Owner's Review I Finally got my Stark…Pros and Cons

[AL_V]

This is my biggest complaint about the Stark. Im 175 pounds without gear, medium suspension, and It's VERY HARD to loft the front end. I love wheeling through whoop sections, or lofting through puddles and obstacels etc... but I have to yank really hard to get it up at all. My Alta on the other hand would loft VERY EASY even in Map 1. It's like a night and day difference. Compared to the Alta on stock suspension this thing not as flickable or responsive. I remember having this same thought one time when I rode my friends Yamaha 450 with the KYB suspension as compared to my 450sxf which also lofts extremely easily. That yamaha felt like it was glued to the ground. My buddy got off my KTM and was like, holy crap your front end feels so light! I'm at the point where I'd rather ride my 450 for the fun/violence factor.

Anyway, I have the 14t front sprocket on the Stark, will switching to a 13t help? Is there enough chain adjustment to keep the same chain? Will I lose range? And yeah, it's January 2025 and still no throttle sensitivity adjustments...

What's your max HP setting?
It's a lot easier to wheelie with a higher hp setting.
Until we get the throttle curve adjustment, you need at least one map set to a high hp to use for easier wheelies.

 

[synics]

Well that's just dumb, because the Alta can do it in any map. I don't want to always have to ride it around in 60hp mode wasting battery if I don't have to.

 

[AL_V]

Well that's just dumb, because the Alta can do it in any map. I don't want to always have to ride it around in 60hp mode wasting battery if I don't have to.

Like I said, until we get the promised power curve, you can set another map for wheelieing.
A larger rear sprocket might help, my bike came with 13-47 (18" rear wheel).
But I don't think riding with the max up high uses more battery unless you are cranking the throttle up near your limit.
I have my max set at 52hp and I ride that way almost all the time (slow technical single track).
I am usually barely opening the throttle, but when I need/want to lift the front wheel, it's doable, still not quite like having a clutch (which I don't think is necessary).
After all this, I am going to email support and ask about the throttle curve, since they are still advertising it for all their bikes.
I suggest everyone emails support, so they know there's a lot of interest in it.

 

[Chadx]

I typically ride single track in about 35hp. 50" trails and up in 45hp. 45hp lifts the front no problem at all. 35hp isn't too bad. Just need to roll throttle way further, but on the single track, I don't want it to lift too easy.

If I need it for a section, a quick change to a different setting then back afterwards. Not really different than shifting for a section.

But everyone's style, body english, terrain, and preferences are different. I don't like a light front end. I like it planted and to only lift when I want it to, but I ride the mountains and so a lot of steeps where a light front is detrimental. Some like super light, playful front ends, though.

 

[synics]

Yeah, thing is I'm a heavy throttle user, riding at practically race pace in the sand all the time, so riding it in 60hp mode for me will definitely kill the battery faster than in 40hp mode. I generally start at close to 100% and am down to 20% in 30 minutes.