Let’s face it, the world of mountain bikes has become eye-wateringly expensive. It feels like you need a second mortgage just to get a decent trail machine these days. But fear not, because State Bicycle Co has ridden to the rescue with a bike that cuts through the complexity and delivers pure, unadulterated capability without the ridiculous price tag. Say hello to the State Bicycle Co 4130 Trail Mountain Bike – a hardtail built tough, built to last, and built to tackle pretty much anything you can throw at it, all without the usual BS.
This is a no-nonsense trail ripper that feels just as at home crushing climbs and ripping descents on singletrack as it does handling urban shortcuts or loaded up for an epic bikepacking adventure. The heart of the bike is its double-butted 4130 chromoly steel frame. Why steel? Because it’s tougher than aluminium, offers a smoother ride feel than carbon by absorbing trail chatter, and can take a serious beating without flinching. Paired with modern, progressive trail geometry featuring a slack 65° head angle, a low-slung top tube, and a long front-centre, the 4130 Trail feels stable and confidence-inspiring when the trail gets rowdy, yet remains playfully agile when you need to carve corners.
State Bicycle Co has also included key modern features that riders actually want. You get Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) compatibility, future-proofing your ride for the latest drivetrain tech and making spare parts easier to find – because who needs the stress? Internal dropper post routing with a 31.6mm seat tube means upgrading to a dropper is hassle-free.
And for the mechanically inclined or those who appreciate reliability, it features a tried-and-true threaded bottom bracket (73mm BSA) that’s less prone to creaking and easy to service. Plus, for the adventurers out there, State has loaded up the downtube with triple bottle cage mounts – because adventure shouldn’t be limited by how much water you can carry internally.
Now, let’s talk about the fork. At a price point of $1499.99, where you’d typically expect a pretty basic fork with spindly stanchions and questionable performance, State Bicycle Co has equipped the 4130 Trail with a legit RockShox Psylo Silver RC. This fork offers 130mm of plush travel and features beefy 35mm aluminium upper tubes for enhanced steering precision and stiffness when you’re bombing down technical descents. The Motion Control damper and Solo Air spring provide excellent bump absorption, while premium bushings keep things buttery smooth over rough terrain.
This is a seriously impressive level of fork performance for a bike at this price point. The State Bicycle Co 4130 Trail Mountain Bike is a breath of fresh air in the hardtail market, offering exceptional durability, capable modern geometry, quality components, and a killer ride feel without demanding a small fortune. It’s built tough, ready for anything, and looks awesome in that Patina Gold finish. If you’re looking for a hardtail that delivers performance and value in spades, look no further.
