Barely Legal - Stark’s 80hp / 118kg Around-Town Terrorist

Quick Overview

The Stark Varg electric motocross bike is exceptionally competitive against its gas-powered counterparts, outperforming them significantly in water crossings, cornering, and hill climbing, while only being slightly slower in obstacle clearing, whoops, and jumping, largely due to its 122 kg weight compared to a gas bike's weight of under 100 kg, despite the Varg having 80 hp and 1000 Nm of torque.

Key Points: The Stark Varg electric dirt bike proved faster than a comparable gas bike (KTM 450 XCF-W) in water crossing, cornering, and hill climbing. The Varg was slower than the gas bike in obstacle clearing, whooping, and jumping, primarily because the Varg weighs 122 kg, while the gas bike weighs under 100 kg. The Varg produces 80 horsepower and an immense 1000 Nm of torque, which is significantly more than the KTM 450 XCF-W's 49 Nm of torque. The electric bike features an automatic clutch function, allowing riders to mimic manual clutch use or simply rely on the instantaneous power delivery without stalling. The Varg's digital display allows for deep customization of power modes via a smartphone app, including adjusting the power curve. The bike requires only 80 ml of gear oil changed every 40 hours, contrasting sharply with the frequent oil changes of gas bikes. The base price for the Stark Varg is $17,300 CAD, with customization options like different spring rates, rear brake type (hand or foot), and mousse inserts costing extra.

Context: The video reviews the Stark Varg, an electric off-road motorcycle, comparing its performance metrics and features against a traditional gas-powered dirt bike, specifically the KTM 450 XCF-W, across various challenging terrains like mud, water, and snow to determine if the electric platform is competitive for serious off-road riding.

Detailed Analysis

The review pits the Stark Varg electric dirt bike against a gas equivalent, the KTM 450 XCF-W, in a series of challenges demonstrating where electric power excels and where it lags. In direct comparisons, the Varg is significantly faster in water crossings, cornering, and hill climbing, largely attributed to its instantaneous torque delivery. However, the Varg is slightly slower in obstacle clearing, whoops, and jumping because it weighs 122 kg, heavier than the gas bike's sub-100 kg weight. The Varg boasts 80 hp and 1000 Nm of torque, dwarfing the KTM's 49 Nm torque figure. A key feature is the automatic clutch function, which allows riders to either manually mimic clutch operation or rely on the instant throttle response without stalling. The bike's dashboard is a smartphone running a dedicated app, which allows extensive customization, including adjusting power curves across five modes for €13 per month for 'Pro Mode.' Maintenance is minimal, requiring only 80 ml of gear oil every 40 hours, avoiding traditional engine maintenance like regular oil changes. The bike is priced at $17,300 CAD, with further customization options available such as different spring rates, rear brake control (hand or foot), and mousse inserts, which add cost.