For years, we’ve been watching as electric tech has improved. Like everyone reading this, we’ve had our doubts about the electric revolution. Lovers of the internal combustion engine sit up scoff and poke fun at the “Green” Cousins. But the fact is… Electric production is accelerating whether you and I like it or not. The Stark Varg is a prime example of this…
pics by Megan Jonker and Cloud9 Photography.
The bikes are here with ten units sold and another shipment on its way. Bike Kings, the importers kept one back as a demo model so that people can get their bums into saddles and see what these things are capable of. They invited some media along to the Terra Topia Track to sample the goods.
If you are a tech junky, this is one bike that you need to see. You know how you can tune bikes via your cell phone? Well this bike works almost entirely through a phone that comes with the bike.
“Stark Varg offers over 100 riding modes which can be customised and managed by the specially designed, removable Android smartphone which doubles as the bike’s touch screen dash display.”
You select how much power and engine braking you’d like and then you hop on and go for a ride. Guys it is pretty mind blowing, the bike even has a reverse mode for when you come unstuck and need to get out of a tricky spot, and it has a crawl mode…. so that you don’t need to push it over rocks and things, and for when you load it onto your bakkie or trailer. Cool huh!
The bike is crafted from lightweight materials such as carbon fibre, magnesium alloy and aerospace grade aluminium, which contribute to the bikes 118 kg mass. They have fitted the bike with some great Off-The Shelf goods. You’ll find top-shelf KYB adjustable suspension front and rear – Oh yes! They set that up to your weight before delivery. How lekker is that?
A 260mm front disk and a 220mm rear disk with independent braking courtesy of Brembo callipers stop things and you’ll find wheels as found on popular dirt bikes – so the bits that wear like brake pads and the chain can be replaced and serviced with no probs.
We need to point out the obvious – no air filter maintenance and no fuel. The only thing you need to adjust and lube is the chain – and even there, they’ve come up with a pretty clever clicker system that ensures that your wheel is correctly aligned.
What you do need is a power source to charge the bike. For that, the guys brought along a small generator. The bike’s charger actually lives inside the Stark paddock stand.
The biggest part of this bike is the battery. That’s the ribbed part that you can see in place of a conventional engine. The actual engine is the small bit sitting behind that.
No, the battery can’t be hauled out and exchanged between rides, it needs to be charged, which on the quick charge mode takes forty minutes or so.
The body panels are very smooth and minimalistic and the bike itself is really narrow from front to back. Large, lightweight stainless steel pegs keep your feet in place – they fold away when you klap rocks or hit the ruts on the track. The bike we rode is fitted with an 18 inch rear tyre – but when you order you tell them whether you’d like an 18 or 19 inch rear. Also interesting is the fact that this bike is fitted with a mousse. “In full power mode around this track, the tyre will simply rip a tube up.” Customers can choose between a conventional foot brake or a lever on the left side of the Fat Bar. This one had the brake on the bar like you’ll find on a bicycle. It takes a bit of getting used to.
The attention to detail is excellent with custom touches and detailing. Owners also get a really classy tool set with every tool you need for maintenance.
Let’s talk about power figures.
Despite weighing just 9kg, around a third of the weight of a 450cc engine, the Varg’s liquid cooled motor produces a peak of 80 hp and torque peaks at a massive 938 NM. That’s quite something. But, if you don’t want nuts power, variable power delivery and fully customisable traction control allow riders of all skill levels to set the power to where they want it. And remember this: The more power you want, the quicker the battery runs down.
On that note:
For the first ride, the bike was set to fifty HP, the equivalent of a 250cc dirt bike and the boys were pointed at the track. After a demo run of around four laps by Grant Frerichs, the first rider silently set off. Took two laps, came in and swapped. All in, 7 riders went out and 18 laps were run, roughly 50 minutes, at various speeds according to the skill of the riders. It’s a bit uncanny, you see this bright red bike hurtling along – with no engine noise at all, just the mechanical sound of tyres on soil and stones clipping off metal as the bike rockets past.
It’s seriously quick, make no mistake. The bike came back in and was popped on charge while we all had a good chinwag. Our two testers were laughing like kids.
Mike:
“That electric motor is amazing! It’s power right from the bottom all the way to the top.”
“I love the slim feel of the bike and the way you can move around on it, it feels smaller than anything I’ve ridden before.”
“It feels weird, it takes a bit of getting used to, just different, nothing like I’ve ever ridden before.”
“Even at 50 percent the power is there! And it’s instant, so you really need to be smooth on the throttle.”
Handling and suspension are really good, the biggest thing is a mental thing because you hear everything. It messes with your mind a bit…”
James:
“This is fun dude! INSANE!”
“Incredible, a game changer… it’s weird because you zone in more on what you are doing. I actually overcooked it because it makes no noise. It’s all about feeling, you can no longer rely on engine noise, it’s really a strange sensation.”
“I love the fact that you can tune this thing and you really can, you can make it easy to ride like a farm bike, or turn it up to the equivalent of a 250 and then a full power 450…”
Once the bike was recharged, the guys from Stark put the bike up to 70 HP and sent the riders out again…
Massive smiles all round.
“It’s a lot more than a 450. The power delivery is perfect. With throttle control and the extra power this bike really pops.”
“More than enough and so smooth, even through the ruts, I felt so comfortable, the extra power just makes it so easy to ride.”
“There’s still ten more horsepower available “ chirps Frerichs… the boys just laughed…
Parting words:
“It’s more than what we expected. The fact that you can ride it anywhere without bugging your neighbours is an absolute bonus. We both love the premium products that are fitted as standard on this bike.”
There you have it. The lads are impressed. They reckon that the battery on full charge should easily cope with a day’s MX racing.
The bike starts at R245000 for the 60 HP version and for a bit more, you can upgrade to the full 80 HP model. For another little bit more, you can move the rear brake lever from the bars, to where you’d usually find it. You get the choice of an 18” or 19” rear wheel. The bike comes with the mobile Phone/display with a bunch of preset settings. You get a two Year warranty on the battery, charger and all that.
Now we hear you and we’ve seen your queries:
Will it handle an enduro? Will it work as an everyday fun bike?
We rode it very briefly at 70 HP in the dirt and it was insane. Turn it down a lot and it feels like it will handle anything you can throw at it. In terms of battery life, we have asked for the bike for a full day. We’ll set out a 10km loop that will incorporate everything you find out on the trails, we’ll play with the power modes, shoot some vids and see exactly how the battery holds out.
Watch this space…
