Starling’s Model Lineup
For a relatively new mountain bike brand, Starling offers an impressively wide range of options which cover most disciplines. You can choose between a short travel trail bike, a long travel enduro bike, everything in between, and even a couple of outliers. Their core frames are designed around a modular front triangle allowing the rear travel to be changed between 120-165mm. The rear wheel size can also be changed just by switching the swingarm. This modular design allows riders to build the exact bike they want and gives them the option to adjust it as their ownership evolves.
Core frames:
Murmur- The Murmur is a full 29” frame with an adjustable shock mount allowing between 120 and 150mm of rear travel. It can also be built up with 165mm of travel when equipped with the Mega Murmur swingarm (standard on XL and XXL sizes). A 210/50mm shock equals 120mm of travel, 210/55mm = 135mm, 230/60mm = 150mm, and 230/65mm = 165mm. Because of its modular design, the Murmur can be used by bike packers, enduro racers, and everyone in-between.
Twist- The twist uses the same front triangle as the Murmur paired with a different swingarm designed around a 27.5” rear wheel. Because it uses the same front triangle, it too can be built up with 120, 135, 150, and 165mm rear travel just by changing the rear shock. Since the smaller rear wheel allows for more clearance, the standard swingarm works with all shock strokes. Mixed wheeled bikes like the Twist have proven beneficial for riders who value a nimble and playful bike, or for shorter riders who require a bit of extra clearance.
Rare Frames:
Even though the Murmur and the Twist are enough to excite most riders, Starling offers even more interesting frames for those looking for something really special. These frames are found through their rare program and are produced in limited runs.
Swoop- The Swoop is Starling’s full 27.5” wheeled frame. It uses a similar front triangle to the Murmur and Twist, allowing it to be built up with 160 or 130mm rear travel. The smaller wheels, slack head angle, and short chainstays make the Swoop an extremely fun and playful bike while retaining stability and confidence on rough and steep terrain.
Dive- If You’re looking for a bike that will bring back some nostalgia, the Dive is the perfect frame for you. It’s contemporary, long, low, slack, and is designed around 160mm travel. Built around old school 26” wheels, it uses modern geometry to make the most of a semi-forgotten yet undeniably cool wheel size. A rare kind of bike for a rare kind of rider.
Roost- This frame is for all the hardtail fans out there. The Roost is a stainless steel, mixed wheel hardtail that can be equipped with a 120-160mm fork. It looks amazing and is sure to be a blast no matter how it’s built up.
Sturn- The Sturn is a full 200mm downhill frame which uses a jack drive suspension layout. This allows the suspension and drivetrain to rotate around the same pivot. It can be built up as a full 29er, 27.5, or a mullet. The Sturn is a beautifully simple and capable frame made to take big hits, go fast, and conquer downhill championships.
Beady Little Eye- The Beady Little Eye is a single speed full suspension frame. It uses a 210/55mm shock to achieve 90mm rear travel and can be ridden with a 110-140mm fork. It’s made to pedal like a hardtail and still absorb larger hits. Most full suspension frames require a chain tensioner to be built up as a single speed. However, the Beady Little Eye uses the bottom bracket as the suspension pivot. This means that there’s no chain growth and therefore no need for a tensioner. If you’re looking for the simplest and most reliable bike possible or want to try out a whole new approach to mountain biking, the Beady Little Eye brings it.
Starling frames are built to last, easy to maintain and ride as great as they look. They’re for riders who have tried all the fancy new age materials and complicated tech and want to go back to the basics. Engineered simplicity and a timeless approach to designing a bike frame.