NEW! STARK VARG EX is here!

[Beagle]

A little transparency on reasons for delay would be appreciated. If I was in an industry where months of delay was considered normal, then I would adjust my estimates to customers to be more realistic. I'd rather deliver ahead of schedule than continually behind.

Right, under promise and over deliver is the way.

Especially after the delays in delivering the Varg that were easier to explain while building a factory then setting up production line from scratch.

 

[DaveAusNor]

Got this email this morning with some vague information about the delay:

I hope this email finds you well.

Thank you for your patience and for reaching out with your concerns regarding the delivery of your Stark VARG EX. We understand the frustration that a delay can cause, especially when eagerly awaiting something as significant as your new bike. I want to provide you with some insight into the reasons behind the delay:

At Stark Future, our commitment to delivering top-quality products sometimes requires additional time to ensure that everything is up to our high standards. Specifically, a few key parts took longer than expected to arrive due to global shipping delays, which has impacted our production timeline. Moreover, as we scale our production to meet demand, we are also intensifying our quality checks. Our commitment is to ensure that despite the ramp-up, every bike that leaves our facility meets the highest standards of quality, guaranteeing that you receive the best product possible.

Additionally, bureaucratic approvals are affecting delivery times as some regions take longer to process shipments than others. We are in constant communication with local authorities to expedite these approvals. Please be assured that we are doing everything within our power to navigate these external regulatory hurdles and minimize any delays.

We are focused on getting your bike to you as quickly as possible while maintaining the quality you expect from us. We will keep you updated on the progress of your order and inform you as soon as it is ready for shipment.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Best regards,
Stark Future Team

 

[mike61]

Very good information!

Some other difficulties to manufacture offroad bikes, actually you can see in the KTM case!
Soon there will be nothing - no KTM/Husky/GASGAS. An era has finished!

 

[Bosch]

On 5th Feb I received this email:

We’ve got some incredible news to share— your VARG EX has officially entered production!
This marks a huge milestone as your bike is one step closer to becoming a reality. Our production team is working meticulously to bring you the future of enduro riding to your door.
We understand how excited you are to receive your bike, and while we’re doing everything possible to get it to you, we want to ensure that the production process meets the highest quality standards.
This dedication means a slight adjustment in delivery timing. Your updated expected delivery date (dd/mm/yy) is the 4/4/25.
Rest assured, this extra attention will guarantee that the bike you receive is nothing short of perfect.

When I questioned the reasons, I received this email:

Thank you for your patience and for reaching out with your concerns regarding the delivery of your Stark VARG EX. We understand the frustration that a delay can cause, especially when eagerly awaiting something as significant as your new bike. I want to provide you with some insight into the reasons behind the delay:
At Stark Future, our commitment to delivering top-quality products sometimes requires additional time to ensure that everything is up to our high standards. Specifically, a few key parts took longer than expected to arrive due to global shipping delays, which has impacted our production timeline. More over, as we scale our production to meet demand, we are also intensifying our quality checks. Our commitment is to ensure that despite the ramp-up, every bike that leaves our facility meets the highest standards of quality, guaranteeing that you receive the best product possible.
We are focused on getting your bike to you as quickly as possible while maintaining the quality you expect from us. We will keep you updated on the progress of your order and inform you as soon as it is ready for shipment.

I then received this update on 28th Feb:

Your VARG EX is almost through the production line.
Next, it will undergo quality checks before being packed
Last Milestone: Shipping
We’re already preparing shipments from our factory in Spain and will start sending VARGs next week.
The updated delivery date (dd/mm/yy) for your region and your order is the 29/4/25.
In a few weeks, you'll receive an email once your VARG has shipped from our factory. A few days later, the hauler will contact you to coordinate the delivery time and date with you personally.

My status on the Stark website is:


Note the Line Status is still - Not Started, but as per email "Almost through the production line".

This is poor communication, no excuses.
If Stark Future are true to their word, we should start seeing bikes being shipped this week.
At least this would show they have overcome their supply chain and technical issues....

