If you dont move forward, you fall behind.
A perfect vision statement for a company that sells dirt bike parts and gear especially when it comes to embracing the electrical revolution.
The Stark Varg finally busted through where others failed and this battery powered dirt bike now seems to have somewhat of a cult following though banished by others. Whatever the future holds for racing ICE equipped dirt bikes remains to be seen, but so far gas"powered reigns supreme even if the e"bike grabs a foothold.
That doesnt mean fuel"powered dirt bikes ride scared. If anything, e"bikes have their place, should have their own racing class and offer the consumer another option when it comes to racing and riding dirt bikes.
After two MotoSport employees rode the Stark Varg we sat down and peppered them with questions. Brandon Hoff, who competed at the professional level in the early 2000s, took the Stark out for a spin and rode a couple of laps before pulling in " enough for initial thoughts and his take on the future. Kelin Phillips, a semi"professional who has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, owns hours and hours on the Stark riding track and trails, giving him a deeper perspective.
1. First impressions of the Stark Varg
Kelin: Amazing! So much fun and stupid fast.
Brandon: Bike felt heavy. Super heavy in the pits but once on the track it wasnt noticeable. Power delivery and rear tire traction were impressive.
2. What didnt you like about it?
Kelin: Nothing. However, it can be too fast if youre not ready for it.
Brandon: The bike I rode had the rear hand brake set up which made it difficult for me to find instant comfort.
3. How does the power delivery compare to your gas dirt bike?
Kelin: Way quicker and faster off the bottom. I liked it but like I said before, if youre not ready for it, the speed might be too much for some.
Brandon: The bike had great power delivery and pick up, plus rear end traction was excellent.
4. Did you notice a difference in traction or throttle control?
Kelin: Very much so. The Stark is very intuitive as if the throttle is connected right to your brain and the wheel connected to your wrist.
Brandon: Traction was great but would like a clutch to modulate power delivery.
5. How did it ride and handle? Feel the same or noticeable difference?
Kelin: It feels great. The best handling bike Ive ridden in a long time.
Brandon: Cornering and handling felt normal, but jumping was quite a bit different. The bike reacted very quickly in the air when the throttle was on or off which was difficult to adapt to in the short amount of time I rode the bike.
Note: The Stark Varg allows riders to download and switch between up to five different riding maps (also called power maps or riding modes). Each map adjusts the bike's power delivery, torque, and engine braking to suit different riding conditions or preferences. This provides flexibility for the rider to choose the best settings for various types of terrain, weather, or track conditions.
6. Did the battery last as long as you expected?
Kelin: I'd say longer than expected.
7. What are the benefits to the Stark over a gas"powered dirt bike?
Kelin: No traditional maintenance. No Oil or filters or chemicals like coolant. As a new dad, my time to ride is squeezed so not having to deal with all the maintenance saves time and allows room to get riding in.
Brandon: Ease of maintenance, easier to ride for less skilled or beginner riders.
Note: The Stark requires some maintenance and parts replacements like chain and sprockets, tires and wheels. Read Universal Fit: Parts That Work on Gas and Electric Dirt Bikes to learn what Stark parts you can buy at MotoSport.
8. What are the benefits of a gas"powered dirt bike over the Stark?
Kelin: Not having to charge it or requiring a power source. Youre effectively free to ride if you have fuel. The included Android Stark phone uses Bluetooth to communicate riding modes to the bike as well as to monitor settings. You can ride without the phone connected but youll need to have the power modes memorized.
Brandon: Clutch to modulate power and the ability to control the bike when getting whiskey throttle. Gas and go, dont have to charge the battery between rides.
9. What was it like riding without noise?
Kelin: For me, really nice as I typically ride with ear plugs but also strange as its hard to gauge big jumps without the sound of the bike pulling a gear. In the context of comparing to a 450 you can hear how much gas you need.
Brandon: Weird but not in a bad way.
10. Do you think electric dirt bikes will replace gas powered dirt bikes? i.e. do purists need to worry?
Kelin: I dont think so. But its a cool addition to the garage
Brandon: Not any time soon, gas powered bikes will be the go"to for racing for the foreseeable future.
11. Your opinion on whether the Stark or any electric dirt bike should compete alongside gas powered bikes in 250 and 450 Supercross and Motocross.
Kelin: Tough question " Still not sure.
Brandon: My opinion is no electric bikes should compete with gas powered bikes at the professional level.
12. What has changed for you from your initial ride to your last ride?
Kelin: I like it even more with every ride.
13. Would you consider making the Stark Varg your ride of choice?
Kelin: I have made it my ride of choice and I only ride the Stark currently. The Stark Varg is like five bikes in one. You can ride the equivalent in power of a 125 then flip a switch and be riding a 250, flip the switch again and youre riding a 450.
Brandon: No, but I would consider it as secondary back up or play bike.
Still not convinced? Check out Brett Cue on his Honda CRF450 battle the winner of our Stark Varg giveaway.
