Stark Future Doubles Down: New Altitude Record + Erzberg Entry = Electric Off-Road Cred
- Buck City Biker
- Dec 17, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 18, 2025
If you thought electric off-road bikes were still on the outside looking in, Stark Future just gave you two hard reasons to rethink that.
In the past 18 days, the Barcelona-based outfit pushed its VARG platform into territory most internal-combustion bikes would choke on — literally — and opened a new chapter in hard enduro competition by earning entry into the legendary Red Bull Erzbergrodeo for 2026.
Breaking Records Where the Air Runs Out
On November 30, 2025, Swiss mountaineer-rider Jiri Zak climbed Los Ojos del Salado — the world’s tallest active volcano — aboard an out-of-the-box Stark VARG EX, pushing toward 6,721 metres (22,050 ft) above sea level. As of now, that figure is under independent review by Guinness World Records but, pending ratification, would represent a new benchmark for motorcycles of any powertrain.
Ojos isn’t just high; it’s a brutal proving ground of thin air, volatile weather, and volcanic scree that chews up both man and machine. Those thin, oxygen-starved conditions collapse power on combustion engines — but an electric drivetrain has no carburettor to starve. That advantage, coupled with the VARG EX’s instantaneous torque and simplified driveline, let Zak focus on traction and line choice where piston bikes would be down on power.
“It was never just about a number,”
said Stark CEO Anton Wass, framing the climb as proof that electric bikes aren’t compromises — they’re expanding what’s possible on two wheels.
From Volcano Slopes to Erzberg’s Iron Giant
While altitude records grab headlines, Stark’s acceptance into Red Bull Erzbergrodeo could have a deeper impact on how electric bikes are viewed in hard enduro. For the first time in its history, the Iron Giant will allow electric motorcycles to compete in the Open Class, lining up alongside combustion entries under the same sporting and technical regulations.
Erzberg doesn’t care what you ride. From loose shale climbs to off-camber chutes that punish traction and setup, the mountain offers no favours. Event-side charging and an approved battery swap point acknowledge different pit logistics, with support crews allowed to swap batteries much like refuelling a combustion bike.
Event founder Karl Katoch has already called the VARG “competitive in almost every current competition,” adding that he believes it can realistically fight for top positions at Erzberg. Stark will back that claim in 2026, fielding multiple riders — including Eddie Karlsson and Toby Martyn — in what’s shaping up to be a serious push, not a token entry.
Why This Matters for E-Moto Fans
Taken together, these milestones show electric motorcycles aren’t seeking invitations; they are earning them. Going higher than any motorcycle ever has and stepping into one of the sport’s most revered race arenas signals that electric off-road machines are moving rapidly from niche to mainstream competitive contenders.
For riders who’ve been sceptical about electric off-road performance, Stark’s back-to-back achievements should make you sit up. E-moto platforms are proving they’ve got not just the torque, but the guts for the job.
Ride safe, folks.
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