffer for any other brand. I nearly put my back out putting it on the stand. The power cable form the stand to the bike is way too short, especially as I gave up using the stand and use a triangle. The phone is a gimmick, it should have a permanent display on the bike and an app on your own phone. All you want to see is what mode you're in and how much charge is left. And it pops out of the holder if you crash. The plastic tube popped second ride (front). The suspension is so stiff they have clearly got the math wrong. They state the rider sag should be 107mm I couldn't get it to sag more than 65mm with it sprung for my weight and the clickers all the way out. The manual gives max temperature figures for both operation and storage of the bike. In Brisbane it means if you want to remain compliant with the manual you have to store the bike in air con permanently and can only ride it in winter. Here's a quick video of a lap of the senior track https://youtu.be/s3aEiPW4jSE
We'll follow with his review of the EM soon. I barely fit on it but enjoy riding it. Definitely needs stronger suspension for dirt riding!
Hi! I have followed you guys for years, I am an old fart Canadian. I have a Stark Varg, a beta x trainer (with suspension mods) a kdx 220, and a ktm 525 exc. I have owned honda, KTM, husky, Yamaha, Suzuki, can am, and bmw through the years. I have no brand loyalty. The Stark, regardless of power train, is a beautifully balanced and well built bike. There are advantages and disadvantages to the powertrain. The ability to decide the bike you want to ride is a huge advantage. Changing the power and personality of the bike is super neat. The fact that I bought a gas generator to take with me should tell you all you need to know about the environmental argument for or against it. It is simply a different tool for what you want to do. I find myself riding differently, and doing things I would not try on a gas bike. Yet there are some things a gas bike does better. (range and ease of fueling are obvious). Yet people don’t give weight to where electric has clear advantages. For example, when I do a dumb hill climb and fail, I can sit and rest knowing that the bike is not spinning the rear wheel, not spilling fuel all over, and will not be a pain in the ass to restart when I pick it up. So I chill. I rest, and let my old man lungs relax. I use my Varg to grab the mail at the end of my 1 km driveway. I have never taken any other bike in the entire time I have lived here. The lack of warm up or starting makes me use the bike for a pile of little stuff I would not even have thought to use any other bike . This makes you bond with it. Yet…. it reminds me of a jet ski, in that the skill needed to ride it is no longer a barrier…it is easy to ride a jet ski, but very hard to ride one well. As an old guy, I kind of like the fear and limits that a clutch and untamed power presented to me. The respect for a machine that wanted to hurt you, and the satisfaction that came from learning to ride a bike at young age made me feel cool. The ease of initial riding of an electric bike could lull one into a situation that could be nasty and painful. That can be said for modern cars too…. All that being said, it is one cool bike..but, again there are some things to consider. If rides over 2 hours with no home base are what you like, look elsewhere. Range and the ability to charge anywhere are not there yet. I still love my beta and will keep it for when it is the better bike…but to tell you you honestly, if I had to pick, after 20 hours of riding on the stark it would be a tough call. It really depends on how and where you ride. For me the stark checks more boxes than it crosses off. Is it perfect? Not even close, but it is way better than I thought it would be, fun and different., and with the ease of use, and simple maintenance, it is worth the worth the money. In 20 hours I have not spent any money on oil, filters, or gas. I have done no oil changes. When I get home I don’t have to check the garage for gas cans (to find my kid has used it in his bike)! I just go. It has its own flaws and issues, and like all things nothing is black and white. It is super fun and makes me smile. It is different. So if you have not ridden it please try not to judge it. It still might not be for you. But you may be surprised. It is a well built and well executed bike that maximizes its electric drivetrain better than any thing has before it. It will only get better. It is nothing more than another option to have fun. We live in a great time with multiple choices, and new ideas. There is room for all. By the way….Sometimes I start the beta just to make the garage smell better.
Only issue I have had ...bad on/off switch. Stark Tech support has been incredibly good. Stark shipped a new switch to me in 5 days ...Barcelona Spain to Florida. Zero buyers remorse! Finding about 40HP/ 80% Regen to be the sweet spot in getting the most out of the Battery...charges at 1% per minute on 240V.
I have one of these, I have never seen adjustable flywheel effect…..where is this? I fitted both the rear foot and hand brake to mine with the Clake dual brake kit, it works great, no clutch required. Stock tubes are useless, I got 2 flat tyres first ride with tyre sealant in the tubes. Fit normal style tubes. That said, easiest and most fun bike I have ever ridden, I was quicker on it than my 350 within minutes.
