Owner's Review Stark EX review from a slightly disabled

[rs911]

Hi all,

It's been 6 weeks since I have my EX, yes I know, I'm one of the lucky ones but France is really close to Spain and I'm half Spanish



To give some context for me, I used to be pro ICE, but in February 2023 I had a very bad crash in MX on a 450 CRF 2021 (mostly because the bike was too powerful for my skills and physical condition at that time).
I broke my spine, had two surgeries (T12 arthrodesis), had to relearn how to walk again because I couldn't move my legs after the crash...
I still have a slight paralysis of the left foot (I can't lift up my foot) and above all neuropathic pains 24/24.
More than 1 year of convalescence, it wasn't easy, but it's behind me now...




I first rode on a bike again late 2024 on my old man's 300 xtrainer and quite quickly I realised I couldn't stand the vibrations that numbed my legs (neuropathic pain) to the point I couldn’t feel them and hold the bike.
The shifting was a bit complicated too, but I managed it...
Later I tried a 300 exc tpi, it was a bit better but still very disturbing, I was very close to buying a 300 tbi until Stark announced the EX the 10th of December.
After watching the video, talking to my friends and my old man, I decided to preorder 2 hours later despite them saying I should wait...

The wait was so long. I was so eager to ride it.
I received it on March 31st and have really been riding it for the last 3 weeks as I still had a knee injury when I received it.
Mostly on the road at first and took it on 3 enduro rides (2 to 3 hours each ride).

And... I freaking love this bike!
No vibrations = no increase of neuropathic pain
No gear selector = no shifting problems like I had due to paralysis

Bike is awesome to ride! Everything I hoped the bike would do for me it did and even better than I expected.
I love the rear handbrake as I also lost a bit of sensitivity in both my legs.
I love the power and regen adjustability, a map with a very high regen on a steep downhill is so nice in addition to the rear handbrake.
It's almost like a cheat code, everything is easier and even more so with my condition.
Even the autonomy, I was a little pessimistic and I'm surprised in a good way.
The only downside I have to say about the bike is the weight, but only when I had to pick it up after a fall, once you start moving you really don't feel it.

Don't get me wrong, I had a lot of bikes and still love ICE but for enduro I can’t stand an ICE bike anymore, or at least not a 2 strokes with very minimal vibrations.
Previously, my 3 last road bikes were, a KTM 990 Superduke R, a Ducati 1098 Streetfighter and a KTM 1290 Superduke R, only wheely super machines if you know these roadsters.
With the Stark, on the road, I could do almost everything I loved to do with those bikes except take some angles because of the off-road tires, but most importantly it was at legal speeds where it was always way too fast with those roadsters...
That's why I ordered supermoto wheels to have the best of both worlds.

I still have to fine-tune the suspension as it's too stiff for me (medium suspension and I weigh 79kg naked) and try out the advanced features.

 

[Philip]

Once again, welcome to the club! We are very glad to have you.

 

[markhamr]

Nice
Great to see the e revolution helping injured riders stay on 2 wheels
I have a injury that makes a rear foot brake a bit unreliable at times
best thing ever rear handbrake

 

[alejnuzzo]

Hola muy interesante tu historia
Soy de Argentina y estoy por comprarme una stark varg ex Mi duda es la autonomia , Uso una husqvarna fc 350 en arena y senderos

 

[rs911]

It's been a long time since I've been active on the forum.
I was a bit ashamed of this, even though I talked to Stark about it to give them my feedback and impressions about how to prevent it from happening again.
On May 29, I made the biggest mistake possible with the bike.
I needed some time to accept it and put things into perspective...

To give some context, I felt with the bike on a tricky section and dirt got stuck between the handlebar and throttle (I didn't receive my bar ends).
We stopped later on the road between two forest trails because my friend with the GPS lost his way.
I got distracted, we talked a bit with my friends and then I wanted to remove the dirt.
I didn't check if the bike was in neutral, I thought it was as I put the timer on the lowest setting (15s).
I removed what I could, and then I quickly pulled the throttle while leaning the bike to the right a bit. And of course, it happened...

The bike threw me on my butt quite violently. At first, it was hard to breathe and I had some back pain, but after a while, most of the pain went away.
I didn't think it was that bad. Stupid as I am, we rode for two hours again and in the evening I realized that something was wrong (3cm loss and a small lump I could feel on my back).
The X-ray showed a vertebral compression of T7 (broken vertebra), but surgery was not necessary.
At least this one is very "minor" compared to my injury from 2 years ago.

I don't blame the bike or anyone else but me, it's 100% my fault.
I'm used to high powered bikes so I mostly rode it in 50 or 60hp on "straight sections/roads" as I can't keep the front wheel on the road, serial wheely man here.
I knew that I needed to be extra careful at "idle" when I wasn't ready to ride, but I still made the mistake.
Moral of the story, be absolutely sure that the bike is in neutral when you're not ready to ride.

