2023 Stark Varg Launch Review

Stark Future CEO Anton Wass clearly had business credentials, and the initial claims made by the company certainly raised eyebrows, but is is really going to change the motocross industry? Or is it just another electric pipe dream destined for failure?

Well the bike is now a reality, and Gypsy Tales host Jase Macalpine was invited to Barcelona to test the all-new machine in a world-first exclusive. Here are his thoughts....

After a 30-hour trip from Australia to Barcelona to ride the all-new 2023 Stark Varg electric dirt bike, I felt like Marty McFly. I’d arrived at a pristine motocross track that had recently been shut down due to noise complaints, and I was about to ride what many say is the future of motocross.

If you listen to the podcast, you’ll know that I’ve been on the hype train for the Spanish electric motorcycle company for some time. Now it was time to see if the hype is real. In anticipation of this trip, I didn’t even want the 2023 Stark Varg electric dirt bike to better my expectations; I just wanted it to meet them. If this bike is as good as I think it is, then I probably won’t be sleeping for a few days post ride.

The 2023 Stark Varg isn’t just an internal combustion engine bike frame with an electric motor stuffed inside. Rather, it is a ground-up build from a brand-new company that has made no secret about wanting to revolutionise the industry. I’m personally all about the idea of moving our industry towards a sustainable future but, if I’m being honest, right now I just want to know how good the 2022 Stark Varg really is.

Related Reading:
High-tech Stark Varg electric dirt bike is headed for Australia in 2022
Is the Stark Varg electric dirt bike the real deal?
Top 11 electric motorcycle brands you need to watch

Upon first glance, you see an extremely futuristic looking motorcycle that somehow keeps within the current design landscape. Look a little closer, and you will start to see that the Stark Varg is uniquely skinny. Radiator shrouds that bulge around the liquid cooling system on a gas-powered bike can be brought in to just over the width of the triple clamps on the Varg. And no exhaust to wrap around at the rear means that the rear end of the Varg is just as pulled in as the front end.

Custom forged alloy triple clamps, carbon fibre fairings and a 24 carat gold Stark logo give the bike a premium look. The KYB suspension, housed in a custom chassis, gives the bike a premium feeling as well, while Brembo brakes are in charge of the stopping power. And the engineering team was also let loose to completely rethink the design of the footpegs, rear axle blocks and more.

At the heart of the Stark Varg is a 6 KW/h battery weighing in at just 32kgs. This includes the case, battery management system and all necessary components. It is available in a 60hp or 80hp version, but for now we will just have to imagine what 80 horsepower feels like, as we were only allowed to play with the 60.

Based on looks alone, it is very clear that the Stark Future team are determined not just to bring an electric bike to market, but to bring the best bike to market in general.

There were so many unknowns throwing a leg over the Varg for the first time. How do I even know it’s running? To show us how serious they were about our first impressions, there was a mechanic and an engineer assigned to each of the 5 test riders per day. We were given the starting instructions and you know it’s on when there is a slight fan noise from the bike’s cooling system.

When you order a Stark Varg you get the choice between having a traditional rear foot brake or a MTB style hand brake. Not being one to stand in the way of progress I opted for the hand brake.

With only a few laps on track initially I took off like a rat up a drain pipe. I really just wanted to ride. If this bike is what it was promised to be, there shouldn’t be any time needed to adjust to the bike. There is no clutch to use, no gears to change; so it really should be simple. And it was.

The throttle response is instant no matter where you are on the track, but there is a smooth and predictable delivery of that power that makes precision modulation of the throttle effortless. And it’s fast. Really fast.

With no changing gears, you accelerate smoothly through the entire power until you roll off the gas and onto the brakes. It is a truly mind-blowing experience on the first few laps until you realize that you can hear yourself panting like a dog.

While you lose the engine noise and vibration that you feel on a gas-powered bike, it doesn’t mean you’re riding in silence. A whole range of new sounds and sensations become available to you when you ride the Varg. On a gas bike, vibration masks the feeling of your tires grabbing and rolling on braking and turning and the sound of your engine drowns out the noise of both wheels breaking traction.

There is in fact a clear sound of traction that can be heard while riding the Varg and this creates a distinct link between your throttle hand and the rear wheel. If there were any doubts about the overall power and performance of the Stark Varg’s 60HP engine, they have been put to rest for me.

All of this is for nothing if the bike doesn’t have the handling capabilities to match. I am happy to report that this is not the case. Even though the Varg we were testing was a couple of pounds heavier than a stock 450, the feeling on the track tells a different story.

Because of the lack of rotating mass inside the engine, there were no gyroscopic effects felt from the bike while accelerating, braking or cornering. Because of the custom designed battery casing and chassis, all of the weight that can be put low down on the Varg has been strategically placed in an effort to help the handling.

This translates on track to an extremely nimble motorcycle that, when combined with the easy-to-use motor, is just pure fun to ride. The KYB suspension is arguably the best on the market and the Brembo brakes do exactly what you want them to.

I also really enjoyed the experience of riding with the rear brake on the left side of the handlebars. To me it makes so much sense to ride like this. With no gears to occupy your left foot, and no rear brake to occupy the left, you are able to get set in the correct position and leave your feet in place, giving you a super-stable base to concentrate on riding.

Some other cool features of the bike are the stand that charges your bike after each session. You are also able to program 100 different riding modes via the Stark App and phone, 5 of these are available on the fly.

Stark Future have absolutely nailed its initial offering in the Varg. If you are one of the thousands who has already ordered the bike, you are cheering. You will have all the benefits of being able to ride a bike with no noise and very little maintenance. The world of dirt bike riding is going to open up dramatically.

After experiencing just how great this bike is to ride though, you are actually getting a whole lot more than that. You are getting the razor edge of performance in a dirt bike. The Stark Varg has elevated the riding experience while also creating a bike that is easier to ride.

As a guy who is lucky to ride once a week I want to be able to extract the most enjoyment for every ride that I have and the Stark Varg is a tool that I think will allow that like no other bike before it.

Specs: 2023 Stark Varg

MOTOR AND CHARGING
Type: Carbon fibre sleeve electric motor
Cooling: Water
Battery: 6kWh battery pack
Charging: Stark Varg charger
Charge time: Claimed 1-2 hours
Battery range: Claimed 6 hours riding time

PERFORMANCE
Claimed maximum power: 60hp
Claimed maximum torque: 938Nm

TRANSMISSION
Type: Single speed
Final drive: Chain

CHASSIS AND RUNNING GEAR
Frame: Tubular chromoly steel frame, aluminium/carbon subframe
Front suspension: KYB USD fork, fully adjustable, 310mm travel
Rear suspension: 50mm rear shock, fully adjustable, 310mmmm travel
Front brake: 260mm Galfer disc with Brembo hydraulics
Rear brake: 220mm Galfer disc with Brembo hydraulics
Wheels: Spoked
Tyres: Pirelli Scorpion MX32 – 80/100-21 front, rear 110/90-19

DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Claimed weight: 110kg (fully charged)
Seat height: N/A
Wheelbase: N/A

OTHER STUFF
Price: Starting from $18,200AUD
Local distributor: Stark Future
Warranty: N/A