@crosstrainingenduro iv had my stark for 10 months Trac and fly wheel are not available yet...... you can roast that tire if you want.....it does have great throttle to wheel feel and you can hear the tire so you can modulate the throttle easily for traction based on those things.
No issues! I added an electronic horn, an automatic brakelight, made the sidestand steeper, changed the light tubes and rode 300 km senior offroad@crosstrainingenduro
@noControl556If you charge on 220/240v you get a little over 1% per minute. I've been charging on breaks back at the truck and can basically ride as long as I want. The only issue I have run into is Hare Scrambles/GNCC or endurance races where you have long trail mileage at a fast pace and no ability to recharge quickly. Everywhere else its been just fine.
@user-ep6wd7ip7v You wouldn't 20 minutes even at the pro level is only going to be around 60% battery so ~15 mins and you could do another 20. For me at our local track I get about 1.5 hours on the track with one battery no charging. Sand etc. and how fast you are will make a big difference. For my son and I if we charge every break we can basically ride all day but I'm slow so... ;)
I liked the sound while I was riding it…the sound builds up as the speed builds up…kinda like jet. I think if people ride it they’ll be fine with it or like me they’ll like it
For what it’s worth, I liked the sound when I rode it. The sounds builds up as the speed builds up…kinda like a jet. I agree it doesn’t sound great on video
@user-ep6wd7ip7v I hope that's the case but I think it will take a break through and so far that hasn't happened. I love my varg but it's battery is only a tad bigger than the Alta bike from 2016, kind of shows battery tech hasn't moved that fast unfortunately. Charging has gotten quite a bit faster though at least. There are some EV's that can get ~200 mile range charge in 15 minutes. Stark isn't too bad around 1 hour to charge
@Ridetillidie39 I wouldn't do spare batteries for the varg they are $7k and aren't that easy to change on the varg. Instead you can get a 240v generator for a little overy $1k and do about a full charge in an hour. I do a similar setup with my son's electric KTM and it works well. I haven't quite needed to get a generator yet for my varg though as I get 1.5-2 hours of riding on mine so far. (at 35 hp beginner mx pace) I raced a sur-ron last year in a couple 2-hour hare scramble and based on that I think I could do a full 2-hour hare scramble on the varg at least the types we have hear which are only averaging 15 mph or so.
I’m trying to learn my on mine and find being able to keep my balls on the pegs the whole time with the rear handbrake really really awesome as well. I think it’s making it easier for me to learn on.
Really glad you like it. Love mine, though struggling with front end wash outs. Found between 55-60hp is a nice sweet spot, any more than that and its too much. Hopefully I can book on one of your tour dates in the UK. Keep up the great work!
That's BS. That famous story is from driving through deep flooding, not a puddle. I've driven mine through mildly flooded roads and no issues at all. I'm not an idiot, i'm not going to ford a river with a car, gas or electric. If they bricked from driving through puddles, every single one would be bricked. Use your brain, don't just accept BS articles as reality.
These seem awesome! I was anti-EV until I drove one, now I have had three and the tech and torque is AMAZING! Never going to get rid of ICE, but electric is awesome!
I have the Alpha 80hp model and still have my CR500 and the Alpha is faster in very way and more controllable. Changing the gear oil is supper fast. Incredibly Fun bike I ever have owned in my life riding all over the US and Canada. You can put it in 10hp mode and my little 16yo sister can ride it when we went camping and on one trail deer didn't care she was riding right next to them out in the woods. I'm 6'2" or 188cm 220lbs with gear on and it's a rocket on the track.
i test rode on a slippery hard pack mx track and drained about 8% per lap ( approx 2km coarse , engine power set to 50hp which was plenty )
The best dirtbike ever made. Been loving mine! Happy to see other people getting their hands on one and loving it as well. ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
@randomvbg7653 the 18 an 19 inch wheels have the same dimensions. The 18 is 3lbs heavier though and yes had more flex, so I think it's a bit harder to spin up. The 18 is definitely a more comfy ride haha. I was really surprised though that it used so much more battery power.
Review videos
10 Things I HATE About My Stark VargMay 28, 2025 · YouTube ↗
Travis Pastrana reviews ELECTRIC! Stark VARG Electric Dirt Bike ReviewOct 11, 2023 · YouTube ↗
What they are NOT telling you about the Stark Varg Jul 12, 2025 · YouTube ↗
Stark Varg Review EX & MX 1.2 & MX 1 Part 1Aug 24, 2025 · YouTube ↗
The World's Most Powerful Electric Dirt Bike // 2023 Stark Varg ALPHA First RideAug 12, 2023 · YouTube ↗
STARK VARG: Everything you need to know‼️Sep 5, 2023 · YouTube ↗
