Jeff Emig Rides the STARK VARG for the First Time!

Discover motocross icon Jeff Emig's take on the revolutionary new electric Stark Varg! With a career spanning from conventional forks to twin shocks and linkage, Jeff explores the Stark Varg for the first time, sharing his thoughts on this innovative addition to the market. Hear Jeff's insights firsthand on this electrifying new bike!

#dirtbike #electricbike #starkvarg #motocross #supercross #mxlocker #stark #ebike

0:00 - 0:44 Intro
0:45 - 3:28 How It Works & Initial Thoughts
3:29 - 6:58 First Ride & Thoughts
6:59 - 8:47 Battery & HP
8:48 - 11:30 Second Ride on 60HP
11:31 - 12:14 Charging The Bike
12:15 - 12:50 Alpha Power Engaged
12:51 - 14:20 Third Ride on 80HP
14:21 - 17:04 Starts on Varg
17:05 - 19:51 Final Thoughts
19:52 - Electric Bikes VS Regular Dirtbike?

[Papparratzi]

I’d say that’s a sound opinion.
As an OG, here’s my take.
As mentioned, E MX opens up riding opportunities that haven’t existed for a long time.

Today’s youth seem to look down on Gas MXrs. They’ve been taught gas is evil and the noise and pollution they create reinforces there negative perception of them.

Today’s youth won’t have the same feelings about E MX bikes. Start em young and they’re likely to continue evolving MX in ways we never imagined.

[AMS.]

I am getting 30+ min on a single charge. Loamy conditions, A rider. All moto.
I raced Jeff on my Varg in April at BillaDilla in TX. He went 1-1 and I was able to go 2-2. I started next to him both moto’s.

[marvelaturraz]

I dedicated my life to MX from childhood until around age 21, but I had no backing and without serious money, you just can't compete to win at the pro level.
Then, after years of not riding, I went to ride again at a track in So Cal on a regular practice day, and Jeff Emig was there.
He was amazing, as one would expect, but what blew me away till this day was what I witnessed him do in an area away from the track. There were big piles of dirt in a large lot, and he just putted around for a sec then blitzed one, and he sailed from one end of the place clear across to the other, landing on the downside of another massive pile. But here's the thing: As a pro myself, I would never have even imagined that was possible, as the space between the piles was so wide that you could easily fit a large house and with some yard space around it between those piles. AND HE WOULD HAVE CLEARED THE HOUSE EVEN IF IT WERE TWO STORIES AND HAD A STEEP ROOF!!
I almost crapped myself when he did that. I still can't get over it.
Then I saw him sitting in the back of his box van and he had this look of just being a cool guy, unassuming, and that you could approach him and talk to him. He totally looked like a regular, friendly person. I couldn't approach though, unfortunately, because to me, I was so overwhelmed at witnessing the level of skill he possesses, that basically to me he is a god on a motorcycle. Even right now, as I recall seeing him do that jump, my mind is short circuiting. Words cannot express how incredible that actually was.

[marksfarmcraft]

Sound is a HUGE deal in MY opinion. You are 100% correct in that conventional bikes are very loud and disruptive when close to neighborhoods. Electric bikes would totally change that.
Thanks for the video!

[mrjacktraeger]

Finally somebody who actually gives an honest opinion on this thing and doesn't just simp cuz they being paid, would expect no less from an OG like emig. Personally I think these things are really cool but tbh they scare me a lot and don't want them anywhere near the pro circuit. The idea of them just being something different to a combustion engine I love, my fear is with this whole push to make everything electric. I'm afraid that there won't be any precautions taken and just like how 4strokes killed 2 virtually overnight, my fear is that with them getting better, more people having them, and finally the global push to go electric that itll start with with certain practice tracks being electric only, then the tracks that will allow both the guys on gas bikes will become the minority and with dropping sales and outside powers putting pressure on track owners to either go only electric or shut down just for the fringe group who like to ride gas they'll have no choice. I hope I'm really wrong on this and that theyll just be there own thing within a culture of gas bikes but with the world we live in today & and seeing how fast things can change within just a few years I'm weary. I don't ever wanna see the day where yami Honda etc are no longer in the business of off-road racing combustion engines for motorcycles.

