nance is indeed easier—you just
need to check the bolts and ser-
vice the chain. No oil changes
and no air filters to clean.
However, you must plan for
charging and ideally have a
220-volt outlet, though a 110-volt
outlet works with an optional
adapter. Charging takes at least
two hours with 220 volts and
four hours with 110 volts. The
charger is integrated into the
bike stand, which comes with
the bike. The stand weighs
a hefty 40 pounds, making it
impractical for transport—you'll
want a regular stand for going to
the track or trails.
The kickstand is like many
European bikes that automati
-
cally swing up when you remove
weight from it, which can be
annoying. The bracket is thin, and
ours cracked when the bike fell
over on the stand on a rocky trail.
With a little practice, navigat-
ing the phone app to change
power and engine-braking set-
tings becomes second nature.
We set up the five maps in
stages from 25 to 60 horsepow
-
er to make it easy to adjust for
different riding conditions.
quire some periodic maintenance.
The radiator is placed at the back
of the bike rather than the more
vulnerable front location like on
most standard motorcycles.
Stark claims the cost of
ownership is about $600 for 100
hours of use versus $6327 for
a typical ICE dirt bike, including
fuel and recommended dealer-
performed maintenance. The
$12,900 MSRP for the standard
model is comparable to dual
sport models from KTM or Beta.
Living With and Riding
the Stark Varg EX
We've had this bike for about six
months, giving us real insight
into daily ownership. Mainte-
Customization Options
When custom ordering your Varg
EX through a dealer or directly
from Stark's website, you can
select from the following:
• Alpha power mode with full 80
horsepower
• Red, white, or gray plastic
• Three suspension packages
(soft, medium or hard)
• Metzeler, Michelin or Pirelli tire
options with optional mousse
inserts instead of tubes
• Front/rear disc guards, titani
-
um footpegs, or titanium bolt kit
Our test bike came with the
medium suspension setting,
Metzeler Six Days Extreme tires,
and lightweight Stark tubes.
Reduced Maintenance
and Cost of Ownership
Like other electric motorcycles,
the Stark Varg EX has no clutch,
piston, or valvetrain to wear out.
You don't need to clean air filters
or buy gasoline. However, there
are still some minor maintenance
tasks that you will need to per
-
form. The transmission uses oil
that Stark recommends changing
every 40 hours, and it includes an
engine-cooling system that will re
-
(Left) The 7.2 kWh lithium-
ion battery pack includes a
honeycomb magnesium case
that connects each cell directly
to the casing for improved
cooling. A robust skid plate
protects the battery pack and
motor. (Right) An 18-inch rear
wheel is standard, and you
can choose between Metzeler,
Michelin and Pirelli tires with or
without Mousses installed. The
Brembo brakes perform well.
VOLUME ISSUE JANUARY , P91
