MXP Rides The New Stark!

When Doug Henry rode his Yamaha YZ400 to the first supercross win the world of motocross changed. The announcement and roll out of the new Stark Varg is set to deliver the off road world another changing moment.

Stark Future (Stark meaning ‘Strong’ in Swedish) has set the high standard of what electric off road will be with the introduction of the Stark Varg, a fully electric motocross race bike build completely by the Stark team to be “an electric motocross bike to outperform all other combustion-engined MX motorcycles on the market.”

Stark Future reached out to media around the world, including MXP inviting them to come test the new Stark Varg. Our own Brett Lee was the first to swing a leg over the revolutionary bike. We talked with Brett about his experience.

In the next week look for more reviews on MXP on this new bike taking on old ideas.

MXP: Why you? 

Brett:  Great question! Honestly, if you have ever been to Walton Raceway, you will know we believe in balance. You can own a motocross track and be aware that we have a responsibility to our environment. You can also talk about how cool two strokes sound or the rumble of a 450 and know that sound limits where we can ride bikes, and as people move to more remote areas, it has become a more significant issue. So to answer your question, we were curious and wanted to see where this technology is taking motocross.

MXP: Let’s talk about first impressions and your overall experience. How would you describe your day?

Brett: Humbling. The team at Stark gave so much of themselves to us; it was a great lesson in how to create a phenomenal product and be proud of that but at the same time recognize the value in spending time with each rider as we experienced it. 

The entire team from Stark was there from the moment we arrived to the moment we left, from the top down – they were there. They answered any and every question we had and also asked us a lot in return. Just like the bike itself, they left nothing unchecked. We felt the day’s purpose wasn’t to showcase the bike exclusively; it was to generate feedback and valuable user-based data. And this wasn’t lip service – they valued every moment of our experience.

The fact that the lead people in this company took time with us to talk, have lunch, and engage with us speaks to the integrity of this company. Both Melody and I said that was perhaps the biggest takeaway: the people behind this bike. 

MXP: This bike received a lot of hype. Sebastien Tortelli has helped build it, and intelligent, dynamic, talented people are behind the bike. How was riding it?

Brett: Unreal. It’s hard to know where to start. As soon as you sit on it, it feels like a motocross bike. It is narrow at the front, but there is a bike to grip. The bike fasteners are hidden, and it feels seamless. The seating is flat and has no gas cap, so it is an easy bike to move around. There isn’t a getting “use to it” feel. It is immediately comfortable. 

It is a very surreal feeling the first time you turn the throttle. The Stark we tested was the 60HP version, which is a 450 essentially. At no time did I think I needed more power. No gears, no clutch, everything is controlled in your right hand. I pulled out on the track, cracked the throttle and instant linear acceleration. No noise or bike vibration deceives you about how fast you are going. There is no miss-shift in gears or missing that sweet spot – it simply accelerates. 

Braking is good. Stark uses Brembo brakes, which is what you find on a KTM. However, you quickly realize that without engine braking, you need to get on the brakes hard. This can be surprising the first time you ride the bike. There is an option to adjust the settings to have engine braking added, but I wanted to ride the bike in its truest form. Other test riders did add engine braking and said it made it brake like a traditional 450F. 

The handling was also good, and it uses Kayaba suspension. Very similar to the Yamaha package. Again, it felt like any motocross bike. The battery sits under the rider, but you do not feel it. I think the big compliment was that it doesn’t feel different from a regular motocross bike. It was actually felt really responsive to how you moved on the bike in the air. 

The Stark Varg is one of the best handling bikes I have ever ridden. I think that is for two reasons: The power rolls on smoothly and allows you to ride the track differently. You have a lot of input with your positioning on this bike, and no shifting allows more control and bike feel.  It also is never in the wrong gear or over rev that puts strain or packs the bike suspension. 

MXP: The lack of noise must be something you get used to?

Brett: Yes, and the vibration. We are all accustomed to a bike by sound and feel. You realize that the moment you ride the Stark. Riding the Stark is a very pure feeling. You can hear your tires working and the slap of your suspension when you come up short. Whereas before your focus may have been on the gear, or the sound of your throttle, this changes when riding a Stark. You start to take in the riding. Your tires gaining and losing traction is a sound and feel, which changes the way you ride. You hear your bike come up short or hear it glide down a hill. It takes you back to a pure time when we all started out riding, and I described this first ride as an emotional experience for me. 

MXP: Can it compete with 450 in motocross?

Brett: Oh yeah. The Stark Varg is an electric “four-stroke” moment. This bike isn’t as good as four-stroke; it is better. Look, I believe all bikes are pretty good these days and very even. Some are the same bike with different plastic! This bike is unquestionably as good as any platform regarding handling and feel. It has solid components and an excellent rider feel.  

The electric engine does not stall, does not miss a shift, does not over rev and is as powerful as any bike. 

What drives the market in motocross is a competitive advantage. The Stark Varg can be set to create the same power output. So there isn’t a horsepower advantage there. But again, it’s the power. For me, it shortens the track up. It is such controllable power, and you are so aware of how the bike is making traction that you naturally work the track better and use lines you’d never be able to use before. You never stall or miss-shift, which is a huge advantage. 

How long does the battery last?

Brett: Terrible answer is I don’t know. They are going to race it in a National moto in Italy. But the truth is, it lasts longer than I can last on a bike. You can put it on the stand and have it charge when you are not riding. So for motocross, it just isn’t an issue. When you are resting, you are charging. 

MXP: Give an honest answer; what is something you didn’t like? 

Brett: I rode it with the foot brake, which meant no clutch lever. I didn’t feel comfortable. I ride with a finger on the clutch, and it felt foreign not to have that. Maybe you get used to it, but I didn’t. We switched to the hand brake where the clutch is, and it was still not the same for me. The hand brake works well, but it was not something I could adjust to in one day after riding traditional motocross bikes for 40+ years. 

Also, this isn’t a regular bike. It takes a bit of adjustment to understand how it feels, to re-adjust your own personal hardwiring that we all have about how a bike feels and reacts. As I said, you feel in many ways like you are riding for your first time. There are so many new senses that are normally lost with a gas-powered engine and the noise that comes with it. It is so good.

MXP: So you want one?

Brett: 100%. I know a few dealerships in Canada have committed to selling Starks, but Cycle North Powersports in Prince George, BC, was one of the first to receive approval, and I’d love to be there when they get delivered and ride one off the lot.

MXP: Where are we going to see more on the Stark?

Brett: MXP will dive into this throughout the next week and share some more experiences. Stark is an incredible company, first and foremost. The bike is an extension of these people. Melody and I were treated so well in Spain: Anton, Paul, Ben, Sebastien, Kian, Joaquin, Alpinestars Europe and our videographer James made us feel like we were royalty. It spoke to us as much as the bike did. And the bike infinitely exceeded our expectations. This entire company has changed the game of motocross.