Been seeing alot of hate towards the electric bikes, though i have never met anyone that have actually tried one that doesnt think theyre fun. Im an older guy, never really been in to moto, now i own an electric bike and that has pushed me to watch and spend money in the moto scene, so i just think its a win/win for motox overall. And no, they wont replace gas, its just a different type of bike 🤷♂
Yah, the hate is insane. This bike is going to stomp on all factory race bike, there is no way around it, its got more power, is lighter and has less going on as far a moving parts and shifting. But coming from someone that has electric and gas, they both have their own unique applications and I would not get rid of one in favor of the other.
@@crash86ed it's not political, electronic vehicle, can be great, it's the fact that most EVs are just a worse and more expensive option, so good EVs just get lumped in with the rest
PLEASE, Travis don’t talk about “being old”. We haven’t spoke in a very long time but I used to take you riding with me all the time when you were a kid on 80s. Almost every day during the winter we rode at Croom, we’d ride at Dade City Raceway and sometimes in Ocala. I worked on your bikes for you when your mom and dad weren’t around and wrenched for you at Gatorback twice during Mini O’ s. We also used to go for some cool mountain bike rides finding big jumps LOL. I used to sit and play video games while you did your homework. BTW, I was no help there, your schoolwork was tough! Anyways, congrats on all your success... you were always a class act and deserve it all. In 2002 I crashed on my practice track breaking my neck resulting in Quadriplegia. That’s why I disappeared.
Bummer..... how'd you type this if you are quadriplegic ? Just curious.... I was almost paraplegic and that was scary enough for me. Thankfully the swelling subsided and allowed the nerves to live and signals to carry as they should. Mine was from hill climbing..... made it once in a hill that unknown to myself...had killed somebody, paralyzed 2 others,and shortly after me killed another. They shut that hill down after that. Nobody believed I made it except my buddy with me. We saw like 25 guys at the bottom, being young cocky and at the time (2005) I asked if anyone were man enough to climb it. They all declined but pulled my ego string. Nobody believed i made it. So after riding all day (literally dog tired bear) I tried again. Didn't work so well.... I learned a valuable lesson. Never let ego decide your fate. I'm in pain every day. Not 3 years ago I got a neck injury. Pinched nerve c6. Back had broken L1-L5. Neck injury took 2 years of intense therapy, chiropractic care, medicine, etc..... it's no way to live this kind of pain. Yet, here I am.... going riding at 46.5 yoa this November on ybe very ATV that I broke my back in. Rebuilt it after letting it sit for almost 20 years basically. 2005 Honda 400ex. Has a cam, smaller of the big bore kits I think 415 or 420 I'd have to check. New full exhaust, new everything really. Can't wait....but I'm done riding like that.....ya feel me
@@dannysalzer770 Can I ask you how you crashed ? I neraly passed away on a crash against a car in march 2023 on my surron, I love ridding so much I ride every day to work with it, rain snow cold no matter ^^, january 3 I crashed into a damn deer in the woods while riding home from work, no dammage but I allways think to myself if tomorrow I'm paraplegic would I do all the same again if I had the choice, so I have two questions in fact, how did you crashed (sever crash on a jump or so)? And was it worth it ? I'm not asking like " you see I told you , was it worth it" but really, we all ask ourself this question but only those who where unlucky enough can answer for themselves. Wish you a happy life
@Danny. God bless you brother. Hope your day to day is OK. Keep your head up bro and ask for help if you need it man. Sometimes thats hard for us men to do...i had my L1 L2 and L3 fused and rods added myself. Thankfully am still walking etc though. Glad to hear from you here man. Sounds like youre a great guy and friend.
Good to hear from you Danny i and some others used to think you were his Pro riding coach or family with you were. I heard you broke your neck and back at a private track with the old Crusty crew fucki g around ! I haven't been on a bike for 10 years now after 8 knee surgeries and I couple compound fractures elbow and leg and I consider myself very lucky!!,, keep up the good fight ❤
Another reason why the stark flips so well is not just the 80hp, but the fact it has one gear. You can spin the rear wheel to the max speed easily once you're in the air. On an ice bike, you're limited to the speed of the gear selected going up the jump.
yes. I came looking for this comment! Also, with an e bike, you can pull out of a nose dive because of that same fact. Panic reving usually happens in something like 2nd or 3rd gear, wear your rear tire can only spin so fast. Now, panic rev a Stark and you can go from nosing to level.
i am suprised it does not have a gyro. a gyro would make it possible to go flat out and never flip over when a sudden wheelie kicks in :D it could self level on whoops and jumps...@@flowersthewizard9336
Finally someone talking sense on electric bikes. Can't wait for these to be main stream, no air filters no oil filters, no oil changer, no valve clearance checks.
I've had one (not a Stark, but it does look like it would be pretty entertaining as a daily and would definitely get me into trouble!) as a daily road bike for five months now and it's easily the best bike I've ever had. Haven't missed gears/noise/etc for a single second. I'm super glad it's happening for offroad too
The Stark is powered by a 3 phrase rotary 2 stroke magnetic engine! Now couple Floyrd Sweets 300 hp 8 lbs zero point energy aetheric power generator making 460 VAC
I use to hate the thought of electric dirt bikes lol but damnnn I might buy one of these in a few months..I still keep my yz 250 2 stroke and kx112 for fun aswell haha but damn these bikes are expensive
Electric is opening up countless possibilities. It's disheartening to witness people's excessive complaints. Personally, I have a nostalgic attachment to the sound and smell of 2-stroke engines, as they evoke a unique feeling. However, I see no reason to complain about the increase in power and instantaneous torque that electric offers. Battery technology will continue to improve, allowing for faster charging and longer-lasting batteries. Currently, it's not as bad as some may think. We are embarking on a new era of performance and speed, and I am genuinely excited to witness it unfold. I only regret not being young enough to fully embrace and take advantage of it.
He made his point clear many times too. It's about having fun. People that have a problem with this are the people that have lost sight of why they started riding in the first place.
@@mikepalmer1971 Even if he did get paid...he's still using the product to this day. Sounds like he got paid to show off something he actually loves. Not many people with a social media presence can say that about the ads they run these days.
Another benefit I can see with electric is that it could lead to more OHV parks and tracks opening up since the noise complaints would be minimal. ( I originally made the comment as I was watching the video, so it wasn't until later that I heard him cover the same points...)
Good luck. Only the government can destroy land. Not recreation vehicles. The trails are killing ecosystems. Can’t have that. But they will mine for garbage ev. Causing more emissions than a two stroke.
I TOLD MY KID FOR YEARS! IF it was quiet you could ride everywhere and never get caught!!! Imagine being able to hear the rangers behind you and them not knowing which way you are going when you get out of sight!!
I've been commuting by ebike for 4 years, sold my cars when gas hit $5.00 & have ZERO REGRETS, I'm 49yo & rode bmx & dirt bikes my whole life & as stubborn as they come, but the ONLY PEOPLE who can hate an ebike is someone who NEVER RODE 1, because if you're a speed junkie the torque curve on these things is addictive
Imagine a motocross park right in the middle of a major city but it was only open to e-bikes. I'd probably go buy one so I could have the option of riding with out having to drive an hour or more. Perfect for after work.
Yeah that won't be happening. If there was that much space - it would be turned into a tower. You might get away with some indoor warehouse tracks however like the gokarts do.
@@mikestavisky8009Most I know who tested or own one say the same, and they are not pros are anything, stop hating, but in a sense you are right, this is an argument of authority, not a valid argument.
I switched from two stroke to electric a year ago and I had all the same thoughts as Travis. It’s great to hear someone with that much time on a bike to describe it the same way. They’re so fun!
The legend #199 extremely happy to see Travis took care of himself all these years later. He created opportunitys for the new generation. Much respect 🙌🏽❤️
Or the government when they get a complaint they could say too bad. Noise complaint, oh, change Countries then....they could do that. And what about when people start complaining about generator noise? Its all bs, thats my point. Its easy to tell someone to shut their face when they complain......
