The Stark VARG isn’t an electrified compromise, but a performance-driven motocross motorcycle. With 80 hp and massive torque of 1,036 Nm, the emission-free motorcycle doesn’t just outperform modern combustion engines – it completely overshadows them. Thanks to smart software, it replaces an entire fleet of machines: with a single click, the bike transforms from a lively 125 two-stroke into a brutal 650 four-stroke. It’s like having a trail, enduro, and downhill bike combined in a single bike, with the entire character adjustable with a swipe of a finger on the display.
The man behind this powerhouse from the Catalan start-up is the Swede Anton Wass, a visionary who doesn’t like shortcuts. Instead of assembling a “catalog bike” from off-the-shelf components sourced from the Far East, he chose the uncompromising path of in-house development. Wass’ central credo is the “inhouse-first” doctrine: Stark develop the mission-critical core components themselves – from the motor and frame to the software and the specially industrialized battery. But that’s not all: the Barcelona-based company is also working on its own 26120 cell with a targeted energy density of 330 Wh/kg. This opens up the possibility of making the battery smaller and lighter while maintaining the same capacity – or significantly increasing the range with a battery of similar size. By comparison, eMTB batteries usually sit at around 280 Wh/kg at cell level. Anton Wass’ goal is to maintain technological sovereignty over every cell and every line of code in order to push limits rather than conform to supplier standards.
This strategy hasn’t only produced a superior motorcycle but also created a new industrial benchmark. While Tesla needed more than a century to reach profitability, Stark achieved this milestone just six years after its founding and only two years after the first deliveries. With revenue of € 115 million in 2025 and a supply chain that is 80 % based in the EU, Stark prove that real disruption can work without Silicon Valley.
Behind this success was a risky multi-million gamble: hardware start-ups are often considered risky investments, but Anton Wass managed to convince renowned partners of his vision. In December 2022, the Indian industrial giant Eicher Motors made a major investment in the Catalan company. In September 2024, another milestone followed: the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a loan agreement worth € 40 million to support research, development, and the expansion of production capacity. In total, Stark Future has already mobilized well over € 100 million in funding, demonstrating investors’ confidence in the scalability of a highly modern European manufacturing setup.
Performance as the key decision factor
In our practical test, a central thesis was confirmed: when technological performance surpasses the traditional combustion engine concept, reservations disappear. The first impression is dominated by the immediate power delivery. Since there is no mechanical build-up of rpm and no need to engage a clutch, the VARG executes every command from the throttle without delay. This directness gives the motorcycle a simplicity comparable to that of a high-performance go-kart. You never have to think about which gear you’re in and always have brutal power available in every situation.
Especially in technical terrain, the consistent omission of the clutch proves to be a clear advantage. While purists may initially view this with skepticism, difficult sections reveal a noticeable reduction in cognitive load. Because coordinating the clutch and rpm is no longer necessary, more capacity remains for line choice and weight distribution. The result is increased precision in sections where you would otherwise constantly struggle to balance stalling and loss of traction.
Despite the sheer force of the 80 hp, the power delivery can be controlled with exceptional precision. The interface is a rugged Android smartphone (!) mounted on the handlebars. Here Stark uses a rugged device specified according to its own requirements from an OEM partner, which communicates directly with the motorcycle via a magnetic charging mount. Using the Stark app, riders can essentially “build” their own power curves. The characteristics can be modulated from a gentle, traction-oriented power delivery to an extremely aggressive mapping. This flexibility ensures that the VARG remains manageable in every scenario and that the hardware’s power always serves rideability.
The architecture philosophy: monolith vs ecosystem
Behind the Stark VARG motorcycle and modern eMTBs lie two opposing industrial approaches. While the bicycle industry relies on a grown, modular network of specialized suppliers, Stark – much like Tesla – pursues the model of vertically integrated system development for the drivetrain. Stark views the drivetrain and chassis as an inseparable technical unit: the battery housing made from a magnesium honeycomb structure isn’t just a foreign body in the frame but acts as a structural load-bearing component of the entire chassis. This monolithic approach enables extremely compact packaging and reduces overall weight. However, Stark acts strategically selective here: while the mission-critical core technology is developed in-house, suspension, brakes, and tires come from specialized brand suppliers – a parallel to the bicycle world, where trust in established hardware experts remains crucial.
