Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1470676
QUICKSPIN I Stark Varg P104 certainly impressed me. Anton Wass, Stark's CEO, is one of the founders of 24MX, the European equivalent of Rocky Mountain ATV/MC or Motosport Out- let here in the U.S. He and the team of engineers are passionate about riding and all ride themselves. They dress the part and could easily fool you for a sales- man at a high-end car dealership, dress shirts and sport coats at the track isn't something we see every day. But that plays into the brand's image and goals. They are out to change the game and plan to do so by bringing a quality product to the market. With a blank slate and a big budget, they're designing a bike the way they want to, and that's respectable. In fact, the specs on the Stark, (trail, rake, linkage ratios, etc.) all stem as a blend of every modern motocrosser, taking the best characteristics of each and blending it into one. Regardless how you feel about electric technology, these guys are doing it and doing it right. I think Stark is on the right track, but I don't think it's a direct replacement for a gas engine. At least not yet. Yes, the ease of use and barriers to entry are much lower, but there are still things that need to be worked out, and that's to be expected with a new brand. Battery range and charge times are the first things that come to mind. However, using this bike as a track-specific weapon is the niche where it currently works best. Weekend warriors who do their morning motos and head home will have no issues with the early production models. And personally, I think electric will start doing what the four- stroke did to the two-stroke. The Stark Varg isn't a personal attack on combustion dirt bikes, it's an alternative option that will continue to perpetuate our passions. CN SPECIFICATIONS STARK VARG ($13,590) MOTOR POWER 60kW MAX HORSEPOWER 80 MAX TORQUE 80N INTERNAL GEAR REDUCTION 3.29 CHAIN GEAR REDUCTION 3.4 TORQUE AT COUNTERSHAFT 262.9 Nm TORQUE AT REAR WHEEL 901.2 Nm BATTERY ARCHITECTURE 100S4P BATTERY MAX VOLTAGE 420V BATTERY NOMINAL VOLTAGE 360V BATTERY CAPACITY 16.8 Nm BATTERY CAPACITY 6048 Wh STARK CHARGER 3.3 kW STARK CHARGER MAX INLET CURRENT 16A CHARGING TIME TO 80% AT 120V 151 min. CHARGING TIME TO 80% AT 220 82 min WHEELBASE 58.46 in. RAKE 26.5° SEAT HEIGHT [IN] 37.32 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 14.76 in. TRIPLE CLAMP OFFSET 22mm FRONT FORK DIAMETER 48mm FRONT FORK STROKE 12.2 in. REAR SUSPENSION STROKE 12.2 in. FRONT BRAKE DIAMETER 260mm REAR BRAKE DIAMETER 220mm FRONT SPROCKET 14T REAR SPROCKET 48T ESTIMATED RACE WEIGHT 242 lbs.