Ive had 4 stroke hondas my whole life would ride trials 12 hrs a day, and never overheated, never stalled. Ive had pull starts, kick start and push button. Never had one problem and im 43.
"I remember the first time I rode a motorcycle" brutal lmao. Bike looks like so much fun! I'm hoping this wave of electric dirt bikes will allow us to open up more tracks for people to ride on, as they're all getting closed down now due to noise complaints as people have mentioned. Thanks Travis for the review
I grew up on the edge of the woods and had multiple sand pits in my backyard in the other direction. My friends and I pissed off the world with our two strokes and had people even try to hurt us by sabotaging the trails. They eventually stopped everybody from riding in the area years after I grew up and moved away. This would solve the noise problem, and I wonder if they would allow kids to be kids again.
Why is it so refreshing to hear someone judging a vehicle by it's capabilities rather than "what source of energy is used to make power" ? I'm more involved in the car scene, and the "EV suck because they no go vroom vroom" argument that you get all the time annoys me so much... If all that matters to you is the sound, then you're not passionate about cars, you're passionate about engines... EV have a place. In motocross, in cars, everywhere, and hating on them just because they don't make sound is dumb. Thanks Travis for this objective review, showing the pro and cons of each type
Yep! Same thing about motorcycles. If sound is really the thing that keeps you from watching racing, then you are 100% not a real fan. It's also very ironic that people think that if you are for electric you are against ICE bikes. It's actually the opposite as most that own an electric also own an ICE. People don't understand it's a growth area and addition. They just spend time making uneducated irrelevant comments.
Seriously tho... I absolutely LOVE 2 strokes... hell I make a living building 2 strokes... BUT Travis has some damn good points... too many people understand constantly getting harassed and kicked out anywhere you ride because of the noise... electric bikes are so quiet you could have a full blown race in tge middle of a neighborhood and not piss anyone off... now that the power/performance is catching up its almost a no brainer... not shifting and clutching would be very interesting tho... knowing what gear to be in to hit certain jumps is how us mere mortals survive lol... fantastic video my guy 💯
I wouldn't say it's specifically gear linked. It always seemed like tracks were full of two camps, people who always knew what gear they were in, and people who went solely by feel. I'm in second camp. I could make an educated guess, but in the moment, I never knew what gear I was in. It was just sensation of speed and past experience knowing how fast to be going.
@@bennyb.1742They are in the process of taking over small professional saws, at least where I live. Gardeners and tree services like to use them because of the low noise. For bigger saws they’re not an option at all though, the batteries we have today just can’t deliver the power
I hate that we live in a world where everyone judges. Travis had to explain his decision to ride this bike just for all the complainers out there. Eff those ppl
On this planet, it's all about adapting and improving. I love 2 strokes, 4 strokes, if it's got wheels and a motor,I love it. I honestly believe this is the natural progression when it comes to motorcycles of all kinds. It's practically maintenance-free, looks good, and is fast as hell! Thumbs up from me!
I mean, if you're not buying cheap Chinese junk batteries you'll be fine. Using a quality battery consisting of name brand cells running a BMS is very safe. @@gentrydebbie1040
I will never stop loving two strokes, especially open class, but as a long time RC truck racer, I have always known about the insane backflip power of electrics. It's only a matter of time till they get these things affordable enough for regular riders. I will never give up my two stroke, but there is ALWAYS room for more power and less noise!
Great commentary! I respect the perspective on it and I look forward to seeing where it goes. Its about having fun on the track and if its mixed gas, race gas or electric it should be supported by everyone!
More power, better handling (less rotating mass), way less maintenance, crazy adjust-ability (and we are just getting started there), no shifting, no clutchinig, ... no need to make excuses. These will start to push 4 strokes out just like 4 strokes pushed 2 strokes out, they are better, people will be faster on them. If you are not on one you probbaly will never get another holeshot. The future is here.
I agree with your points, I like that you can stay on the balls of your feet and the motor instant response. Good to hear that the batt lasts long enough. I would get a rear hand brake for stuck on hills or unload, pivot turns.
Another key point not mentioned is the minimal service required with a Stark or other E-bikes (EX: Alta). After many years of having to change out pistons, rings, oil, plugs, etc. on my 2 smokers far too frequently the cost savings alone has me intrigued. I don't mind doing the work but as I get older it would be nice to unplug, load up and go ride without having to monitor this stuff. BTW - I was informed by a few custom shops that there are sounds mods which can be added to a Stark to simulate the sound of a real bike. Small speaker mounted up front with an app that runs on the Stark phone allowing you to pick from various 2 stroke and 4 stroke sound impulses, you can even add your own custom impulses. Apparently, they are marketing this as a "safety" feature for use at local tracks so other riders can hear you coming from behind. Not a bad idea and if done well, could actually help with throttle control.
I love the sound of a V8 or an inline 4 crotch rocket but as far as vehicles the lack of maintenance just makes sense.. it's a dude no oil consumption no catalytic converter to steal it's such a no-brainer no timing belt's no spark plugs no oil changes
Modern 2 strokes are pretty darn reliable. I have over 100 hours on my 2 stroke, and have changed one plug (it didn’t even need it) change the transmission fluid every 10ish hours. I ride enduro, and the downside with one of these bikes is everything is so exposed.
@@nathancrittenden8525 yeah the cost of a modern battery is like $80 per kilowatt-hour... An automobile might have 100 kilowatt hour battery pack... I doubt this is even 10. Probably 5 if that.
How much less maintenance though? A top end on a 250 2t or a 450 4t should be once a season for most riders. Still going to hammer wheel, linkage and stem bearings just the same. Chain is still going to wear and maybe even quicker due to more torque.
@@terrymoore6302 Um changing an air filter and oil after ever rider for on. Adjusting valves. Then there is a bunch of unscheduled maintenance. Free rides are going over 500 hours untouched and still operating like new prom a power plant perspective. You wash it lube the chain and put it up.
It’s funny how so many people have such a thick lens of negativity when it comes to electric bikes. Don’t let the political/media propaganda industry have so much power over you and see it for what it is!! Electric bikes might not be a persons cup of tea, but you can’t deny their incredible performance and potential.
@@OtisFlint Both sides do it. The ev evangelists are just as bad as the gas only bros. It's about what works for you the individual - who cares about what others do. Regardless of machine you are still having to dig up the earth for finite resources to manufacture.
Not only is there a political agenda behind it but it's also terrible for the environment so try using your brain a little bit and you'll realize why it's not good
I'm a street rider and got to ride my friend's Zero a few years back. What an experience! Smooth, quiet, and acceleration like a rocket. Obviously it's not the right bike for everyone, but he had to commute 60 miles a day in Las Vegas traffic and heat. He said it was a game changer in stop and go traffic, and no boiling hot engine when sitting in traffic. He has a stable of bikes and that's his commuter. Perfect for him.
I see the main benefit of electric being more tracks not being shut down due to noise complaints. I hated in electric bikes untill i got to ride a redhshift and at that point i relized a dirtbike is a dirtbike is a dirtbike two strok four stroke electric as long as the next generation has bikes to ride and track to ride at i don't really care what powers them
im like you. love my 2 strokes but also love power. i ride enduro so ill stick to my fuel injected 300 for now. just imagine all the heated indoor tracks that can open to electric only bikes during winter.. a empty ware house/ factory, close to the city, fill it with dirt, set up a few charging stations and enough heat for the dirt not to freeze up. little cafe, change rooms/showers, warm up and stretch mats on a floor over the pit area overlooking the track
I have 20+ gas motorcycles plus gas vehicles and I will be burning gas most likely til the day I die. But I can’t wait to get my stark Varg. It opens up so many more possibilities of riding in my area and being stealthy. What I say to the dill rod rocket surgeons that say“ how are you gonna charge it with a generator burning gas”… maybe and a bunch of other ways as well. A gas motorcycle runs on gas and gas only. An electric motorcycle or car runs on anything that will produce power… coal, gas, propane, wind, sun, solar, hydroelectric etc.. etc.. I pretty much love everything with handlebars and wheels and the Varg will just be another cool tool in my in my garage full of fun.