It will be interesting to see what countries and regions receive the EX first.
I am still excited to be an early adopter of the EX, but would like Stark Future to be up front and honest on the simple things and not contradict themselves.

 

[Chaconne]

Right, under promise and over deliver is the way.

Especially after the delays in delivering the Varg that were easier to explain while building a factory then setting up production line from scratch.

Unfortunately that works for engineering or project management not sales. End sales is never about under promising it is about over promising. They know folks are waiting, psyched to get their bikes, and the deposit game lines it all up.

 

[Beagle]

Unfortunately that works for engineering or project management not sales. End sales is never about under promising it is about over promising. They know folks are waiting, psyched to get their bikes, and the deposit game lines it all up.

I understand the preorder for the Varg MX made a lot of sense. I am not against DTC either.
But now that they have hundreds of dealers, that they have a production line running, why don't they just open orders once they already have their first batches ready to go (to dealers and customers)?

 

[AL_V]

I understand the preorder for the Varg MX made a lot of sense. I am not against DTC either.
But now that they have hundreds of dealers, that they have a production line running, why don't they just open orders once they already have their first batches ready to go (to dealers and customers)?

The prepay method has many advantages for them.
It tells them how many components to order, takes the financial pressure off, looks good to investors.
Helps determine if they need to expand the production capabilities, etc, etc

 

[SilverSurfer]

Posts like this make me laugh. Wait until "influencers" start getting bikes before you do. I was order ~#45 for the original bike and I received the email my bike was ready to ship in Feb 2024...this is part of the marketing game. I got my bike in July 2024 and could not be happier with the bike. Was it delayed? yep. Did it piss me off that certain 'influencers' got TWO bikes 3 weeks after learning about the bike and I was still waiting? sure. Did it make the experience overall just suck? yep. BUT once I rode it i was hooked. All of the delays were worth it.
No sense in getting frustrated because it will not do you any good. Just sit back, wait for your bike and ride something else until then. Then post a FOR SALE ad because once you do, your other bike will collect dust.

 

[SilverSurfer]

And as someone that has an 80hp MX version, when I ordered my EX version I also ordered 80hp. Although the $1000 upgrade to the MX is WORTHLESS for the average joe for anything other than bragging rights (and $1000 saved is $1000 for riding gear), 80hp on the street is a whole different story. Early adopters are used to the "sit back and just relax" mindset. It will serve you well.

 

[markanddona]

Very good information!

Some other difficulties to manufacture offroad bikes, actually you can see in the KTM case!
Soon there will be nothing - no KTM/Husky/GASGAS. An era has finished!

Greed

 

[DaveAusNor]

Can't help but feel a sour taste after seeing Stark release a clothing line.
Good on them for expanding the business and all, but having their focus elsewhere as pre-orders get pushed back feels disappointing.

 

[Beagle]

Can't help but feel a sour taste after seeing Stark release a clothing line.
Good on them for expanding the business and all, but having their focus elsewhere as pre-orders get pushed back feels disappointing.

Very disappointed.
I was expecting the Anton Wass turtleneck limited edition.

 

[Bosch]

If you order a hoodie today and pay full price, you may get a turtleneck in 6 months

 

[SilverSurfer]

Can't help but feel a sour taste after seeing Stark release a clothing line.
Good on them for expanding the business and all, but having their focus elsewhere as pre-orders get pushed back feels disappointing.

The focus by brand development and marketing does not diminish the focus on production. Disappointment? Wait until you start seeing dozens of videos on YouTube of people getting new bikes and yours is still "in production" lol

 

[DaveAusNor]

The focus by brand development and marketing does not diminish the focus on production. Disappointment? Wait until you start seeing dozens of videos on YouTube of people getting new bikes and yours is still "in production" lol

I'm not sure I agree with you. They are obviously having supply chain issues on the bike side of the business, having to juggle an additional clothing supply chain adds an additional layer of complexity. In one of their marketing videos for the clothing launch they even talk about how hard it's been the last 4 years to launch the clothing line. If the same people focused on that project we're focused on the bike supply chain, there would be a difference.

