Varg EX has different sound to Varg MX. EX howls more and is significantly louder

Theo · Jul 21, 2025

FYR said:
On my SXV 550 [...] all I do is pull in the clutch and blip the throttle a few times

Thank you for playing high level music without asking for a ticket.
When I came home from high school, after I got off the bus, sometimes a guy passed by with an SXV. I paused the CD player, listened to the engine and then, when I couldn't hear it anymore, pressed the play button again.

Sorry for the off topic. Unlike many petroheads, I don't have problems enjoying vehicles with powerplants different from mine.

FYR · Jul 21, 2025

That little girl does a have an amazing sound. Sorry if her siblings bothered you.

Erwin P · Jul 21, 2025

That's a bike that happens when you give passionate mediterranians a blanco cheque and tell them to have a good time.

A bit like the Stark and i love the thing.

Chaconne · Jul 23, 2025

Erwin P said:
That's a bike that happens when you give passionate mediterranians a blanco cheque and tell them to have a good time.

A bit like the Stark and i love the thing.

Haha I think the results in building a place like Naxos with a blanco cheque work out better though.

When my uncle passed away one of my aunts who was tasked with cleaning up his place complained that there were old metal part strewn all over his backyard including a rusted out old motorcycle wheel. I laughed to myself and thought fucking Bultaco. (I lived with my uncle in the 80s and he loved European dirtbikes he let me use his Pursang for a while -I worked on it more than I rode it).
:ricky:

Jake · Jul 25, 2025

After reading these posts, I rode my EX and MX side by side with a buddy. while the note is slightly different, volume is not. I have noticed a difference between the gen 1 and gen 2 MX, not sure why.

AbnormalWrench · Jul 25, 2025

I was thinking about this post while riding my EX the other day. I definitely notice the gear whine is louder with regen/decel. I also notice the noise changes depending on temperature. For example, on a 80 degree day, cruising at 30 mph, I get an annoying whine. But it is only at that speed when cruising. The noise isn't there when it is 60 degrees. On the freeway, there is pretty much no noise, what little is there is drowned out by wind noise. (I ride with street tires, so no loud knobbies there).
When I'm trail riding, decel is a bit loud.

It is interesting riding it back to back with my Zero. The Zero has no gear reduction, so no gear whine, but has a really loud chain drive. So at lower speeds, the Zero is much quieter than the EX. But on the freeway, it flips. The Zero is way louder than the EX.

Chaconne · Jul 26, 2025

I notice slightly more noise on my MX with the new recommendation for chain slack (~2" at the slider).

Also, as a side note, I do a lot of slow gnarl riding with my Varg and the new level of chain slack does slightly impact the throttle response at low speeds.

Bernardo · Jul 29, 2025

Mounted a new chain due to sumo conversion.
A chain without X-Rings or O-rings.
Seems to be quieter at onroad use.

Read an diploma theses on chaindrives.
They mention where and when noise is produces between chains and sprokets.

So i'm gonna print a 3d cover for the front sproket and equip it with damping material to kill parts of the noise on the source.
Lets see...

Bernardo · Aug 4, 2025

The work is done.
Constructed and attached an 3d printed cover for the front sproket.
Works well and has two effects.

1. the shoelace are safe - and so is the driver
2. noise reduction

The soundlevel drops from 105.9db(A) to 101.3db(A).
The difference of -4.6dB reduces the SoundPressure to about a fourth.

in accoustics there are endless parameter till you end up
with the personal perception of "loud".
depending on frequency, hullcurve, waveform, ...
so i cant exactly tell the benefits.

Situation:
* mic in the same position, close to the sprocket
* acc. to 40km/h (tried to not come into the engine- howling - speed)
* dec. to 0 with 30% regen
* serveral times

Its impossible to do a clinical measurement in this way.
The dB-loose is somwhere between 3 and 5 dB.
On the testride afterwards i could hear the difference-and it sounds better.

The STL PrintFile can be found under ...
Stark Varg 3d Files

Greez

B.

FYR · Aug 4, 2025

Bernardo said:
The work is done.
Constructed and attached an 3d printed cover for the front sproket.
Works well and has two effects.

1. the shoelace are safe - and so is the driver
2. noise reduction

The soundlevel drops from 105.9db(A) to 101.3db(A).
The difference of -4.6dB reduces the SoundPressure to about a fourth.

in accoustics there are endless parameter till you end up
with the personal perception of "loud".
depending on frequency, hullcurve, waveform, ...
so i cant exactly tell the benefits.

Situation:
* mic in the same position, close to the sprocket
* acc. to 40km/h (tried to not come into the engine- howling - speed)
* dec. to 0 with 30% regen
* serveral times

Its impossible to do a clinical measurement in this way.
The dB-loose is somwhere between 3 and 5 dB.
On the testride afterwards i could hear the difference-and it sounds better.

The STL PrintFile can be found under ...
Stark Varg 3d Files

View attachment 14313

View attachment 14314

View attachment 14315

View attachment 14316

Greez

B.

Impressive bit of work - kudos! What is the printing media/material?