You could have now a track in the middle of the city and bring these biking events to the city, more audience, sport will grow, busy for the locals, restaurants, bars, shops etc... happy days
I could tell you are being very careful with your words lol focusing on the the Fun and good power was very diplomatic of you ahahaha But I feel the same. I love love love the sound and vibrations and feel of the fire breathing monsters but electric vehicles are also still very cool and like an electric RC car vs Nitro, they just work! just turn it on and go. but that also makes the nitro feel extra extra special when you fire it up
Noise complaint part starting at 5:20 Man I miss the sounds of local race tracks as a kid. That symphony of engines somewhere in the horizon was just Summer Nights, it wasn’t a nuisance, it was the echoes of people having fun, it made the atmosphere of being outside on those days so much more exhilarating. It opened your world to be playing outside doing your own thing while hearing the activities of others far off and wondering what it’s like where they are. My dad would drive us around in the convertible to get fries & snacks and it was exciting to hear the racing going on. If racecar or dirtbike noises are a problem, then I wish I had some people’s problems. I moved into the country and my neighbors a road over have a dirtbike track, I love hearing them out riding, it’s good to know people are having fun.
These seem awesome! I was anti-EV until I drove one, now I have had three and the tech and torque is AMAZING! Never going to get rid of ICE, but electric is awesome!
Thank you, I appreciate finally somebody, especially someone like yourself, giving an honest take on the electric bike, awesome can’t wait to see the freestyle tricks and as a + senior citizen, I don’t think I’ll get around to purchase or maybe even ride an Electric bikes but I’m still digging my 89 CR 125 HRC two-stroke . I live in Punta Gorda Florida and they’re building a super cross track and other tracks at the old speedway grounds , if you ever decide to come to an event, please let us know. I’m only five minutes away. I would like to see you again catch up and give you my best, take care, my friend. Hope to see you soon.
And not that anyone gives a shit, but Trav wasnt paid to do this, if it would have sucked he would have said it sucked.. Stark knew this coming in.. shout out to them for building a badass bike
It’s not exactly a progress… like he mentioned in a nice way it really takes a lot of the fun out of what MX is about… shifting, missing gears, feathering the clutch on turns, it’s too easy and not fun
There's no reason a clutchless motorcycle needs a foot operated rear brake, unless perhaps you're constantly switching between bikes. For some of us, two brakes like a mountain bike will make a lot more sense, and offer a lot more control. Our feet aren't exactly precision equipment compared to our much more dexterous digits.
I'm an old, die hard 2 stroke guy. The mere thought of an electric dirt bike is laughable. However, when Travis brings up good points of furthering our sport, hobby ect we kinda have to embrace and support this type of technology so we can keep dirt bikes alive and well. Would I buy one ? Not likely but if it helps me keep my old 2 smokers then bring it on.
well, thats the worry people have, in that it will destroy the internal combustion engine market, when in reality, this has only positive effects. ICE development is effectively done. Theres isnt much, if anything, that can be done. Bikes have been a reiteration of the same thing for many years now and theres no reason to think that will vanish. Maybe there will be less manufacturers, or maybe there will be one that buys the patents and machinery from various manufacturers and makes their own brand. As long as people wanna buy an ICE, there will be a provider. Same with events, because people dont go to motorcoss events because the bikes are fast, but because its a loud and noisy spectacle. The development in battery tech, has massive upsides because they make renewable energy sources viable, and thats great not only because of the abundance of energy this will bring, its also a big chunk of independence
80hp electric is a totally different animal than 80hp gas. My cr500 made about 56hp, a 56 hp electric bike would have run circles around it. Travis "It came at 80hp, I left it at 80hp" 😅.
@@DuecedYTeducate yourself a little more. I love the sound and smell of gas but equal HP motors the electric will win every time due to instant full power availability.
@CryptoNut82 I'm going to stop you right there and admit my massive mistake in misreading his comment, I for some reason thought he had it the other way around, I definitely agree with you both.
Dayum!! Pastrana approves??? I’m in. Converting my reservation to an order. Done. %100 agree with Pastrana’s [insinuated] take that “going green” is RETARDED, BUT, I’m here for the torque and the hp!! Incredible
I think it's a great option for hobby riders because of the low maintenance. However I do think that it's so much easier/ different to operate, that you don't actually learn to ride dirtbikes with it. I started out last year and bought myself a 125 because I want to learn properly. If you can brake and shift and control the power on a 125 you can ride anything. If I was to start on one of these I would have to be an electric only rider..
You absolutely learn. There are electric bikes with clutches, so if that’s your thing it’s available. Not having to kick start, or foul a plug, or premix fuel aren’t detracting from the learning experience.
@@pauloakes6952 The point is that even if your e bike has a clutch and a gear box, it doesn't have any use, because the engine doesn't need to idle and it doesn't have a torque curve.
Being able to push the tires and suspension to the limit is the real skill. I go back and forth between electric and gas, it's not a big deal. I didn't notice the lag from a gas bike until riding electric though.
All for it, just curious as to the recycling of the old/dead batteries on top I’d like to know how, and hope their getting their battery fuel resources respectfully . Started out on a two stroke, and still on one till this day. But I would like to rip one of these around my neck of the woods for sure but 15-19k is just in another realm for me at this time. And I’ll never finance nothing . paid in full or not paid at all
I love gas bikes and nothing will ever fully replace them but for me the money is the biggest factor in choosing electric over gas. Need to go buy oil and oil filter every 15 hours, gas costs like $4 a gallon(then you need oil too if your 2 stroker) and the list goes on and on, there's just wildly larger amount of parts and maintenance overall. Electric is just so much cheaper and easy to maintain, I bet I could tear down and rebuild a stark varg entirely with the right tools and some youtube videos. Id ruin the bike and go through an entire roll of shop towels before I even got into the motor trying to full rebuild a gas bike.
👍👍THANK YOU TRAVIS👍👍 Your a ledgend, A Hero, A Man no one can be. Thank you for explaining this bike. Does open my eyes on electric dirtbike now. & 80 HP, WOW. Your smile of having fun, don't come around like the good old days. ❤ Please enjoy in dirt & not with nurses❤ (Do love them, know how to treat a man 😉)
Listen, anybody that disagrees with this man doesn't quite understand what the future is heading to I grew up with 2 strokes and 4 strokes, you cannot replace the acceleration and feeling Of the 2 Stroke or the excitement of a gas engine. But wait a minute, yeah you can just the sheer Torque and acceleration that these electric engines have. I grew up skating. And on BMX and Riding MX bikes my whole life I'm 35 and I'll probably not stop anytime soon.. as long as the motorsports still exist. I really don't care what drive train Or engine it's using as long as you still get to enjoy yourself.
Whenever I watch Stark videos I think that this might just also produce a bit of a jump in innovation in MX. The amount of innovation on dirtbikes in the last 40 years has been minimal. It's quite clear that they have just been incrementally making things better here and there. But noone was forced to actually think outside the box. Now a few point picking up on what Travis has been mentioning here. -Power: If people actually needed more power, it could be done actually very cheaply and quite easily. If you combine two 250 engines into a twin, either V or inline, you get twice the horsepower plus something, so 90hp is easily achievable and the weight addition would actually not be that significant. -Shifting: Making dirtbikes automatic could be doable in a number of ways, the easiest of which would be to just use actuators for the shifting and the clutch without changing anything on the hardware, but one could also think outside the box and consider anything from high performance torque converting to variomatic. I personally think this might be a possible step for the sport to go next, perfect technique and stability on the bike appears to be the winning method of the hour, imagine if Jett had his rear brake on his handlebars mountain bike style and never had to move his feet unless he wants to... -Noise: It would be possible that the MX world actually gives in to pressure and makes the bikes more quiet. Because to be fair, the reason that our tracks are loud is not because of any type of physical or technical limitation, it's because everyone likes buying the loudest barkiest titanium exhaust... If people were to open "quiet" tracks, you could just install an exhaust with a db eater on your 450 and be as quiet as any car in traffic.
Doubling power by doubling the engines cylinders would add significant weight. The only reason a one speed gearbox works with electric is because it’s electric and has instant torque making something similar work with a combustion engine would not be as simple as you think.
