Electric dirt bikes sounds like the future — but it’s not all sunshine and roost. The Stark VARG is an exciting step forward in a lot of ways, but after riding it and living with it, there are some big frustrations that make us shake our heads.
Here are 5 reasons why we hate the Stark VARG — and what we think needs to change before it truly earns a spot in the garage.
Weight, price, battery life — the VARG misses where it matters most.
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1. The Dashboard (Phone) Setup Is a Hassle
One of the worst design choices: the VARG uses a detachable phone as its dashboard. Sounds cool until you realize you’re constantly wondering, "Is it charged?" or "Where did I leave it?"
It’s annoying to have a critical part of the bike not hard-mounted and permanently powered.
If they made the dashboard a real, built-in display, this would immediately be way more reliable and user-friendly.
2. The Bike Is Way Too Heavy
260–263 pounds might sound light for an electric, but when you're actually riding, the VARG feels heavy, especially when trying to flick it around or correct a mistake mid-air.
For comparison, a typical 125 two-stroke is lighter and way easier to throw around.
If Stark could shave off 15–20 pounds, this bike would instantly feel way more lively and responsive.
3. Battery Range Is a Major Problem
Yes, it's electric — but that doesn’t excuse the short battery life.
You don't want to be halfway through a ride and already stressing about how much juice is left.
The VARG desperately needs longer range so you can confidently hit longer motos, freeride sessions, or trail rides without constantly looking at the battery percentage.
4. It’s Extremely Expensive
Out the door, at full retial and after taxes and fees, you’re looking at $14,000 to $15,000.
That's a crazy amount for a dirt bike, especially when you can get a brand-new 450 or two bikes for that price — and still have cash left for upgrades.
Electric savings over time are nice, but at that starting point, it’s hard to justify.
5. No Traction Control (And It Needs It Badly)
Traction control should be standard on a bike like this — especially for hill climbs, off-camber trails, and slippery conditions.
Right now, the VARG can easily spin out when you need it to dig in and pull.
A well-tuned traction control system would make it way easier to ride hard and stay hooked up when the terrain gets nasty.
Final Thoughts
While there are definitely things we hate about the Stark VARG, there are also a lot of things we absolutely love — and we cover those in another video.
The VARG gives us a glimpse of what’s possible for the future of motocross, and that's exciting. We’re rooting for Stark to keep pushing, improving, and delivering on the huge potential this bike has. Fix a few key issues, and this could truly be a game-changer.
Stick around for more honest bike reviews, ride tests, and no-BS breakdowns!
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