Stark VARG: Why Terrain Changes the Range Discussion

A reading of ECR’s 2023 test: riding time, pace, and the limits of comparing an older VARG with recent generations.

The tested version matters

Electric Cycle Rider’s September 17, 2023 test uses a VARG with a 6.5 kWh battery. In mixed enduro at 40 hp, the author reports 33.8 miles, about 54 km, over 2 hours 11 minutes down to 10% charge. That version predates the 7.2 kWh MX 1.2 in our comparison.

Our interpretation: a session is not a standard trip

One hour of riding can involve very different demands. Time accelerating, surface conditions, and speed change the session. A distance figure alone is therefore insufficient for planning a motocross day.

Describe your own riding: normal session length, breaks, number of sessions, and opportunities to charge between them. This gives videos a practical frame even when their terrain differs from yours.

Compare with Sur-Ron without mixing categories

A VARG and an Ultra Bee do not meet exactly the same brief. Before seeking a range winner, compare dimensions, weight, claimed energy, and intended terrain. Our Ultra Bee versus VARG MX 1.2 dossier explains those format differences.

Using a 2023 result to rank a newer VARG against a newer Sur-Ron tested by someone else would be misleading. Useful data becomes a weak comparison when its conditions disappear.

What a useful video should help you check

Identify model year, modifications, mode, starting and ending charge, and interruptions. Keep missing details in mind. An impressive riding sequence may demonstrate a rider’s skill without documenting a full range test.

Separate what the source measures from what applies to your riding. The choice becomes clearer when those questions remain distinct.