@@somenygaard Actually it wouldn't. It's a question of casting thicknesses and so on. There are endless examples. Especially with v twins you can make a twin with only 1.4 or 1.5 times the weight. I never said that you should run a single speed gearbox. You didn't read my comment properly bro
@@petergriffin4629 casting thickness is already minimized to save weight but doubling the pistons, cylinder head, valve train, larger crankshaft ect will add much more weight. There is a good reason we don’t see my bikes with multiple cylinders.
@@somenygaard I mean you can write here what you want. It's a simple fact of engineering. Go pickup a book. The reason we have singles in MX is because they have higher torque. The engine on the RXV just to name one is only marginally heavier then a 450 of the time even though it's a V Twin which is actually the least optimal shape for weight savings. People used to build twins that would rival singles in weight all throughout the 50s and 60s. Just because you are ignorant doesn't make you right. Also also, since MX bikes have been limited in terms of min weights, you could save the weight elsewhere.
@@somenygaard an Aprilia sxv550 with airbox weighs 36kg, a KTM 450 without airbox weighs 28kg. If you swap to an inline twin layout you can cut at least 3 to 4 kg. And again, it's not that you are doing it for nothing. If we two were to build a twin out of two 250s in my garage Allen Millyard style, you don't just get the individual power times two. You get something around 15% more power on top. So if a KTM 250 has 45hp than our 500 twin would have 100 HP! A modern 450 has 55 to 60
I doubt we will see anymore tracks opening. Most of the time the Noise excuse is just one nail from the hammer. There are usually a lot more factors in it.
Once batteries become lighter, there will be a clear advantage... Another trick for freestyle would be to put a small swappable battery that would hold enough for 5 minute runs, then swap them out with spares between runs.. Then you could get a featherweight bike without lugging the full battery for freestyle tricks...
Consider how many areas you will be able to ride due to having a silent bike under you, that's the only argument needed, and don't pretend that dirt bike noise isn't the number one issue, been riding since the late 1970s and have seen 90% of everywhere closed off to dirt bikes.
Northern crankshaft in thief river falls will build you a custom crankshaft to stick 2 Honda CR 500 motors together. They have done this with snowmobile engines for a long time. Look them up 👆
I've NEVER cried about EV's in a motor sports setting. INFACT, they shine here! Instant torque, 100% adjustability, quick swap batteries, a pit to rest. Much like R/C toys, these are the SAME. Now an EV like a tesla... that is "to and extent" a pipe dream. To ACTUALLY make it worth it, there are ALOT more efficiencies and logistics that need to be engineered before they EVER will be as eco-friendly as they are being praised for.
We need to add an electric class at local mx tracks and nationals and see where it goes… biggest thing I can’t grasp is I think they should still have a clutch (so many situations where clutch is a safety feature when rider weight/position gets incorrect!!!)
@@akacicaaThey’re way more powerful and only limited by battery runtime. If you put them in race formats where battery runtime isn’t an issue they would win every single race against gas bikes
Thank you for helping to shut up closed minded fools who fear change! This is the future. Can’t wait to rip a 60 mile trail ride on one. Might be a few years but it will happen in my lifetime!!
Amazing advice from my greatest hero in the off-road industry. I think I will buy this machine I watched J shenny in perth Western Australia ride this stark with my 2 kids 4 and 6 I was amazed at the power 80hp Ktm450 is 60hp Iam like you TP 199 2 strokes will never die in new Zealand we still have the biggest class on 125cc at woodville grand Prix. It would be amazing to see you there maybe a catch up with the freestyle crew Run 3 ramps 1 to airbag. Levi Sherwood is in the area hometown hero of the manawatu. Nick franklin. Brendan tootil Shane King Daryl King Damien King Josh coppins Paul wibbley Ken cleghorn Tim Gibbs List goes on
Kinda sucks he felt he had to be apologetic for even riding it, geez. I agree with him, its killer.
Right he's Travis Pastrana I don't care if he's racing NASCAR I'm tuning in with a big ol smile.
Been seeing alot of hate towards the electric bikes, though i have never met anyone that have actually tried one that doesnt think theyre fun. Im an older guy, never really been in to moto, now i own an electric bike and that has pushed me to watch and spend money in the moto scene, so i just think its a win/win for motox overall. And no, they wont replace gas, its just a different type of bike
🤷♂
It's because the "I'm not political but my whole identity is identity politics" crowd just can't NOT hate on anything electric.
Yah, the hate is insane. This bike is going to stomp on all factory race bike, there is no way around it, its got more power, is lighter and has less going on as far a moving parts and shifting. But coming from someone that has electric and gas, they both have their own unique applications and I would not get rid of one in favor of the other.
@@crash86ed it's not political, electronic vehicle, can be great, it's the fact that most EVs are just a worse and more expensive option, so good EVs just get lumped in with the rest
PLEASE, Travis don’t talk about “being old”. We haven’t spoke in a very long time but I used to take you riding with me all the time when you were a kid on 80s. Almost every day during the winter we rode at Croom, we’d ride at Dade City Raceway and sometimes in Ocala. I worked on your bikes for you when your mom and dad weren’t around and wrenched for you at Gatorback twice during Mini O’ s. We also used to go for some cool mountain bike rides finding big jumps LOL. I used to sit and play video games while you did your homework. BTW, I was no help there, your schoolwork was tough! Anyways, congrats on all your success... you were always a class act and deserve it all. In 2002 I crashed on my practice track breaking my neck resulting in Quadriplegia. That’s why I disappeared.
Bummer..... how'd you type this if you are quadriplegic ? Just curious.... I was almost paraplegic and that was scary enough for me. Thankfully the swelling subsided and allowed the nerves to live and signals to carry as they should.
Mine was from hill climbing..... made it once in a hill that unknown to myself...had killed somebody, paralyzed 2 others,and shortly after me killed another. They shut that hill down after that.
Nobody believed I made it except my buddy with me. We saw like 25 guys at the bottom, being young cocky and at the time (2005) I asked if anyone were man enough to climb it.
They all declined but pulled my ego string. Nobody believed i made it. So after riding all day (literally dog tired bear) I tried again. Didn't work so well.... I learned a valuable lesson. Never let ego decide your fate.
I'm in pain every day. Not 3 years ago I got a neck injury. Pinched nerve c6. Back had broken L1-L5. Neck injury took 2 years of intense therapy, chiropractic care, medicine, etc..... it's no way to live this kind of pain. Yet, here I am.... going riding at 46.5 yoa this November on ybe very ATV that I broke my back in. Rebuilt it after letting it sit for almost 20 years basically. 2005 Honda 400ex. Has a cam, smaller of the big bore kits I think 415 or 420 I'd have to check. New full exhaust, new everything really. Can't wait....but I'm done riding like that.....ya feel me
@@dannysalzer770 Can I ask you how you crashed ? I neraly passed away on a crash against a car in march 2023 on my surron, I love ridding so much I ride every day to work with it, rain snow cold no matter ^^, january 3 I crashed into a damn deer in the woods while riding home from work, no dammage but I allways think to myself if tomorrow I'm paraplegic would I do all the same again if I had the choice, so I have two questions in fact, how did you crashed (sever crash on a jump or so)? And was it worth it ? I'm not asking like " you see I told you , was it worth it" but really, we all ask ourself this question but only those who where unlucky enough can answer for themselves. Wish you a happy life
@Danny. God bless you brother. Hope your day to day is OK. Keep your head up bro and ask for help if you need it man. Sometimes thats hard for us men to do...i had my L1 L2 and L3 fused and rods added myself. Thankfully am still walking etc though. Glad to hear from you here man. Sounds like youre a great guy and friend.
So sorry to hear man! Glad you're still with us and able to see what these crazies are doing on MX bikes these days!
