The Gray Ghost

Phantom

Member
Likes
16
Location
Colorado
I've had a few bikes over the years but this is by far my favorite yet. It's been about a month and have almost 400 miles on it. 99% of those are on the road. Funny, I got this bike to get me off the road and slow down but road riding is all I've know so naturally it's my best test ground for now. It has at least keep be below 80mph so that's a start with the most fun I've had on a bike between 0-70.

You'll have to forgive me but I'm getting old and the older I get, the simpler I like things. This bike is blowing my mind. Simple yet high tech and I'm in love. I moved the rear brake to the bars, no gears. Wheelie with throttle control and just hang on. Love it.

I'm told I should be on facebook/insta etc for posting and all that but I can't stand the socials but do appreciate the focused forums so I figure I'd post as I've gotten some good things out of this forum.

Here's a pic from some roads near enough I can reach with one charge. Pushed it a little the other day and made it back with just 9% left. Yes, I know, bad boy, try to keep it above 15%...

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Mostly stock but added some bar ends and mirrors from amazon. Did some more mods since this pic.

It didn't take long to want to figure out a way to charge on the go and had some rare extra time to myself so I spent some late nights after work and got a first version. I think it turned out pretty good for a first attempt. I removed the stock charger and bought the smallest plastic sealed box I thought I could make work, put the tunes on and let the creative juices flow. I did have to punch out the plastic box in a few places and had to trim the stock charger but no changes to the charger that I couldn't mount it back into the stock charger if I wanted. Mounted all of it to the subframe. A bit tricky to figure out and make work but rock solid so far for the road. I don't think you would want this on the bike if you were on dirt roads but I can remove it from the mounting rails I made with just a few screws on the side.


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The J1772 to Nema 5-15 Plug adaptor from Alien Rides arrived and so nervously, I had to test it out today. Just didn't seem right to plug into a 240V with a 110V plug but good news is it worked and didn't fry anything so far.

Here's a pic of everything in the box nice and neat.

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Pic with cables out ready for charging

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Downloaded the EV station app, plugged in and set the Stark charging rate to full power. I set a timer so I could see about how long it takes to charge. What I found is that it takes about a minute for each percentage of charge. Not too bad I guess. The charger, cords, plugs all felt cool to the touch. No smoke or sparks. Let it charge for about 20 mins. No feedback from the app about cost but internet AI says full charge cost is ~$1 to $1.5 so figure at a station is it likely double that but I'll find out when the actual bill shows up.

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Overall, I'd say "Great Success" in my best Borat voice.

Of course I wish I had infinite battery life or 0-100% charging in minutes. I think one day but for now, this bike is getting ridden more than any other bike I have and no noise complaints from the neighbors, I don't have to warm up the bike before a ride, ride with tunes playing and a shit eating grin while soaking up the mountains and it goes back in the garage after a ride with no smelly rider or bike. My work can be stressful so I call this my "Motorcycle therapy" and take it out for a neighborhood rip whenever I can. I've been slowing bumping up the power. I just can't believe how much fun it is and I'm still just on the dirt tires.


Here's a few other quick mods that other might like or might hate. Works for me and I like to try different things so to each their own.

Rear sliders from Toxic Moto Racing. I added a little something extra so I could also use it as a spool for a rear stand with some mods to the rear stand. Toxic nailed it otherwise and the fit and finish is excellent. You reuse the stock hardware so it functions the same as the stock adjuster. Way to go guys, so sick.

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Also got some cheap amazon pegs to see what that would be like on this bike. Had to do some custom mods to make it work but solid so far. Sorry, it's all I know and not use to the dirt bike platforms/pegs. Also did the kickstand mod so it will stay down.

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Thank you Stark for making this bike. It's given me a whole new level of fun for where I live and I'm hoping this is just the beginning. Street wheels have been ordered and dreaming of a snowbike for the winter.
 

DaveAusNor

Well-known member
Likes
110
Location
Norway
Good to see you've been enjoying it. If you like it now on the road with dirt tyres. Wait until you get some proper balanced road tyres. It takes it to the next level. I like what you've done with the charger, great engineering.
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Phantom

Member
Likes
16
Location
Colorado
Nice looking bike Dave. I ordered the same wheel colors :)

What size rim do you get? I got the 5" wide hopefully it fits without too much trouble.

Be about a month and I should have those babies!
 

