State Bicycle Co. 4130, Tropical Red Fixed Gear / Single Speed Bike

State Bicycle Co. 4130 Tropical Red: the loud one, on a serious chassis

Tropical Red is not a subtle colour and does not try to be. It is a warm, saturated red that sits somewhere between vermilion and coral, and it is the finish for riders who have no interest in a bike that blends in. Worth noting for anyone commuting in northern winters: a bright frame is genuinely easier for drivers to pick out in low light than black or navy.

The chassis underneath is the serious one. Double-butted 4130 chromoly, a redesigned wishbone rear clearing 38 mm tyres, fork and seat stay rack mounts, horizontal dropouts with integrated tensioners.

Why double-butted chromoly matters

Butted tubing is thicker at the welds, where stress concentrates, and thinner in between, where it is not needed. You get a lighter frame with no loss of fatigue life, the reason chromoly is still chosen for bicycles expected to survive a decade of potholes. It also damps road buzz in a way aluminium does not.

Built around 38 mm tyres

This is the change that redefined the 4130. The wishbone rear and redesigned fork take 38 x 700c as standard, with clearance recommended up to 45c. At that width you stop routing around bad surfaces: gravel, cobbles and light trail all open up on the same bike you commute on. The rims are tubeless-compatible, though the supplied tyres are not tubeless-rated, so it ships with inner tubes.

Fixed or freewheel, and your choice of cockpit

The sealed-bearing flip-flop hub carries a 16T freewheel and a fixed cog, and reversing the rear wheel switches between them. Two builds at the same price: All-Road flared gravel drops for a lower position and more control on loose ground, or wide riser bars for an upright city stance. Long-reach caliper brakes front and rear on both.

Specifications

• Frame: double-butted 4130 chromoly steel, TIG welded, wishbone rear, seat stay rack mounts
• Fork: 4130 chromoly with eyelet mounts
• Dropouts: horizontal, with integrated chain tensioners
• Wheelset: All-Road (Track) wheelset, tubeless-compatible rims, drilled 40 mm high-flange sealed-bearing hubs
• Tyres: 38 x 700c (not tubeless-rated); maximum recommended 45c
• Hub: flip-flop, 16T freewheel and 16T fixed cog included
• Crankset: forged steel, 130 BCD, 170 mm arms, 46T chainring
• Gear ratio: 46 x 16
• Handlebars: All-Road flared gravel drops or wide riser bars
• Brakes: long-reach caliper brakes, front and rear
• Pedals: included
• Sizes: 46, 49, 52, 55, 59, 62 cm, fitting riders from 160 cm to 201 cm
• Weight: 10.5 kg (55 cm frame with riser bars)
• Finish: Tropical Red
• Warranty: 5 years on the frame, 1 year on non-consumable parts

Frequently asked questions

Which frame size should I choose?

Six sizes cover 160 cm to 201 cm of rider height: 46 cm suits about 160 to 168 cm, 49 cm 165 to 173 cm, 52 cm 170 to 178 cm, 55 cm 175 to 183 cm, 59 cm 180 to 191 cm and 62 cm 188 to 201 cm. Reach matters more than standover here because the position is lower than a Core-Line, so it is worth checking rather than guessing. Send your height and inside leg measurement to L'Hirondelle Bike Shop in Meppel and we will confirm the right frame before you order.

How is the bike delivered, and does it arrive assembled?

It ships directly from State Bicycle Co.'s European warehouse to your address, around 90 percent assembled. The final setup, meaning handlebars, front wheel, pedals, saddle height and brake and drivetrain adjustment, must be completed by a qualified mechanic before the first ride. Any bike shop can do this in under an hour. If you are near Meppel, we can build it for you at L'Hirondelle Bike Shop by appointment. Contact us before ordering and we will arrange it.

What does the 5-year warranty cover, and what do I need to keep?

Five years on the frame against manufacturing defects, one year on non-consumable parts. Wear items such as tyres, pads, cables, chain and grips are excluded. Important: State Bicycle Co. requires proof of professional assembly for the warranty to be valid, so keep the invoice from whoever builds the bike. That document is what supports any future claim, and a claim can be refused without it.

Will a red frame fade?

Reds are the pigments most affected by prolonged UV exposure, more so than blacks or greens. In practice a bike stored indoors and ridden daily will hold its colour for years, while one left parked outside through several summers will dull slightly. If the bike lives on a balcony or in a yard, a cover is a worthwhile precaution, not because the paint is fragile but because red is the one colour where the difference eventually shows.

Can I actually run it tubeless?

The rims are tubeless-compatible but the supplied 38 mm tyres are not tubeless-rated, so it ships with inner tubes. Converting means tubeless-ready tyres, valves and sealant, a straightforward job for any bike shop and one we can do by appointment in Meppel. Worth doing if you ride gravel regularly, unnecessary if you stay on tarmac.

How is this different from a Core-Line?

Substantially. The Core-Line is plain steel with 28 mm tyres and a 44 x 16 ratio, built to a price. The 4130 is double-butted chromoly with 38 mm clearance, a 46 x 16 ratio, better hubs and a lighter frame. The Core-Line is a city bike, the 4130 leaves the tarmac. The price gap reflects material and capability, not finish.

Can I fit a rack and mudguards?

Yes. Fork eyelets and seat stay rack mounts are standard, and clearance is genuinely generous compared with the Core-Line, so full mudguards over 38 mm tyres fit without the usual compromises. It is worth having them fitted at the same time as the initial build.

Where are these bikes made?

State Bicycle Co. designs its bikes in Tempe, Arizona. Frames are manufactured in Asia to the brand's specification. The 4130 line runs in limited production per colourway and is retired once stock is gone, so a given finish does not come back. European stock is distributed from State Bicycle Co.'s EU warehouse.