The bicycle industry, on the other hand, largely functions as an open system in which customers often deliberately look for brands such as Bosch, SRAM, or Shimano. These brands are visible and desirable for the end customer. The advantage of this model is ergonomic and technical diversity: standardized interfaces allow a bicycle to be customized much more precisely. Moreover, the dense network of service partners provides security that a closed system like Stark’s still has to build.
The price-performance paradox: the € 12,490 statement
For every mountain biker, the price of the Stark VARG is a mathematical provocation. € 12,490 – that’s roughly the territory where the flagship models of major eMTB brands compete. But while in a bike shop you get a roughly 22 kg sports machine with peak outputs of around 750–1,500 watts, the Catalan electric motorcycle manufacturer delivers a 118 kg powerhouse with around 58,800 watts (80 hp) and a 6,500 Wh battery.
The battery stands out in particular. Both Stark and most eMTB systems currently rely on the same base – 21700 cells sourced from major suppliers in Asia. Yet the pricing gap is enormous. While Stark sell their 6,500 Wh battery for € 2,999, an 800 Wh battery from a leading German manufacturer costs around € 1,000. Broken down, this means: at Stark, one watt-hour costs just € 0.46, while the eMTB counterpart comes in at € 1.25 – a price difference of a staggering 270 %. How does this calculation work for Stark without sacrificing quality?
The key difference lies in how budgets are distributed. Anyone buying a high-end eMTB often finances several global corporations at the same time: the frame brand, the motor supplier, and the component manufacturers. This results in accumulated budgets, since each of these brands funds global aftersales infrastructures, warehousing, professional sponsorships, multi-stage distribution chains, and end-customer marketing – costs that a pure contract manufacturer doesn’t incur in the first place.
Efficiency through development depth: by designing and specifying mission-critical components in-house, Stark shift the economic structure. In this model, the external manufacturer acts merely as an “extended workbench” with minimal R&D effort for the component itself. The result: Stark don’t pay for the innovation surcharges of third-party suppliers but primarily for production and materials. This saved capital remains within the company and flows directly back into pricing.
Another lever is the reduction of complexity in production. The bicycle industry prides itself on diversity but pays a high price for it. A single model often requires four to five frame sizes to be developed, sometimes in both carbon and aluminum. Each variant requires its own molds, tests, warehousing, and logistics.
The motorcycle industry, on the other hand, traditionally relies on a “one size” strategy. Massive investments in proprietary molds and automated robotic production lines amortize much faster when concentrated on a single chassis. With planned production volumes exceeding those of an individual eMTB model, marginal costs per unit decrease.
Another major advantage is independence from external product cycles. In the MTB sector, the introduction of a new suspension fork or drivetrain generation often immediately devalues inventory, forcing retailers to sell off stock at discounts. Because Stark have technological sovereignty over most of their components, this external pressure disappears.
This planning reliability also strengthens the company’s negotiating position. Part of the strategy is to have two suppliers for every self-developed component. This secures production in case of supply shortages and allows units to be shifted flexibly, maintaining competitive pressure in procurement and minimizing dependency on individual players.
The premium experience: appreciation as a product feature
Stark’s differentiation from established manufacturers doesn’t stop with the drivetrain – it continues throughout the customer journey. It starts with the unboxing: the VARG is delivered in a well-designed, high-quality transport crate. Instead of the industry-standard cardboard box with a basic manual and low-grade tools, Stark include a professional tool kit. This set is well above market standards in both quality and scope and would cost several hundred euros when bought separately from a specialist retailer. Thanks to an omnichannel approach, all spare parts can be ordered directly via the Stark website for end customers or through authorized dealers – allowing the motorcycle to be purchased and serviced either independently or through a dealer.
