Stark actually profitable... kinda
- Thread starter happyinmotion
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- Netherlands
For comparison. We have 12 Zero ''dealers'' (of wich 8 only X-Line dealers and i know 3 of those don't have Zero's at the shop) in the Netherlands vs 5 for Stark. However all those 5 Stark dealers have Starks in the shop.
That makes them roughly the same size in dealer pressence.
For comparison:
- Honda has 3 Offroad dealers
- Suzuki has 4 Offroad dealers
- Kawasaki has 5 Offroad dealers
- Yamaha has 6 Offroad dealers
That makes them pretty much in line with the Japanese. Although in numbers we can see at the tracks they outsell all of those except for maybe Yamaha.
That makes them roughly the same size in dealer pressence.
For comparison:
- Honda has 3 Offroad dealers
- Suzuki has 4 Offroad dealers
- Kawasaki has 5 Offroad dealers
- Yamaha has 6 Offroad dealers
That makes them pretty much in line with the Japanese. Although in numbers we can see at the tracks they outsell all of those except for maybe Yamaha.
AnthonyZ
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- Bay Area, CA
Thanks for writing this up. This is interesting.
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I hope their IPO to goes well. Stark Future surely does put a lot of effort into external marketing to new customers in order to keep up the sales and sustain growth. Not so much marketing to the existing customers though. I hope this changes and they finally start sending meaningful software updates and new features and start delighting their existing customers more like Tesla does and less like Fisker/Faraday did.
I am still waiting for the promised tunable traction control, tunable virtual flywheel, and tunable throttle features. My Stark is almost two years old, almost out of warranty, but it hasn't had any new features since I bought it other than the walking mode that I only use when pressure washing it. I am fighting local dusty hardpack tracks here, spinning the wheels with no grip, and the only tools that have to change that are the suspension clickers. And the bike just spins the rear wheel like a crazy leaned-out two-stroke that is about to throw a piston. Where are the jets on that Stark carburetor?
I am still waiting for the promised tunable traction control, tunable virtual flywheel, and tunable throttle features. My Stark is almost two years old, almost out of warranty, but it hasn't had any new features since I bought it other than the walking mode that I only use when pressure washing it. I am fighting local dusty hardpack tracks here, spinning the wheels with no grip, and the only tools that have to change that are the suspension clickers. And the bike just spins the rear wheel like a crazy leaned-out two-stroke that is about to throw a piston. Where are the jets on that Stark carburetor?
AL_V
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- Canton, Ohio
Lower your HP setting, and roll the throttle on a bit slower. I run a higher hp setting than a lot of people (52), but I only crack the throttle very slightly most of the time.
The newer models have the tunable throttle response, but you have to pay a monthly subscription to access it.
As early adopters, we did get shafted out of several features, that will now almost certainly never arrive, AND the bike is more than 20 lbs over the original promised weight.
BUT I still love the bike, and have actually lost interest in those tuning features we got shafted out of.
If I could only get one of the original promises granted, it would be the lighter weight.
Along with the walking mode we got reverse, which was never promised in the beginning, but is incredibly handy in the enduro/hard enduro world.
We are being left behind, so, I'm afraid if the rest of those tuning features ever become available, it will only be on the newer models with the Arkenstone phone.
Chaconne
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What are you using for tires? That would be where I would start. And if you plan on keeping your bike perhaps going to a suspension tuner(if you haven't already) and modifying it. Clickers are usually not enough to solve real problems with issues like traction. And like @AL_V says some technique changes might help too. I really like the walk and reverse --loading and storing my bike have been greatly enhanced and many difficult HE situations are been solved without a bike drop, a sore back, or worse (say you miss a single track mud line and end up entangled in a massive barb wire like brier patch on a 90 degree 90% humidity day in full gear
reverse is like a gift from god at that point).My guess is the designers know that features like traction control, tunable flywheel, and tunable throttle don't really make that big a difference and those of us who have a year or two of experience on the bike would be able to readily tell that it wasn't worth the subscription fee. It is just software after all and would be an easy way to add profit if they felt it would be good and sell-able. New owners are a little different and will most likely spend on every possible feature as most who would buy a new bike will get every possible add on.
Personally I, as a slow MX rider, think that the throttle reponse of the Varg set at 60 HP makes it little controllable when exiting from tight corners. Before the Varg I used a YZ250 whose power delivery felt less linear with a turbo-like effect at a certain point (I think when the powervalve opened), but when it oversteered it was more controllable; the Varg tends to spin out violently, that's why I usually keep it at not more than roughly 50 HP. I'd love to try custom maps to manage that.
Other people who tried it reported the same.
Other people who tried it reported the same.
