Starling Cycles’ First (and only) Carbon Frame

It is quite ugly, though.

A hint of irony there? That’s one of the prettiest eMTBs I’ve ever seen. OK, the lack of lots of functional parts helps with the clean lines, but even if fully kitted out that’d look great.

No idea what system it’s got onboard though. A Fazua or similar?

Erm, isn’t the carbon fibre tubes in novel lugs exactly what Atherton bikes have done, but with a much more novel approach in terms of using additive printing?

Lugs with carbon tubes isn’t exactly novel, it’s been done for years, and for the ebike above, i’m not exactly seeing an ebike, just a weird motor housing without any battery, connections, etc going to it.

Guessing this was a science project that was cancelled during the assessment phase due to an issue, so a technology demonstrator rather than a prototype.

@multibikestu

I think its just a Effigear gearbox bike, as opposed to an EBIke – a carbony version of the existing Spur

http://starlingcycles.com/bikes/spur

Erm, isn’t the carbon fibre tubes in novel lugs exactly what Atherton bikes have done, but with a much more novel approach in terms of using additive printing?

The carbon uses thermoplastic instead of resin.

cheers_drive
Full Member
Erm, isn’t the carbon fibre tubes in novel lugs exactly what Atherton bikes have done, but with a much more novel approach in terms of using additive printing?

The carbon uses thermoplastic instead of resin.

Ok, so basically a benefit for disposal of old or damaged frames, rather than with the bike technology.

I’d expect to see this via the carbon suppliers, rather than a bike company though, as it’s all about the process and factory setup?

Thermoplastic with lugs, didn’t GT do that with the STS? Not saying that technology has moved on since then mind

@honourablegeorge there’s something wrong with your link, it’s just a load of pictures of ugly bikes????

It’s only benefit biking if there are repair schemes and centres, it’s not an easy job, i can see the benefits at end of life, but again, will require specialist disposal as it’s not a case of chucking it in the plastics recycling bin with the carbon weave in there.

Just had a look at NCC, never knew they were down the road from me, and weirdly i’ve dealt with the composite braiding in another life, small world indeed!

Anyway, always nice to have technology demonstrators to see what is possible, but can’t see many changing their process when the carbon fibre tubing is done in another continent, and at a much reduced cost compared to this type of endeavour, would happily be wrong on this one, but cost is the driver for most, it’ll more than likely be taken up by the likes of the Athertons, Starlings, etc due to the limited amount of tubing they use, and the ability to soak up the cost increase into the RRP of the frames.

Would also be nice to have more info on the purpose of this though, i notice the different weaves in the tubes, as well the different thicknesses through the tubing, but you don’t know if that’s for best weight to get the ride characteristics, strength, etc?

The Proflex/Easton 857/957 swingarms were thermoplastic, with aluminium each end, weren’t they? And that was a loooong time ago…

How does the drive work then?

Same as the Sturn DH bike. LHD chainring, jackshaft through the frame to have a RHD cassette.