Technical info and resources for owners.
Welcome.
You’ve joined a community of riders that believe in beautifully simple, hand built, steel mountain bikes. Bikes that are deliberately uncomplicated. Bikes that are robust, beautiful, hassle-free, expertly engineered and sustainably made.
We’ve created this page to make maintenance of your new Starling Cycles frame simple.
This is where you’ll find all of your owners info, technical info, maintenance guides and how-to stuff.
If you can’t find anything that you need, just email us via the website and we’ll be happy to help.
This info applies to new and second-hand owners – non-original owners are very welcome here!
First, why not join the Starling Cycles Owners group on Facebook?
And why not join our mailing list to hear about news, new bike launches, videos, giveaways and exclusive stuff first?
You could also follow us on Instagram or Facebook and share a pic of your new bike with us. We love to see them.
Starling Cycles frames are simple to setup, but a little bit of time now will pay off later on the trail.
Before you do anything, start by getting your suspension balanced. That’s the first step.
Ohlins Suspension? You can find the Ohlins Mountain Bike Suspension setup guide here – with specific instructions for Starling Cycles frames (choose from the dropdown).
Cane Creek Suspension? Cane Creek’s Rear Suspension Setup Guide is here. And the Cane Creek Helm user manual and setup instructions are here.
Cane Creek’s new ShockTuner App is also now live.
EXT Suspension? Setup instructions for the EXT Storia are here.
RockShox Suspension? Setup instructions for Rockshox forks and shock are here on Rockshox TrailHead.
Looking for more in-depth setup, servicing, advice or tuning? UK customers can contact TFTuned who are our preferred suspension partner and experienced with Starling Cycles frames.
For Beady Little Eye/Beady Big Eye single-speed customers you need to run zero sag to counteract bob in the suspension system. Rebound should then be set to counteract the high pressure needed to achieve this, but the suspension is fairly insensitive to other settings.
Cane Creek’s ShockTuner App – this is a browser-based suspension setup app that can help riders setup their suspension. We’ve not tested it, but it could be a useful resource for riders and works for all brands.
V3 Murmur, Twist and Swoop frames are now built to fit 210mm and 230mm shocks using an adjustable shock mount, allowing you to change the travel of your frame.
No need to change your frame to go up or down travel, simply swap your shock position and switch fork/shock to suit.
Moving your shock between positions is straightforward.
The rearward threaded holes are for 210mm shocks.
The forward threaded holes are for 230mm shocks.
Ignore any holes that are not threaded.
Simply unbolt the triangular plates from your frame, move them into the desired position, and reattach.
The two photos below show frames in two different positions. The green frame is in the 210mm position, the IPA (brown!) frame is in 230mm.
Starling Cycles V3 Compatible Shock Lengths
Here are all of the shock lengths and travel configurations for Starling Cycles frames:
Swoop:
Twist:
Murmur
Starling Cycles V2 and earlier frames
And how about shock compatibility for older frames?
Second-hand owners may find themselves with frames that don’t have a sliding shock mount.
For these, the best thing to do is to contact us and include the frame number, as found on the dropper port. We can check the history of the frame and let you know which shock length is best for you.
Our frames allow you to change wheel size – with the option to move between full 29″, mullet / MX and full 27.5″.
The Dive and Big Bird frames also offer the option of 26″ and 32″ – but contact us for information on those.
The process is pretty straightforward and more affordable than having to buy a whole new frame. It means you don’t have to abandon your much-loved Starling if you decide it’s time for a change.
Starling manufactures its bikes with combinations of 27.5″ and 29″ rear triangles and combinations of 27.5″, 29″, and 32″ front triangles.
Frames are configured as follows:
*includes standard Murmur and Mini Murmur.
** includes standard Twist and Mega Twist.
To change your wheel size, you’ll need to pick the combination of front/rear that fits your desired specification. You may then need to change the shock/fork depending on your new setup.
You can see the required shock lengths in the above “Adjustable Shock Mount and Geometry Setup” section.
Example: To change Murmur to Twist, you would replace the 29″ rear triangle with a 27.5″ rear triangle.
