Stark Varg AND Freeride

[Osika]

Curious if anyone has fun with both?
I love the Varg but still have fun playing around on slow and tight stuff with Freeride.

 

[UKLee]

Yes we do, I have just 17 year old twin boys who are like me and mad on motorsport, during covid we got permission to use the field behind our house with a quiet electric bike right next to other houses so we got a Surron LB which they soon started wrecking, later that year we saw a 2 year old freeride e-xc for sale but hardly used so bought that also, I am not a big fan of modern ktm stuff but all we could get during covid. They have had many hours of fun in the field and to be fair the ktm has stud up well.

Even though we got the Stark october 23 we did not get to use it in the field until march 24 (we do not use the field in the wet would be an eyesaw) as the track is quite tight not a big differance in lap times between the stark and the freeride as you would expect the freeride is a bit better in the very tight stuff but the stark has it on any kind of stright. They complain the freeride is bottoming out on the jumps so I tell them adjust it then or just make the best use of what you have under you at the time.

Also taken them both to a local MX practice day, longer strights so the stark is faster but suprising how the freeride is only a few seconds a lap slower, even suprised a few with the standard except forks Surron LB as well. Not a lot in it between the stark and a YZ 125, wrf 250 and 300 fantic

I don't tend to ride the electric bikes much, I am an (some might say grumpy) old dog who can not learn new tricks, I can not stop going for the clutch and gear lever

 

[Oded]

Thanks for the report,
Big difference in height and size between the Stark and Freeride? Very different in that regard?

 

[Osika]

Thanks for the report,
Big difference in height and size between the Stark and Freeride? Very different in that regard?

Freeride is shorter wheel base. A few inches lower. But a fun bike! Pretty quick too!
Mine was Ken Roczens pit bike

 

[mxpetersons]

I have a Freeride and only ride it in the woods. It is a lot of fun. Shorter wheelbase, relatively low seat. But…..the distance is pathetic. Riding aggressively, I can only get 20 miles tops.

 

[Osika]

I have a Freeride and only ride it in the woods. It is a lot of fun. Shorter wheelbase, relatively low seat. But…..the distance is pathetic. Riding aggressively, I can only get 20 miles tops.

Not too bad 20 miles for a bit of fun

 

[AbnormalWrench]

I only ride in the woods. The freeride range sucks and I think the power is a bit disappointing. The low battery limp mode is really bad too. Has left me stuck at the bottom of a hill because it didn't have enough power to get up it. I really hate the battery level indicators also. I keep it around for newbies to ride - it is a really good starter bike. And I plan on eventually updating the motor and battery, but no idea when I'll do that.

For the price, it is hard to argue, considering how KTM is almost giving them away now.

 

[UKLee]

Was it about 2016/2017 the freeride got the battery with better range, ours is the better battery still not great, I believe the later battery does fit in to the older bike.
The stark is not that much better you can drain a full battery in under 20 minutes on a sandy track.

 

[AbnormalWrench]

I have the 2023 version. I'm not super familiar with how they have changed over the years. I know the 2025 is completely different set up.

My plan was to go custom with the motor and battery. The YZ-EMX kit by Electro and company.

IMO, there is no comparison with range between the Varg and the Freeride. The absolute longest I've ever gotten out of my Freeride was 20 miles, and that was nursing it in limp mode the last 2 miles. You can easily do 35 miles without trying on a Varg.