Welcome Starling Cycles! How should we build the demo?!

• Posted on 17 September 2024
• 0

That's right, another new bike brand here at 18 Bikes!  Welcome Starling Cycles to the fold!

It may seem an odd choice considering that we make our own steel frames, but as far as we're concerned Starling sit really nicely alongside our existing brands and our own full suspension bike plans.

We have

Hope for UK made mid-high pivot carbon loveliness 

Forbidden for high pivot witchcraft

Mondraker primarily for full suspension ebikes with a range of motors

Santa Cruz with classic, dependable VPP carbon bikes

and now Starling Cycles with UK made steel single pivot frames!

One other detail we love about Starling's approach is the versatility.  Swapping back end and/or shock can change between MX/29 and/or rear wheel travel.  So with a new fork and some burly tyres, you could have a mid travel bike for UK riding most of the year and swap it into big-travel mode for your holiday.  Or just change bike styles as you fancy.

We're kicking things off with a Murmur demo bike, a 29er with 135mm rear and typically 150mm front travel.  A classic Peak District all-rounder then!

But, how should we build the demo bike?  Over to you lot for some ideas!

Suspension - Starling tend to spec Ohlins coil, should we follow suit or try something different?

Brakes - our favourites are Magura and Hope on customer builds, but are we missing trying a different brand?

Drivetrain - there's loads of Sram on our demo bikes, so do we spec Shimano?  Linkglide?

Wheels - perhaps time to try some KOM hubs on a demo bike, or stick with the ever reliable Pro 5?

Finishing kit - not the most exciting category, but a chance to pick an alternative to our usual Burgtec and Hope?

Anyhow - fire us an email if you've any thoughts or suggestions, we're open to any sensible ideas!