Very odd how you mention the statement about throwing it around with your arms being more excertive.... I noticed with my Surron, I know absolutely not the same thing, however with it being electric what I noticed is that it was very hard to initiate a lean or to tip into the corners. It was like it just wants to stand back up and ride straight over the berms 🤷♂️.... Don't know if this is the same thing as you're experiencing but thought it was interesting that you mentioned throwing around the bike with your arms could be more excertive as apposed to a standard gas bike 🤔
I suggest you watch more review videos, as I have watched plenty of them, ranging from novice to Pro, none of them has every said the bike doesn't turn well in corners, in fact they say it feels like a 250, light and where you point the nose it goes. So what some more videos, before saying something like that.
I wouldn't extrapolate your experience with the Surron to all electric bikes. The Surron is fun as a play bike and does a lot of things well, but the geometry and relatively flimsy chassis are not at all optimized for cornering ability like a true motocross bike is. I haven't had any issues with the Stark wanting to pop up in corners, I was just saying that it does take more energy to move this bike around in tight, low speed terrain.
@@JuiC30 The bike absolutely corners well, my statement was only regarding tight, low speed terrain where a lot of input from the rider is required. On a motocross track it's a completely different set of circumstances.
@@485Josh my comment was not comparing the two.... The difference when comparing them to an MX bike is obvious and can also be seen in the difference in price. I was really just sharing thoughts from my first experience on an electric "motor bike" that happened to be on a friend's Surron and absolutely the first thing I felt is it didn't tip in with my arms the way I had expect... In fact it just stood standing 😅 but after getting one myself I've not really noticed this much at all but the feel and input needed is miles indifference to that of my MX bikes
You talk about battery life in the context if your power setting only. Im sure you're aware that the regenerative braking is probably an important aspect of battery range as well. I am getting mine in the new year so i will experiment and find out for myself but id like to hear now from owners who experiment with different regenerative braking settings. How they increase battery life, how they reduce braking effort. Sutely you could have some of the 5 modes set to higher regenerative braking especially for downhills.
From what I've seen I don't think increasing the regen braking will have a noticeable effect on battery life. The amount of energy that you're actually capturing while braking as compared to the energy you're expending when accelerating are not really comparable. If the bike had no physical brakes and relied only on braking within the drivetrain itself then there may be some kind of improvement, but under current configuration I don't think it would be worth riding with a higher percentage of regen braking just in an effort to increase battery life.
@@485Josh True. I was doing it mostly with the idea that it could simplify riding, like with the electric car, but the regen doesn't seem that effective on the bike. Maybe they will change this
I have the foot brake, but everyone else on our ride had the hand brake. There are a lot of benefits to having the hand brake that I can appreciate, but in the end I went with the more traditional route. If I planned to ride mainly trails I might have to reconsider, but this bike will live on the motocross track mostly.
Sorry I've been really slacking on making videos. So far the bike has been great, no issues for me aside from some loose spokes and the suspension being really soft right out of the box for moto riding. I've been loving it, great bike and parts have been easy to order as well.
@@braidendespain28 No worries, now that they're more readily available I don't think you'll regret getting one, it's been a great bike for me both in the trails and on the track. If you're mainly a trail rider and don't need absurd amounts of power, maybe consider taking a look at the YZ-EMX kit from Electro & Co. Full disclosure, I work for them and designed the kit, but for trail riding where power isn't as big of a consideration I think it has a lot of benefits over the Varg, most notably significant weight reduction and a much cheaper price. All said and done between the donor bike and the top of the line kit with the largest battery you will still be at least $5k cheaper than a Varg. Just something to consider.
Good info. I was thinking about getting one of these for the trails/off-road. Don't ride MX anymore, as I'm 60 and the track near my house (Thunder Valley) is left with its terrain as ran during the national. Only jump I'm willing to risk is the finish line, but the rest of the track the jumps they have make that track garbage if you're not jumping them. Anyway, after watching your vid, I think I'm gonna go sniff out a 500AF. I had an '06 from Service Honda. Put a Rekluse in it. The trails in our mountains with that combo were a blast. Stick it in 3rd, and ride until the premix is gone. No clutch. No shifting. Plus, the bike (dry) was supposed to weigh about 220lbs (it felt like a 250 smoker if you kept the revs low). More and more I kick myself in the ass for selling that thing. Have an EXC530 now, which probably weighs about what the Varg does. It's still got that stick it in 3rd and ignore the clutch and shift lever power. But, the weight is monstrous compared to that 500AF. Your info really saved me from blowing money on the Varg. Thanks for saving me at least $8K. Might as well just use my EXC530 until I can find that AF.
I'm not clear on what aspect of the bike worries you though. Is it the range, weight? If you're planning on riding more high speed trails and going on long rides then no, it's probably not a good option for you, but under these conditions you would be crazy to choose a 500AF over the Varg. I've ridden AFs on trails before and while they are very easy to ride it's not even close to the same level as the Varg, not to mention the Varg is significantly more planted and stable.
@@485Josh Weight. 30 lbs is HUGE anywhere, especially on tight trails. Did your AF have a Rekluse? Also, by controlling RPM's, I could choose the stability of my bike, which I haven't heard anyone riding an electric bike talk about. Rotational inertia, if you know how to use it, is an on-the-fly change to a bike.
Really helpful. This is information that the typical trail rider like me wants to know.
Great video... thank you. You covered the right stuff...and covered it well.... thx
Good info. Thank you.
Very interesting about battery life vs power levels.
Great video!
