First Ride On The Stark Varg Electric Motocross Bike - Cycle News

We got a chance to ride the all-new #StarkVarg Electric Motocross Bike! Very excited to test this and bring you our first ride impression after a full day of riding. There is a way more to be learned about this bike, be sure to read #CycleNews Magazine for a comprehensive write-up.
➡️ Read the full review - www.cyclenews....
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#starkvarg #electricmotorcycle

[@chainsawversustree]

Motocross tracks will be everywhere because of these bikes. No noise means more riding closer to home, that alone is why they’ll sell!

[@conrod4910]

That’s a really good point actually, all the ones near us have gone over the years for noise, hopefully this happens!

[@mixalis6168]

No they wont !! Housing = $$$$$$$$$$$$$ Tracks = 0

[@cyclenews]

It is definitely a plus in our books. Indoor riding (no emissions), back yard tracks too. Lot's of possibilites.

[@kerryday1792]

Backyard tracks and Freestyle riding areas are going to be everywhere , not only that but , Motorcycle competitions of all types will be able to be promoted on a regular basis almost anywhere !

[@captainohsowavy]

Got mine coming in soon

[@tonyw3250]

That drone piolet knows how to fly, great footage

[@cyclenews]

He did a great job

[@MrMoto461]

Great review, I was able to ride the bike in March at the same track but wet conditions with only a few riders to break the track in. The bike is fast, hits quickly and handles really well. All other things mentioned were my same reaction, the sound is so different as you dont have the normal loud exhaust and gear sounds we hear on the current bikes. One you get used to it, it gets really fun to ride.

[@oneinthesac]

They say they don’t know the life of the battery because they only did 4 laps but is there a gauge on the phone to show how much battery is left, how much did the gauge go down after the 4 laps?

[@cyclenews]

Very fun to ride, a different yet similar experience. Cool you got to ride one too!

[@Visian]

Cool that Tortelli is the test rider. Nice to hear that name!

[@JacobSnover]

I would move the rear brake to the handlebars first thing.

[@cyclenews]

Definitely a cool trick and a nice option to try!

[@vinuezaer]

Enough track. Enduro that thing . Want to know battery life in the trails.

[@cyclenews]

We'll do some riding once they're available stateside.

[@Visian]

The drone following shots are cool

[@cyclenews]

He went crazy with those shots! Through the trees was amazing.

[@Visian]

@@cyclenews I first saw those things at the ISDE in Italy last year, I was amazed how that thing flew through the tight woods.

[@abpob6052]

The draw for me is the complete 100% user tunability. Push a couple buttons on the smart phone and you go from full moto tune to trail bike. Can take away all the power and aggression from the motor and have a beginner bike.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Or just don't turn the throttle all the way. What stinks about it is it is government subsidized with our money, and that is not only economic fascism, (turning into communism today), but 100% immoral.

[@mxriderdakar]

Most people went with 80 hp, thinking that using the bike around 50 hp will help with the range because they call it alpha motor, but it’s exactly the same motor, so probably doesn’t change a thing. 99.9% of the people will ride it under 60 hp anyway.

[@johndepperschmidt8984]

The 80 will last longer.

[@cyclenews]

We even de-tuned the 60😂

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@cyclenews What you are de-tuning is free enterprise, begging government to make an electric bike that most will not even be able to afford,--like the 4-stroke that was forced on the industry. Your generation has a lot to learn about how we should live on this planet, and it is going to hurt. Glad I am old.

[@oneinthesac]

@@EarthSurferUSA what government is making this bike lol it’s an independent company that wanted to make an electric bike.

[@joeyriveira6697]

Hello & thanks for they informative video on this cool bike . Would you know if there’s an enduro setup 18” rear wheel option & is there a rear brake foot pedal option to keep like a traditional moto-x setup .

[@cyclenews]

Yes all of those options are available.

[@DickDebonaire]

Ironic he mentions whiskey throttle. We've all done it, even the pros occasionally. Normally you're limited to how fast the bike can go in that gear. Wouldn't even like to think of the possibility of a stuck throttle malfunction

[@cyclenews]

One seemingly never ending gear, great point Stephen.

[@deadlythreatinc7]

I like it!

[@KoalityofLife]

How is it with something like a tail whip? Not having the moving internals of a gas motor I would think it would react different mid air. Thanks. :)

[@deadlythreatinc7]

It whips easier than anything you've ever ever ridden. And comes back just as easy!

[@KoalityofLife]

@@deadlythreatinc7 Would love to see a video of a tail whip. :)

[@cyclenews]

It feels very light in the air. We have yet to lean a big one yet!

[@KoalityofLife]

@@cyclenews :)

[@Firestorm637]

Awesome bike

[@marcusbarnes5929]

Did you feel faster on the electric vs the 4 strokes on the day?

