Steel Is Real: The State Bicycle Co. 4130 Trail Raw Phosphate Mountain Bike

There is a pervasive trend in the modern cycling industry that seems to suggest fun is directly correlated with the emptiness of your bank account. We have reached a point where flagship mountain bikes cost more than a reliable used sedan, draped in fragile carbon fiber and electronic wizardry that requires a degree in computer science to maintain.

It is a refreshing change of pace, then, to see a brand like State Bicycle Co. flip the script and return to the roots of what makes riding off-road so visceral and addictive.

Their latest offering, the 4130 Trail Raw Phosphate Mountain Bike, is a love letter to the purists—a machine built to rip, built to last, and perhaps most importantly, built without the BS.

The first thing that grabs you about this bike is the aesthetic. In a sea of neon matte finishes and plastic-looking composites, the “Raw Phosphate” finish on the double-butted 4130 Chromoly steel frame feels undeniably honest.

It looks industrial, purposeful, and tough as nails, which is fitting because that is exactly how it rides. The “steel is real” mantra exists for a reason; while aluminum can be harsh and carbon can feel dead, high-quality chromoly offers a unique compliance that absorbs trail chatter while remaining stiff enough to put the power down.

It is a material that shrugs off the kind of abuse that would send a carbon frame to the landfill, making it the ideal choice for a bike designed to be ridden hard and put away wet.

State hasn’t just built a retro curiosity here; the geometry is thoroughly modern. They have dialed in a progressive trail geometry featuring a slack 65-degree head angle and a low-slung top tube.

This combination keeps things stable when the trail gets rowdy and steep, yet maintains a playful agility in the corners that encourages you to seek out the fun lines rather than just surviving them.

Whether you are slashing through tight singletrack, hammering urban shortcuts, or loading up for a weekend bikepacking expedition, the long front center gives you the confidence to send it.

At a price point of $1499.99, one would typically expect corners to be cut, usually in the suspension department. Budget hardtails are notorious for sporting spindly forks with questionable damping that flex under pressure. State has bucked this trend by speccing a legitimate RockShox Psylo Silver RC.

With 130mm of travel and beefy 35mm steel upper tubes, this fork offers genuine steering precision and stiffness when you are blasting through technical rock gardens. The Motion Control damper and Solo Air spring keep the front end plush, while premium bushings ensure a buttery-smooth ride that punches well above its weight class.

The practical, rider-focused ethos extends to the drivetrain and maintenance features. Power is delivered via a bombproof 1×12 Shimano Deore setup, paired with an 11–50T cassette that provides enough range to spin up the steepest fire roads.

It is a workhorse drivetrain known for crisp, reliable shifting in grit and mud. Furthermore, the frame is designed with future-proofing in mind, featuring a Universal Derailleur Hanger (UDH) to ensure you aren’t left stranded by proprietary parts availability, and a threaded BSA bottom bracket that will keep your local mechanic happy (and your ride creak-free).

Versatility is the final piece of the puzzle. With triple bottle cage mounts on the downtube, the 4130 Trail is ready to be loaded down for adventure, proving that adventure doesn’t come with limits. It also features internal cable routing for a hassle-free dropper post upgrade, allowing you to tailor the build to your specific needs.

The State Bicycle Co. 4130 Trail Raw Phosphate isn’t just a bike; it is a statement that you don’t need to mortgage your house to experience the joy of the trail. It delivers everything you need, nothing you don’t, and looks damn cool doing i

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