First Look: DMR's Trailstar Titanium Hardtail

Feb 23, 2024
by Jessie-May Morgan  
photo


The DMR Trailstar is making a comeback, this time in titanium. The 1996 original was a 26" wheeled chromoly steel affair that became a thing of legend amongst hardtail fans in the UK. The most recent iteration came in 2016, by which time it had evolved with 27.5" wheels, and clearance to go 27.5+. For 2024, it's upgraded to 29" wheels with sliding dropouts. And, that dramatically sloping top tube that made it so easily recognizable is, as fashion dictates, a thing of the past.

Priced at £1,800, the DMR Trailstar is one of the more affordable titanium hardtail options on the market.

Trailstar Titanium Details

• 3Al-2.5V titanium tubing
• 29" wheels
• Clearance for 2.5" tires
• 140mm fork
• 64.5° head angle, 76° seat angle
• Reach: L2, L3
• Chainstay Length: 425mm-435mm
• Claimed weight: 2.1 kg (L3)
• Warranty: 5 Years
• Frameset price: £1,800
• dmrbikes.com

It feels a bit wrong to use that word when writing about anything that's titanium, but the Trailstar is a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than the recently launched Revel Tirade, which offers a similar set of features in a frame with a slightly slacker seat tube angle. While that frame is sold with a lifetime warranty, DMR's offering is sold with a five year warranty.

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Both frames are home to sliding dropouts for single-speed compatibility and chainstay length adjustment. The Trailstar rear end is adjustable between 425mm and 435mm, while the Tirade gets a wider 17mm range between 420mm and 437mm. Only the Tirade is compatible with Transmission derailleurs.

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For most, I imagine the cost saving associated with the Trailstar is enough to trump those small details, but it can't cater to all. While the Tirade is offered in five sizes, accommodating riders from 5' 1" to 6' 8". The Trailstar comes in two sizes only, catering to the middle of the bell curve. The L2 and L3 frames, offer reach figures of 460mm and 480mm, respectively. Seat tubes are short (395mm and 430mm), with a bend introduced about two thirds of the way down. The L3 frame weighs a claimed 2.1 kg.

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As a timely aside, it's interesting to note that another well-known UK manufacturer, Cotic Bikes, has announced it will cease to produce titanium frames, largely due to the increased environmental impact that titanium has over steel - citing sustainability reports from Reynolds and Trek.

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10mm chainstay length adjustment by virtue of sliding dropouts

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I digress. In true "winter bike" spirit, the Titanium Trailstar runs external cable routing, save for the dropper post cable for which there is a port at the base of the seat tube. There's a 73mm threaded bottom bracket shell, a tapered integrated headset, and it runs a 31.6mm seat post.

The Trailstar is available now, with only 25 in each size. Get one direct through the DMR website, or a local retailer.

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Clearance for a 29" x 2.5" tire
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The CORE Bike show-piece Trailstar was home to DMR Vault pedals in the new Black Chrome color


Posted In:
Reviews and Tech First Looks Hardtails Dmr Dmr Trailstar


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Member since Oct 26, 2023
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65 Comments
  • 65 0
 I feel like my midlife crisis is coming on.
  • 43 1
 When mine hit, I sold my single speed titanium hardtail and built a sauna. Less maxing, more relaxin.
  • 24 0
 @bgilby: less jumpin more plumpin Frown
  • 3 1
 @bgilby: NO
  • 7 0
 @rickybobby19: less jumping more pumping
  • 1 0
 That is exactly where my head went.
  • 2 1
 I bought a skateboard, fully knowing I would just tic-tac it around my office.
  • 41 3
 Honestly I want to be as motivated as the people at different brands creating the 128572749th identically same titanium hardtail bike! This is pure commitment!
  • 7 0
 That’s because they’re made in the same Chinese factory in Xi’an by skilled labourers.
Ever read ‘No logo’?
  • 1 0
 @Ynotgorilla: yes but because aren’t designed by a Chinese company they are all completely unique.
  • 2 0
 You can just buy one direct. waltlytitanium.com Spec your own tubing diameter, wall thickness, geometry, guide placements and whatever else you want for about $1000USD. Most of these brands are pretty myopic when it comes to this kind of frame - why not get exactly what you want for 1/3 the price and make it as wacky as you like.
  • 16 0
 I like seeing all these lovely Ti Hardtails of late. Nice details and geometry choices here, as well as very clean welds and cable routing. With my username, I feel obligated to come here and say 'well done'
  • 10 0
 Bike industry: we're going broke!
Bike industry: here's more titanium hardtails!