[@cyclenews]

I would say overall I felt less fatigued on the electric

[@Pitometsu]

If there's no clutch, is there a neutral? How to free wheel, e.g. on descents, or to catch the skid? Or it has the freewheel by default?

[@sierra395]

Regenerative braking effect that can be tuned to your preference.

[@deadlythreatinc7]

Bro .. no matter what they say, this is one draw back to this type of bike. It MUST have a clutch. If you're old enough to remember when 4 strokes came out, engine braking broke a lot of bones. This has the more engine braking than any 4 stroke ever made.

[@brandon2981]

😂😂😂 Please tell me you aren't serious DeadlyThreat

[@blueman5924]

@@deadlythreatinc7 engine braking ? ? you mean Compression ?

[@deadlythreatinc7]

@@blueman5924 sure

[@RacerRed]

35 minutes for a moto. Sounds like its going to struggle for anything besides moto then. Even taking one to a track might be a struggle depending on charge time. You have a practice, then you come in and do your moto not long after that. Will this bike even be able to do that? If not, how much are batteries and how hard are they to install? Most people don't ride on tracks, though. Enduro people will expect 5 hours at a bare minimum.

[@cyclenews]

They are saying 35 minutes by a pro level rider on a mx track or 6 hours trail ride. Interested to test that in the real world

[@RacerRed]

@@cyclenews 6 hours on the trail would be nice 👍🏻 granted, still not ideal but getting really good. I’d hate to get lost and run out of battery 20 miles from my truck. Can’t exactly beg for gas if my bike is electric. I’d have to know exactly what range I can be safe doing, and have a solution for self rescue if the battery dies.

[@superwilcox9026]

No wheel speed control means no traction when wet. The rear wheel can spin 60mph plus when only going 10-20mph if the wheel spins

[@mixalis6168]

Just need to carry a generator, run by gasoline, to keep charging bikes all day! What they state, is not true in the real world !

[@__mayo1802]

@@mixalis6168 you can charge em with a charger, they were charging them with a generator just because its a bit faster

[@cr-fc5rb]

Great review 👏 👌

[@cyclenews]

Glad you liked it

[@EarthSurferUSA]

@@cyclenews He is not sharp enough to not like it.

[@ML-lg4ky]

When an electric bike says Honda on it I’ll start paying attention.

[@olivercaprani]

my crf150rb drinks oil like a kid who can get free soda

[@vxe6vxe6]

Where's the XCW version?

[@cyclenews]

Both bikes will be very similar (18" rear wheel, kick stand, etc). We only rode the motocross version.

[@fpvflyriding]

The Varg revolution begins!!!

[@loth8239]

How's the battery?

[@scottiephillips8161]

Is there any engine braking?

[@cyclenews]

Yes there is some and it can be programmed to have more or less depending on rider preference.

[@astanfartin1647]

sick

[@cyclenews]

Thank you!

[@pedrovazquez9146]

The future.

[@Simey2wheels]

I just can't see how you can spend a day at the track with it though. tracks I go to have no charging points anywhere near them... let alone power of any sort! having said that, this thing is gorgeous!

[@mxgryan]

a generator allows you to opportunity charge it, just like anything else.

[@Simey2wheels]

@@mxgryan lol, so using fuel to charge your electric bike?

[@mxgryan]

@@Simey2wheels umm, yeah? What issue do you have with fuel?

[@Simey2wheels]

@@mxgryan I have no issue, but why would you buy an electric to save the planet and use fuel to charge it! Let's all plug our Teslas into diesel generators by that same logic! You'll struggle to get a powerful enough generator to fill this too I'd imagine, unless you want to lug a huge one around with fuel...

[@Simey2wheels]

@minibikemafia ha, I know that. Can't you read the irony in my comment! Ffs

[@vicvance8580]

looks so cool like from a Videogame

[@scottiephillips8161]

How does it react when you chop the throttle?

[@cyclenews]

There is some de-cel engine braking. It can be programmed to be more or less depending on rider preference.

[@Enonymouse_]

Throttle behavior on e-bikes is totally programmable. Stark claims this has potential for over 600 ft pounds going to the rear wheel so you definitely want to have some safety in there if that is a valid stat. :)

[@TheWITE-FOX]

I’m getting one but making it street legal.. I need an idea of battery life

[@joemicheal1314]

I would assume no more than 50-60 miles riding stop and go and having to get up to speed multiple times, I wouldn’t get this thing as like your main transport it’s truly meant for a situation where you’ve got a truck that you can bring it to in order to charge it and then go back out on the trails later after it tops off again. But if you really want it don’t ride it in it’s full power mode, that should help with your mileage a good amount

[@TheWITE-FOX]

@@joemicheal1314 yeah I live kinda in town and less than a mile from work. I definitely will have it on low settings and keep it in town for small commute. It’s this or the zero fx for me. Will be my first bike. I don’t plan on doing anything really crazy, maybe some small off-road here and there!

