Singletracks is preparing a massive mid-travel mountain bike mashup for this fall, and we’ll be sharing previews of each test bike as they come in this summer ahead of the full video and written reviews. If there’s something you want to know about any of these bikes, ask us in the comments and we’ll find an answer before the leaves begin to tumble. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get notified as soon as each video review drops.
Every good roundup needs a few options on the margins, and that’s clearly where the Starling Murmur Enduro lies in our Mid-Travel Mashup. It barely fits the test parameter of “140mm of rear travel or less.” That rear travel is paired with a 160mm fork, making the Murmur a trail bike that’s happy to line up for a local enduro race. Starling also offers a 140/140mm version of the Murmur, as well as several 27.5″ and 29″ wheeled longer-travel platforms
The front triangle of this 29er is hand-built in the UK from Reynolds 853 steel, while the rear half is made from heat-treated chromoly in Taiwan. There’s space in the swingarm for a 2.6″ rear tire, and for a water bottle in the front triangle for size medium frames and larger. The Murmur frame retails for £1,880, and there are several shock options and complete build kits available. Riders can also request custom paint if desired.
The 450mm reach on our size medium is tailed by a 445mm chain stay measurement that remains consistent across the size run. A nice and steep 76.6° seat tube angle keeps things cozy on the climb, and a 64.6° head tube should offer solid over-the-bars prevention on steeper trails. The bike has a straight and short seat tube at 410mm, allowing riders to mount up a dropper with loads of travel.
Our build is a peculiar one, with some components that Starling often stocks on new bikes, others they don’t, and a few that we supplied ourselves. The full Öhlins suspension package is a fairly standard for the Murmur, and we’re stoked to see how the single pivot plays with the TTX22 shock and coil fork. The Magura brakes were easy to swap from moto-style when the bike arrived, coming with a two-piston caliper out back and four-piston attached to the fork. A Bike Yoke dropper and a bunch of nice kit from Funn finish off much of the build, with a Shimano SLX 11-speed drivetrain metering the energy. We mounted up a set of Hunt Enduro Wide wheels and Schwalbe tires to complete things, both of which are on the heavier gravity side of the weight spectrum.
We look forward to answering any questions about the bike in the coming review. Until then, check out the Starling site for further details.