This should be telling of their profit margins on titanium frame bikes. This is like the 5th new titanium hardtail I've seen
  • 8 0
 Want in steel like the classic please.
  • 1 0
 Enough good steel options out there with similar geometry (for example the Transition TransAm is very close). Then again, there are also more than enough Titanium options out there as well, but who am I to complain?
  • 6 0
 Won't that hole in the seat tube (for the dropper post cable) let water in and pool around the BB? Wouldn't they have some rubber grommet to plug that better?
  • 2 1
 Duck it
  • 2 0
 Maybe it has a hole at the bottom of the BB shell to let the water drain out again?
  • 1 0
 It doesn’t ever rain in the uk so doesn’t need a grommet thingy
  • 5 1
 Thats gorgeous. Top comment on the 2016 trailstar is complaining that £499 was too much for a frameset! Times have changed and I'm not sure for the better... Although this is a completely different bike and Ti too. Lovely frame, if a bit out of reach for me
  • 5 1
 That is horny, I like a lot
  • 1 0
 every hardtail , regardless of material , need to take a good look at a Salsa Timberjack v2 alu. for cable routing .! And Ill buy whatever brand comes out first with a ti frame with said cable routing….
  • 6 1
 internally routed...no thanks
  • 1 0
 Under-downtube external shows off the frame best. Fixed subframe needs no extra housing below the bb. People think the housing will get damaged, but I never had any problems here in rockville
  • 2 0
 Bike sizing is so wack these days..I need a 475 reach and a 625 ett on a hard tail..no one makes a bike to fit 90%of people that are in the 5,95,10catgoery
  • 3 0
 www.marinobike.com
  • 3 0
 @somebody-else: I bought a Marino, and I must admit I'm a little disappointed. It's beautifully made and looks fanny-tastic, but it's a bit of a heffa and it's incredibly stiff, with none of that mystical steel compliance or zing. Took ages to decide on the correct back tyre to damp it sufficiently (butcher T9). I do enjoy riding it though, it's a bloody steamroller.
  • 1 0
 @hamplanet: I don’t find steel hardtails to be particularly compliant regardless of who makes it. Niner, RSD and Chromag have all been stiff but I think in a good way. That first ride is always bad until I do a couple 3-4ft to flat landing drops and you can feel things relax just a bit.
  • 2 0
 @somebody-else: Your legs relax?
  • 1 0
 @hamplanet: I have a Marino as well and would agree. Having ridden it back to back against a Stif Squatch with similar front travel, the Marino feels burlier overall. I think it's ok though, in my humble opinion the fork settings and wheel / tire choice are much more apparent in ride feel than the frame characteristics.
  • 1 0
 @AndrewFleming: the frame lol
  • 1 0
 @somebody-else: The frame relaxes? What?
  • 1 0
 @AndrewFleming: maybe not the right word, but yeah. Fresh out of the box steel hardtail is a touch harsher than after the first couple decent sized hits. I noticed the same thing with bmx.
  • 1 0
 @somebody-else: You know that’s all in your imagination, right? Steel doesn’t change it’s properties after a few hits. It’s basic material science.
  • 3 2
 "it's upgraded to 29" wheels with UDH and sliding dropouts."

I'm looking at the Derailleur and that is very much not a UDH. it may have the same "shape" as a UDH, but it's NOT a UDH. let's not get confused here.
  • 3 1
 The photos on the DMR site are just straight up NOT UDH, can someone correct the article?
  • 2 0
 "Only the Tirade is compatible with Transmission derailleurs."
  • 1 0
 Please make an affordable steel/al version with a shorter reach size option! Would love to ride a Trailstar again, my first 2 proper mtbs were Trailstar frames and they were so much fun to ride.
  • 4 0
 Dope. Love how pinkbike is giving more love to hardtails
  • 2 0
 This bike is siiick. I loved my OG Trailstar- I was just thinking back on it the other day. Sure wish I could fire up this new iteration.
  • 1 0
 I like the placement of the tires for the photo shoot. Opposite logos almost lined up perdfectly. It is the little things......
  • 2 0
 Top tube decal is pointing the wrong direction for proper driveside viewing and those tires... ugh!
  • 2 0
 If I had a £1 for everytime I see that rear drop out on a frame….well I could probably afford one.
  • 1 1
 The last model had soul. The top tube, the colors...this one does not. Slack seat angle ruined the old frame design though. Also I'm never going to like 29ers no matter how hard they try.
  • 1 1
 65mm bottom bracket drop???? That is almost gravel bike drop. Why? Do they just want to have you ejected off the bike with a pedal strike? Oh wait.......I get it. 155 mm cranks! Keep forgetting about the latest trends.
  • 3 0
 the ol classic is back
  • 2 0
 Maybe not the right word, but that's an elegant-looking bike.
  • 3 1
 We should put that bike in the DMR Vault
  • 1 0
 That is a good looking dropout, which for a sliding dropout, is saying a lot! Good work there.
  • 1 0
 The Porsche 911 turbo is one of the more cost effective Porsche 911 turbos on the market
  • 2 0
 TT + Seat stay routing + SS mounted + sliders. Yes please.
  • 2 0
 Proper sliding dropouts too
  • 1 0
 50 total?!? Almost worth buying one just as a collectors item.
  • 1 0
 Dope bike. DT take note on appropriate 2 sizing launch.
  • 1 1
 Yeti schmetii, this is the bike you’ll hear about when you’re in for a biannual teeth cleaning.
  • 1 1
 Wow. Looks incredible! I've never been more tempted to upgrade my frame (checks bank account), maybe a couple of years.
  • 3 2
 Speaking of hardtails. pinkbike.com/buysell/3814047
  • 2 0
 Want
  • 1 1
 This is not a trailstar. A trailstar has smaller wheels and an affordable steel frame!
  • 2 1
 Those welds are CLEAN!
  • 2 2
 But it doesn't have a Fox or RS fork and no transmission! Eww.
  • 1 0
 Oooh my,yes please.
  • 4 5
 Orange should hire their welder.
  • 10 0
 It's not really a fair comparison- could I say 'apples and Oranges" [sorry]

Titanium is lovely to weld, it flows very nicely and it's comparatively 'easy' to get nice looking welds. Aluminum is a whole other beast. That is part of the Orange aesthetic, and not everyone is going to love it. Look at Neko's Frameworks bikes, or Nicolai if you want a more appropriate comparison to boutique allow frames built by some of the best.







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