[@TheWITE-FOX]

@@joemicheal1314 I guess the zero fx is a better option for me though. Ty

[@TheWITE-FOX]

@Redrum357 not with the FX.. look it up. I know all specs

[@jcpatrick4824]

🕊️ GRATITUDE👍 Thank you great channel🎖️ Excellent SHARE!! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜 *' 🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸* *GOD BLESS* *🌎🙏🌎 '*

[@Freewheelie199]

80hp would be good for hill climb and supermoto

[@arnauddechamps855]

but doesn't hold...the power is not that on the wheel and also, doesn't last...all eThings like, that...

[@arnauddechamps855]

@@EarthSurferUSA and the death of the sport also. Me I am confused about the battery, we know how much and reliable are engines...last forever. These e-things and cars are not lasting a year or punishment. at the end the electrics are done-battery packed changed over and over. And we know how batteries are made....well ain't gonna be cheap. And cannot be fixed either. you can't ride with your buddies a whole day...need a charging spot... Not saying it is not good, but for indoors maybe. For outside, well we need to see how it does during the wet season with ruts the size of depth of a giraffe. Mud everywhere...that is offroad, not flat dry open track that everybody can flatout all the way....

[@cyclenews]

And the power would hook up great on a street course.

[@ChitFromChinola]

Ninja. Dig it.

[@Captndarty]

Maybe the tech is only really usable in the Mx segment but I think they really missed the mark. When I look at motorcycling globally and all together I see Mx as being a minority. So many more people trail ride than track ride and that often has lighting and road legal requirements.

[@rosspurchase4372]

Sur Ron storm bee is more suitable for trail riding

[@johndepperschmidt8984]

This bike appears to be capable of scrambles etc. Lighting is simple.

[@flapattack2]

That is literally the point of the company starting with a MX bike - it is niche, high performance, rough. They want to prove themselves against the toughest conditions before releasing street bikes and more. Full on trail ride / enduro models are already rumored to be worked on, as well as street versions. Hell hopefully they make a killer scooter, to be used as the piggy bank that lets them focus on racing and high performance models with a much smaller market. Exciting stuff!

[@Captndarty]

@@flapattack2 Zero, Harley Davidson and musk all started out in the most popular segments which were road legal machines not dirt track oriented machines so there are there’s that…. I have no doubt we will see a lighted Enduro version at some point my point being is I just think motocross is the biggest minority segment so I’m just surprised at the amount of R&D and expense into that that’s all

[@eastwood111]

Why do you think this bike would not handle well on trails? You put the right tires on it’s an Enduro bike.

[@daviddong1286]

what's wrong with the audio volume of this video?

[@JacobSnover]

idk, it's also only coming out of the left channel lol WTH

[@andrelizzi5236]

why nobody speak about autonomie ?? its a secret ?

[@russellintahoe]

Dressing up is a cultural thing in most parts of Europe.

[@marcussmith4913]

its just too bad you cant even buy the damn thing... I mean you can buy it but you then get to sit and wait forever for delivery.

[@zefautino]

Spanish company?

[@johnberry2877]

Nothing beats petrol !

[@StreetTruckinTitan]

funny how supercross wont allow electric to compete with the gas bikes.

[@philliplucion4262]

OK bros was totally for e dirtbike till I became a utv atv mechanic I work for the Hatfield Mccoy trail here in WV and these battery bikes will not hold up to silt and mud one time silt get into the wrong place on battery pack you are gonna be broke buying batteries and motors but by all means if you don't mind that hassle pour it on it just saying give it time and you will see massive failure of packs from abrasion sucks but that is how it is

[@RichPiana5Percent]

Innovation in battery tech should take care of that. Keep in mind this is their first year rolling this out.

[@philliplucion4262]

@@RichPiana5Percent nah bro i get that but all ev not jus this beast it silt bro it could work its way in a ballon if you know what im saying some the machines i work on the daily have ip68 componets and still get some in them

[@cyclenews]

Definitely going to be interesting to see how this holds up in differing conditions. They said everything is completely sealed off and you could ride the bike underwater! We'll have to wait and see.

[@philliplucion4262]

@@cyclenews don't think I'd run a e dirtbike under water lol

[@jmos96]

@@philliplucion4262, some Alta’s which the Stark is patterned after have done over 10K miles without a single issue. Some of those miles were under water. Water is thinner than silt. Hopefully the Stark will do just as well. It’s just a short matter of time and we’ll all find out about any short comings of the Stark. I’m betting range will be one of them.