Good to hear from you Danny i and some others used to think you were his Pro riding coach or family with you were. I heard you broke your neck and back at a private track with the old Crusty crew fucki g around ! I haven't been on a bike for 10 years now after 8 knee surgeries and I couple compound fractures elbow and leg and I consider myself very lucky!!,, keep up the good fight ❤
For the 🇬🇧 market the lack of noise is a massive bonus, so many tracks have been closed down here in the last 10-15 years. No noise = no complaints
You would think. People will always find a reason to complain 😢
@@ChrisHarmon1here in the uk 🇬🇧 if they can't find one they will just make one up that's how sad it is
Plus we could have indoor tracks perhaps even in city's.. cos it's always pissing down...
Same here in the Netherlands, loads of them closed the past 20 years. Belgium has almost no tracks left open. All sound related closes.
They still will close, its not about the noise!!!
Another reason why the stark flips so well is not just the 80hp, but the fact it has one gear. You can spin the rear wheel to the max speed easily once you're in the air. On an ice bike, you're limited to the speed of the gear selected going up the jump.
yes. I came looking for this comment! Also, with an e bike, you can pull out of a nose dive because of that same fact. Panic reving usually happens in something like 2nd or 3rd gear, wear your rear tire can only spin so fast. Now, panic rev a Stark and you can go from nosing to level.
@@ericdornfeld4848 now imagine sticking a small helicopter style gyro on it once batteries get a lot better
i am suprised it does not have a gyro. a gyro would make it possible to go flat out and never flip over when a sudden wheelie kicks in :D it could self level on whoops and jumps...@@flowersthewizard9336
Very good observation. Thinking! There is hope for mankind. :)
And letting off automatically brakes....
Finally someone talking sense on electric bikes. Can't wait for these to be main stream, no air filters no oil filters, no oil changer, no valve clearance checks.
How much would it be in maintenance parts to ride a 125-250cc everyday of the working week for one year approx ? 50Km/day flat enduro
I've had one (not a Stark, but it does look like it would be pretty entertaining as a daily and would definitely get me into trouble!) as a daily road bike for five months now and it's easily the best bike I've ever had. Haven't missed gears/noise/etc for a single second. I'm super glad it's happening for offroad too
Almost 0 maintenance really just chain brakes and tires, plus plugging it in lol.
The Stark is powered by a 3 phrase rotary 2 stroke magnetic engine! Now couple Floyrd Sweets 300 hp 8 lbs zero point energy aetheric power generator making 460 VAC
I use to hate the thought of electric dirt bikes lol but damnnn I might buy one of these in a few months..I still keep my yz 250 2 stroke and kx112 for fun aswell haha but damn these bikes are expensive
Electric is opening up countless possibilities. It's disheartening to witness people's excessive complaints. Personally, I have a nostalgic attachment to the sound and smell of 2-stroke engines, as they evoke a unique feeling. However, I see no reason to complain about the increase in power and instantaneous torque that electric offers. Battery technology will continue to improve, allowing for faster charging and longer-lasting batteries. Currently, it's not as bad as some may think. We are embarking on a new era of performance and speed, and I am genuinely excited to witness it unfold. I only regret not being young enough to fully embrace and take advantage of it.
These look rad actually, and the optimism and the fact Travis doesn't immediately shut it down cause it's EV is such a good thing for the industry
He made his point clear many times too. It's about having fun. People that have a problem with this are the people that have lost sight of why they started riding in the first place.
I am sure he got paid for this.
@@mikepalmer1971 Even if he did get paid...he's still using the product to this day. Sounds like he got paid to show off something he actually loves. Not many people with a social media presence can say that about the ads they run these days.
Another benefit I can see with electric is that it could lead to more OHV parks and tracks opening up since the noise complaints would be minimal. ( I originally made the comment as I was watching the video, so it wasn't until later that I heard him cover the same points...)
Yes he said that
it will just move to "dust complaints"... trust me I live in Ca, and ANY excuse to kill fun is good enough for this shit hole state!!!
Not gonna happen nice try
Let me know how that hopey, wishful thinking works out.
Good luck. Only the government can destroy land. Not recreation vehicles. The trails are killing ecosystems. Can’t have that. But they will mine for garbage ev. Causing more emissions than a two stroke.
I TOLD MY KID FOR YEARS! IF it was quiet you could ride everywhere and never get caught!!! Imagine being able to hear the rangers behind you and them not knowing which way you are going when you get out of sight!!
I've been commuting by ebike for 4 years, sold my cars when gas hit $5.00 & have ZERO REGRETS, I'm 49yo & rode bmx & dirt bikes my whole life & as stubborn as they come, but the ONLY PEOPLE who can hate an ebike is someone who NEVER RODE 1, because if you're a speed junkie the torque curve on these things is addictive
All the guys that have been crying about electric bikes are going to watch this and change their mind because Travis likes it.
Nope if it don't go ring ding not worth owning
Nope
your delusional
Facts😂
First they hate you
Then they fight you
Then they join you 🎉
Imagine a motocross park right in the middle of a major city but it was only open to e-bikes. I'd probably go buy one so I could have the option of riding with out having to drive an hour or more. Perfect for after work.
I could see that happening. lots of potential with electric.
These days thas just the bike lane lol
Imagine if we didn't have a fake agenda being pushed on the world.
Cool but that's not gonna happen
Yeah that won't be happening. If there was that much space - it would be turned into a tower. You might get away with some indoor warehouse tracks however like the gokarts do.
It’s nice to hear a review from a man who knows bikes, if he likes it they must be good
Lmfao... exactly the response this company expected. They did good.
@@mikestavisky8009Most I know who tested or own one say the same, and they are not pros are anything, stop hating, but in a sense you are right, this is an argument of authority, not a valid argument.
Well said Travis. Just live life to the fullest, it will always be changing whether we like it or not.
Don't go the way of the world. It wont end well
Travis ur gona catch that thing on fire that battery pack will explode when u go to dirt and fuck up we need hubert to reinforce battery
@@MetalBlade81 keep paddling against the river of life and you won't get anywhere, you gotta go with the flow
I switched from two stroke to electric a year ago and I had all the same thoughts as Travis. It’s great to hear someone with that much time on a bike to describe it the same way. They’re so fun!
Your spelling of you're speaks volumes @@skyryder2994
@@skyryder2994 cringe
I love my 2 stroke, but the moment one of these bikes can handle a day of riding for the conditions I do. I’ll end up purchasing!
@@sarahdell4042sure ur a bot😂
@@MrThorider How so? I ride hard enduro, and my bikes end up smashing into boulders and everything else. The stark is way too exposed
The legend #199 extremely happy to see Travis took care of himself all these years later. He created opportunitys for the new generation. Much respect 🙌🏽❤️
I used to get complaints about noise at my local trails but since i got a sur ron zero noise complaints and i even ride late into the night
Amen brother it's not about it being electric it's being able to ride I feel that 💯
Or the government when they get a complaint they could say too bad. Noise complaint, oh, change Countries then....they could do that. And what about when people start complaining about generator noise? Its all bs, thats my point. Its easy to tell someone to shut their face when they complain......
Ive had 4 stroke hondas my whole life would ride trials 12 hrs a day, and never overheated, never stalled. Ive had pull starts, kick start and push button. Never had one problem and im 43.
"I remember the first time I rode a motorcycle" brutal lmao.
Bike looks like so much fun! I'm hoping this wave of electric dirt bikes will allow us to open up more tracks for people to ride on, as they're all getting closed down now due to noise complaints as people have mentioned.
Thanks Travis for the review
I grew up on the edge of the woods and had multiple sand pits in my backyard in the other direction. My friends and I pissed off the world with our two strokes and had people even try to hurt us by sabotaging the trails. They eventually stopped everybody from riding in the area years after I grew up and moved away. This would solve the noise problem, and I wonder if they would allow kids to be kids again.
I learned more about this bike from this review than any others I have seen. Great job on this!
Why is it so refreshing to hear someone judging a vehicle by it's capabilities rather than "what source of energy is used to make power" ?
I'm more involved in the car scene, and the "EV suck because they no go vroom vroom" argument that you get all the time annoys me so much... If all that matters to you is the sound, then you're not passionate about cars, you're passionate about engines...
