I love this bike, but already have problems...

[Theo]

Have you tried a firmware update? Not sure if it is the same on ex as mx but might be worth a try. On the MX you depress the mode buttons at the same time for 15 or so seconds.

The idea is good, but as far as I know the update can't be forced by the user. There should either be a flashing magenta light instead of the usual green light indicating an update or/and there should be a message on the phone.

 

[Chaconne]

They've been doing the bait and switch since they announced that they were taking pre-order NON-refundable deposits. They advertised the bike as 240 lbs, custom power maps, some other stuff that did not happen, I can't remember all the details. Bike is finally produced and being sold, its 265 lbs. 265 lbs! A porker. No custom power maps, but you can pay a subscription for that at some undetermined time in the future.

I did not follow through with the order, but they kept my $100 deposit despite my telling them I was due it back since the bike produced was not the bike I put a deposit down for. The very definition of bait and switch.

Now the bikes are having issues right and left, latest is you have to bring the bikes to a Stark dealership for service and it sounds like many of the dealerships are not interested in servicing them. And the "24/7 customer service", a total joke. And don't forget the early delivery problems where people were jumping the line, then dealers were getting allotments of bikes before customers who had ordered way before them. That was unbelievable.

I was a big fan of Stark for a long time, really wanted them to succeed. Now, so glad I did not buy one, what a cluster.

For all of you owners, I hope your bikes are working out, and for those with issues, I hope they all get resolved soon.

For now I'm still waiting for that 240 lb high quality, high performance dirt bike with customizable maps, quick swap batteries, good range, etc. Don't see anything on the horizon at the moment unfortunately.

Well it can't get your 100.00 back, but for what its worth, I don't think you should take with more than a grain of salt postings on the internet either.

I have owned 2 Starks now and I also have a 2020 KTM 300 TPI and a 2015 WR450F and the Stark is comparable in quality and reliability to those in my experience if not better. And I owned YZFs from 2002-2014 and those bikes were way more problematic than Stark as far as my use goes. I owned many Zukes before that, I guarantee you that many loyal Zuke owners were unwilling to take first year updates on those since the 80s. And Zuke was no new comer even then.

It is not to say that there are not issues, there are. But so far most of the evidence is coming from web postings which is not evidence at all. Just look at KTMs behavior with the 790/990 cam issues. Or the 2000s Honda CRF valve issues. Or Harley...jeez. Those are bad. Not that it is an excuse, Stark is about the same or maybe a little better than most other motorcycle OEMs that I am familiar with.

Did Stark oversell their capabilities? Yes. Like most startups the hype was mostly for the investors. But they have done pretty well and the bikes are as good if not better than many of us expected. I don't even really ride my gas bikes anymore... I even smile when I crawl my Stark onto my carrier, try doing that with a 2015 WRF450.

 

[Chaconne]

The idea is good, but as far as I know the update can't be forced by the user. There should either be a flashing magenta light instead of the usual green light indicating an update or/and there should be a message on the phone.

You could force it at least on the MX, it might reload the same version which may help if there was corruption. Maybe they changed that on the EX?

Corruption can sometimes be caused by a power hiccup or a temporary condition like water invasion. I would definitely try to reflash it if possible.

Also dirt invasion to the power switch can cause weird behavior. I submerged my bars in deep mud and it invaded the switch and it would force me to do updates which I didn't want to wait for 10 miles from my car by myself.