Replacement front and rear triangles and suspension are available direct from Starling Cycles here.
New customers, you don’t need to register your frame with us. Just provide us with proof of purchase if you need to claim and we’ll have everything you need.
All Starling Cycles frames come with a two-year guarantee, covering manufacturing defects.
We also offer a two-year crash damage replacement warranty.
We have policies for original and second-hand owners, so no one is left out.
You can find out more on the Starling Cycles Warranty, Crash Replacement, Frame Repair and Frame Refurbishment page.
Starling Cycles V3 frames use a standard UDH hanger. To replace, please order online or speak to your local bike shop. These are universally available.
Our spares store holds stock of Starling Cycles V2 replaceable mech hangers.
Our spares store also stocks replacement Starling Cycles headtube badges and Starling Cycles chain guides.
The bolts used to affix V3 adjustable shock mount plates to the frame are M6x8mm Low Cap. These can be sourced online or in your local hardware store.
Our rear axles are standard 178mm UDH axles.
Contact us for replacement shock mount plates, frame graphics and rear axles etc.
Starling frame suspension/linkage hardware information:
Starling Cycles V3 frames:
Starling Cycles V2 frames:
For complete specs of all non-current models, please visit the Starling Cycles Bike Archive.
Replacement bearings can be sourced easily online in your country – we’d recommend sourcing Enduro Bearings wherever possible. Enduro list our bearings as 6902 LLB – ABEC-3 Radial Bearing (C3 Clearance) – 15mm x 28mm x 7mm.
Note: We offer a full-frame refurb, repaint and bearing replacement service here at Starling. If your frame is looking tired or is damaged, we can get it back to good as new. This includes out of warranty frames and non-original owners. More details here.
The following video explains how to replace the bearings on your Starling Cycles V2 frame:
Routine maintenance of your Starling Cycles frame is pretty simple.
All Starling Cycles frames are made from top-quality steel. That means a little bit of care is needed to avoid issues with rust.
See below for details about repaint and refurbishment services.
Our swingarms are full Electroless Nickel plated, a full internal and external rust protection. Rust shouldn’t be an issue with these.
Our front triangles need a little bit more care but nothing significant.
The outside of all Starling frames is power coated or painted which protects against rust. The only exceptions are the various holes or threads where small edges of bare metal may be present. If you’re careful to apply grease to these areas you’ll have no problems at all. Keep an eye on any areas where paint or lacquer becomes fully worn-away and touch-up if necessary.
The inside of frames needs a little bit of care – particularly the seat tube, head tube and bottom bracket which are exposed to the elements.
Seat tubes have Dinitrol rust protection applied before they’re shipped. Head tubes and bottom brackets need a good layer of grease to keep them rust-free.
V3 frames are built with an aluminium seat-tube sleeve, solving the old problem of stuck seat posts.
For older, pre-V3 frames, we’d strongly recommend removing your seat post every couple of months and re-greasing the inside of the seat tube. A squirt of frame protection down the seat tube from time to time doesn’t hurt.
Head tube and bottom bracket internal surfaces should be greased regularly as part of your normal maintenance routine.
Any bare metal surfaces or holes should be well greased.
Customers using wireless droppers should plug the dropper port on their seat tube, grommets are available online.
Our Tech Journal article titled ‘Nobody Likes a Stuck Seatpost’ should give you more info if you need it.
For those of you who care about these things, we have provided a guide for torque setting for all of our bolts.
In the olden days of strong steel frames, there was no need for torques specs. A good mechanic’s arm, and ‘tight but not too tight’ was all that was needed.
But in the modern day of constant chasing of lightweight, we’ve ended up with delicate aluminium threads that risk being stripped. It should be noted that other industries laugh at us for the silly use of aluminium threads!!
We do have one aluminium thread on the main pivot, but this is fairly insensitive to how tight it is and is an easily replaceable. All others are steel.
Please also be aware that the torque is provided, but the value you are actually trying to achieve is the tension in the bolt. A bolt torque is not a direct indicator of bolt tension, it is dependent on the condition of the joint; i.e. thread length, thread fit, lubrication, temperature, position of the moon from the sun etc!