EV have a place. In motocross, in cars, everywhere, and hating on them just because they don't make sound is dumb. Thanks Travis for this objective review, showing the pro and cons of each type
Yep! Same thing about motorcycles. If sound is really the thing that keeps you from watching racing, then you are 100% not a real fan. It's also very ironic that people think that if you are for electric you are against ICE bikes. It's actually the opposite as most that own an electric also own an ICE. People don't understand it's a growth area and addition. They just spend time making uneducated irrelevant comments.
💯 from the 2-stroke man himself. They’re dirtbikes, nothing but love from me. So much fun.
Seriously tho... I absolutely LOVE 2 strokes... hell I make a living building 2 strokes... BUT Travis has some damn good points... too many people understand constantly getting harassed and kicked out anywhere you ride because of the noise... electric bikes are so quiet you could have a full blown race in tge middle of a neighborhood and not piss anyone off... now that the power/performance is catching up its almost a no brainer... not shifting and clutching would be very interesting tho... knowing what gear to be in to hit certain jumps is how us mere mortals survive lol... fantastic video my guy 💯
Off topic, but how far behind are electric saws from taking over?
I wouldn't say it's specifically gear linked. It always seemed like tracks were full of two camps, people who always knew what gear they were in, and people who went solely by feel. I'm in second camp. I could make an educated guess, but in the moment, I never knew what gear I was in. It was just sensation of speed and past experience knowing how fast to be going.
@@bennyb.1742They are in the process of taking over small professional saws, at least where I live. Gardeners and tree services like to use them because of the low noise.
For bigger saws they’re not an option at all though, the batteries we have today just can’t deliver the power
Coming from a king of 2 strokes, i think you’ll open lot of people minds.
I hate that we live in a world where everyone judges. Travis had to explain his decision to ride this bike just for all the complainers out there. Eff those ppl
preach
I bet ur just starting high-school
@@MrThorideryou poor little thing, cry more
ya because are sport is being ruined
@mrthoridor nope, Im a new born
On this planet, it's all about adapting and improving. I love 2 strokes, 4 strokes, if it's got wheels and a motor,I love it. I honestly believe this is the natural progression when it comes to motorcycles of all kinds. It's practically maintenance-free, looks good, and is fast as hell! Thumbs up from me!
When That Battery Ignites you will see just how Mantaince Free it is If you do not Burn Up .
I mean, if you're not buying cheap Chinese junk batteries you'll be fine. Using a quality battery consisting of name brand cells running a BMS is very safe. @@gentrydebbie1040
@@gentrydebbie1040 Aaaaaand there it is. You can bitch about anything. Maintenance light is a better phrase, it's great.
Travis is a legend. Love you boys, keep getting after it.
Moto community..."450's have outgrown supercross stadiums". Stark Varg..."hold my beer".
I will never stop loving two strokes, especially open class, but as a long time RC truck racer, I have always known about the insane backflip power of electrics. It's only a matter of time till they get these things affordable enough for regular riders. I will never give up my two stroke, but there is ALWAYS room for more power and less noise!
Great commentary! I respect the perspective on it and I look forward to seeing where it goes. Its about having fun on the track and if its mixed gas, race gas or electric it should be supported by everyone!
Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and KTM are coming with their models soon. I talked with a local dealer here in CA and they are already ordering the Honda
Oh you can count on other models for sure.
"I'm here for the horse power" 👌
More power, better handling (less rotating mass), way less maintenance, crazy adjust-ability (and we are just getting started there), no shifting, no clutchinig, ... no need to make excuses. These will start to push 4 strokes out just like 4 strokes pushed 2 strokes out, they are better, people will be faster on them. If you are not on one you probbaly will never get another holeshot. The future is here.
I agree with your points, I like that you can stay on the balls of your feet and the motor instant response. Good to hear that the batt lasts long enough. I would get a rear hand brake for stuck on hills or unload, pivot turns.
rear hand brake is an option
Another key point not mentioned is the minimal service required with a Stark or other E-bikes (EX: Alta). After many years of having to change out pistons, rings, oil, plugs, etc. on my 2 smokers far too frequently the cost savings alone has me intrigued. I don't mind doing the work but as I get older it would be nice to unplug, load up and go ride without having to monitor this stuff.
BTW - I was informed by a few custom shops that there are sounds mods which can be added to a Stark to simulate the sound of a real bike. Small speaker mounted up front with an app that runs on the Stark phone allowing you to pick from various 2 stroke and 4 stroke sound impulses, you can even add your own custom impulses. Apparently, they are marketing this as a "safety" feature for use at local tracks so other riders can hear you coming from behind. Not a bad idea and if done well, could actually help with throttle control.
I love the sound of a V8 or an inline 4 crotch rocket but as far as vehicles the lack of maintenance just makes sense.. it's a dude no oil consumption no catalytic converter to steal it's such a no-brainer no timing belt's no spark plugs no oil changes
Modern 2 strokes are pretty darn reliable. I have over 100 hours on my 2 stroke, and have changed one plug (it didn’t even need it) change the transmission fluid every 10ish hours.
I ride enduro, and the downside with one of these bikes is everything is so exposed.
Till the battery fryes then your gonna be wishing you wash only changing a position 😅
@@nathancrittenden8525 yeah the cost of a modern battery is like $80 per kilowatt-hour... An automobile might have 100 kilowatt hour battery pack... I doubt this is even 10. Probably 5 if that.
@@nathancrittenden8525 batteries are getting damn cheap nowadays.
100% great option for riders and neighbors to them, being able to ride and less maintenance = Winning!
How much less maintenance though? A top end on a 250 2t or a 450 4t should be once a season for most riders. Still going to hammer wheel, linkage and stem bearings just the same. Chain is still going to wear and maybe even quicker due to more torque.
@@terrymoore6302 Um changing an air filter and oil after ever rider for on. Adjusting valves. Then there is a bunch of unscheduled maintenance. Free rides are going over 500 hours untouched and still operating like new prom a power plant perspective. You wash it lube the chain and put it up.
I have a KTM 1090 R and an 890 Duke R. I owned a KTM 250 SX. I think my next bike will be a Stark Varg.
It’s funny how so many people have such a thick lens of negativity when it comes to electric bikes. Don’t let the political/media propaganda industry have so much power over you and see it for what it is!! Electric bikes might not be a persons cup of tea, but you can’t deny their incredible performance and potential.
People equate all things electric with a political ideology. Really a shame they're so narrow minded. Cars and bikes don't vote.
@@OtisFlint Both sides do it. The ev evangelists are just as bad as the gas only bros. It's about what works for you the individual - who cares about what others do. Regardless of machine you are still having to dig up the earth for finite resources to manufacture.
Not only is there a political agenda behind it but it's also terrible for the environment so try using your brain a little bit and you'll realize why it's not good
@@OtisFlint13,000 dollars and almost 300lbs! Sorry I'm out.
Some people believe everything they see online and can’t tell what’s real and what fake. So sad.
I'm a street rider and got to ride my friend's Zero a few years back. What an experience! Smooth, quiet, and acceleration like a rocket. Obviously it's not the right bike for everyone, but he had to commute 60 miles a day in Las Vegas traffic and heat. He said it was a game changer in stop and go traffic, and no boiling hot engine when sitting in traffic. He has a stable of bikes and that's his commuter. Perfect for him.
I see the main benefit of electric being more tracks not being shut down due to noise complaints. I hated in electric bikes untill i got to ride a redhshift and at that point i relized a dirtbike is a dirtbike is a dirtbike two strok four stroke electric as long as the next generation has bikes to ride and track to ride at i don't really care what powers them
Proofreading is not your forte.
@chrisallen2005 I didn't realize a youtube comment was going to be used to get my masters of English literature
Smart man. Everyone bashing EV. He's about performance and results as being the best of the best. EV is here to stay.
im like you. love my 2 strokes but also love power. i ride enduro so ill stick to my fuel injected 300 for now.
just imagine all the heated indoor tracks that can open to electric only bikes during winter.. a empty ware house/ factory, close to the city, fill it with dirt, set up a few charging stations and enough heat for the dirt not to freeze up.
little cafe, change rooms/showers, warm up and stretch mats on a floor over the pit area overlooking the track
I have 20+ gas motorcycles plus gas vehicles and I will be burning gas most likely til the day I die. But I can’t wait to get my stark Varg. It opens up so many more possibilities of riding in my area and being stealthy.
