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Thorn Cycles Sterling (09) | $3238.26
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This ugly duckling turns into a swan when you point it at the horizon

BikeRadar verdict

4 out of 5 stars

"Massive expedition experience makes the ultra-smooth Sterling an outstanding off-road adventure bike"

By Guy Kesteven, What Mountain Bike

At first glance, the Sterling is one of the gawkiest looking bikes we’ve ever tested, but you don’t have to pedal far to be charmed by its ride, crafted by some of the most experienced and thoughtful adventure bike designers in the world.

Ride it in long-haul cargo carrying context and you’ll understand every carefully considered aspect of its design. With suspension forks and knobbly tyre kit selections also available to up the fun factor, you’re looking at an extremely versatile and enjoyable ride that’s possibly the ultimate zero maintenance, maximum versatility, high-value adventure bike on the market.

Ride & handling: Remarkably smooth and surefooted Rohloff ride

With its wonky high-rise shopper handlebar perched on top of no fewer than eight 5mm Aheadset spacers, the Sterling couldn’t feel less like an aggressive trail bike.

The unloaded handling is an odd mix of very light hand pressure and steadfast straightline stability. This makes the front wheel prone to pushing out on loose turns if you’re running unloaded or with rear luggage only.

That's because the Sterling is designed to carry most of its payload up front. With low riders (panniers that sit low down alongside the front hub) fitted, the handling makes perfect sense in a planted, drama-free way.

From the twin-crown 100mm suspension-corrected fork with a custom offset to Thorn’s proprietary socketed Rohloff dropouts, it’s all simple but highly effective.

Despite its utilitarian looks, the Sterling’s level of smooth comfort and its playful unloaded feel on rough trails is as charming as it is surprising, whether you're using it for long exploratory on/off-road sorties or just nipping out on errands to make good use of the panniers.

Despite the rigid fork and hefty Rohloff hub at the rear, the carefully blended tubing gives a smooth feel on rough tracks and bridleways. The semi-slick tyres means the Sterling hides its weight surprisingly well too.

Thorn sterling: thorn sterling

Frame: Super-stiff steel chassis with all the tour-ready features you might need

At £349 the Sterling frame is the same price as most decent quality steel mountain bike frames but the devil is in the detail. The 858 steel tubeset has been developed by Thorn over years of building off-the-peg and bespoke expedition touring bikes.

Thorn claim their 858 heavy gauge tubing is significantly stiffer than ultra-light gauge tubing. This stiffness ensures that the frame can take the load for medium-weight touring, and that the rear wheel tracks the front.

Super thin rear stays are designed to reduce rough road sting to a minimum, and the distinctive biplane crowned rigid fork curves forward to calm pothole sting and add loaded stability. The main tubes are stiff enough to keep you and your panniers going in the intended direction on an Andean jeep track descent.

It certainly isn’t short on practicality: Crud Catcher mud guard, multiple bottle, dynamo, mudguard and front and rear rack mounts are all threaded into the frame. As a result the Sterling is rated for 15kg of load at the rear and 25kg on the forks. Crossover cable routing under the bottom bracket means lovely clean lines to the Rohloff hub, which sits in dedicated dropouts.

Equipment: Choose your own build from a well thought out list

The Thorn order form lets you specify crank and stem length according to personal preference and offers a series of build kits, each of which can be altered to suit while you’re shopping. Don’t look at the old-school elements and immediately assume you know better though, because going through the spec lists is definitely an education in durability and practicality.

For a start, the square taper bottom bracket for the own-brand SJS/Thorn cranks will last far longer than any external bearing BB. Using a smaller chainring than the Van Nich keeps you in the smoother top seven gears more of the time, as well as giving a lower crawler gear too.

You’ll be able to find at least a botchable set of brake pads for the V-brakes almost anywhere in the world too. While they feel spongier and less powerful than hydraulic discs – particularly in wet weather – V-brakes won’t boil up and leave you hurtling to your doom on a long, loaded descent.

This is the the ultimate adventure/ minimum maintenance bike, rather than a fashion statement.: this is the the ultimate adventure/ minimum maintenance bike, rather than a fashion statement.

User Reviews

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  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    It's so off the wall, I love it!

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    Me too. OK, it's not an out and out performance mountain bike, but then, that's not their sales pitch. Bike mags should glorify this kind of mountain biking holiday as much as taking an 8 inch bike to the Alps for a week. This is what cycling's all about.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    Isn't it rather expensive??? Seriously you don't get much for this price... I would at least expect a susp. fork and disc brakes for 2k£

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    The hub gear costs getting on for a grand on its own. This bike is about long-distance touring, and it's pretty competitive with other similar makes at this price.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    The ultimate high adventure / low maintainance off-road bike design is Geoff Apps 30 year old Cleland design which was manufactured in the early 1980's. This design is well proven and could easily be used as a starting piont for a modern bike. However, the Thorn Sterling looks to be a step in the right direction of creating a top quality modern off-road touring machine.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    Looks horrible. What's the point?