Bernardo · Aug 5, 2025

the material is SUNLU(R) ABS LIKE resin.
printed on an anycubic photon with SLA technology
and 50um resolution.

Brokein2 · Aug 12, 2025

Bernardo said:
the material is SUNLU(R) ABS LIKE resin.
printed on an anycubic photon with SLA technology
and 50um resolution.

Thank you for the work you have done...
I was changing front sprockets today and noticed the stock sprocket cover/guard is almost a tuning fork as it rings loudly when even flicked with a finger. Got me to thinking that it could be responsible for some of the noise if it is vibrating and resonating while we are riding. I then created and attached a flat HDPE cover that is attached to the front/middle and back end of the cover (turns out just like you did) and it stops the ability for it to ring anymore. So far the bike is much quieter....quiet enough even my wife noticed the reduction.

Bernardo · Aug 13, 2025

Oh - i didn't think this way.
As you mention the noisereduction might also be the reduction of vibration in parts of the engine.
Not just shielding the source chain and sproket.

I saw a video these days where the stark powertrain is beeing disassembled.
PowerTrain
The guy says, and one can see, "...the rest of the case is hollow...", also the space of the outputshaft.

One of my hobbies is to build loudspeaker.
And now it starts ringing in da brain...
Loudspeaker are basically well defined hollow spaces surrounded by sealed housings and a source of "noise".
Thats what we've in the powertrain.

This circumstance may be reponsible for certain strong resonances.
Dont know if stark ever looked at the powertrain as a sound engineer would do.

But what can be done now?
... bring in some damping material to prevent air from moving ...
... attach damping material (bitumen usually used in vehicles) on the walls ...
... ask STARK if they payed attention to it ...

Any ideas?

B.

RCard42 · Aug 13, 2025

Bernardo said:
The work is done.
Constructed and attached an 3d printed cover for the front sproket.
Works well and has two effects.

1. the shoelace are safe - and so is the driver
2. noise reduction

The soundlevel drops from 105.9db(A) to 101.3db(A).
The difference of -4.6dB reduces the SoundPressure to about a fourth.

in accoustics there are endless parameter till you end up
with the personal perception of "loud".
depending on frequency, hullcurve, waveform, ...
so i cant exactly tell the benefits.

Situation:
* mic in the same position, close to the sprocket
* acc. to 40km/h (tried to not come into the engine- howling - speed)
* dec. to 0 with 30% regen
* serveral times

Its impossible to do a clinical measurement in this way.
The dB-loose is somwhere between 3 and 5 dB.
On the testride afterwards i could hear the difference-and it sounds better.

The STL PrintFile can be found under ...
Stark Varg 3d Files

View attachment 14313

View attachment 14314

View attachment 14315

View attachment 14316

Greez

B.

That's brilliant. I am amazed that people can now do this at home on their own equipment at a reasonable cost. If only I was smarter and maybe 20 years younger. Kudos to you.

rs911 · Aug 13, 2025

Bernardo said:
Oh - i didn't think this way.
As you mention the noisereduction might also be the reduction of vibration in parts of the engine.
Not just shielding the source chain and sproket.

I saw a video these days where the stark powertrain is beeing disassembled.
PowerTrain
The guy says, and one can see, "...the rest of the case is hollow...", also the space of the outputshaft.

One of my hobbies is to build loudspeaker.
And now it starts ringing in da brain...
Loudspeaker are basically well defined hollow spaces surrounded by sealed housings and a source of "noise".
Thats what we've in the powertrain.

This circumstance may be reponsible for certain strong resonances.
Dont know if stark ever looked at the powertrain as a sound engineer would do.

But what can be done now?
... bring in some damping material to prevent air from moving ...
... attach damping material (bitumen usually used in vehicles) on the walls ...
... ask STARK if they payed attention to it ...

Any ideas?

B.

You should talk to Anton about that. He always responded to my constructive remarks and questions on Instagram.
I'll definitely make something for the sprocket cover

Bernardo · Aug 14, 2025

RCard42 said:
That's brilliant. I am amazed that people can now do this at home on their own equipment at a reasonable cost. If only I was smarter and maybe 20 years younger. Kudos to you.

maybe we‘re about the same age… around 50

Bernardo · Aug 14, 2025

rs911 said:
You should talk to Anton about that. He always responded to my constructive remarks and questions on Instagram.
I'll definitely make something for the sprocket cover

thanx for the information.
the thing is - i‘ve no insta account. life is demanding. so i try to keep my fingers off social media.
but i love smart forum

rs911 · Aug 14, 2025

I understand, if you want I can share it to him

Bernardo · Tuesday at 2:39 AM

Yes please - why not.

Johnny Depp · Tuesday at 7:37 AM

Anybody check to see if the primary gears are cut differently on the 2 models? I don't know what's inside.

straight-cut gears (spur gears) are favored for their efficiency and strength in high-performance applications, while helical gears are preferred for their quieter operation and smoother engagement in everyday riding conditions

Wondering about aftermarket choices with different taller ratio for Supermoto? Is there enough room for alternate gearing?

Varg EX has different sound to Varg MX. EX howls more and is significantly louder

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