 

[UKLee]

The focus by brand development and marketing does not diminish the focus on production. Disappointment? Wait until you start seeing dozens of videos on YouTube of people getting new bikes and yours is still "in production" lol

Nothing compared to had the bike for 17 months and still got a big list of issues and un delivered features stark are only interested in sweeping under the carpet.
Stark's answers to buttons sticking, phone falling out and adjustable power curve.

"The sticking buttons have to be cleaned from the inside of the switch with contact cleaner, also being carefull with the silicone membrane when reinstalling.
The adjustable power curve is under development stages.
The phone holder if not damaged and clipped in place properly the phone does not fall out while riding. If the mechanism is damaged or the phone hasn't been clipped in properly then this scenario can occur."

Got plenty of enduro bikes with start/kill buttons and buttons on the clocks/display and never had an issue with any of them, why can stark not manage this? stark seem to think stripping it down and cleaning it out is part of the service required. I bought this partly because less service required, I do not want to be messing inside the electrics of the bike.

Adjustable power curve is "under development stages" not sure you EX owners will be seeing that then.

Checked phone holder many times and checked the phone is correctly installed but it still falls out.

Plenty of promises when selling there bikes very different once they have your money.

 

[Beagle]

Nothing compared to had the bike for 17 months and still got a big list of issues and un delivered features stark are only interested in sweeping under the carpet.
Stark's answers to buttons sticking, phone falling out and adjustable power curve.

Quite funny that the very things you mention have supposedly been corrected or implemented on the EX.

 

[UKLee]

Quite funny that the very things you mention have supposedly been corrected or implemented on the EX.

"supposedly" No one will know until they have paid for it in full and waited a lot longer than promised.

 

[Chaconne]

I understand the preorder for the Varg MX made a lot of sense. I am not against DTC either.
But now that they have hundreds of dealers, that they have a production line running, why don't they just open orders once they already have their first batches ready to go (to dealers and customers)?

That is a good question. I have no idea but software/firmware bugs would be my first guess. My entire career has been about delivering software/firmware/hardware on the engineering side. And it has been rare for us to ever hit the targets the sales and marketing guys promised customers. Just sayin.

 

[Chaconne]

Nothing compared to had the bike for 17 months and still got a big list of issues and un delivered features stark are only interested in sweeping under the carpet.
Stark's answers to buttons sticking, phone falling out and adjustable power curve.

"The sticking buttons have to be cleaned from the inside of the switch with contact cleaner, also being carefull with the silicone membrane when reinstalling.
The adjustable power curve is under development stages.
The phone holder if not damaged and clipped in place properly the phone does not fall out while riding. If the mechanism is damaged or the phone hasn't been clipped in properly then this scenario can occur."

Got plenty of enduro bikes with start/kill buttons and buttons on the clocks/display and never had an issue with any of them, why can stark not manage this? stark seem to think stripping it down and cleaning it out is part of the service required. I bought this partly because less service required, I do not want to be messing inside the electrics of the bike.

Adjustable power curve is "under development stages" not sure you EX owners will be seeing that then.

Checked phone holder many times and checked the phone is correctly installed but it still falls out.

Plenty of promises when selling there bikes very different once they have your money.

You are right about the buttons for sure. Stark should have bought those directly from Chinese manufacturers like the Japanese do. Farming stuff out to European subcontractors must be part of their tax deal or something. A lot of the parts on Stark and KTM(and friends) suffer from this EU buy local shit too. My 2014 WR450 has better buttons.

Honestly though, outside of those nits and the tire tubes my bike has been rock solid. And mostly way better than my 2020 KTM 300 2T. Crushes it really. Asian stuff is generally much better than Euro stuff when it comes to manufacturing. Sorry just is. But the core idea and getting there first is what European and American companies are good at. And I wasn't waiting 4 more years (or 10) for Yamaha et al to get off the pot --that is the price we paid for innovation.

For example when I bought the KTM I wanted injected 2T it was the only game in town and it wasn't cheap and it has Euro warts too, but the enjoyment in riding that for 4 years before I got my Stark was worth it.