Maybe if I had used the advanced curves with a low power on the first few rpms, it could have prevented this.
I think it would be nice to add a setting on the standard curves that limits the power until a certain speed or rpm.
I know a clutch would have prevented this, but I don't want one on this bike.


In the meantime I ordered some parts, Haan sumo wheels, big brake kit, ARC brake levers, KTM higher handlebar mount.
I will receive the last parts this week and probably rode it again on the streets first until the 3 months needed for the recovery.

 

[happyinmotion]

Sorry to hear that and sorry you got hurt.

The great advantage of electric bikes is that they're quiet. The great disadvantage of electric bikes is that they're quiet. With a gas bike you always know that it's running and therefore dangerous. And yes, the bike not being in neutral has caught me out as well, although I haven't been hurt yet. And the bike going into neutral catches me out regularly - generally when I pause to work out my line on for a hard section, get up my nerve, go for it, hit the throttle... and nothing happens.

So I'l like a clearer indication than just that tiny LED if the bike is in neutral or not.

 

[rs911]

Yes I 100% agree with you.

I'm pretty sure the compression and injury was caused by the T12 arthrodesis material I have in my back.
I already stopped MX and doing extreme stuff.
I know I should be careful with this "material", but I won't stop riding because of that. Even if a lot of people tell me I should, they can't understand...

 

[Theo]

Yes I 100% agree with you.

I'm pretty sure the compression and injury was caused by the T12 arthrodesis material I have in my back.
I already stopped MX and doing extreme stuff.
I know I should be careful with this "material", but I won't stop riding because of that. Even if a lot of people tell me I should, they can't understand...

I think that you are the only person who can decide about this, it's your life. Besides, I agree that probably people don't understand.

The only thing that I would suggest is that you try something very adrenalinic but less dangerous.
IMO karting is less dangerous. Yes, I know that you can get hurt or even die but IMO the frequency and the severity of injuries is way smaller.
Some years ago I did 3 sessions with a 100 cc direct drive equipped with those tyres that generate like 2Gs of centripetal acceleration in corners, not like on rentals, and it was absolutely a blast -way better than rental karts, even 2 strokes if they don't have those amazing tyres-. They say that shifter karts are way crazier than single gear ones, I can only imagine.
An italian girl named Alessia Polita used to race sportbikes and became paraplegic years ago in an accident, then she tried a shifter kart modified to be used without the feet and said that she had so much fun and as far as I remember she switched to karting.
Karts are hard on the ribcage so you need a ribcage protector but I don't think they are hard on the backbone.
Just an idea for a possible alternative.

 

[rs911]

I did a lot of karting with 125cc 2 strokes.
It was fun for a time but quickly boring for me.

I have an other passion, my second job which will be soon be my main job is on tuning cars (engine, chassis, aero, suspensions, brakes...).
I work mostly on VAG 5 cylinders cars (TTRS/RS3, 5 cylinder engine swap and BMW B58/S58/S55).
Goal is to reach 911 and 5.2 TT.
When you drove proper track car or even GT3 on tracks like SPA, the Nordschleife... for me it's impossible to go karting again or only a proper track one with gearbox, front brake but I still prefer cars.
Plus, with my paralysis on the left foot I can't left foot brake like I used to do... :/
I still can but the precision is not the same and I'm way better with the right one.

This bike is and will only be used for light enduro with friends, I avoid rocks (mostly for the bike) and some wheelies
You can kill yourself or end up paralysed by falling in the stairs or crossing the roads, I won't stop living...

 

[Theo]

I did a lot of karting with 125cc 2 strokes.
It was fun for a time but quickly boring for me.

I have an other passion, my second job which will be soon be my main job is on tuning cars (engine, chassis, aero, suspensions, brakes...).
I work mostly on VAG 5 cylinders cars (TTRS/RS3, 5 cylinder engine swap and BMW B58/S58/S55).
Goal is to reach 911 and 5.2 TT.
When you drove proper track car or even GT3 on tracks like SPA, the Nordschleife... for me it's impossible to go karting again or only a proper track one with gearbox, front brake but I still prefer cars.
Plus, with my paralysis on the left foot I can't left foot brake like I used to do... :/
I still can but the precision is not the same and I'm way better with the right one.

This bike is and will only be used for light enduro with friends, I avoid rocks (mostly for the bike) and some wheelies
You can kill yourself or end up paralysed by falling in the stairs or crossing the roads, I won't stop living...

Wow, you are surely enjoying your life!

 

[rs911]

Wow, you are surely enjoying your life!

It sounds better than it is, GT3 was not mine and I didn't go there often.
The goal is to change that, too. It's the thing I like the most in my life, but it's also the most expensive.