Steel, handmade, small series: not an off-the-peg bike, but British frame-building romance. The handmade steel frame features a 32-inch front wheel and a 29-inch rear wheel - some call it a supermullet. At the rear, 120 millimetres of travel should ensure comfort, while an upside-down fork from Intend works at the front - also with 120 millimetres.
Starling Big Bird: Geometry with a sense of proportion
The bike is manufactured in limited numbers in the in-house workshop in Bristol. In size Large, the Big Bird has a reach of 470 millimetres - 15 millimetres less than its 29-inch sister model Murmurwhich is 485 millimetres. Why? The axle of the 32-inch front wheel is around 40 millimetres higher than on the 29er. The head tube has been adapted accordingly so that the Big Bird doesn't look like a stork on stilts.
Why 32/29?
The rear wheel remains at 29 inches - unlike, for example, the Stoll or Actofive I-Train. According to Starling, this decision was made for technical and riding dynamics reasons. The rear triangle did not have to be redesigned. The mullet configuration is intended to keep the rear more agile. Starling refers to such small series as RARE frames.
Components: Customised work required
Of course, 32 inches is not possible without a bit of tinkering. The Samurai fork from the Freiburg fork manufacturer Intend is a prototype version (120 mm). The basis is a 29-inch fork with extended dropouts - a little stretch for the big bird. The wheels are hand-spoked by RyanBuildsWheels. They are fitted with 30 millimetre wide carbon rims from Nextie, combined with Hope Pro5 hubs from British production. The tyres are exclusive: there is hardly any choice. One of the few candidates is the Maxxis Aspen in 32 inch.
Driving experience of Starling test driver McEwan
Test rider McEwan describes the higher front end as surprisingly familiar. The handlebar height increases, but a stem with negative rise is not necessary. Important: The Big Bird sees itself as a trail bike, not an XC racing machine in lycra competition mode. The large front wheel rolls confidently over roots and rocks - McEwan puts this down to the increased stability. The bike should stay stoically on track, but require a little more pressure when turning. Bends need to be planned earlier and ridden more decisively than with 29-inch wheels. Once the bike is in a lean angle, it stays there as if on rails.
Prices and availability
The frame costs 2456 British pounds (approx. 2815 euros) without shock. The Samurai fork from IntendBC (130 mm version) costs 1550 pounds (1777 euros), the Hover shock 860 pounds (986 euros). The carbon wheelset with 32-inch front and 29-inch rear wheels costs £1500 (€1719). All prices are inclusive of UK VAT.
Starling Cycles will be accepting orders until around 31 March, with a production time of around twelve weeks. Large and XL tyres are available. On request, the manufacturer can supply suitable components directly - and as soon as more 32-inch tyres conquer the market, the range should also grow.
Technical specifications of the Starling Big Bird
- Frame: Steel, handmade in Bristol
- Suspension travel: 120 mm front/rear
- Wheels: 32 inch front, 29 inch rear
- Fork: IntendBC Samurai 32 inch, 130 mm travel (prototype)
- Damper: IntendBC Hover
- Rims: Nextie carbon, 30 mm rim width
- Hubs: Hope Pro5
- Tyres: Maxxis Aspen 32 inch
- Reach Large: 470 mm
- Sizes: Large, XL
- Frame price: £2456 (without shock absorber) (approx. 2,815 euros)
- Fork price: £1550 (approx. 1777 euros)
- Price shock absorber: £860 (approx. 986 euros)
- Price wheelset: £1500 (approx. 1719 euros)
- Availability: Orders until 31 March, delivery time 12 weeks
Laurin Lehner
Editor