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    yeah a full sus would be so much better for touring..............

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    lesz42 - so tell me, what do you do when you're in tanzania and you're shock bearings go? Or you rupture a disc brake hose? Shock goes flat, coil snaps?

    This thorn IS the ultimate touring bike - a bullet proof hub gear that'll never go wrong, a super strong comfy steel frame that can be welded and bodged by a local if broken, and runs off readily available complementary found in even the poorest of countries.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    zero303 - how often do modern alu frames break? I've been touring with a year 2000 F400 Cannondale for 9 years and have had no problems. It comes with V brakes so no disc problems that you warn of. I could if I wanted fit a Rohloff hub. All this tripe about comfy steel annoys me. I've never felt uncomfortable riding alu and really appreciate the Headshok which has never broken down.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    The Thorn Sterling is trying to solve the same problem that Geoff Apps solved over 30 years ago with his Cleland Cross Country Cycle design.

    Here's a link to the Cleland website.

    http://www.james-walters.net/cleland/index.html

    If Thorn really want to produce a totally reliable off-road tourer they should copy the the Cleland design. Or better still copy one of the modern versions and so benefit from 30 years of research, development and testing.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    That lad who's cycling around the world at the moment uses an alu framed Santos Travelmaster, with Rohloff BUT with a belt rather then chain. That also looks impressive.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    I like the idea of a hub gear, but once water gets inside it I suspect it'll self-destruct quite quickly. And it still has a chain to gather up mud and grass - why not a shaft?

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    steel IS far better ride feel . It also has a much better fatigue life than Alu. Plus if you crash and need a damaged frame mended no special skills are needed by the welder. Those rear hubs will never go wrong. They use roller clutch to engage the drive not ratchets and paws. It works the same as a cars gear box so if water does get in you just put oil in through the hole provided.

    I work in a bike shop and have seen many alu frames that have snapped.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    Super Fatty - again, looking at the proper adventure riding side of things, IF you break your frame, and remember you could get knocked off your bike by a car or anything! You're screwed if it's Alu... that bloke might be doing it on Alu at the moment but that still doesn't detract from the fact that you're not going to just stumble across some bloke in the wild who can rescue an Alu frame... Did you watch Long Way Round, how many times did they get their motorcycles just bodged and welded up by some local?

    I'm not saying you won't be comfortable on an Alu bike, I just said steel was MORE comfortable. You call it tripe but how many steel bikes have you ridden and ridden them back to back with Alu?

    Again, just because your headshox hasn't failed before, that's not to say it won't or can't and I re-stress, if you're out in the middle of nowhere in foreign and possibly very remote land - what are you going to do about it? Just ride along on it collapsed until it batters itself to pieces?

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    You can make a steel frame stiff and less comfortable (like my track bike) and you can make alloty flexy and comfortable (like my old fisher) but on the whole it's easier to make a stiff alloy frame and a comfy steel frame

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    zero303 - I used to have a steel bike but certainly appreciated the 2kg drop in weight when I changed to my alu frame. Light weight = less energy to pedal same distance = better for covering long distances. Alu = more stiffness = more efficiency. If you want a more comfy ride then get a better saddle. Headshok is the most reliable suspension fork in the world. If steel is so great, why do all Tour riders ride carbon????? Whatever wins is the best surely. I wish steel romantics would just give everyone a break.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    carbon is used as it has both the ability to flex AND be made stiff in the areas where it is needed. Yes carbon is much lighter than steel frame wise but alu is no lighter than a good steel frame . Ride a renyolds 853 tubed frame and you will be very fast on rough climbs as the slight flex will pre load the rear wheel forcing it into the ground giving you traction ( the salsa El Kabong full sus frame uses this idea with Scandium) .

    I have to say who ever told you headshocks are THE most reliable lied.

    Alu /steel / titanium/ carbon is mostly down to fashion . Fashion dictates some sort of big chunky tubing is the strongest ; but lb for lb steel and carbon are the strongest materials . To make a light steel frame you use narrow gage tubing that is no longer in fashion.

    I wish to point out that the ARGOS cycles race team all ride steel frames .

    Apparently they are quite handy on the road too.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    NatoED - nobody told me Headshok is the most reliable fork. I know it from 9 years experience. So which fork is the most reliable in your opinion? Alu can be lighter and stiffer than a good steel frame. You're right, steel bikes are pure fashion.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    best fork out there are any zocchi before 2005. I have a set from 2002 (Z1 drop off) . I can asure you from experiance your lucky with your headshock . I'm currently runing Magura Odur forks on my XC bike. I must also inform you i've been mountain biking for over 14 years . I am riding a Alu frame but if i had the money i'd grab a custom steel frame fast.

