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It's just a lovely thing to look at! (From this evenings ride)
What's the suspension design on this. It's it a full URT, or does the swingarm pivot around the BB? Or is the pivot somehow carefully designed so the rear axle path keeps the same distance from the BB - not sure how you'd place that
"What's the suspension design on this. It's it a full URT, or does the swingarm pivot around the BB? Or is the pivot somehow carefully designed so the rear axle path keeps the same distance from the BB - not sure how you'd place that"
It's a single pivot with a concentric BB pivot and regressive leverage rate. It's only 90mm travel and designed so you run it at basically zero sag, so it rides like a hardtail until you hit something big enough and then it opens up. Very niche but clever!
The Beady Little Eye is a stroke of genius imho. I rode a BB pivot geared bike with ~5" travel (usual sag set up) once and it was a horrible squatting mess of a bike. As you might expect. The Starling is made by someone who understands that the bike won't be pedalled when you're going at speed hitting things, only/mainly when building up some momentum, exiting a corner or climbing. The zero sag thing feels great and I can imagine it's so much fun for pumpy, jumpy, flowy singletrack downhills. Probably very reactive when it gets going too with such a light rear wheel. I really want one..
I go round in circles with the idea of getting a BLE - I've already got a lot of travel at the BB for a hardtail because I'm running a 160mm fork and if I want to go all the way to having some actual rear wheel suspension then at that point do I need gears, especially for hitting jumps when the gradient isn't always enough?
It's a very clever design, climbs like a hardtail, but feels pretty plush on roots and bumpy bits. Drop offs feel like it has way more than 90mm, but in reality I use about 35/40mm max.
I've also built mine with a suspension dropper, so i can sit down on pedally bits and get a bit of cushioning.
I haven't ridden it yet in anger with the barzo's on, I swapped them out for some worn out nobby nics. The rolling resistance feels nearly non existent in comparison.
Way more bike than I'll ever need, but I love it.
A geared version of a BLE would be amazing.
I think this years's BLE orders just closed yesterday. Although maybe ring up Joe and ask.
I was hovering over it all month and just can't justify the spend having just moved house (and also been told I have to sell my 2 unused frames before I can buy another bike).
Maybe next year...
^ you're not the only one. Having not bought a Mini-Murmur recently as I just don't think it'd get the use to justify the full bike cost I couldn't justify a BLE, but it would be cheaper to build, and I would probably want to use it more often .. and .. the M-M my friend bought is such a nice bike. But not for me, for now. If one ever comes up S/H in L I'll be onto it though (BLE or M-M, stealth wanted ad)