The rise of electric vehicles has given some ambitious startups the opportunity to break into an industry historically dominated by a few established brands. This has led to plenty of innovation, with these fledgling companies injecting some fresh new ideas into a traditionally risk-averse market. Take Stark Future, for example. Just five years ago, few had heard of the Spanish start-up, but the company is quickly making a name for itself in the world of electric off-road motorcycles with two models that bring all the advantages of an electric powertrain to the adventurous two-wheeled segment.
Stark Future certainly isn’t the first brand to take a run at producing an all-electric motorcycle. Harley-Davidson has found some success with its LiveWire subsidiary, and Honda and Ducati have both rolled out concept models that, while enticing, have yet to make it into full production. It’s been similarly slow-going among EV-exclusive brands, with companies like Energica entering bankruptcy and Zero Motors struggling to post a profit after almost 15 years on the market.
What does Stark Future have over these other brands? A narrower focus, for one. While other electric motorcycle brands have largely focused on traditional bikes, Stark is making a concentrated play for the motocross market with its first two creations: the original MX and a new EX enduro that represents the company’s first street-legal offering. The two bikes leverage a unique, all-electric design to offer the sort of performance that’s never been seen in the off-road market, with as much as 80 hp available with a quick twist of the throttle. Early reviews have been strong, with riders praising the Stark Varg MX’s potent powertrain, high-capacity battery, and customization potential. Let’s saddle up and see if the Stark Varg MX and new EX have what it takes to rocket the plucky Spanish startup into the mainstream.
Molding the Moto Market
While Stark Future has taken root in Spanish soil, the company traces its history back to founder and CEO Anton Wass’ home country of Sweden. It was there that Wass first discovered his passion for all things moto while watching neighbors speed across the local landscape. His interest grew into an obsession that saw Wass busily building his own bikes and, by age 16, founding his own e-commerce business focused on motorcycle parts and accessories. That site, named 24MX, quickly became one of the European market’s preeminent suppliers, leading Wass to seek a new challenge.
Stark, Swedish for “Strong,” is just that challenge. Established in 2019, the company quickly embraced a homegrown approach that saw it design and develop its own electric motors, battery packs, chassis, and electronics. This strategy has given Stark Future a leg up in the growing segment and allowed it to turn some heads with the sort of performance that few others can match. Wass says Stark’s products offer more power and a better power-to-weight ratio than the typical gas-powered model while embracing all the advantages inherent to an electric vehicle, namely instant torque, smooth, quiet operation, and minimal maintenance.
Wass credits the company’s innovative approach with launching something of an industry-wide arms race. “Before we launched this bike, none of the big OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] were focused on building electric motocross bikes,” says Wass. “We proved that the future is electric by making an electric product that’s better.” While this might be a bit of marketing gusto, there’s no denying the sort of performance that Stark’s early models have been able to offer.
The Stark Difference
Since 2021, the Stark Varg (“Strong Wolf”) has been leading the pack with a groundbreaking design that emphasizes power and off-road performance. It all started with the MX, a dedicated off-road model that immediately made waves thanks to its ability to produce up to 80 hp. While most gas-powered motocross bikes top out at a 450cc engine that can produce around 55 hp, Stark’s in-house design allows the MX to churn out 30 percent more power. The MX can also produce double the torque of the average 450. It’s not just the raw number that’s so impressive, but the way that the torque is deployed. While the typical internal combustion engine needs to reach a specific RPM to produce the maximum twisting force, the Stark Varg’s all-electric powertrain means that riders can feel the full brunt of the bike’s 691 lb-ft of torque the moment they hit the throttle. That’s a surefire recipe for excitement and one that enables the MX to speed from zero to 60 mph in 3.15 seconds and earn the title of the world’s fastest motocross bike.