    And thats the clincher Alu frames are cheap to make .Steel is not a fashion. The reason Alu took over is because bike companies went over to the far east to get their Alu frames made cheaply . Small tubed steel frames CAN be STIFFER than Alu and LIGHTER than Alu it has a better fatigue life that alu (that's why alu frames only have 3 year warranty where as steel is lifetime) . Alas most riders want big chunky tubes on their bikes cos it was "HARD CORE."

    For a great steel bike bike look at the Santa Cruz chameleon . 853 tubing very light supper stiff . It's and awesome play bike , also works very well as an all day XC machine. To get the same sort of weight : strength ratio with Alu for that frame then you'd have to use big tube profiles that would limit the frame geometry to much . I've seen Chameleons built up and weigh just 23lb in weight with out supper light parts z2 forks , Hope xc pro hubs, mavic 721 rims , old school LX cranks with UN54 BB , avid single digit brakes , answer pro rise bar, ritchly stem and seat post , WTB velocoraptor rubber with Salsa Moto tubes .

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    The Santa Cruz Chameleon is Aluminium btw.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    not the Original Chameleon from 1999.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    NatoED - I've seen test results measuring stiffness to weight and alu frames almost always beats steel. And carbon beats alu. The best hardtail frame on the market just now is probably the Scott Scale RC and I doubt any steel or titanium frame could ever match it. Sure titanium and steel frames look elegant but technologically they are dated.

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    I think your missing the point yes stiffness is there but strength is not . for strength you will find it's Ti, carbon, steel , scandium , ALU . Stiff frames are not the "best frames" Stiff frames offer less traction on climbs and descents than a frame with a little flex vertically. When a frame has a small amount of upward flex it can "load up" the rear wheel and push the tyre back into the ground giving you extra grip (like a full sus XC bike ) yet you still get stiffness where you need it ; around the BB area.

    To say that steel is technologically dated is narrow minded . Steel matrix's are still used on F1 cars and aeroplanes . Steel can be made into alloys that can replicate ALU in many ways but hold better fatigue properties. ALU is no more "superior technology" than steel . All that changes are frame ideas and shapes . ALU just does what steel does but has to use different shapes to keep it's strength .

    It comes down to the same old thing :

    what do the big bike companies want you to think is the latest best and newest shiny thing .

    0.3
  • User review of Thorn Cycles Sterling (09)

    NatoED - I've ridden Steel, Ti, Carbon and Alu and would say they all have their benefits. To say Steel is the most comfortable is rubbish. It is the design that makes the comfort not the material.

    I'm glad you pointed out that Ti was the strongest material because Thorn seem to have missed this and claim that every Ti frame breaks. I would probably say the opposite as I've never known anyone with a broken Ti frame.

    As for touring frames it would probably only be down to Steel or Ti as you wouldn't need to repair a Ti frame and a Steel frame would be easy to repair.

    Choccy...

    0.3

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Specification

Name:
Sterling (09)
Built by:
Thorn Cycles
Price:
$3238.26

Available Sizes:
16 Inches, L, M
Size:
16 Inches
Available Colours:
Black
Weight (kg):
14.7
Weight (lb):
32.5
Year:
2009

Frame & Fork:

 
Frame Material:
Thorn 858
Fork Model:
Thorn Mt-Tura Reynolds rigid

Geometry:

 
Seat Angle:
72 Degrees
Head Angle:
70 Degrees

Brakes:

 
Brakes Model:
Shimano Deore V-brakes

Transmission:

 
Cranks Model:
SJSC chainset (38t ring)
Bottom Bracket Model:
Shimano square taper
Shifters Model:
Rohloff GripShifter

Wheels:

 
Rims Model:
Rigida Grizzly
Front Hub Model:
Shimano Deore
Rear Hub Model:
Rohloff 500/14 EX
Tyres Brand:
Schwalbe
Front Tyre Model:
Hurricane
Front Tyre Size:
26x2.0
Rear Tyre Model:
Hurricane
Rear Tyre Size:
26x2.0

Contact Points:

 
Seatpost Model:
Thorn
Stem Model:
Thorn, 120mm
Handlebar Model:
Thorn Comfort riser, 635mm (25in)

:

 
Seat Tube (cm):
40.9 cm
Standover Height (cm):
72.4 cm
Top Tube (cm):
60.7 cm
Wheelbase (cm):
109.5 cm
Bottom Bracket Height (cm):
28.4 cm
Chainstays (cm):
43.4 cm

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