The Mega Murmur is Starling's new long travel platform
New bike brings the suspension travel and gets a lengthier chainstay
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It's been quite a while since Bristol-based Starling Cycles last launched a new bike but now, it has brought the features of its much-loved Murmur and has bolted on a load more suspension travel. Along with a stretched chainstay, Starling has created the Mega Murmur to cater to those looking for a more capable steel full susser or anyone who is taller and after a more balanced and better fitting bike.
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To make the Murmur more mega, Starling Cycles has equipped the Mega Murmur with 165mm of rear travel and 170mm at the front as standard. But the rear travel is adjustable as this bike's design offers trail or enduro modes, resulting in a 140mm option. The frame can then accommodate a 140mm fork as well. Then pushing the bike's heavy-hitting enduro theme is a pair of 29in wheels.
2023 starling mega murmur tubing.jpg, by Liam Mercer
The Mega Murmur's heat-treated Reynolds 853 steel tubed frame is hand built in the UK with the front triangle being created in Starling's Bristol HQ. As for that rear end, this bike benefits from a longer, 455mm chainstay in order to offer better-balanced handling through the chunk that the Mega Murmur is designed to soak up. This should also be appreciated by taller riders.
2023 starling mega murmur tt.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Elsewhere on the bike are all of the features that were brought with the V3 frames, so that includes the adjustable shock mount for trail and enduro modes, an aluminium seat tube insert to stop seizing, and an anti-flare headtube.
2023 starling mega murmur CS logo.jpg, by Liam Mercer
Coming in three sizes, from Large up to XXL, the enduro setup with the most suspension travel gets a 64.1-degree head tube angle, a 77.2-degree effective seat tube angle and a 485mm reach on a large frame. Set the bike up to trail, rocking 140mm of travel at both ends those numbers change to a 65.3-degree head angle and a 78.3-degree seat tube angle. The reach and 455mm chainstay remains the same regardless of its setup.
The Mega Murmur is available in a range of build kits consisting of components from Hope, Ohlins, EXT, RockShox, Cane Creek, Magura, Bike Yoke, Michelin, Funn, and Middleburn. It's also available as a frame only with prices starting at £2,330.
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