DaveAusNor

Well-known member
Likes
110
Location
Norway
What size rim do you get? I got the 5" wide hopefully it fits without too much trouble.
I went with the 4,50 inch rim and 150 tyre. I've read people are fitting 5 inch just fine but I swap regularly for MX riding so wanted something I could get in and out easily.
I've had black SM wheels before on KTM EXC's and wanted something different this time so gold with black details was appealing. I will probably buy black plastics if/when they release them, but the gold goes well with the grey too.
 

rtf

Member
Likes
17
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
I went with the 4,50 inch rim and 150 tyre. I've read people are fitting 5 inch just fine but I swap regularly for MX riding so wanted something I could get in and out easily.
I've had black SM wheels before on KTM EXC's and wanted something different this time so gold with black details was appealing. I will probably buy black plastics if/when they release them, but the gold goes well with the grey too.
Has Stark said they are planning a black plastics release?
 

Phantom

Member
Likes
16
Location
Colorado
I went with the 4,50 inch rim and 150 tyre. I've read people are fitting 5 inch just fine but I swap regularly for MX riding so wanted something I could get in and out easily.
I've had black SM wheels before on KTM EXC's and wanted something different this time so gold with black details was appealing. I will probably buy black plastics if/when they release them, but the gold goes well with the grey too.

I thought about going with a smaller rim width to for that reason but I had an Aprilia SXV and it has a 5.5" wide rim so I figured with this bike having 80hp, I need all the help I can get with traction. I'll report back how much of a pain it is to install and swap between dirt and street wheels.

I was thinking of a graphics kit over the gray body work but trying to stay somewhat subtle and under the radar. Interested to see the black if/when it comes out. That will look sharp on your bike for sure.
 

DaveAusNor

Well-known member
Likes
110
Location
Norway
Yea I too have looked at a few graphics kits, they would suit the mx track but seem a little too over the top for street riding. I think the bike looks nice without loads of graphics though. I have considered changing the rear spoiler to white and just putting some simple numbers there (see @FYR 's bike, simple and sexy KTM wheel fitment ). I have to use numbers for events from time to time anyway, the front number plate is just printed on sticker photo paper :LOL:

As for rim size, a 4.5 rim could fit a 160 wide tyre too but I wouldn't want to go wider than that as I already am super close to chain rub with the 150. A 160 on a 5 inch rim seems to work for most though, is that what you've gone for?
 

Karinshi

Active member
Likes
41
Location
spain
i want to do the supermoto wheels set up too... im going with the Warp 9 wheels ( Supermoto Wheel Builder ) 4.25 and 150 seems okey, but what concerns me more is the sprocket size, i want to change the stock one wich is a 48t to a 40t and i dont know how to properly fit a back chain rubber, the stock one wont fit

PD: is 40t good? i would love some advise for the sprocket size... maybe 44t is more reasonable?
 
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DaveAusNor

Well-known member
Likes
110
Location
Norway
I went with 45 rear so I didn't have to break the chain for either 14 or 15 at the front. Im mostly running 14/45 cause i like 14 for MX, gives more clearance for any mud on the chain around the front sprocket.
I wouldn't go to 40 rear unless you plan on changing the rear sprocket chain guide. 14/45 is way more speed than you'll ever need anyway.
 

Karinshi

Active member
Likes
41
Location
spain
I went with 45 rear so I didn't have to break the chain for either 14 or 15 at the front. Im mostly running 14/45 cause i like 14 for MX, gives more clearance for any mud on the chain around the front sprocket.
I wouldn't go to 40 rear unless you plan on changing the rear sprocket chain guide. 14/45 is way more speed than you'll ever need anyway.
oh, how did you fit a 15 at the front? i buy the 15t from stark website and wont fit, it touch the front guide chain, interesting... im stuck with the 12t stock that is why i wanted a 40t rear to compensate... all i want is more top speed. Seems like your 14/45 is a good sweet spot... right now with the stock gear (12/48) top speed is 137kmh... if i can reach 160 with another gear configuration thats my dream
 

Phantom

Member
Likes
16
Location
Colorado
I’m going to try first with the stock 12T front and 48T rear but have some other front and rear sizes to try. I too didn’t want to have break the chain so seeing what I can get away with first.

I’m ok if I top out at 80 mph as I find when you ride above 60mph it really drains the battery. Thankfully the roads around me are all tight so still lots of fun to ride at lower speeds. It’s the rocketing out of a corner that loads of fun.
 

