It can be a long winter in the UK, so with the warm spring sun of May having arrived, you’d think what better way to relax than to head to the East Coast in Kent and enjoy the waters and sands of Margate Beach. If you’d arrived on the first weekend of the month, everything would have looked great, the sun was out and sure there were a few extra people around, and then suddenly, without even a hint of a sound or noise, your holiday is rudely interrupted by some old school looking dirt bike, hammering down the beach and shooting roostertails of sound 30metres long and high into the air. The culprit, Jody Millhouse, the brilliant bike builder from Thorton Hundred, who can ride with the best of them. This is his electric 2024 Stark Varg Alpha, dressed up to look like the iconic Honda CR500 and boy did the team have a blast with it at the Malle Beach Races.
Now, one of the problems that instantly pops up when you write about any EV these days is, that most people, even die-hard rev heads simply tune out. And that is shown in sales too, despite all the tax and Government incentives, electric vehicles are just not taking off. But, before you run back to the shed to get your hands greasy with your ‘proper petrol’ engine, stay with me. Because Stark is a company that is not messing around and to keep your attention, the stock power train of this Varg Alpha produces a remarkable 80hp and 938Nm of torque at the rear wheel, delivered through switchable ride maps and reverse mode, all while weighing just 109kg – equating to a 727hp per tonne power-to-weight ratio.
Yes, you read that right, this bike is far more powerful than any 450cc dirt bike you care to name, and as scary quick as the old CR500 was and still is, this thing literally leaves it in its dust. So, you can see why power-crazy bike builder Jody wanted to get his hands on one. He’s a guy who has horsepower on the brain and has put on one incredible show after another up the Goodwood hill climb with his supercharged Triumphs. But as soon as he and the team had unpackaged the Stark and given it a good old-fashioned thrashing around the parking lot, they knew they wanted to transform the looks into something old-school MX cool.
A favourite of so many and an icon in the dirt bike scene, the Honda CR500 made perfect sense. And quickly the boys were ordering a full set of period-correct 1995 CR plastics and a host of Honda parts to make the conversion work. The big front fender was the first part offered up to the Stark and it was as if it was meant to be, slotting straight between the forks in a high mount position. So, using their high-tech skills, to complete that part of the conversion, the boys simply 3D-printed the mount and moved on to the next task. For the complete look, Jody was adamant they use a CR500 plastic fuel tank and for an extra cool touch, you now charge the bike via a plug hidden below the faux fuel cap.
To hold the tank and those big front side covers in place, some clever fabrication was completed, making beautiful custom mounts which bolt to the main frame. And the Stark factory frame is a hell of a piece of kit. Designed by industry legend Tony Foale, the chromoly steel structure is the world’s lightest full-size MX frame, tipping the scales at just 6kg.
But the trick factory subframe was not to be retained, the guys actually found a genuine CR500 item and then set up making the mounts and slugs to adapt it to the Stark. Not only does this allow for the easy installation of the CR rear fender and side covers, but the boys have designed it so that it also replicates the riding position of the old Honda, something they feel more comfortable with than the ultra-narrow Stark setup.
This big change then meant that the stock seat would never fit on, not a problem, the guys found a smelly old ’92 CR250 seat unit and ripped it apart to reveal the plastic base. This has been covered in a brand new injected foam replacement before the guys at GUTS hooked Jody up with that standout purple and pink seat cover. To bring the rest of the looks to life, the team at GP Grafix came to the party, and designed and printed a unique take on the CR500 theme from back in the day, with a whole lot of Thorton Hundred flavour. The number on the race plate says it all, and with the subframe powder-coated black to match the Stark frame, it creates a truly cohesive finish.
Now, let’s get back to that powertrain, with the carbon fibre sleeved motor good for an eye-watering 80hp. “The VARG 6.5kWh battery pack allows you to ride for up to 6 hours of trail riding or complete a full MXGP heat depending on rider ability and track conditions. A full recharge can be obtained in 1-2 hours depending on the charger and outlet.” There are multiple power modes, and a crawl mode even has reverse, for easier manoeuvrability. The suspension and braking package is all trick as shit from the factory, Brembo calipers and Galfer discs, while the suspension is built and designed by KYB, with closed cartridge forks and fully adjustable rear shock.
But knowing they were going to be racing on the sand, Jody moved the radiator to behind the seat and crafted a custom guard to help keep the sand away. Testing had the bike wheeling like crazy, so a set of axle extenders were designed, 3D printed and then CNC machined, and a Scoop Dawg paddle tyre fitted to the rear. Off to the sands of Margate Beach and well, the bike was simply unbeatable, dominating all its sprint races, with Jody pulling a half-track wheelie in the final and still winning by more than half the track.
Sadly high tides ended the event early, but it was clear to all in attendance that NO traditional MX bike, no matter what you do to it, could ever touch the Thornton Stark. Thornton Hundred has since fitted the bike with road tyres, returned the swingarm to stock and are offering this incredible machine for sale. EVs might be off to a slow start, but if more ride and look like the TH Stark CR500, the day of electric domination won’t be so bad after all.
[ Thornton Hundred | Bid on the bike at Collecting Cars ]