[adambagwell]

Don't care about anything else, Jeff Emig was my favorite rider in 1996 or 1997. Glad to see him on a bike again!

[CoolWatts]

Awesome to see Jeff's reactions to the Varg! I grew up riding a YZ80 and a YZ250, and watching and looking up to him, McGrath, RC, Stewart, and even Hurricane Hannah.

Recently, I built a 29kW Surron and am getting back into MX a bit. So fun. And I was riding my Surron at a small forest track in the middle of nowhere, in Ukraine, and a guy showed up with a Varg! Probably the only one in Ukraine. Was so cool.

[markgreenough]

That’s a OG Jeff Emig wow he and Jeff Ward were my all time favorites.
Jeff and I are the same age and he’s just a legend in motocross !!
This video should be interesting to watch knowing what he rode to the Varg

[junehp]

That was the most in depth explanation of the feeling of this bike vs. Gas powered....I feel as if I already rode a stark varg or similar e-bike....awesome video! Thanks

[BULLION]

My brother got one yesterday, we rode it so much it was a blast ! I have been on dirtbikes since 1994 and this is a new level of awesome, nothing else is even close . Also the crawl mode is awesome for loading in the truck when your done ... we ran most the day at 40 hp and it was epic, did some speed runs on 80 hp and it is ridiculous fast .

[morley]

Yeah, that's only your opinion...but it's an educated, experienced, thoughtfully articulated opinion and I thank you for sharing it.

[kentnicholls]

I have the 60 hp version that I am using as a trail bike rather than an MXer. Has an 18" rear wheel, kickstand, and hand guards. With that use and in one of the lower modes the range is about 60 miles. For longer rides I use my gas bike. As Jeff said, it does take some getting used to. But, I think the learning curve is worth it. It's really nice to ride something quiet. In real rocky technical areas being able to hear the rear tire and when it is about break loose is a real advantage. Great and very fair reviewJeff- Thanks!

[chucktrotter]

7.2.24 Great review Fro. Thanks for taking the time to do the review.

[onefishfrank]

Legend! Very professionally produced and interesting, thank you.

[PTRRanger]

Emig has, and will always be my fav rider. When I was a kid in the 90s, I would watch Supercross and Motorcross tapes my dad recorded of VHS from cable.

It was when he and McGrath were at their top and battle for championships year and year.

I grew up in Menifee, a few miles from McGraths house in Murrieta. He had a track at his house next to the freeway and they would film videos there with helicopters all the time.

Emig is in Riverside and used to pass by his house going to my dad’s.

I fractured my wrist riding in middle school and saw Emig at the London Bridge Resorts restaurant in Havasu one day and had him sign it. I still have that cast like 30 years later.

He will always be the champ in my mind. He would be the one famous person that I would love to just hangout with and spend the day with just bsing and doing nothing.

[tomjackson]

Really need alternatives to a gas generator… I wonder if tracks will supply electric charge points in the future? Could easily charge a small fee to the riders in order to recoup the setup costs.

Another alternative is charging the Stark directly from an electric vehicle. Most EVs have this feature as standard. I’m pretty sure the Stark has around a 6KwH battery and most EVs are 70-100KwH. You could charge multiple times and only sacrifice 10-20% of your vehicles range.

[landlockedviking]

Man that's a blast from the past... think I still have a couple mx mags that I use to pour over as a teen with his name all over the place.

[cwg]

Just seems counter productive you would almost need 2 bikes just so you can switch in between motos, and what makes it funnier is that they are using a gas generator to charge their electric bike I’ll stick with my 4 stroke 😂

[oxxikko]

Jeff Emig was my favorite rider and hero back in his heyday when I was a teenage moto head.

[Godzi]

Stark put a clutch to it so you can control the power smoother and will be awesome