Stark's/ Adult electric bikes banned from UK enduro events

[UKLee]

We took the stark and some ICE bikes to an enduro practice day yesterday which was actully an IOPD event not ACU but the organiser was telling me the ACU has relesed a document I assume this is it. Auto Cycle Union Ltd He said we could use the stark but not charge it and that was only because we were un aware of this new document.

No doubt people will say this is because they want to look after the already established manufactures who have been sponsoring etc events and yes I agree to some extent but as I have said all along stark have shot themselves (paying customers actully who have less events to ride there stark) in the foot by not clearing there design/safety features with the FIA, ACU, AMA etc.
Just look at the regs for moto E, compare that to starks phone screen that gives you warnings and that is if the bluetooth connection is working and the phone has not fallen out again, also shutting it down is via some dodgy buttons that stick in.

How long before this ban extends to MX as well ?

 

[Beagle]

Safety is important but it's very naive to think this could have anything to do with the Varg design or safety when you say the ban applies to all electric motorcycles. What safety features are they exactly asking for then? Which orgs could be more demanding than the FIM?

Stark has actively been discussing with national federations (Motorcycling Australia, FFM, AMA and so on) and the FIM, hence why the bike is eligible to race in FIM world championship (Superenduro) and dozens of countries around the world.

The Varg is currently raced in Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Norway, Sweden...), Australia, South America (Columbia, Chile, Argentina...) and the US (various AMA series like US Sprint Enduro, GNCC and non-AMA series).

And of course in the UK it's been racing Arenacross for 2 years.

There are some organizers looking backwards and others looking forward, that's political, not safety related. And this will go away when big OEM come with their own electrics.

 

[Erwin P]

In the early Stark days in the Netherlands all electric MX bikes except KTM's were banned from training on MX tracks under the KNMV (biggest of the 2 relugators). How obvious do you want it to be...

 

[UKLee]

Well I would think it is 95% starks not much else out there yet.
When our bikes were designed and built as I understand it stark had very little/no communication with the FIM ACU AMA etc in fact there was a post on here that one of the top bods at the AMA said stark had had very little or no contact with them yet when ktm started on the kids electric auto/65 equivlent bikes they spoke with them at a very early stage.
Like I say just look at the Moto E regs and the safety stuff put in place it is massive and very costly, all health and safety, method statments etc
The guy I was talking to at the event said the way it was looking they would need to get marshalls trained, rubber glover or even suits and they are also talking a digger on standby to dig a hole drop the bike with a lithium battery fire in to and bury it, seems a bit overkill and no way small clubs are going to do that but it will be the insurance that are driving this.

 

[Erwin P]

Well I would think it is 95% starks not much else out there yet.
When our bikes were designed and built as I understand it stark had very little/no communication with the FIM ACU AMA etc in fact there was a post on here that one of the top bods at the AMA said stark had had very little or no contact with them yet when ktm started on the kids electric auto/65 equivlent bikes they spoke with them at a very early stage.
Like I say just look at the Moto E regs and the safety stuff put in place it is massive and very costly, all health and safety, method statments etc
The guy I was talking to at the event said the way it was looking they would need to get marshalls trained, rubber glover or even suits and they are also talking a digger on standby to dig a hole drop the bike with a lithium battery fire in to and bury it, seems a bit overkill and no way small clubs are going to do that but it will be the insurance that are driving this.

Here clubs needs basic training for at least 1 official who is there, 1000V rubber gloves AND 1 F500 fire extinguisher.

Total cost about 250 euro, so not that big of a deal.

 

[UKLee]

In the early Stark days in the Netherlands all electric MX bikes except KTM's were banned from training on MX tracks under the KNMV (biggest of the 2 relugators). How obvious do you want it to be...

Every chance you are correct we can all see what kind of business ktm are, could also be who ever makes the rules said they want to see a certain safety specification (no doubt there are many) that ktm did and stark did not do.

One thing I do know it the best was to piss health and safety off is to do something without giving them the chance to have some input at the design stage.

 

[Erwin P]

All licence holders (all riders) got an email stating this.

The explanation was that those KTM bikes were empirically proven save over the past few years...

This didn't hold for long since quite the outcry started and even local governments got involved because they have great interest in quieter bikes.
So after a few months above measures were implied.

 

[UKLee]

Well we have had a surron lb for about 6 years, I have refused to buy ktm's for over 10 years but during covid all I could get was a freeride electric and had that for over 4 years then had the stark for 19 months but it has been out of action for about half that because of problems with it. Not had an electric shock or lithium fire with any only safety issues to report are 2 warnings of electricution move away and one very melted plug all from the stark. All 3 bikes had standard batterys and inverters etc. Make of that what you will.

 

[markhamr]

Things take time.
A reputable company proving its products over time should not have any problems.
The charging thing is common.
There is a bunch of auto cycle union rules regarding e bikes.
It also says all bikes must remain in the pits ,but I need to remove it to charge it so.
Our club has trouble even getting flag marshals so everything extra is a hassle
the it is not much extra cost does not pass muster with me.
I would like it to be attractive to run e events and have e classes at race meetings.
Above all we need people out there running every event they can.
Numbers and some time will fix the problems with racing them.
If there where a few e riders i am sure my club would give us a designated pit area
Unfortunately things are at the annoying stage for now until we have the numbers.