The Stark Varg MX certainly has all the performance-related credentials one could ask for, but that’s only part of the equation when it comes to judging an electric vehicle. In order to offer a viable alternative to gas-powered bikes, the Varg needed to be able to deliver the sort of range that would allow riders to compete in a high-speed motocross race or spend the afternoon speeding across off-road terrain with some friends. Stark has engineered around this issue with its own proprietary tech that offers an innovative approach to the age-old battery dilemma. The Varg MX’s 6.5 kWh battery employs a patent-pending magnesium honeycomb casing, pressure relief system, and “slippery-finger” cell holders to squeeze an exceptional amount of energy out of a modestly-sized pack. The battery is said to be one of the most compact, energy-dense designs on the market, which brings some real advantages in terms of both range and performance. The MX offers six hours of uninterrupted riding on just two hours of charging, which is comparable to the sort of range you’d get from a 450cc model with a full tank of gas.
A Focus on Tech and Sustainability
The Stark Varg’s next-generation powertrain might get all the headlines, but the company’s onboard technology also deserves a closer look. The brand has switched out the standard display for a new Android-based smartphone that can be mounted directly to the dash or removed for added security. The device even comes with a data-only SIM card that allows owners to access GPS directions, record trail data, and even use apps, send messages, and check email while out on a ride. However, it’s the Stark Future App that really elevates the Varg’s performance potential. MX riders can digitally adjust nearly every parameter you can imagine, customizing the bike’s power curve, engine braking, traction control, and virtual flywheel weight to craft the perfect ride every time you saddle up. The MX comes standard with 100 custom drive modes and the ability to tweak the settings to fit a particular application.
Electric vehicles might offer a greener alternative to their gas-powered forerunners, but that doesn’t mean that every EV brand treats sustainability as a core principle. Stark Future presents one noteworthy exception, embracing an eco-friendly attitude that pairs well with its focus on outdoor recreation. With a focus on reducing emissions and plastic pollution, Stark Future is attempting to blaze a new, more sustainable path forward in the motorcycle industry.
“We aimed to produce something greener and better, and we think anyone trying the bike will agree that we reached our vision,” says Wass. Embracing sustainable materials represents one part of the equation, as does outfitting the MX and EX with an ultra-efficient battery that reduces weight where possible. The Varg’s carbon fiber subframe gives it a low center of gravity while also helping to funnel cool air to the battery and offer the sort of ride that’s so important when it comes to maneuvering through a tight track. Weighing in at less than 250 lbs, the Stark Varg provides a power-to-weight ratio that‘s hard to ignore.
Lone Wolf No Longer
The Varg MX has earned plenty of plaudits in its short time on the market, but Stark is now looking to follow up on that success with the debut of an enduro model dubbed the EX. Like the MX, the EX is available in both 60- and 80-hp configurations and comes standard with regenerative braking, a lightweight design, and Stark’s cutting-edge battery. There are some important differences, though. First off, the battery is a bit larger in the EX, clocking in at 7.2 kWh to the MX’s 6.5 kWh. This does mean that the enduro model is a bit heavier than the motocross version, but this brings us to the new model’s most notable improvement.
Unlike the original MX version of the Stark Varg, the EX is entirely street-legal. That means it features both a 400-lumen headlight and a tail light, as well as a license plate holder and all the other bits and bobs needed to keep the bureaucrats happy. The EX comes standard with an enduro-tuned suspension that’s designed to excel on various types of terrain. A 48 mm closed-cartridge KYB fork and triple-adjustable shocks give the EX exceptional damping ability and nearly 12 inches of travel, which makes the bike a great option for adventure riders who tend to encounter a wide range of surfaces as they explore the great outdoors.
The Varg EX represents a promising sophomore showing for the young electric motorcycle brand, but does Stark have what it takes to compete against the segment’s established juggernauts? Only time will tell, but Wass and Co. are certainly making a strong case for a new era of all-electric off-road bikes. If nothing else, the Stark Varg has made it clear that there’s plenty of demand for an electric alternative to the typical motocross or enduro bike. It has proved that the switch to an all-electric platform doesn’t need to come with any compromises. In fact, battery-powered bikes seem primed to raise the bar with the sort of horsepower, torque, and power-to-weight ratios that gas-powered bikes and earlier electric models simply can’t match. The Stark Future App is a great example of the customization potential of an electric bike, giving riders the sort of on-the-fly control that probably still seems like something out of science fiction. If you’re looking for an alternative to your beloved motocross rig and are tired of waiting around for your favorite brand to make the EV plunge, the Stark Varg could be worth a test drive.