What I say to the dill rod rocket surgeons that say“ how are you gonna charge it with a generator burning gas”… maybe and a bunch of other ways as well.
A gas motorcycle runs on gas and gas only. An electric motorcycle or car runs on anything that will produce power… coal, gas, propane, wind, sun, solar, hydroelectric etc.. etc..
I pretty much love everything with handlebars and wheels and the Varg will just be another cool tool in my in my garage full of fun.
Oh baby! I was the 199th view! What are the odds?
You could have now a track in the middle of the city and bring these biking events to the city, more audience, sport will grow, busy for the locals, restaurants, bars, shops etc... happy days
I could tell you are being very careful with your words lol focusing on the the Fun and good power was very diplomatic of you ahahaha But I feel the same. I love love love the sound and vibrations and feel of the fire breathing monsters but electric vehicles are also still very cool and like an electric RC car vs Nitro, they just work! just turn it on and go. but that also makes the nitro feel extra extra special when you fire it up
Change in life will never stop. Try to enjoy what we get.
Such a great perspective on progression and innovation.
Bang! You said Travis, go out and have fun, regardless of what you ride. 2-Stroke, 4-Stroke or Electric. Just have fun
If Travis said, it’s great, then it’s fucking great !!!
Well said, electric has enormous potential in motor sports. Exciting times!
Except Formula E where they have somehow made it super boring to watch and have nonsense rules to try and make it more exciting.
Noise complaint part starting at 5:20
Man I miss the sounds of local race tracks as a kid. That symphony of engines somewhere in the horizon was just Summer Nights, it wasn’t a nuisance, it was the echoes of people having fun, it made the atmosphere of being outside on those days so much more exhilarating. It opened your world to be playing outside doing your own thing while hearing the activities of others far off and wondering what it’s like where they are. My dad would drive us around in the convertible to get fries & snacks and it was exciting to hear the racing going on. If racecar or dirtbike noises are a problem, then I wish I had some people’s problems.
I moved into the country and my neighbors a road over have a dirtbike track, I love hearing them out riding, it’s good to know people are having fun.
These seem awesome! I was anti-EV until I drove one, now I have had three and the tech and torque is AMAZING! Never going to get rid of ICE, but electric is awesome!
Pastrana approved! I am absolutely blown away. mIght has to get one.
Thank you, I appreciate finally somebody, especially someone like yourself, giving an honest take on the electric bike, awesome can’t wait to see the freestyle tricks and as a + senior citizen, I don’t think I’ll get around to purchase or maybe even ride an Electric bikes but I’m still digging my 89 CR 125 HRC two-stroke . I live in Punta Gorda Florida and they’re building a super cross track and other tracks at the old speedway grounds , if you ever decide to come to an event, please let us know. I’m only five minutes away. I would like to see you again catch up and give you my best, take care, my friend. Hope to see you soon.
And not that anyone gives a shit, but Trav wasnt paid to do this, if it would have sucked he would have said it sucked.. Stark knew this coming in.. shout out to them for building a badass bike
Love this review. This man clearly wants what's best for the progression of the sport.
Good job explaining the correct view point on new technology and the progression of the sport.
It’s not exactly a progress… like he mentioned in a nice way it really takes a lot of the fun out of what MX is about… shifting, missing gears, feathering the clutch on turns, it’s too easy and not fun
There's no reason a clutchless motorcycle needs a foot operated rear brake, unless perhaps you're constantly switching between bikes. For some of us, two brakes like a mountain bike will make a lot more sense, and offer a lot more control. Our feet aren't exactly precision equipment compared to our much more dexterous digits.
RC Cars proved electric to be a performance advantage over nitro engines. It’s just taking moto a while to catch up! 🤙🏽⚡️🏁🏆
Lol nice comparison 🤡
Nitro engines still rip and sound awesome though. As travis said - in the end it's about having fun - who cares what you are on.
@@MetalBlade81Yeah, actually is.
In race formats where battery runtime isn’t an issue these things would win every single time over Gas bikes
I'm an old, die hard 2 stroke guy. The mere thought of an electric dirt bike is laughable. However, when Travis brings up good points of furthering our sport, hobby ect we kinda have to embrace and support this type of technology so we can keep dirt bikes alive and well. Would I buy one ? Not likely but if it helps me keep my old 2 smokers then bring it on.
well, thats the worry people have, in that it will destroy the internal combustion engine market, when in reality, this has only positive effects. ICE development is effectively done. Theres isnt much, if anything, that can be done. Bikes have been a reiteration of the same thing for many years now and theres no reason to think that will vanish. Maybe there will be less manufacturers, or maybe there will be one that buys the patents and machinery from various manufacturers and makes their own brand. As long as people wanna buy an ICE, there will be a provider. Same with events, because people dont go to motorcoss events because the bikes are fast, but because its a loud and noisy spectacle.
The development in battery tech, has massive upsides because they make renewable energy sources viable, and thats great not only because of the abundance of energy this will bring, its also a big chunk of independence
80hp electric is a totally different animal than 80hp gas. My cr500 made about 56hp, a 56 hp electric bike would have run circles around it. Travis "It came at 80hp, I left it at 80hp" 😅.
That is so far from the truth it's not even funny😂
@@DuecedYTeducate yourself a little more. I love the sound and smell of gas but equal HP motors the electric will win every time due to instant full power availability.
@CryptoNut82 I'm going to stop you right there and admit my massive mistake in misreading his comment, I for some reason thought he had it the other way around, I definitely agree with you both.
@@DuecedYThaha no worries
Depends on the HP range. Electric makes the most torque at 1 RPM. But has very little torque at 1,000 RPM.
solid reasons, good to hear the newer e-bikes have more charge capacity. I think the minimal noise is spot on.
Dayum!! Pastrana approves??? I’m in. Converting my reservation to an order. Done.
%100 agree with Pastrana’s [insinuated] take that “going green” is RETARDED, BUT, I’m here for the torque and the hp!! Incredible
Ignoring our impact on the environment only produces more problems, but hey they're probably gonna be someone else's problems so f*ck it right?
It might be fine for racing but for trail riding, i just don't see it. You can get maybe an hour and a half out of it? I like to ride all day.
I think it's a great option for hobby riders because of the low maintenance. However I do think that it's so much easier/ different to operate, that you don't actually learn to ride dirtbikes with it. I started out last year and bought myself a 125 because I want to learn properly. If you can brake and shift and control the power on a 125 you can ride anything. If I was to start on one of these I would have to be an electric only rider..
You absolutely learn. There are electric bikes with clutches, so if that’s your thing it’s available. Not having to kick start, or foul a plug, or premix fuel aren’t detracting from the learning experience.
@@pauloakes6952 The point is that even if your e bike has a clutch and a gear box, it doesn't have any use, because the engine doesn't need to idle and it doesn't have a torque curve.
Being able to push the tires and suspension to the limit is the real skill. I go back and forth between electric and gas, it's not a big deal. I didn't notice the lag from a gas bike until riding electric though.
“Build motorcycles and motocross” as they’re killing it! The big man that is.
All for it, just curious as to the recycling of the old/dead batteries on top I’d like to know how, and hope their getting their battery fuel resources respectfully . Started out on a two stroke, and still on one till this day. But I would like to rip one of these around my neck of the woods for sure but 15-19k is just in another realm for me at this time. And I’ll never finance nothing . paid in full or not paid at all
You should recycle the battery when it's spent. It'll get used to make a new battery. www.epa.gov/hw/lithium-ion-battery-recycling
Yes, there is full recycling on batteries
Realistic viewpoint. Solid feedback !
In Pastrana we trust 💯
Even tho he went to the dark side...
The Future is knocking thank god Travis is listening.
