Roughly two months after launching a new steel gravel bike, State is introducing the 4130 Trail hardtail, a mountain bike the brand hopes “delivers everything you need and none of the fluff.” The State 4130 Trail naturally features a 4130 chromoly steel frame, and the default $1,499 build includes a RockShox Psylo fork, which is rare for a mountain bike at this price point.
State 4130 Trail hardtail specs
- 4130 chromoly steel frame with external routing
- 130mm fork travel
- Weight: 33.6lb as tested (size L/XL)
- Price: $1,499
- Buy from State Bicycle Co.
Looking at the geometry, the 4130 Trail cuts modern lines. The 65° head tube angle is properly slack for the 130mm-travel fork. Sub-430mm chainstays promise a playful ride feel while still offering clearance for tires up to 29×2.6″. I’m testing a size large/extra-large, and the 490mm reach feels comfortable — not too long, not too cramped. Even though I’m 6’3″, the 844mm standover height is noticeably high.
| XS/S | S/M | M/L | L/XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Tube Length(mm) | 380 | 405 | 430 | 460 |
| Top Tube Length(mm) | 594.7 | 622.6 | 645.5 | 673.3 |
| Head Tube Angle(Degree) | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 |
| Seat Tube Angle(Degree) | 74.5 | 74.4 | 74.4 | 74.4 |
| Head Tube Length(mm) | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 |
| Front Center(mm) | 737.6 | 766.7 | 790.9 | 820 |
| Rear Center(mm) | 426.5 | 426.5 | 426.5 | 426.5 |
| Wheelbase(mm) | 1158.2 | 1187.5 | 1211.7 | 1240.9 |
| BB Height（27.5*3.0 Tire）(mm) | 312 | 312 | 312 | 312 |
| BB Height（29*2.6 Tire）(mm) | 321 | 321 | 321 | 321 |
| BB Drop(mm) | 56 | 56 | 56 | 56 |
| Reach(mm) | 420 | 445 | 465 | 490 |
| Stack(mm) | 628.3 | 637.4 | 646.5 | 655.5 |
| Standover Height（27.5*3.0 Tire）(mm) | 784 | 800 | 817 | 835 |
| Standover Height（29*2.6 Tire）(mm) | 793 | 809 | 826 | 844 |
External cable and hose routing — with the exception of the dropper cable — makes for easy repairs and upgrades down the line. There are mounts for two water bottles inside the front triangle, and the rear dropout is UDH-compatible.
Stock build
The stock build for the State 4130 Trail hardtail offers a great start, though one of the first add-ons pretty much everyone will want is a dropper post. Fortunately, State makes it easy to add a PNW Range dropper post and lever to your build for an extra $199. I’ve only ridden a couple of miles on the 4130 so far, and rest assured, I’ll be adding a dropper post before my first real test ride.
The RockShox Psylo is the real star at this price point: it’s essentially a budget Lyrik. The fork, with 35mm stanchions, features a SoloAir air spring offering both rebound and low-speed compression adjustments.
State skimps on the drivetrain, offering an 11-speed Microshift XLE derailleur paired with an 11-42t cassette. So far, my test bike shifts just fine, but this might not be a wide enough gear range for some riders. For $499, buyers can upgrade to a 12-speed, SRAM AXS wireless drivetrain.
The XLE derailleur is clutched, keeping chain slaps to a minimum, though you’ll want to add your own chainstay protection to the 4130 Trail frame. Not coincidentally, buyers can add a $12.99 LizardSkins chainstay protector to their build.
The cockpit, saddle, crankset, and even the wheels are State-branded. Everything is pretty entry-level, which isn’t a surprise at this price point. It’s clear that most buyers will have an eye toward making key upgrades to the 4130 sooner rather than later. The bike ships with tubes, but the wheels and tires are tubeless-ready, and State helpfully includes tubeless valves, so all you need is sealant to go tube-free. This is another change I plan to make before any serious test rides.
Stock WTB Trail Boss tires are a nice addition, and the Tektro 2-piston hydraulic brakes feel surprisingly good, at least so far.
Priced at $1,499, the State 4130 Trail is less expensive than a steel hardtail build from a boutique brand and even some of the larger brands that still offer steel-frame builds. Frame-only pricing starts at $495, and clearly, the price goes up quickly even for the complete bike once you add a dropper post and consider upgrades to the drivetrain and cockpit.
Singletracks received a test bike just days before the launch, and will update this article with complete ride impressions at a later date.
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