Over anything, frame colour is the one decision that seems to be the hardest for our customers. Starling frames are available in a range of colours, and lots of component companies have strong brand colours. Different decal colours, and various anodised coloured parts. It’s understandable why it’s so tricky.
We’ve spent a lot of time in the workshop discussing people’s colour choices. If you follow a few simple rules, I can guarantee a great-looking bike.
Pick a strong frame colour, then fit with only black and silver parts. Sorted, your bike looks good.
Dark colours look classy, bright colours lively.
If you want a highlight colour, make it just that, a ‘highlight’. Pick just a few components for highlight; maybe Öhlins fork and shock, or an anodised Hope headset and seat clamp. Gold as a highlight works pretty well in all cases.
A dark or neutral frame, black or grey, works very well with highlights. A bright colour, needs much more consideration when adding highlights.
Don’t try to colour-match parts from different suppliers or of different material types. For example:
If you want colours that clash, that’s fine, but go for it with all your heart. Orange frame, purple headset, green chainrings, blue hubs, multi-coloured spokes.
Or just do whatever the hell you want and prove us wrong.
Take a look through all our colour options here.
Ex-aerospace engineer Joe Mcewan is the founder and chief engineer of Starling Cycles. Passionate, outspoken and fond of a cuppa and a debate, Joe loves to challenge the established thinking of the industry.
