2023 · Electric Off-Road · Buyer's Guide
The Silent Motocross Weapon
The VARG MX is an electric motocross bike that asks for no allowances: 80 hp and 59 lb-ft from a liquid-cooled motor, in a steel tube frame, at 243 lb (110 kg) wet. There's one gear, and the torque is there instantly. And you decide how much of it you get. Ride modes and traction control are standard, and the power delivery can be reshaped through the phone mounted on the handlebar: preset maps or your own curves, soft for tight trails, everything for deep sand. With 12.2 in (310 mm) of adjustable travel at both ends, this is a full-size race bike. No toy!
On the dirt it pulls hard from nothing and stays calm while it does: the chassis balance and the suspension work straight out of the box, and the bike will clear anything a motocross track puts in front of it. That makes it a fit for experienced riders who want real pace without the noise, and with the softer maps it stays manageable for less practiced hands too. The honest caveat is the electrical side. Battery degradation and outright failures, motor or inverter failures, control unit faults and early water pump problems are all on record, alongside app glitches. Buy it with warranty cover. Not on faith!
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 80 hp (60 kW) |
|---|---|
| Torque | 59 lb-ft (80 Nm) |
| Engine | Electric |
| Cooling | Liquid-cooled |
| Gearbox | 1-speed |
| Front tire | 80/100-21 |
| Rear tire | 110/90-19 |
| Ground clearance | 14.8 in (375 mm) |
| Front travel | 12.2 in (310 mm) |
| Rear travel | 12.2 in (310 mm) |
| Seat height | 37.8 in (960 mm) |
| Wet weight | 243 lb (110 kg) |
Equipment check
Chassis
Connectivity
Safety
For years I've listened to what riders tell me: in the paddock, at club nights, in owner chats and in the messages and emails they send me directly. On the VARG MX, that chatter splits in two. Riders praise how it goes and handles, and they're uneasy about how early bikes have held up.
The praise riders repeat most is about the power: there's plenty of it, and they can tune it to the ground under them. Some owners say the traction control works well on loose surfaces and puts drive down better than many rivals. Others say the bike feels lighter than a gas bike once it's moving, thanks to its low center of gravity, and is very easy to ride fast. A few mention the quiet running gets them into places closed to gas bikes.
Reliability comes up as often as the power does. Several owners report component failures on early production bikes, often settled with a warranty replacement. They describe the warranty support as responsive, and the track record as still being written. A smaller gripe: picking the bike up after a crash takes more effort than a comparable four-stroke. Heavy lifting!
Battery degradation or sudden failure
Reduced range due to degradation or complete battery failure.
Powertrain failure
Motor or inverter unit failures causing shutdown or loss of power; usually replaced under warranty.
VCU failure
Vehicle control unit failures leading to no-start or error states.
Water pump failure
Water pump failures reported on early units, risking overheating.
Software and connectivity glitches
Intermittent phone app connectivity issues and power delivery interruptions.
Map switch failure
Map switch failures requiring replacement.
Where this Stark Future VARG MX pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the VARG MX is actually built for.
For technical day loops on sand and rock, the low-end pull, traction control and soft maps work in your favor. Multi-day routes are another story: this is a motocross bike with a battery.
Made for Moab · Bar M / Kane Creek · Imperial Sand Dunes
This is the serious end of electric dirt: quiet enough for private tracks, with real motocross pace. Just go in with your eyes open on the known battery and electronics faults.
Made for Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area · Johnson Valley OHV Area · Moab
Coming from a 250F or 450F, you won't be giving anything away: 80 hp, 243 lb (110 kg) and a chassis that works out of the box. You do have to trust the electrics for a full season.
Made for Loretta Lynn's Ranch · Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area · Fox Raceway at Pala
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
Any price note compares both bikes at the same age — the youngest age both have on the used market — against this Stark Future VARG MX. “cheaper/pricier” is what that bike costs second-hand, not how worn it is.
Competitor · 2023–2024
Orange Dirt Bike Gone Quiet
Roughly $1,300 cheaper used than this bike at 2 yr
Competitor · 2025
Quiet Enough to Sneak Anywhere
About the same used price as this bike at 1 yr
Same Platform · 2026
Electric Supermoto, Zero Compromise