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/1542400
2025 STARK VARG EX ($12,900 STANDARD / $13,900 ALPHA) ENGINE TYPE Liquid-cooled, electric motor with carbon-fiber housing, 360V HORSEPOWER (CLAIMED) 60 Standard model / 80 Alpha model TORQUE (CLAIMED) 764 lb-ft at rear wheel BATTERY 7.2 kWh lithium-ion CHARGER 3.3kW, 16 A, 120V/240V CHARGING TIME 3-5 hours @ 120V 2 hours @ 220V FRAME Chromoly steel mainframe; aluminum subframe HANDLEBAR Tapered aluminum FRONT SUSPENSION KYB 48mm closed- cartridge coil-spring fork, compression and rebound damping adjustable REAR SUSPENSION KYB single shock with linkage, triple adjuster, spring preload, high/low speed compression damping, and rebound damping adjustable FRONT-WHEEL TRAVEL 11.8 in. REAR-WHEEL TRAVEL 11.9 in. FRONT BRAKE Brembo, piston caliper with 260mm disc REAR BRAKE Brembo, 1-piston caliper with 220mm disc FRONT WHEEL / TIRE 90/90 21 in. REAR WHEEL / TIRE 140/80 18 in. RAKE 26.1° WHEELBASE 58.58 in. GROUND CLEARANCE 14.49 in. SEAT HEIGHT 38.9 in. WEIGHT (MEASURED) 272 lbs. WARRANTY 2 Years SPECIFICATIONS P94 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 STARK VARG EX front. Unfortunately, those are not legal for U.S. DOT/NHTSA, but they are a clean design that deserves some recognition. The provided U.S.-legal turn signals are also better than most stock units. Noise Level The Varg is significantly quieter than any gas-powered bike, though the cooling system generates some noise, and the chain and tires spitting out debris make more sound than the bicycle-quiet operation Stark claims in their videos. Still, it's far less likely to make enough noise to anger other outdoor enthusiasts, which could help keep riding areas open or even open new ones. The Verdict If you want to do 50-plus-mile rides or anything that includes significant open and high-speed riding, the Varg EX isn't the best option. The limited range and lengthy charging times make it impractical for adventure dual sport riding or exploration. However, if you want to ride trails—especially tight, technical trails—and keep your rides un- der four hours, you may not find a bike that's easier to ride and live with. The effortless power delivery, reduced maintenance, quieter operation, and two-year warranty from Stark make it an excellent choice for many off- road motorcycle enthusiasts. The $12,900 price tag is com- petitive with comparable dual sports, and the reduced mainte- nance costs provide long-term savings. CN a KTM 450 EXC dual sport bike with a full tank of fuel. The Varg EX is at least 15 pounds heavier than a dual sport bike and closer to 25 pounds heavier than most off-road bikes. Despite that weight, you don't feel it on the trail unless you're wrestling it around in tough spots—and even then, the crawl mode and reverse can help you out significantly. Suspension and Chassis The KYB suspension settings and chassis received excellent feedback from everyone who rode it. The suspension is more similar to an aggressive trail bike like KTM XC or Beta RR Race models than a KTM XC-W or EXC dual sport bike. Suspen - sion settings are very personal, so most riders will do their own tuning, but the Varg EX tracks straight, corners well and does not do anything strange. Brakes The Brembo brakes work well. Our bike had the foot-pedal rear brake installed, and some of us prefer that, while others like the optional hand brake to keep the right foot free to move around and weight the footpeg. There were no complaints about brake performance. Lights The headlight is better than any stock headlight we have ridden with. It has low and high beams, and unlike most other stock bikes, you will likely not feel the need to install an aftermarket light. And huge bonus points for the integrated turn signals on the