Stark VARG SM Tech Deep Dive: Suspension, Battery, Wheels & Real-World Range

The Stark VARG SM is Stark Future’s street-legal electric supermoto, built on the brutal performance of the VARG MX platform but tuned for asphalt, kart tracks and urban riding. In this article we’ll focus on four key areas that matter most to real riders: suspension, battery pack, tires & wheels, and real-world range – and we’ll attach a YouTube video to each section so you can see the bike in action.

1. Suspension – KYB SM-Specific Setup for Street & Kart Tracks

The VARG SM uses a dedicated KYB suspension package that takes what Stark learned in motocross and adapts it for high-grip tarmac. The goal: precise front-end feel on turn-in, support under heavy braking, and enough travel to soak up city bumps and supermoto curbs.

Key suspension highlights

• Front fork: Fully adjustable 48 mm KYB closed-cartridge fork with an SM-specific setting and approx. 290 mm stroke, mounted in a machined triple clamp with 16 mm offset for sharp steering and stability.
• Rear shock: KYB rear shock with triple adjusters (high-speed compression, low-speed compression and rebound) and around 303 mm rear wheel travel, tuned to keep the rear planted under aggressive acceleration and hard braking.
• Chassis balance: High-strength steel main frame with forged aluminium subframe and precisely engineered flex, giving the SM a planted yet agile feel from tight city corners to kart tracks.
• Adjustability: Compression, rebound and preload can all be tuned, so you can soften it for daily commuting or firm it up for track days and stunt sessions.

If you’re coming from dirt, you’ll notice the SM sits lower and feels firmer than a pure MX setup. That translates into less dive under braking, more confidence at lean and better feedback when you’re pushing slick rubber to the limit.

▶ Suspension deep-dive: how tuners are getting even more performance out of the VARG’s KYB components.

2. Battery Pack – 7.2 kWh Honeycomb Magnesium “Backbone”

At the heart of the Stark VARG SM is a 7.2 kWh battery pack that does more than just store energy – it’s a structural part of the bike. The pack uses a honeycomb magnesium case that acts as a stressed member of the chassis, increasing rigidity and helping keep weight low and central.

Battery & powertrain tech

• Capacity: 7.2 kWh high-voltage lithium-ion pack, giving the SM more energy than the original 6 kWh MX battery and a noticeable bump in range.
• Honeycomb magnesium case: Patent-style honeycomb structure that connects each cell directly to the casing for excellent cooling, minimal weight and a very low center of gravity.
• Structural design: The battery doubles as a key structural component, increasing frame stiffness and giving the bike a very direct, “one-piece” feeling between bars, seat and pegs.
• Motor & inverter: A compact, carbon-fibre-sleeved electric motor with integrated inverter delivers up to 80 hp and over 900 Nm at the rear wheel in Alpha specification, with power tunable from 10–80 hp via the Stark app and Arkenstone display.
• Charging: Using Stark’s 3.3 kW portable charger and a 230–240 V outlet, a full charge typically takes around 1–2 hours, depending on the exact power source.

Because the motor and inverter are tested to motocross standards, the SM inherits off-road durability: long duty cycles, repeated full-power hits and high temperature swings are exactly what this system is built to handle.

▶ Official range & battery test: see how the VARG’s pack performs over a full ride.

3. Tires & Wheels – 17" Supermoto Setup with Multiple Tire Options

Unlike the MX and EX versions, the VARG SM is built around a dedicated supermoto wheel and brake package. Think lightweight 17-inch rims, sticky road rubber and serious stopping power.

Wheel & brake package

• Wheels: 17" front and rear supermoto wheels with CNC-machined hubs and aero-grade rims, designed to stay light but strong under big lean angles and hard landings off curbs.
• Front brake: 4-piston monoblock radial caliper biting a large 320 mm floating front disc – proper superbike-level stopping power for repeated hard braking zones.
• Rear brake: 220 mm Brembo rear disc, with the option to run a handlebar-mounted rear handbrake for stunt riding or tight kart tracks.
• Tubeless compatibility: The SM uses a tubeless-ready setup, reducing rotating mass and making tire changes quicker for track days.

Factory tire choices

From the factory, Stark offers four different tire options so you can tailor the SM to your riding style:

• Pirelli Diablo Rosso IV (default): A high-performance road tire with fast warm-up and excellent grip in dry conditions – the best all-round choice for street and canyon riding.
• Dunlop Sportsmart TT: Track-biased rubber aimed at riders who spend more time on kart tracks and supermoto circuits.
• Michelin Road 6: Touring-style tire with strong wet-weather performance and long life – ideal for commuting and year-round use.
• Anlas Grip Plus: A tire focused on extreme wet and cold conditions, designed for riders who refuse to park the bike in winter.

Combined with the SM’s low center of gravity and instant torque, this wheel package makes the bike feel playful and “flickable” – perfect for back-road attacks or tight urban lines between cars.

▶ Watch the VARG SM on proper supermoto roads: lean angle, braking and wheel feedback in real conditions.

4. Real-World Range – City, Highway & Mixed Riding

Range is always the big question with any electric motorcycle – and Stark publishes clear numbers for the VARG SM based on real-world tests. Actual range will always depend on your speed, riding style, weight, elevation and power map, but the official figures give a solid baseline.

Official VARG SM range figures

• Mixed urban: Up to about 120 km (≈74.6 miles) of city and suburban riding with normal stop-and-go traffic.
• Highway: Around 79 km (≈49 miles) at sustained higher speeds on the motorway.
• WMTC cycle: Approximately 81 km (≈50.3 miles) on the WMTC standardized test cycle.

These numbers assume the 7.2 kWh pack and a balanced street-oriented power map. Running full 80 hp Alpha maps everywhere will reduce range, while using a softer commuting map with more regen will extend it.

How this feels in daily use

• Urban riders: For most city riders, a full charge easily covers the daily commute plus some evening fun, with charging done at home or at work.
• Supermoto track days: Expect multiple 10–20 minute sessions with time to cool and charge between runs, similar to running a powerful petrol supermoto and refuelling.
• Weekend blasts: On twisty mountain roads or desert highways, planning your route around 60–80 km stints delivers the best experience, with a quick top-up during a coffee break if needed.

▶ Highway range test: see how far the VARG SM goes on a single charge at real high-speed conditions.

5. Why the Stark VARG SM Matters

The Stark VARG SM isn’t just an electric version of a supermoto – it’s a ground-up performance bike that combines a structural battery pack, fully adjustable KYB suspension, serious supermoto wheels and brakes, and a smart range package tuned for real riders.

If you spend your time carving city streets, hitting kart tracks or looking for a silent, low-maintenance track weapon, the SM takes everything people love about the VARG MX and EX and bolts it to sticky 17" rubber.

Looking to experience it in person? Book a test ride with your local Stark Future dealer and feel how electric supermoto changes the game.