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As impressive as the Varg is or seems to be. Got me wondering when the majors are going to hit the market with something similar to Varg. Not pit bike ish but big boy toy. I’ve read a little about all of them throwing R&D money at E, but that’s all I know. Not sure about dates or plans. I’m sure some know more than me.
Thanks Billy
Honda may be the most advanced, they had a team working on an electric CR in 2018/19...
The team was disbanded the end of 2019, team members were split up and are working on different projects within Honda, the project was handed over to Mugen, but no progress has been made public.
The bike was reputed to have performance similar to a 250f, and used battery pouches instead of cylindrical cells, like the Stark, pouches require liquid cooling between the pouches.
Honda are setting up a pilot plant to manufacture solid state batteries, Production volumes will not be available until 2028/29.
Yamaha Europe has been developing an electric motocross bike in partnership with Dohms and Spike
Again performance similar to a 250f, and this is not a Yamaha Japan project.
In March 2023 KTM's Stefan Pierer stated he doesn’t see the KTM developing anything above 11-kilowatt (15hp), in terms of power. In fact, he even characterized the idea of larger, high-powered electric motorcycles, at least for the moment, as “nonsense.”
Kawasaki has publicly stated they will be electric by 2035.
Stark Varg's performance is significantly higher than the Honda and Yamaha, they along with KTM will have Starks on order, so they can reverse engineer them, don't expect to see anything from the other manufacturers for 5-7 years.
In the mean time the other manufacturers will do everything they can to stop Stark competing against their bikes in amateur and pro races, to protect their market.
SX and MX will have changed in 5-7 years. AMA will never allow anything like the Varg to race in AMA Pro Racing until Honda has something comparable.
I agree the manufacturers control the AMA, they will protect their market, as any company would do, but one of the other manufacturers may beat Honda to production.
Honda disbanded the team that made their prototype, so no current progress, besides electric scooters with less than 15hp.
Yamaha Japan isn't doing anything besides electric scooters, the same as Honda, but Yamaha Europe's prototype may pressure Japan.
KTM's Stefan Pierer has called full sized electric motocross bikes "nonsense", the Varg may make him eat those words!
Kawasaki have produced electric scooters, the same as Honda and Yamaha and road bikes with less than 15hp...
All the manufacturers will be waiting on delivery of their Stark Vargs, so they can test and reverse engineer them, it will take them time to research and develop and produce a comparable product, I'm estimating 5-7 years.
There’s just no way to tell what will happen with the Varg-like electric bikes.
Talaria and Surron will only increase in popularity and technology.
The Shop
Surron's output is 5kW, Talaria's output is 6kW, Yamaha's prototype outputs 30kW, Stark's maximum output is 50kW!
That's why the Stark Varg is a game changer, the others are not even in the same league.
And the Varg weighs…and costs…and is what % bigger than all the electric bikes…and is how hard to get…and has what kind of easily replacement parts…and has what kind of dealer network…?
Agree, but the Stark Varg is the only electric bike that is competitive with existing ICE motocross bikes.
The other electric dirt bikes fill a niche, the Stark Varg has the potential to replace existing ICE motocross bikes, that is game changing, and must be a concern for existing manufacturers.
I agree with mostly everything.
Most everyone wants the Varg or Stark to succeed but it’s made some pretty big blunders so far (probably due to being a pioneer company). Stark has done something that is slightly ahead of its time. The fact is that the lesser brands Talaria and Surron have made no blunders and I frisée them producing a similar product as the Varg at half the cost and parts/ dealer network already in place. The hope is that Stark can make it through these initial trials because ultimately it will benefit the sport.
I bet my net worth (lots of debt, basically) that every big manufacturer has a full MX electric bike that is pretty near ready to hit the markets. I think everyone is just waiting and looking around what other brands have at the moment.
Wasn't there a press release like a year ago where Kawasaki said that 50% of their fleet will be electric by 2030 or something?
I think we will see an all electric class in GP's or AMA in the next five years. Like a third class, or an EMX class or something along those lines.
I just picked up an electric trials bike. The Mecatecno is much better than the 6 former Gas Gas trials bikes and 21 pounds less mass. Not going back to an ice trials bike. The GG feels top heavy in comparison.
Now with 3 d printed batteries, the possibilities are endless. I would like to see a small guys take giant market share away from the dumb 450/250 mentality.
Yamaha is running a competition trials bike at the Japan nationals with a stated investment in testing for use across different motorsport applications.
Honda just had Trey race against the 450s.
Kawasaki said its going all electric in 12 years.
So seems they are all at least partly on board.
Post a reply to: What’s timeline for Jap’s, Austrians to market a Varg like scooter