The mad lads at Starling Cycles in the UK just announced an all-new short travel Murmur cleverly dubbed the Mini Murmur. This new chassis is a 120mm rear-travel Trail/XC/Down Country/do-whatever bike that’s really fun and fast. Let’s check it out.

For those big days out, the Mini Murmur takes the best traits of Starling Cycles’ award-winning bikes and splices in a bit of XC, Trail, and Down Country DNA, resulting in a zippy and nimble trail rocket. All of the ‘feel’ of steel, built around 120mm rear travel and a go-for-it geometry. Build it ultralight or trail capable.

The Mini Murmur will be available as a frame-only or complete bike option, with complete bikes specced with DT Swiss’ awesome F232 ONE (210 x 50 mm) air suspension, fast Michelin rubber, DT wheels and lightweight Hope components. The frame’s front triangle is handmade in the UK using Reynolds 853 heat-treated tubing. The rear triangle is handmade at ORA in Taiwan using heat-treated Chromoly.

Like all of Starling’s Core full suspension bikes, the Mini has a UDH drop-out, bolt-through axle, adjustable shock mount and all of the brand’s usual V3 frame features. It can be repaired, refurbished, recycled and repainted. It’s made to last for years and to reject throw-away, new-bike-every-season bullshit.

Mini Murmur customers can also, if they wish, swap fork and shock and convert the Mini to a full travel Murmur or even swap swingarms to convert it to a Twist or Mega Murmur. All required components are available from Starling.

Geometry and Pricing

Frame price, minus shock: £2,150
Frame price, with DT shock: £2,549
Complete price, including VAT:  £7,650

You can learn more about the Mini Murmur at Starling Cycles.