Another central pillar in Anton Wass’ philosophy is sustainability. His start-up experiments with biodegradable plastics to reduce the ecological footprint of production. One visible result is the motor cover, which already uses such materials. In the future, this approach will be expanded to additional components. Stark also rely on environmentally friendly manufacturing technologies: optional titanium footpegs, for example, are produced directly in the factory using 3D printing. This additive process significantly reduces material waste and saves resources compared to conventional machining or casting. The company also follows a resource-conscious approach when it comes to repairs: unlike many electronic consumer goods that must be completely replaced when defective, the VARG batteries are designed to be repairable at the factory in Barcelona. This repairability significantly extends the life cycle of the most expensive component of the motorcycle.
Deep dive: the Stark process
Behind the physical hardware of the Stark VARG lies a fully integrated digital workflow that resembles a software company more than a traditional vehicle manufacturer. While established brands often struggle with historically grown and fragmented IT systems, the success in Barcelona is based on a networked architecture. Every vehicle is directly connected to the central ERP system via its vehicle identification number (VIN). This allows Stark to precisely control assembly processes and maintain high process efficiency despite various configuration options. This digital integration of manufacturing is a key factor in keeping operational costs low while enabling customer-specific production.
A core element of this efficiency is the tight integration of simulation, testing, and professional racing. At Stark, test engineers work directly on the track with professional riders to collect telemetry data under real-world conditions. These values are fed back directly into the simulation team, allowing engineers to optimize physically accurate models rather than relying on assumptions. The special aspect: based on this data, Stark develop and operate specific test benches in-house, enabling component validation even before the first physical prototype is assembled. This strategy minimizes the risk of flawed developments and eliminates blind prototyping. When physical samples are required, Stark use processes such as titanium 3D printing to manufacture and test complex components in-house in the shortest possible time.
Another advantage: development speed is further supported by flat hierarchies and a culture of short decision paths. Anton Wass doesn’t work in an isolated executive office but sits directly with his team in the open-plan office. This physical proximity enables rapid decisions and fosters direct exchange between management and engineering. These extremely short iteration cycles explain why the roughly 110-person R&D team can drive technological developments at a pace for which large corporations with rigid structures often need years.
Conclusions: brand identity instead of a component mix
The Stark VARG is far more than a technological challenger – it sets an industrial precedent. The comparison between an 80 hp motorcycle and a top-tier eMTB clearly shows that the technological maturity of a product today largely depends on how deeply the individual components communicate with one another.
What the bike world can learn: identity through system sovereignty. The most important lesson for the bicycle industry is the move away from pure “component worship.” Software must not be a digital afterthought but must become a core element of the vehicle. The goal is to give the product its own identity that goes beyond frame design. This doesn’t necessarily mean that every manufacturer must develop its own motor – that would often be economically unrealistic. However, in the future it will no longer be enough to simply design a frame and mount standard components onto it.
Pioneers such as Specialized recognized this path early on by taking control of the entire ecosystem – motor tuning, display, remotes, battery, and software. Current examples like the Orbea Rise with its RS concept show how targeted integration and modification of all electrical components can create a unique system character. Anyone who wants to compete in the premium segment must strive for this technological sovereignty to stand out from the “uniformity” of standard systems.
What Stark can learn: respect for complexity and ergonomics. At the same time, the history of the bicycle industry offers valuable warning signals for Stark. In the 2000s, Specialized attempted to establish completely proprietary forks and shocks. However, this initiative turned into a failure because the mechanical complexity of these specific components was underestimated. For Stark, this means: focusing on core technology is the right strategy, but when it comes to highly specialized hardware, collaboration with experts remains the safer path. Stark could also learn from the bicycle world in terms of ergonomics. Without going as far as the bicycle industry with its five frame sizes, the mountain bike scene offers valuable approaches to adapting a vehicle more precisely to human anatomy than the current “one size” concept allows.
The roadmap: from off-road specialist to global player
After disrupting the off-road market, Stark Future are now preparing for the next phase of scaling. The goal is to transfer vertical integration to broader road motorcycle segments and establish the technological principle in the mass market. To secure this growth and the required investments in the long term, the company plans to go public within the next three years. With this step, the Barcelona-based start-up would finally transform into a global player and provide the ultimate proof that disruption this time does not necessarily come from the USA or China – but also from Europe.
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.
Words: Reynaldo Ilagan Photos: Peter Walker, Stark Future