Very odd how you mention the statement about throwing it around with your arms being more excertive.... I noticed with my Surron, I know absolutely not the same thing, however with it being electric what I noticed is that it was very hard to initiate a lean or to tip into the corners. It was like it just wants to stand back up and ride straight over the berms 🤷♂️.... Don't know if this is the same thing as you're experiencing but thought it was interesting that you mentioned throwing around the bike with your arms could be more excertive as apposed to a standard gas bike 🤔
I suggest you watch more review videos, as I have watched plenty of them, ranging from novice to Pro, none of them has every said the bike doesn't turn well in corners, in fact they say it feels like a 250, light and where you point the nose it goes. So what some more videos, before saying something like that.
@@JuiC30 your reply has nothing to do with my comment
I wouldn't extrapolate your experience with the Surron to all electric bikes. The Surron is fun as a play bike and does a lot of things well, but the geometry and relatively flimsy chassis are not at all optimized for cornering ability like a true motocross bike is. I haven't had any issues with the Stark wanting to pop up in corners, I was just saying that it does take more energy to move this bike around in tight, low speed terrain.
@@JuiC30 The bike absolutely corners well, my statement was only regarding tight, low speed terrain where a lot of input from the rider is required. On a motocross track it's a completely different set of circumstances.
@@485Josh my comment was not comparing the two.... The difference when comparing them to an MX bike is obvious and can also be seen in the difference in price. I was really just sharing thoughts from my first experience on an electric "motor bike" that happened to be on a friend's Surron and absolutely the first thing I felt is it didn't tip in with my arms the way I had expect... In fact it just stood standing 😅 but after getting one myself I've not really noticed this much at all but the feel and input needed is miles indifference to that of my MX bikes
You talk about battery life in the context if your power setting only. Im sure you're aware that the regenerative braking is probably an important aspect of battery range as well. I am getting mine in the new year so i will experiment and find out for myself but id like to hear now from owners who experiment with different regenerative braking settings. How they increase battery life, how they reduce braking effort. Sutely you could have some of the 5 modes set to higher regenerative braking especially for downhills.
I've set mine on 100% and it seems to work well. You just have to get used to holding the throttle a little in turns
From what I've seen I don't think increasing the regen braking will have a noticeable effect on battery life. The amount of energy that you're actually capturing while braking as compared to the energy you're expending when accelerating are not really comparable. If the bike had no physical brakes and relied only on braking within the drivetrain itself then there may be some kind of improvement, but under current configuration I don't think it would be worth riding with a higher percentage of regen braking just in an effort to increase battery life.
@@485Josh True. I was doing it mostly with the idea that it could simplify riding, like with the electric car, but the regen doesn't seem that effective on the bike. Maybe they will change this
Hi Josh ! Is it the 19 inch wheel in the back. Thanks 😊
No, I ordered mine with the 18"
May have missed it. Are you sportin a foot or lh brake ?
I have the foot brake, but everyone else on our ride had the hand brake. There are a lot of benefits to having the hand brake that I can appreciate, but in the end I went with the more traditional route. If I planned to ride mainly trails I might have to reconsider, but this bike will live on the motocross track mostly.
seems like I still have no place for this rc car sounding bullshit in my shed
Any updates after 8 months?
Sorry I've been really slacking on making videos. So far the bike has been great, no issues for me aside from some loose spokes and the suspension being really soft right out of the box for moto riding. I've been loving it, great bike and parts have been easy to order as well.
@@485Josh yeah no worries life gets busy! I’ve been on the fence about one and found your review to be the most relatable to me. Thanks for update.
@@braidendespain28 No worries, now that they're more readily available I don't think you'll regret getting one, it's been a great bike for me both in the trails and on the track. If you're mainly a trail rider and don't need absurd amounts of power, maybe consider taking a look at the YZ-EMX kit from Electro & Co. Full disclosure, I work for them and designed the kit, but for trail riding where power isn't as big of a consideration I think it has a lot of benefits over the Varg, most notably significant weight reduction and a much cheaper price. All said and done between the donor bike and the top of the line kit with the largest battery you will still be at least $5k cheaper than a Varg. Just something to consider.
Good info. I was thinking about getting one of these for the trails/off-road. Don't ride MX anymore, as I'm 60 and the track near my house (Thunder Valley) is left with its terrain as ran during the national. Only jump I'm willing to risk is the finish line, but the rest of the track the jumps they have make that track garbage if you're not jumping them.
Anyway, after watching your vid, I think I'm gonna go sniff out a 500AF. I had an '06 from Service Honda. Put a Rekluse in it. The trails in our mountains with that combo were a blast. Stick it in 3rd, and ride until the premix is gone. No clutch. No shifting. Plus, the bike (dry) was supposed to weigh about 220lbs (it felt like a 250 smoker if you kept the revs low). More and more I kick myself in the ass for selling that thing.
Have an EXC530 now, which probably weighs about what the Varg does. It's still got that stick it in 3rd and ignore the clutch and shift lever power. But, the weight is monstrous compared to that 500AF.
Your info really saved me from blowing money on the Varg. Thanks for saving me at least $8K. Might as well just use my EXC530 until I can find that AF.
I'm not clear on what aspect of the bike worries you though. Is it the range, weight? If you're planning on riding more high speed trails and going on long rides then no, it's probably not a good option for you, but under these conditions you would be crazy to choose a 500AF over the Varg. I've ridden AFs on trails before and while they are very easy to ride it's not even close to the same level as the Varg, not to mention the Varg is significantly more planted and stable.
@@485Josh Weight. 30 lbs is HUGE anywhere, especially on tight trails. Did your AF have a Rekluse? Also, by controlling RPM's, I could choose the stability of my bike, which I haven't heard anyone riding an electric bike talk about. Rotational inertia, if you know how to use it, is an on-the-fly change to a bike.
You wont get as much milage out of the second half of the range.