The VARG from Sweden is the Future of Motocross
Stark VARG, Swedish for Strong Bull, is the inaugural ‘gentle beast’ offering from Stark Future as they enter the electric motorcycle market. Stark Future feels motocross is the ‘toughest and most demanding form of motorcycling’. What better way to prove your place in the industry than to start and perfect the most difficult.
Robert Downey Jr. has played the auspicious character ‘Tony Stark’ of Stark Industries in the Marvel franchise since 2008. He’s been flying around in his futuristic suit awing fans for years. It seems the future has now caught up to the world of motocross with the VARG.
It’s true that electric is entering all areas of transportation, so the announcement of another shouldn’t be such a big deal. What is so special about Stark Future? The Stark Future brand has landed in Kelowna at M & M Performance so you can actually check it out in person.
“We were alerted to the Stark brand through the moto community. Stark is coming out of the gate with technology so far advanced, they will be hard to catch or keep up with,” says M & M dealer principal Nick Langelaan. “After researching the brand, we viewed Stark to motorcycles as Tesla to automotive.”
Notable technology the moment you walk up to the bike is the smartphone. That’s right. This motorcycle is completely operable with either the Stark VARG phone included with the bike, an Android or IOS smart phone by downloading the Stark VARG app.
Utilizing the app, the rider can customize over 100 different configurations. The customization can be done anywhere if you have the phone with you. Lock your phone onto the bike and it will charge and communicate with the VARG.
The professional riders, the fastest in existence, will be challenged. Beginners will have the opportunity to learn and grow with an endless amount of programming capabilities. You can program the operation of the VARG to perform like a 125cc 2-stroke, a 450cc 4-stroke or any configuration in between to adjust to your present riding capability.
The VARG has the same range as a fully fuelled 450 motocross bike. The 6.5kWh battery provides approximately 6 hours of riding time. That means a motocross competitor could compete fully electric. A recharge can be done in 1 – 2 hours depending on the power source. Interestingly, the charging unit for the motorcycle is housed in a proper motocross stand.
VARG boasts 30% more power than a traditional motocross. A traditional 450cc will produce 52.5 HP roughly. The VARG – 80 HP. If that doesn’t scare you, the torque will. The Stark VARG is capable of 938Nm (691 ft. lbs.) of torque.
With the ability to adjust power modes, traction control, power curve, engine braking and flywheel effect, of the 100+ operating configurations available, your favourite five will be active on your control panel.
Other riding data available includes full GPS navigation, lap and ride times, speed, map data, g force, airtime and power consumption. Trail mapping comes with turn-by-turn advice, although I highly doubt the readability while you are riding. All the data can be shared with your riding partners or your professional race team.
This begs the question of whether you need an internet connection to ride? You don’t but you can have one if you want. There are two standards in the app. The basic version that comes with the bike and a Premium subscription. If you become a Premium subscriber, you get a SIM card offering connection 24/7 in more than 150 countries, plus you can use the Stark VARG phone as your personal device.
There are currently two Stark VARG bikes on the showroom floor at M & M Performance in Kelowna, B.C. if you want to get a closer look. In honour of the beloved Marvel franchise and Halloween, one is wrapped to look like Ironman.
Don’t think that the VARG is a one-off as Stark Future has every intention of producing a full line of on and off-road motorcycles.
