2022 Stark Varg - A Lighting Fast Motocross Bike

Is Stark Future’s Varg the electric motocrosser that will change the racing world? We sent retired SX racer Blake Wharton to Spain to find out. There’s a new kid on the block looking to challenge for the title of fastest, cleanest, and most efficient powertrain in the motorcycling industry. The bike is already turning out a whopping 80 hp, and it is about to be unleashed on the dirt bike world. Located in Southern Europe, one of the world’s major motorcycle epicenters, with an eclectic and international group of employees and a passionate and experienced CEO, Stark Future is a company that has the makings of something great. And it’s quite possible the Varg, its brand-new purpose built motocross bike, is that something. What It’s Like To Ride Electric The silence of an electric motorcycle is striking if you’ve never ridden one before, but it’s not the most difficult adjustment to make. It shouldn’t take too long to acclimate in any case; it’s just ripping by different means. But the differences are there. Many of the conventional sensations associated with riding, like engine noise, vibration through the chassis, or gear changes, are simply not there. Out on the track it can feel like moving through time and space instead of fighting gravity or shoving through the atmosphere. There’s only speed and motion. The Varg is sort of like the quiet kid in class who doesn’t say much, but from his attitude and the way he moves is probably a black belt in judo. No bark, all bite. The bike is subtly fast. Its speed sneaks up on you, and without a point of reference, like another rider, it’s easy to lose sight of how quickly you’re moving. And the Varg, in true electric-bike style, really gets moving right away. A 2022 Yamaha YZ450F was provided for comparison purposes, and riding the two back to back was illuminating. After the Varg shifted the perception of speed and acceleration, the mighty 450 felt more like a 125, and maybe even one with loose motor mounts. The gasoline-powered bike still hit harder on the top-end, but through the bottom and midrange, the Varg had a definite acceleration advantage. As far as feel is concerned, the small differences are interesting but generally beneficial. The bike has a noticeably slim build, so much so that some riders might actually have trouble holding on, though this would be easily remedied with grip tape and graphics. Not having a clutch is a strange sensation, though it’s nice to have some of the strain taken off the forearms and simply focusing on grip. Electrics are also thought of as utterly silent, but of course no motorized vehicle is completely devoid of sound. The Varg lets you know it’s working through its quiet whine; once mobile, there’s chain chatter, the sound of suspension internals working, and of course, wind whistling in your ears. Perhaps the best part: Electric bikes could take racer trash talk to a whole new level. Battery Capacity and Charging It’s safe to say that capacity and charging time have been the Achilles’ heel for all e-products since the beginning, and it’s understandable that riders are wondering if the technology can go the distance. Naturally, when it comes to motocross much of this depends on the rider’s weight, size, and style, so settling on an exact number is tricky. Let’s just say that the Varg’s 6kWh battery puts more than enough sand in its hourglass for the average weekend warrior to run half a dozen laps, practice some sections that need work, give his friends a few laps on the bike, and still have enough juice to make it back to the pits. Full story here: https://www.cycleworld.com/story/motorcycle-reviews/stark-varg-electric-motocross-bike-first-ride/ Subscribe to Cycle World Youtube: /c/cycleworld Read more from Cycle World: https://www.cycleworld.com/ Buy Cycle World Merch: https://teespring.com/stores/cycleworld

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