Stark Varg: Is it a KTM Killer?︱Traction eRag

Four of the eRag gang rode the Stark Varg and two Surron electric dirt bikes over four days. We were so impressed with these new electrics, and we think the Stark Varg will be a serious challenge to KTM in the long term. We had chat with Barry Morris from @crosstrainingenduro who doesn't agree with us... yet!
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But he will also be riding the Starg Varg shortly and may change his mind. Stark Future announced the Varg back in 2021 - with a typical surfeit of optimism and nigh-on grandiose statements of intent, of course. Now that Stark has started delivering bikes to customers, there’s at least a legitimate product to support the lofty claims made back in 2021 - ‘unparalleled performance’, ‘class-leading powertrain’, ‘the most advanced electric motorcycle in the world’ and ‘the fastest motocross bike on the market’. Whether the Varg achieves any of that is something we’d probably need to borrow an MXGP champion to test , but with 80 horsepower shifting just 118kg (plus a presumably gurning rider), that’s the kind of power-to-weight ratio that should see it walk away from 450cc race-ready dirt bikes. The Varg’s configurator sets the bike up for each rider’s weight and chooses between a motocross-ready 19-inch rear wheel or an enduro-spec 18-inch. There’s even the choice of leaving the side stand on the shelf .What the hell is the eRag?

[@bikesbeersbeats]

Silicon valley tech exec checking in..... KTM will have executives, directors, careers, partners, supplies, distributors, politics all centered around the internal combustion engine. The issue with new disruptive technologies is they upend the old order - meaning younger people with less industry experience are suddenly in charge. If you had the Stark lead engineer working as an engineer at KTM, you can bet his ideas would be overruled by the existing leadership to ensure he doesnt rise through the ranks too quickly or worse they would keep him out of the way. The Stark was rebuilt from the ground up and threw away a lot of so called sacred cows and introduced entirely new features that the ICE industry couldve added a decade ago. Its exactly the same in the tech industry, older/mature companies have leadership that hold onto power with an iron grip and kill ANY and ALL threats to that power. This is exactly why KTM did not create the Stark Varg. It doesnt make sense to someone on the outside but if you're on the inside it makes absolute sense as everyone at KTM has that years livelihood tied to the existing product roadmap. To bring in something entirely new can wreck sales of the entire product line and take several years to recover from. This is why its known as the innovators dilemma.

[@chuck7140]

The big plus is that it could open new riding areas closer to cities.

[@karlgutsche1601]

Sorry for the long post. I think the Stark is incredible. I got mine about 8 weeks ago. I also have and love my 2018 KTM 300 XC which, in my opinion, is arguably the best all around dirt bike ever made. It’s by far the best dirt bike I’ve owned. All that said, I have not even thought about riding the 300 at all since the Stark arrived. Maybe it’s just because the Stark is the “new girlfriend in town” or the Stark is just that good?

[@Hinch55]

Somebody cited lack of power as a Stark Varg drawback? From all I've seen, power really isn't a problem with this bike.

[@kristiangunderson]

3.5 engine hours per ride is more than I usually do, but unfortunately I don't think a new bike of any kind is in my near future. I say this after I missed out on the recent great riding weather because I've got my 20+ year old cheap KTM completely torn apart so that I can fix a ton of typical old cheap bike problems. Time to go press the steering head bearings into the frame now. One more thing, I feel like a kid, but I still get a huge kick out of seeing my local trails in your videos. I'm so lucky I get to ride these places from my house.

[@ThisTall]

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[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

The range still limits the bike for many trail and enduro uses. My fast desert trails are mostly sand and the shortest rides are 20 miles, longest rides are 60 miles. Based on user reports, the Varg can barely complete a 20 mile ride in deep sand.

[@metlmuncher]

It will be interesting in the next few years. I want to ride one. I need to be convinced that you can do technical riding without a clutch 🎉

[@rotorhead5000]

I'm kinda in the market for a new dirtbike, and the points Dalas brings up really resonate with me. I typically dont ride more than a few hours at a time without a major stop, I enjoy maintaining my bikes, but also like the idea of needing to do less of it, its not really heavier (if you believe the spec sheets) than the 450's which power wise is rhe closest comparison, so i dunno, its a real consoderation, the real deciding factor i think will be how cheap will i be feeling when I get around to buying something.

[@gpaull2]

No maintenance? Maybe less maintenance. No engine oil or air filters. The chassis is the same though. Tires, brakes, chain, sprockets, suspension fluids, crash damage, have been the majority of the routine maintenance on my modern dirt cycles. The engine and clutches have been pretty trouble free for hundreds of hours on my modern bikes.

[@TractioneRag]

This is the full discussion. A shorter version appeared on Cross Training Enduro recently. Prefer the condensed version?

[@bayselec]

They are a great motocross bike at the moment as the range isn't as important. They will not challenge a full off road racing enduro bike with the limitations they have but for me as a humble trail rider who goes out for a few hours for fun will be great. Just need a headlight and the rest off the gear for rego and maybe some enduro type maps and traction control to limit the wheel spin ohh trail weapon... 🤤😎👍

[@johannescarlsson4559]

I think KTM have a whole site dedicated to e-bike development. They are certainly recruiting for it.

[@talon0863]

The stark varg needs a better name (cus dam ) and a loudspeaker to make the brapp noises

[@minkusmcminkus7598]

Big f.cking hill mode and resonable jetting . Still mixing the fuel ,cigarettes with coffee

[@snupermoto723]

The only reason I wouldn't have one is the up-front costs.

[@Clasenca]

No it is not,but it will change and improove with more and more other companies on the market,creating the challenge of competition. The technical world will never stop .Noice in a ever shrinking world will play a bit role.Easy of maintance will be another important fact.

[@GregKhar-NU-Metalhead2000]

Tips: if u wanna be noisy just play metal song on ur bluetooth speaker "nOtHiNg CaN bEaT tHe SoUnD oF 2 sTrOkEs" Yes there are, its called distorted guitars 🎸🎸

[@brianmartindale2221]

Oh, come on now, we all know KTM will buy something. I'm losin track of how many brands and producers they have sucked up. But hey, electric recharging that takes as long as a gas fill-up or a solar-charged 50 hp 110kg unit is a long, long way off for this traveler. (I'll have the dream until I die) In my assessment, KTM ain't much of a Borg if it can't do that

[@snupermoto723]

Deja-view