Phantom

Member
Likes
16
Location
Colorado
Yea I too have looked at a few graphics kits, they would suit the mx track but seem a little too over the top for street riding. I think the bike looks nice without loads of graphics though. I have considered changing the rear spoiler to white and just putting some simple numbers there (see @FYR 's bike, simple and sexy KTM wheel fitment ). I have to use numbers for events from time to time anyway, the front number plate is just printed on sticker photo paper :LOL:

As for rim size, a 4.5 rim could fit a 160 wide tyre too but I wouldn't want to go wider than that as I already am super close to chain rub with the 150. A 160 on a 5 inch rim seems to work for most though, is that what you've gone for?
I did. I ordered wheels 17X5 and tires 160/60 ContiAttack SM2. I almost ordered Pirelli DR-IV as I'm a Pirelli guy after trying lots of different brands and models. Pirelli tires have been good to me on my bikes. I got this one with Pirelli from Stark. I'm still shocked how hard I can push this bike on these tires on the street and it only feels out of place above 60mph and then the slight imbalance gets noticeable.

FYR's bike is really clean and like his style. I did come across it when I was trying to figure out so of the options for street wheels a few months ago.

This was my SMX when I first got it. It was cool in pictures but in person, I just thought it was too loud so I just simply pulled off the graphics in a few places and it fit in more with what I was looking for.


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After some graphics delete and small mods
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This bike was fast and loud. Sounded like music to me but not all neighbors felt that way.

I was down to the final decision of buying a used SMX and electricfying it or buy the stark EX and sumo it. While the experience to do that would have been fun, pretty sure I’d spend similar money when factor cost of your time so you know the choice I made. No regrets so far. Maybe save the build for something like this

 
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DaveAusNor

Well-known member
Likes
110
Location
Norway
im stuck with the 12t stock that is why i wanted a 40t rear to compensate.
Every 1 tooth change at the front is equal to approximately 3 at the rear. 15 does work although really tight.
I asked an LLM to work out the speed change. New gear ratio 14/45 gives approximately 25% higher speed than stock, but the tyre circumference diff of the SM tyre reduces the speed increase to appox. 12% over stock. With 15/45 and SM wheels you're at 20% speed increase.
So if your stock max is 140km, 157km/h with 14/45 SM and 168km/h with 15/45 and SM wheels. Much more speed than anyone should need.
 

DaveAusNor

Well-known member
Likes
110
Location
Norway
It was cool in pictures but in person, I just thought it was too loud
Yea looks good in that picture. Nice bike. I guess it's just up to personal taste too. I changed my last exc from stock 6 days graphics to plain black plastics cause I thought that looked sick. Lots of younger kids in Norway felt the opposite.
 

Phantom

Member
Likes
16
Location
Colorado
Every 1 tooth change at the front is equal to approximately 3 at the rear. 15 does work although really tight.
I asked an LLM to work out the speed change. New gear ratio 14/45 gives approximately 25% higher speed than stock, but the tyre circumference diff of the SM tyre reduces the speed increase to appox. 12% over stock. With 15/45 and SM wheels you're at 20% speed increase.
So if your stock max is 140km, 157km/h with 14/45 SM and 168km/h with 15/45 and SM wheels. Much more speed than anyone should need.
Thanks for the helpful breakdown. I ordered 14/45 as my backup combo because I had read a few people saying that combo worked well and don't have to break the chain.
 

Phantom

Member
Likes
16
Location
Colorado
Yea looks good in that picture. Nice bike. I guess it's just up to personal taste too. I changed my last exc from stock 6 days graphics to plain black plastics cause I thought that looked sick. Lots of younger kids in Norway felt the opposite.
Black out is cool too. My RSV4 is like that. Silly, but sometimes these nice bikes need some accents of color.
 

rs911

Active member
Likes
36
Location
France
I always loved the SXV 😍

Installed last night, I contacted several guys who have supermoto MX.
At first I thought about going with a 4.5“ rear rim for the "easier change" and almost everyone said I should go with the 5" even if I will swap the wheels frequently.
In the end I went with a 5” to fit a 160 tire, and I don't regret it at all.
I really wanted Excel rims with well-known hubs, so I got them directly from Haan Wheels.
With the right technique, it's not that hard to change and even easier if you have someone to help you.
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