Starling Cycles have made a Carbon eMTB frame. But just the one and they promise not to make any more… Before you dive into the comments to say …

By amandawishart

Get the full story on our front page at:

Starling Cycles’ First (and only) Carbon Frame

Support us and help us keep the content flowing by becoming a full member.

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?

How does the drive work then?
Chainring is on the left. Does that then drive a jack shaft that switches to the right through the pivot?

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.

It is quite ugly, though.

No uglier than an actual production Starling though.

@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

@beargrease Ugly? They make some absolute stunners.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CZEOKBBI07X/

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.

think it’s a freeflow e-bike motor

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?

think it’s a freeflow e-bike motor

It does look like a Freeflow motor.
But how do they get it to run in the right direction with it fitted the wrong way round?

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

Same construction as my wife’s wheelchair by the look of it.

Interesting looking bike though.

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

It is a Freeflow motor and I assume i can be made to run in either direction just like any motor so the orientation would be switchable singlespeedstu?

I think it’s pretty good looking certainly for an eBike. I suspect it’s “proof of concept” right now as there’s no way that downtube is fitting a suitably sized battery and I don’t see any way of making it swappable. Those concentrating on the “it’s just like an Atherton (Robot)” aspect are missing the point. The tech is the thermoplastic and the benefits that gives in terms of suitability to the rigours of mountain-biking.

I do like the shock mount – that looks a lovely piece of work. ;o)

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?

It’s not particularly ugly (as you know) but it’s also not a functioning bike. What’s next, ‘look at this toaster which you might sit on’ please click.

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

BearGrease is right, that instagram link didn’t prove the point, Starlings just look like homemade,chop shop, frankenstein bikes.

How does the drive work then?

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