I love gas bikes and nothing will ever fully replace them but for me the money is the biggest factor in choosing electric over gas. Need to go buy oil and oil filter every 15 hours, gas costs like $4 a gallon(then you need oil too if your 2 stroker) and the list goes on and on, there's just wildly larger amount of parts and maintenance overall. Electric is just so much cheaper and easy to maintain, I bet I could tear down and rebuild a stark varg entirely with the right tools and some youtube videos. Id ruin the bike and go through an entire roll of shop towels before I even got into the motor trying to full rebuild a gas bike.
And $4 gas is if you don’t run VP. Then you are talking like $21 a gallon.
👍👍THANK YOU TRAVIS👍👍
Your a ledgend, A Hero, A Man no one can be.
Thank you for explaining this bike. Does open my eyes on electric dirtbike now. & 80 HP, WOW.
Your smile of having fun, don't come around like the good old days.
❤ Please enjoy in dirt & not with nurses❤ (Do love them, know how to treat a man 😉)
As long as we still have options for 2 or 4 stroke. Get what u want
That won't be the case. They'll ban gas and all the clowns will just go with the flow
@@MetalBlade81waaaa waaaaa
Listen, anybody that disagrees with this man doesn't quite understand what the future is heading to I grew up with 2 strokes and 4 strokes, you cannot replace the acceleration and feeling Of the 2 Stroke or the excitement of a gas engine. But wait a minute, yeah you can just the sheer Torque and acceleration that these electric engines have. I grew up skating. And on BMX and Riding MX bikes my whole life I'm 35 and I'll probably not stop anytime soon.. as long as the motorsports still exist. I really don't care what drive train Or engine it's using as long as you still get to enjoy yourself.
Whenever I watch Stark videos I think that this might just also produce a bit of a jump in innovation in MX. The amount of innovation on dirtbikes in the last 40 years has been minimal. It's quite clear that they have just been incrementally making things better here and there. But noone was forced to actually think outside the box.
Now a few point picking up on what Travis has been mentioning here.
-Power: If people actually needed more power, it could be done actually very cheaply and quite easily. If you combine two 250 engines into a twin, either V or inline, you get twice the horsepower plus something, so 90hp is easily achievable and the weight addition would actually not be that significant.
-Shifting: Making dirtbikes automatic could be doable in a number of ways, the easiest of which would be to just use actuators for the shifting and the clutch without changing anything on the hardware, but one could also think outside the box and consider anything from high performance torque converting to variomatic.
I personally think this might be a possible step for the sport to go next, perfect technique and stability on the bike appears to be the winning method of the hour, imagine if Jett had his rear brake on his handlebars mountain bike style and never had to move his feet unless he wants to...
-Noise: It would be possible that the MX world actually gives in to pressure and makes the bikes more quiet. Because to be fair, the reason that our tracks are loud is not because of any type of physical or technical limitation, it's because everyone likes buying the loudest barkiest titanium exhaust...
If people were to open "quiet" tracks, you could just install an exhaust with a db eater on your 450 and be as quiet as any car in traffic.
Doubling power by doubling the engines cylinders would add significant weight. The only reason a one speed gearbox works with electric is because it’s electric and has instant torque making something similar work with a combustion engine would not be as simple as you think.
@@somenygaard Actually it wouldn't. It's a question of casting thicknesses and so on. There are endless examples. Especially with v twins you can make a twin with only 1.4 or 1.5 times the weight.
I never said that you should run a single speed gearbox. You didn't read my comment properly bro
@@petergriffin4629 casting thickness is already minimized to save weight but doubling the pistons, cylinder head, valve train, larger crankshaft ect will add much more weight. There is a good reason we don’t see my bikes with multiple cylinders.
@@somenygaard I mean you can write here what you want. It's a simple fact of engineering. Go pickup a book. The reason we have singles in MX is because they have higher torque. The engine on the RXV just to name one is only marginally heavier then a 450 of the time even though it's a V Twin which is actually the least optimal shape for weight savings. People used to build twins that would rival singles in weight all throughout the 50s and 60s. Just because you are ignorant doesn't make you right. Also also, since MX bikes have been limited in terms of min weights, you could save the weight elsewhere.
@@somenygaard an Aprilia sxv550 with airbox weighs 36kg, a KTM 450 without airbox weighs 28kg. If you swap to an inline twin layout you can cut at least 3 to 4 kg. And again, it's not that you are doing it for nothing. If we two were to build a twin out of two 250s in my garage Allen Millyard style, you don't just get the individual power times two. You get something around 15% more power on top. So if a KTM 250 has 45hp than our 500 twin would have 100 HP! A modern 450 has 55 to 60
I rode one on the test track at our dealership and this bikes certified!
Going to open to much more opportunity for "quiet" tracks.
I doubt we will see anymore tracks opening. Most of the time the Noise excuse is just one nail from the hammer. There are usually a lot more factors in it.
Lol keep dreaming
Once batteries become lighter, there will be a clear advantage... Another trick for freestyle would be to put a small swappable battery that would hold enough for 5 minute runs, then swap them out with spares between runs.. Then you could get a featherweight bike without lugging the full battery for freestyle tricks...
This thing has the highest power to weight ratio of any moto bike...
That time is already here.
I'm not a fan of electric, but man, can this guy make sound so cool!
Consider how many areas you will be able to ride due to having a silent bike under you, that's the only argument needed, and don't pretend that dirt bike noise isn't the number one issue, been riding since the late 1970s and have seen 90% of everywhere closed off to dirt bikes.
He sold out
Right ?? He should have stuck to horse jumping. Artificial power is for sell outs.
Sold out of what exactly?
not at all. he “bought in” is all
Sold out to what? More power? Innovation?
Hand brakes on the rear..are great too....no shifter rocks when you have bad ankles!
Dude, the bike is a beast!
Thanks Travis for autographing my fox hat at the St. Louis races. Been a fan since Crusty Demons!
Cool review, thanks Travis! Agree on the noise part for the better of this beautiful sport
What a great open view. Travis you are a lovely person ❤
i totally agree.. from a 50 year old guy.. love this
Nothing but respect for Travis
Northern crankshaft in thief river falls will build you a custom crankshaft to stick 2 Honda CR 500 motors together. They have done this with snowmobile engines for a long time. Look them up 👆
I've NEVER cried about EV's in a motor sports setting.
INFACT, they shine here!
Instant torque, 100% adjustability, quick swap batteries, a pit to rest.
Much like R/C toys, these are the SAME.
Now an EV like a tesla... that is "to and extent" a pipe dream. To ACTUALLY make it worth it, there are ALOT more efficiencies and logistics that need to be engineered before they EVER will be as eco-friendly as they are being praised for.
Awesome to see Travis was back at Pleasure Valley!!!
We need to add an electric class at local mx tracks and nationals and see where it goes… biggest thing I can’t grasp is I think they should still have a clutch (so many situations where clutch is a safety feature when rider weight/position gets incorrect!!!)
Nah let them race gas, what's the point of keeping it separate..
@@akacicaaThey’re way more powerful and only limited by battery runtime.
If you put them in race formats where battery runtime isn’t an issue they would win every single race against gas bikes
You can never replace the sound n smell gasser for life
LETS GOOOO!!! The better these get the better 2 and 4 stroeks will get to compete! I love free markets....things just keep getting better!
Thanks Travis, we need you bro.
Thank you for helping to shut up closed minded fools who fear change! This is the future. Can’t wait to rip a 60 mile trail ride on one. Might be a few years but it will happen in my lifetime!!
Thanks to Travis, anyone now wanting an e-bike can forget it. With this feedback, the price of e-bikes just went up lol
Such an honest intelligent review.
Amazing advice from my greatest hero in the off-road industry.
I think I will buy this machine I watched J shenny in perth Western Australia ride this stark with my 2 kids 4 and 6
I was amazed at the power 80hp
Ktm450 is 60hp
Iam like you TP 199
2 strokes will never die in new Zealand we still have the biggest class on 125cc at woodville grand Prix.
It would be amazing to see you there maybe a catch up with the freestyle crew
Run 3 ramps 1 to airbag.
Levi Sherwood is in the area hometown hero of the manawatu.
Nick franklin.
Brendan tootil
Shane King
Daryl King
Damien King
Josh coppins
Paul wibbley
Ken cleghorn
Tim Gibbs
List goes on