[@buttslappingpirate]

Observations: 1. It's too quiet, and there aren't any audio cues as to what the bike is doing. It's a bit hilarious that a 4-stroke had to be ridden in order to find your points. 2. What this test is really doing is showing the stupidity of 4-stroke bikes, as it's a highlight reel of what's wrong with them. It's not that the battery-powered bikes are superior, it's that several corporate entities bet the farm on horrible 4-stroke bikes that are only in existence because dealership service departments can't make money off of blown-up 2-stroke bikes...and a bazillion people took the bait and went 4-stroke.

[@cyclenews]

Thanks for watching!

[@__mayo1802]

How is it funny that they were let to ride petrol bikes to compare them with each other?

[@marcozuffada]

heavy & expensive 😑

[@johndepperschmidt8984]

Light and fair market price.

[@cyclenews]

Pretty close to the weight of a current 450 and priced near 12,000 Euros

[@andrelizzi5236]

faster

[@sierra395]

Nope

[@MrChadx1]

@Marco Zuffada You posted this in all the threads so I'll post the same reply...There is barely any difference with ICE bikes in those regards. The Varg claimed weight is 242 lbs (we won't know if that holds true for the production bikes until they are delivered). 2022 Yamaha YZ450F is 245 lbs wet (per the Yamaha website) so 3 pounds HEAVIER than the Varg. 2022 KTM 450 SX is 228 wet but without fuel per the KTM website. Add 12 lbs of gas (1.9 gallons times 6.3lb per gallon) and wet weight is about 240 lbs. Two pounds less than the Varg. The KTM 250 SX is the light weight in this class since it's 2 stroke. 210lb without gas so add 12.6 (2 gallon x 6.3lbs) and they are 222lb and so quite a bit lighter than the Varg and the ICE 4 strokes bikes. But, the Varg ways the same as 4 stroke 450 MX bikes. On price, before the June 01, 2022 $1,000 price increase, they were quite close. Using the same two bikes I used for weight comparison above, the 2022 YZ450 Racing Edition MSRP at $9,799. 2022 KTM 450 SX-F Factory Edition MSRP: $11,699. So when I ordered my Varg (before the June 01 increase), it was about $2,000 more than the Yamaha but only $200 more than the KTM (and those are comparing MSRP, so no dealer doc or delivery fees which increases the dealership bike cost even more). Post-June, add $1,000 to the spread due to the Stark price increase, though I'm sure the ICE bikes MSRP will go up for 2023 as well. I also added up how much I spend on gas and oil per ride multiplied by how many times I ride a year and that alone makes up the price of the cost difference and then some. As for replacing or rebuilding the battery in 6+ years, that won't cost any more than the cost/expense of a few new top ends and a bottom end that we do on an ICE over the same number of years of ownership. So no cost difference there and buying a new battery and swapping it out is a 10 minutes thing rather than being without a bike for days or weeks (depending on if you do it yourself or pay a shop). I love my ICE bikes and will always have them, but I like EV bikes, too. I have both now and all are great fun. Looking forward to arrival of my Varg.

[@wurf5336]

future looks boring. Where brap brap ?

[@Pitometsu]

No noise, no stink, no vibrations: it's awesome, a pure enjoying of the ride. Even a usable handlebar rear brake there! Almost as cool as an emtb ;-)

[@loth8239]

Brap brap speakers costs extra

[@wurf5336]

@@Pitometsu sounds boring, nothing better then smell of petrol and sound that rips apart your ears xD

[@sierra395]

Bose will have upgraded sounds as an accessory.

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Future looks like communism.

[@Jay-zc7iq]

Biden “ I did that “ 👍🇺🇸

[@jamespatterson2002]

no clutch, no engine no gear box no talent required

[@watchornot3691]

Yeah, having a recluse on my 300 injected two stroke....you called me out. I have no talent but I still love to ride! Having ridden and loved the Alta, I can say that it "could" require a little talent to keep avoiding the tree's...

[@deadlythreatinc7]

LOL...I was thinking it could actually be dangerous to not have a clutch to pull in if you accidentally whiskey throttle

[@watchornot3691]

@@deadlythreatinc7 I hate to admit it, but I like to ride standing up and I whiskey throttle more than I care to admit. The genius of having the rear brake where the clutch would be is you slow yourself down. Not like a clutch slows you down, but it still saves you

[@deadlythreatinc7]

@@watchornot3691 ahhh...that makes sense. I still use my clutch an awful lot. I'd need to learn to ride completely differently. I'd love one of these bikes though.

[@intothewhite2]

Not sure about the Stark but many electric bikes have cutoffs that kill the throttle when you pull a brake lever.

[@ronfox2612]

no thanks Biden!!!!