Sean Finley | December 14, 2021
Stark, a new Swedish motorcycle company with a home base in Spain, is the latest manufacturer aiming to take on internal combustion engine motocross and off-road motorcycles with the new VARG Electric bike.
If the specifications and feedback from two-time MX World Champion, Sebastien Tortelli, the Stark testing director prove to be correct, the VARG could be a viable contender.
The VARG has been in development for two years and boasts 80 horsepower compared to about 61 for the most powerful 450cc MX bikes. The power output and characteristics can be modified via the on-bike smartphone dash or an App for your phone. The battery is claimed to last for up to 40 minutes of intense motocross use or 6 hours of recreational riding. And it will take 1-2 hours to recharge.
The 2023 Stark VARG.
The entire bike and chassis was developed in-house and uses the motor as a stressed member. Claimed weight is 242 pounds, which puts it in the lower range of the current crop of 450cc MX bikes with a full tank of fuel.
The VARG uses Kayaba suspension and Brembo brakes.
The VARG is expected to be available in September 2022 with a price tag of $11,900.
https://starkfuture.com/en-us-US
Below is a video and additional information provided by Stark:
Stark Future was born to challenge and inspire the motorcycle industry to sustainability. The company’s first serial production model – the Stark VARG motocross bike – will prove that electric technology is superior to gasoline equivalents in every single way.
The Stark VARG is the first electric motorcycle to be the performance leader within its category.
The new model will reorientate the industry with its patent-pending technology and design features, to inspire riders and racers towards sustainability. In order to outperform traditional technology, the Stark VARG has been developed from the ground up, building the power train and chassis to work perfectly together and optimizing every component for its purpose. It is physical proof that an electric motocross bike can outperform combustion-engine equivalents in every single way.
Josh Hill testing the new electric MX bike aimed at taking on 450cc internal combustion engine MX bikes.
How does the Stark VARG (Swedish for ‘strong wolf’) mark the difference?
- Multiple bikes ‘in one’ with customizable power settings to ape a 125 two-stroke up to a 650 four-stroke
- An innovative motor, cooling system and battery architecture for unparalleled performance
- A class-leading powertrain with 80hp at 9hp per kilogram meaning the Stark VARG is the fastest motocross bike on the market
- An ultra-small and light chassis concept with use of premium materials such as carbon fiber, magnesium, and aero grade aluminum
- A Smartphone dash and motorcycle set-up App
- Revitalized bodywork that prioritizes ergonomics, comfort, and performance
- Renowned suspension solutions from specialists KAYABA
- A ‘ride anywhere, anytime’ concept thanks to low maintenance, zero emissions and no noise
No detail has been left untouched or unexamined and no compromise has been taken: the Stark VARG has been in development for over two years and every single component has been carefully examined and cross-compared for utmost performance and potential. As well as the raw numbers and exceptional handling, the Stark VARG hits ownership targets thanks to its quick charging time and unbeatable durability (offering a full ‘moto’ at Grand Prix-like intensity or up to 6 hours of easy trail riding with a 1-2 hour recharge) and the absence of emissions and noise. The Stark VARG is also incredibly versatile. Through the brilliant Stark Future App – contained on the waterproof and shock resistant smartphone/dash, held in place by a new robust fixture – the bike’s power curve, engine-braking, traction control and virtual flywheel weight can be tuned in a few seconds and through as many as 100 ride ‘modes’. What kind of moto will you ride today?
The silent heart of the Stark VARG is the prized engine and power, providing 80hp – 30% more than any 450 – and with double the amount of torque. The drivetrain is surrounded by Stark’s production battery system which is one of the most compact and ‘energy dense’ in the world, boasting 6kWh of capacity at less than 32kg. The powerplant has been forged with advanced tech and ideas, such as the patent-pending magnesium honeycomb casing, ‘slippery-fingers’ cell holders, a pressure relief system and a one-sided powerboard configuring the battery cells. The Stark VARG’s ‘flying V’ system connects every cell directly to the tough, waterproof casing. This brings high conductivity to the air-cooled structure. The result is a very even and regular battery temperature that removes unnecessary weight for water or vapor cooling. The range from a full charge is similar to a 450 with a full tank of gas.
Low weight is key to the Stark VARG’s vivid handling. At 110kg the bike sets the best power-to-weight ratio of any model in any dealership. The chassis architecture uses the engine as a structural component, allowing Stark Future to build the lightest motocross frame in the world. The composition of the frame (and carbon sub-section) brings the right blend of lateral, vertical and torsional flex and a lower center-of-gravity placement to optimize the Stark VARG’s output on the terrain. The bike sticks and turns unlike anything else and the rider’s sensations are helped by the slim, sporty ergonomics (goodbye to airboxes, radiators and fuel tanks) and redesigned plastics, enabling more weight-saving. Japanese suspension experts KAYABA and Technical Touch need no introduction and the 310mm travel set-up can be tweaked between seven different stock settings depending on the size and bulk of the rider.
