Varg SM Coming To The US In 2025?

[F451]

Motorcycle.com has an interesting article saying that Stark is working through the regulatory requirements to bring an SM model into the US:

2025 Stark Varg EX and SM Coming to US Market

"The confirmation comes to us via the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which recently published a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) decoder for the street legal Varg EX and Varg SM."



"If that wasn’t enough evidence, NHTSA has also opened separate files in its recalls, investigations, complaints and manufacturer communications database for both new models, further confirming U.S. availability."

 

[Beagle]

A couple of things make it not such straight forward for the Varg: thermal management will be critical for such application when you're more often WOT, and they'd really need an onboard charger for the SM version.

IMHO it's weird enough for a road legal enduro to require the stand to be charged, it would make even less sense for the SM version.

And of course range could be ridiculous on the road: 6 h hard enduro... 3 h enduro... 40 min MX... 20 min SM?

 

[DaveAusNor]

Yea its gonna need a bigger battery and onboard charging with Type 2 compatibility.

I did a quick check and compared against Zero's 7.2 (same size battery) and the KTM 690. In my opinion they would be better off competing with the bigger SM's and put in a bigger battery.

Weight

• KTM 690 SMC R: 147 kg (324 lbs) (without fuel)
• Zero FX: 131 kg (289 lbs)
• Zero FXE: 140 kg (309 lbs)

Power

• KTM 690 SMC R: 74 hp (55 kW)
• Zero FX/FXE: 46 hp (34 kW)

Range

• Zero FX/FXE: 7.2 kWh battery (~90-160 km range, depending on riding style)
• KTM 690 SMC R: 13.5L fuel tank (~250 km range, depending on riding style)

 

[Beagle]

I think they're going for SM Varg meaning same battery capacity and everything (still hoping for onboard charger but really not sure about that).

Then hopefully they'll have a second generation of proper road motorcycles with larger batteries and onboard charger. Won't need to stick to 120 kg for proper road bike or larger SM or trail/adventure bike.

 

[DaveAusNor]

Yea I agree that makes the most sense for them to make minimal changes to what they already have and get something out fast with their current production line. Making something like the Zero S series in the future would be really cool, but a totally different bike.