So I've been seriously looking at building a steel bike-packing/touring/every day commuter bicycle (2nd pic related) but I have a SBC City Bike (first pic) which I absolutely despise. Genuinely junk. Everything rusted super easy, feels flimsy, pedals make a racket, mudgaurds are absolute trash, etc. I really like the look and sound of the frame, but I'm worried about a similar quality on it. Will it be as flimsy as the city bike?
by Specific-School-941
18 Comments
Why go with a company you are already dissatisfied with? Get a Surly.
If you already hate one bike from them, I wouldn’t get another bike from them.
what a strange comparison. absolute bottom of their lineup vs a dedicated newer frame from this years offering
I have a State All-Road (flat bar) 4130 that I purchased for my son. The groupset that it came with was horrible and I immediately replaced it with SRAM mechanical 11 speed and Shimano hydraulic brakes. For the price I got it for I’m not mad, but that is a lot of work to do on a brand new bike.
Ive had to fixed gear bikes never had a problem with them no complaints.
Most people hate them because they sell throough department stores i guess.
Nah, personally I wouldn’t. I got a State Americana for touring and only got about one to two years out of it. Although I may just be cursed.
Bought my first bike back in like 2010 or 2011 when they first started up. They used to sell on eBay lol. Bought the bike and waited months, thought I got scammed.
I still have the fixie, pretty simple and good city commuter but not much else
Check out Gunnar bikes, hand built in Durango, Colorado with a lifetime warranty.
My experience with the State All-road 4130 has been mixed. I think it looks awesome. Comfy to ride, the geometry is great and it fits me very well. They also sent me a new thru-axle after I completely stripped mine which was not technically covered under warranty, so that was very nice of them. Overall I enjoy riding it a lot. I was looking for an affordable steel frame gravel bike and that is exactly what it is.
Component wise I’ve had some disappointing premature failures, and the derailleur just kinda sucks. It has no notches on the barrel adjuster so it’s impossible to keep it well adjusted. Like within a single ride it will need re-adjusting lol. The brakes are just barely enough in my experience. I live in a hilly area and I kind of have to think about my braking distance more than I would like to when going downhill.
Tldr – Frame good, components meh
My 4130 All-Road has held up great, it’s about 4 years old now and just routine maintenance is all that’s been needed.
State is an excellent company with incredible customer service. Their entry-level bikes have good frames but crap components their mid-level bikes are fantastic but still lower quality components if you’re thinking about state, I highly recommend just getting a stripped frame. They are every bit as good as surly at half the price.
I own a surly midnight special and an ice cream truck and I own a state bicycle company 4130 all Road a 6061 fixed gear and a 4130 fixed gear
You bought the cheapest bike in the line-up of a company that makes primarily budget-oriented bikes. Of course it has issues, it’s a bike for someone who’s going to beat the shit out of it and not care about all the issues you’ve found.
The 4130 and 6061 are great options for a single speed, especially because right now the options tend to be hot garbage (Retrospec and the like) versus extremely cost-prohibitive frame-ups. So if you’re looking for a single speed that doesn’t cost a ton, both the 4130 and 6061 are great.
I’ve an acquaintance who has the Titanium All-Road and loves it. I don’t know anyone personally else who has the steel All-Road or any of their road bikes, but the only complaint I’ve ever heard in passing is that the stock saddles suck.
TLDR is to not cheap out. When you cheap out, there are consequences.
I have that same bike, the 3 speed, with about 1000 miles on it, it’s solid and no rust. I use it for chill gravel rides now. I’ve got the 4130 8 speed and that bike is amazing and no rust, I’ve ridden Tour De Scottsdale and about to do my second Tour De Tucson, approaching 1500 miles on it.
I’d say your expectations for your understanding of your needs to be junk, not the State bikes. Pedals are cheap, Ass Savers guards for front and rear are cheap.
At my local velodrome, the rentals are all state. They’re great!
I ordered one of the early years of the 6061 All Road and two professional mechanics, with a combined 40 years of bike wrenching at a very good LBS, could not get it to shift correctly. The dropouts and the BB were not aligned correctly.
On the plus side, State took my return and refunded my money with excellent communication and service.
The other plus was the owner of the LBS (one of the aforementioned mechanics) was so annoyed and sympathetic that he got me a good deal on a Trek Checkpoint ALR (which were not easy to find at the time as it was after COVID f-d the supply chain for several months, come to think of it, that’s why I’d gone with State in the first place).
Why would another bike from the same company be different
It’s a steel bike. It’s going to rust unless you keep it indoors. Might want to replace the bottom bracket and cranks for your pedal issue. Some nicer wheels and tires could be another upgrade. It’ll cost you what you bought your bike for, but it’s one way to improve what you got.
I have a 4130 state bicycle circa 2010. It was pretty rusted when I bought off a guy second hand. I took everything apart and regreased it and swapped out the rusted and dry bottom bracket. Rides pretty great now.
I had one which was stolen. Loved it