Look around the Stark VARG and there are details that will catch the eye. How about the innovative smartphone and dash housing that allows full set-up preferences? What about the patent-pending super-robust ‘floating’ dual compound skid plate that removes the need for a lower section of the frame and provides supreme protection? Or the wheels with CNC-machined 6082 T6 aluminum hubs, 7050 T6 rims, spokes made in Italy from high-grade steel and Pirelli MX32 tires? Then there is also the innovative chain adjuster ‘click system’ (erasing the need for measurement) and the flush axle and bolt composition for yet more effective profiling and protection. Even the Stark VARG footpegs are special: the parts are cast from a special stainless steel alloy, 40% stronger than titanium or chromoly steel and are lighter than any motocross footpeg. The installation process is also simple as Stark have taken away the need for a lock pin.
The industry has set their benchmarks for combustion-engined motorcycles and it focuses on minor incremental steps each year. Stark Future has blown this outdated and environmentally ‘unfriendly’ standard away from the track. The company want to take motocross ‘out of the rut’ and have analyzed and beaten every yardstick there is.
The Stark VARG is competitively priced, costing $11,900 (In the United States). The motorcycle can be ordered through the Stark Future website or through select, participating dealerships. www.starkfuture.com
“It is a very proud moment for us to finally start talking and showing the Stark VARG,” says Anton Wass, Stark Future CEO and Co-Founder. “As motocross riders and fans, we knew that the sport was in a chronic state, and we are losing tracks in Europe every week. It felt like motocross was going backwards while the potential for innovation with electric mobility is going quickly forwards. Our motivation was born out of frustration with the scene and the need to contribute something that would help our world and our surroundings. It’s been a fantastic journey so far and it’s exciting to see how the Stark VARG had exceeded our expectations. From a business perspective, we also wanted to set the bar in motocross because it is the toughest challenge for material and technical ideas before we move on to produce a full range of on-and-off-road motorcycles. Riders are going to love the full potential of the Stark VARG and the amount of ‘clean’ and easy fun it provides. We aimed to produce something greener and better, and we think anyone trying the bike will agree that we reached our vision.”
Stark co-founder Anton Wass poses with the 2023 Stark VARG Electric motocross bike.
“When I first jumped on the Stark VARG it was a step into the unknown. The very first impression was from the outright performance; it was much more than I expected,” commented Testing Director and former World Champion and AMA Motocross Champion Sébastien Tortelli. “Suspension-wise, chassis-wise I immediately felt at home. This is a real motocross bike. I had to learn about the electric power and I was surprised of how fast I adapted and how fun it is to ride. We have done quite a lot of development work already. The chassis is balanced as well as nimble. The light weight means you can really move around it with ease and attack those jumps and sections. I feel awesome on the track and I can race with this bike, and this is what we are aiming for. It’s an amazing experience to ride in silence! You can hear the way the bike picks up traction, the impact of the stones and the jumps. It’s an amazing sensation.”
The Stark VARG is claimed to have a 40 minute run time for aggressive motocross riding and up to six hours for recreational riding.
“First off, the Stark VARG is one of the most beautiful bikes I’ve seen!” said Stark Future ambassador and former AMA Supercross race winner Josh Hill. “It is probably the most responsive power I’ve ever felt on a bike. The designers have done an amazing job with the chassis and the ergonomics right out of the gate. There was very little to adjust. I also love the ‘one size fits all’ idea: someone with very little experience of a dirtbike can feel safe and have fun – especially compared with trying to get their head around a new 250 or 450 – but then the serious racers or free-riders can make it as explosive as they want. The possibilities with the Stark VARG are endless. Once you’ve ridden an electric bike then its unlike anything else.”
The Stark VARG has been in development for two years with two-time MX GP Champion Sebastien Tortelli serving as the Testing Director.
About Stark Future:
Stark Future is a multi-national company, established in 2019 with Swedish roots but located on the fringes of Barcelona. Making the most of Catalunya’s reputation as one of Europe’s off-road riding ‘hotspots’, Stark Future was able to construct a dedicated, passionate and knowledgeable team from the cream of both the motorcycle and power electronics industries. They rapidly started work on the first model of ambitious catalogue of next-generation electric motorcycles. The Stark VARG is the result. The highly advanced technology has been dutifully evolved at the firm’s factory, where robotic assembly lines will produce the Stark VARG and forthcoming models to order. The Stark VARG itself is a strong definition of the company’s values. Stark Future want to challenge the norm to improve how things are done, search for the limit, adapt and set clear, smart and inspiring goals and, finally, deliver outstanding results.
2023 Stark VARG Specifications
| Description |
Specification |
| Power |
80hp |
| Weight |
110kg fully charged |
| Wheel torque |
938 Nm |
| Range |
Up to 6 hours |
| Charging time |
1 to 2 hours |
| Battery capacity |
6kWh |
| Suspension |
310 mm travel Front/Rear KYB |
| Ride modes |
More than 100 |
| Adjustability |
Power curve, engine braking, flywheel effect & traction control |
