I rode horses as a youngster: I show jumped, taught kids how to ride, and rode in fox hunts—without the foxes, because that was illegal in Ireland. A broken collarbone and pony named 'Cheeky' meant horse riding took a back seat, and thankfully so, because after that, I pursued the much safer sport of motocross. I'm saying, I know horses, and I know dirt bikes, but it took a trip to the Pyrenees mountains to see how the very latest in two-wheeled technology could resonate with me like traveling through nature on horseback.
Specifically, it took the Stark Varg EX for me to see that, in certain circumstances, cutting-edge technology has come full circle to give us some of the feelings of old.
Ripping through the Pyrenees mountains with just the whine of an electric motor, rolling chain noise, and the sound of nature elevated my off-road experience in a way I haven’t felt before. I’ve been off-roading on conventional ICE bikes, and it’s great—the beauty of your surroundings particularly shines through when you take a break, shut off the engine, and immerse yourself in the peace of nature. But on the EX, that feeling is always a part of the ride.