So to work best, ensure your joints are well cleaned and either lubricated or thread locked as required i.e. in the state they were supplied to you.
Our cables are routed externally for easy maintenance. But there are a couple of things to get right for the cleanest cables.
Starling cables are externally routed on all core models.
For full suspension frames we recommend disconnecting your host and lever to feed the hose through the headtube gusset.
Whilst routing through the gusset gives the cleanest look, you can always route outside of the gusset which means no bleeding to replace a brake – especially useful for racers.
For wireless dropper post users, we’d recommend sealing-up the dropper port on the down tube. We’d recommend a rubber grommet for the perfect fit.
These reference images should make it easy to understand for core, full suspension bikes:
Single pivot bikes often fail to accommodate a water bottle. Lucky for you, that’s not the case with Starling Cycles frames.
Your ability to fit a bottle into your Starling Cycles frame will depend on the model, size and age of your frame. Also the specific rear shock that you’re running – with coils taking up a little more room than air, and Ohlins taking up a little less room than – for example – EXT.
We’re also able to retrofit additional bottle bosses to frames. Contact us to discuss.
For V3 onwards, we have bottle-bosses on the underneath of the top tube. Side-loading bottle cages or Fidlock bottles should fit just fine on frames size medium or above.
Smaller sizes have bottle bosses underneath the downtube – you may be able to fit smaller bottles inside the frame, but you’ll need to experiment.
If you’re struggling to fit a bottle into your frame, we’d advise you try a lower-profile cage or smaller bottle before anything else. You might also like to try and heat up your bottle so the plastic goes soft and then mold it to fit the available shape, allowing it to cool in the new shape. This trick has worked for a whole heap of owners who need just a little bit of extra room.
If that’s not working, you can flip your shock upside-down or back-to-front and that may offer you more space.
This will have no effect on suspension performance. If you rearrange your shock and it fouls on the swing-arm brace (the X-shaped metal piece with laser-cut birds), please contact us and we can provide an upside-down version of the brace.
For frames before V2, you’ll may need to work with what you’ve got. Some have bosses, others don’t.
For those that don’t there are aftermarket solutions that provide clamp-on bottle guides. The WolfTooth B-Rad, for example, is a great choice.
Every now and again you’ll need some spare parts for your Starling Cycles frame.
Tap the following links for:
Replacement Starling Cycles headtube badges.
Replacement Starling Cycles graphics.
Replacement Starling Cycles top chain-guide.
Replacement Starling Cycles non-UDH derailleur hangers.
For UDH derailleur hangers, please order a standard UDH hanger from your local bike shop, or online.
For any other spares, please contact us.
Starling Cycles frames last for years. They’re tough, repairable and can be refurbished.
When they get tatty, they can be made to look good as new again. When they get damaged, they can be repaired and brought back to good as new.
We offer a frame repaint and refurbishment service. Which includes fresh paint, graphics and bearings. You can find out all about it here.
We can also repair damaged frames, fixing almost anything. A dented downtube doesn’t mean your frame should be scrapped, it can be fixed and have plenty of years of hard riding left. Details here.
We can also advise you on RAL codes if you’d like to purchase touch-up paint or have your frame re-painted locally. And can advise a local frame-builder on repairs, if you’d prefer to have them done locally. Contact us to discuss local repairs.
Our frames last for decades. They can be refurbished, repainted and repaired. The nature of steel means they should stay as strong as ever for many years.
There may come a point when you decide your frame is no longer useable.
First, we’d recommend getting it refurbished and repainted, here at Starling. This will return it to good-as-new condition. Keep riding it, you probably don’t need a new frame.
Sure you don’t want it? Sell it second hand and help to keep it in circulation. Give it a thorough inspection for damage before you sell and pass it on for someone else to enjoy. Our repair services apply to second-hand owners too.
Last, you may consider disposing of your frame. Steel tubing can be recycled and you can keep that material out of landfill. Instructions for steel mountain bike frame recycling are here.
Learn more about Starling Cycles frame refurb, repair or end-of-life recycling here.
That should be everything you need to know about your new Starling Cycles frame.
If you need any help with anything, don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can help.
