The new Stark Varg EX is making die-hard 450cc riders concerned… With more power output, better ride handling – depending on who you’re talking to – and more user-friendly features throughout the bike, the new Varg steps even further away from mid-sized e-moto and competes directly with the gas bikes.
Now, in an enduro version, which also happens to be road legal, depending on the features you choose, the Stark Varg EX has entered a new area.
Let’s look at the stats on the Stark Varg EX, how it compares with the current 1.2 MX version, and why the gap is getting smaller between electric and gas.
If you’re a die-hard gas dirt bike fan, be careful if you read on, this might change your mind!
Stark Varg EX Stats
At first glance, the stats look mind-blowing. If you’ve been following the growing trend in increasing power in mid-sized e-motos, these are usually measured in kilowatts, so a rough conversion of 60Hp is 44kW!
When you purchase this bike, you have the option for the 60hp version or the 80hp version for an extra $1000. The options available to customize right from the start are plentiful. When you purchase your Stark Varg, you select the color, power output, if you’d rather a hand or foot brake, what type of suspension, tires, protectors, and more! That leaves little to do with modding after you take ownership of your new ride.
But, at that price point, you wouldn’t want to be spending more money on more upgrades! At least you know you have peace of mind with Stark Varg’s 2-year warranty.
Other features of the Varg EX include a fully adjustable power curve. The battery has a 20% more range than the previous model MX 1.0 as well which, according to Stark, gives a beginner over 4 hours of range. An expert flooring the gas all the time probably won’t get that range, but you’d be hard pressed to get everything out of even the original Varg anywhere but a racing environment, so everyone’s range will be better than it was before.
Here is a great review video I found:
Stark Varg EX vs MX 1.2
Whatever Stark Varg you get will be incredibly fast and exciting to ride! The biggest difference between the EX and the MX is that the EX is the road-legal version in most countries around the world. In most instances, all you need is your motorbike licence, and you’ll be good to ride to the track, around the track, and back home!
This opens up so many riding opportunities. My favorite type of riding is enduro, and in all events and races near where I live, there is a requirement to ride a road-legal bike.
Both models of the Stark Varg have the option of either 60Hp or 80Hp, and you can further customize by choosing specific things like a foot brake or hand brake, the color, tires, suspension stiffness, and more.
Features:
Both the MX 1.2 and the EX share similar features. Both have the Carbon fiber housing 360V motor, and a 7.2kWh battery. You’ll get the KYB 48mm coil-spring fork with numerous adjustments paired with the KYB shock, allowing 303mm of rear wheel movement on both the MX and the EX.
Brembo brakes are your stopping power on both models, and the tires are 90/90-21 on the front and 140/80-18 on the rear for the EX, and either a 21/18 setup on the MX, or you can choose a 21/19 setup if you prefer.
Weight is similar, although the EX is slightly more due to needing additional parts to comply with the road laws.
Rider Experience:
Both models are suited towards experienced riders; however, it is possible for a beginner to ride… carefully! With the adjustability of the power tune, one option could be to ensure a smooth power delivery and create your own tune. You can add up to 5 ‘hot swappable’ modes, which means the rider can select different pre-determined tunes as they ride.
Competing with 450cc Gas Bikes
The Stark Varg can be compared more closely to the 450cc dirt bike as opposed to a mid-sized e-moto like the Surron or E Ride Pro. The weight is similar to a 450, and many riders suggest it is a similar weight, in feel, to a 125cc. That’s with a 38” seat height!
The power output from the Stark Varg is actually more than a standard 450cc and requires less mechanical knowledge, as there are fewer parts to change. The app collects all the data that you need to refine your race.
Can it compete directly in competition? Well, at this stage, it is dependent on the rules of the competition! The Varg can compete, and on paper, has more power than a standard 450cc gas dirt bike – it’s more to do with the rules.
Just recently, however, the FIM World Supercross Championship signed a deal with Stark Future to be included in the Championship. The MX 1.2 will be on the start line at the start of the 2025 FIM World Supercross Championship – in both SX1 and SX2 classes. The Stark Varg needs to meet many criteria to be race legal, and together Stark Future and the FIM are ensuring an even playing field. This is very exciting, as it’s starting to pave the way forward for other competitions.
Can you mod a Stark Varg?
Short answer… Yes! But with such high power, tuned suspension from the factory, and all the extras you need, there probably isn’t much left to really need to mod. And at the price point of the Varg, you probably don’t want to spend any extra to mod this bike!
The Stark Varg is in a different category from the mid-sized e-motos we routinely mod. However, Stark has made it easy with their own parts that you can upgrade. Want a bigger battery? Stark offers one. Want spare bolts or plastics? Head to Stark. It is a simple process.
However, more and more companies are creating aftermarket parts to put on the Varg. Think of how you mod your 450cc dirt bike. The usual mods are handlebar upgrades, grips, footpegs, and tires. The same can be done on the Varg.
What we think.
This is a very exciting time in the motorsports world. We’ve known for a long time that electric dirt bikes are simply awesome, but with the addition of the Stark Varg EX, this takes e-moto to a new level.
Are we going to swap our E Rides for Vargs? No, they are both built for different reasons. The E Ride is a powerful, nimble machine that rides very differently from a Stark Varg. Not better, not worse, but different. It’s hard to explain. It’s like taking your zippy Mini around the streets compared to a Lamborghini. Both are fun, but in different ways.
Ideally, your garage will have both! It is a personal preference if you prefer the Stark Varg or the smaller, yet high-performance e-motos. I see the comparison being closer to those who might be considering swapping their 450cc gas bike for the Varg.
Watch this exciting place!
Leave a Reply