which is what I did. For my 90kg weight, the setup I received feels appropriate, and overall it performs well at speed. That said, if you’ re a slower rider, riding easier trails or tight woods, I’ d recommend going a step down from your actual weight bracket. The stiffer setup can feel a bit harsh in those conditions, and the electric power delivery, with its lack of rotating inertia, makes chassis behaviour a bit harder to read in slow, technical sections. I’ m still working out exactly what changes I’ d want to make for mixed terrain use, so I’ ll need take a few swings at it and report back when I have a clearer direction.
HANDLING The VARG handles well across a variety of conditions, but its behaviour differs noticeably depending on the section of the corner. On entry, it feels composed and stable, with good front-end traction that allows you to brake late and confidently tip the bike in. Mid-corner, the chassis stays neutral— there’ s no tendency to stand up or push wide— but it does require commitment on the throttle to maintain momentum, especially on slick terrain.
Corner exits highlight the bike’ s smooth power delivery. Without a clutch to modulate drive, it’ s important to be precise with throttle input. If you’ re too aggressive, especially on loose or choppy exits, the rear can break traction more abruptly than expected. That said, once you’ re familiar with its throttle character, you can exit corners efficiently with minimal drama. In the air, the VARG is balanced and predictable. It doesn’ t feel overly light or twitchy, and it responds well to rider input midflight. Whips and scrubs are controllable, and it settles quickly on landings. While the absence of engine braking can slightly change how the bike reacts on steep take-offs or short landings, it’ s easy to adapt to, and overall jumping performance is on par with any modern motocross chassis.
BATTERY LIFE Now, the million-dollar question … how long does the battery last? Well, that depends entirely on how and where you ride. In soft sand, I’ m getting around 15 minutes of hard riding before needing a recharge. On a hardpack motocross track, that ride time
66 KIWI RIDER