Since launching in 2009, State Bicycle Co. has carved out a reputation for delivering functionality without fluff. Launched this year, the Titanium All-Road certainly fits that bill — quiet and unremarkable, other than the iridescence of its State logos.
Still fun as hell, though.
Bombing the first descent. Air roaring past my ears. Rocks pinging off the downtube at 30+ mph. Teeth clenched, bike launching off square edges, bottles launched. I didn’t once think about the bike.
Turned around, hopped off to get my bottles. Didn’t look at the frame for paint chips or cracks.
Three hours later, I still hadn’t.
In short: This bike is for riders who don’t care about status, tech, or aero. They just want to ride — and keep riding for years without thinking about it. It’s not the crème de la crème, but as a stepping stone into high-end builds, it’s a solid option.
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Incredible price for titanium -
Frame is compatible with all drivetrains -
Great wheels (at this spec)
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Dull looks -
Some components lack quality compared to the frame
Crucial Specs: State Bicycle Titanium All-Road
My test State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road tester was the top spec: carbon fork, ENVE AG25 wheels, and SRAM Apex XPLR AXS groupset, totaling $4,400.
But there are lower-priced versions — complete State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road builds start at just $2,500, with frames available for $1,300 — those numbers for a Ti bike sound fake to those who have been around a bit.
To put that in perspective, a bare Litespeed Flint titanium frame costs $2,399. You can get a complete, rideable State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road for barely more than what competitors charge for just the frame.
The State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road doesn’t hide behind marketing flash: Utilitarian welds, not an aero shape in sight, and value-oriented spec and house-branded components define this machine. But the frame boasts legitimate specs.
It’s ported for integration and has a UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger). It’s compatible with 1x or 2x drivetrains, mechanical and electronic. The vapor-deposition color graphics are a nice touch, adding a unique look to an otherwise dull surface.
The standard round seat tube and round steerer tube on the State carbon fork facilitate easy part swapping and upgrades — no proprietary headaches. The frame accommodates 700x50c tires or 2.2-inch rubber on 650b wheels, giving generous tire volume flexibility.
At 22.5 pounds for the high-end tester on a large frame (without pedals or bottles), the State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road carries weight, but that helped translate to a solid feel.
Testing Grounds: No Place for the Weak
My local proving grounds humble most bikes. Hard-packed clay embedded with softball-sized rocks, exposed sharp ledges, rain ruts that swallow wheels, and a top layer of loose dust that makes turns at speed feel like a lottery ticket.
This dusty moonscape has destroyed bottom brackets, ripped tires, and sent countless bottles flying. It has also landed me in the ER and stamped my body with plenty of scars. Perfect torture test conditions for the State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road.
Performance: Solid Where It Counts
The State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road impressed immediately with its unexpected chassis rigidity, which inspired confidence.
Bombing descents, bunny-hopping diagonal ruts, and rolling through square-edged potholes, the bike handled punishment without the whippy feel of some titanium bikes. It felt remarkably solid, and it inspired more confidence than the price tag would suggest.
Climbing revealed that familiar titanium “spring-back” feel. Some riders find this characteristic disconcerting, but the State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road’s response felt efficient as I matched my out-of-the-saddle cadence to the frame’s natural give.
After decades of experience with titanium, I find the springy feel comfortable, but I can see why others think it’s inefficient. I don’t have numbers, but I can say that on rougher surfaces, the bike felt much more planted than the stiffer carbon bikes I usually ride.
The frame delivered the excellent high-frequency vibration damping the material is known for, while substantially dulling the initial hit of square edges at speed.
Double-butted 3AL/2.5V Ti makes up the top and down tubes, which is surprising at this price point, but it helped make the damping ability unsurprising. It was only dramatic because I knew the frame was $1,299. That still sounds fake.
State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road Handling: Built for Brutality
The State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road felt noticeably high, long in wheelbase, and slack compared to the carbon gravel bikes I typically test.
However, this geometry proved purposeful on rougher terrain. It excelled on technical gravel — steady, point-and-pedal handling that accepted muscling through rock gardens without unexpected reactions. As the terrain became rougher and slower, entering hardtail mountain bike territory, I appreciated these handling characteristics even more.
I only noticed the length and tall stance on fast gravel or road sections where I craved quicker handling and a lower, more aggressive position. For riders tackling the rough side of the gravel spectrum, this trade-off makes sense.
Component Reality Check
The SRAM Apex XPLR AXS shifting on my State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road test bike performed flawlessly throughout 3 months of abuse.
I shifted constantly under load, hammering up climbs, powering through technical sections, and the Apex never faltered. There were zero missed shifts and zero dropped chains, even when bottles were ejected mid-ride.
The only hiccups I could provoke involved shifting multiple gears under very high loads, typically when I’d coast down a descent, and then hit an abrupt climb transition without paying attention. That was partially due to user error, but it happens when riding unfamiliar terrain.
Hood ergonomics don’t match SRAM RED AXS’s refinement — the transition from hood to bar felt awkward — but at a fraction of the cost, they’re still an outstanding value.
The Apex brakes punched above their price tag. Although the initial contact feel wasn’t as crisp as Shimano’s, and the lever feel was a tad heavier, there was plenty of power delivered progressively without surprises.
The ENVE AG25 wheels stayed true throughout testing, while the house-branded cockpit (saddle, bars, stem, and saddle) fell into the “only gets the job done” category (other than the saddle, which had to go). These would be my first upgrade targets if this State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road lived in my house.
State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road: Value Verdict
The State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road’s story boils down to two words: solid value. This describes both ride characteristics and financial reality.
For the price of many competitors’ frames alone, you get a complete State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road ready for gravel fun. Sure, your State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road won’t generate Instagram envy with glamour shots. But while others are financing their bikes, you’ll have cash left for adventures — and a nearly indestructible frame.
The Titanium All-Road is what I call an “honest” bike. What you see (and State says) is what you get. Any version of this bike makes for a great first gravel rig, and the lifespan of titanium frames makes it the perfect base from which to start and upgrade.
I don’t think any of the available versions, particularly the lower-tiered ones, do justice to what this frame is capable of doing. The frame begs for better, and any buyer should plan for the upgrade route. Or maybe even better, just get the frame and build it out.
When brands disappear and carbon ages, titanium endures. State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Roads will still be rolling when today’s home page heroes are only coffee shop conversation.
The State Bicycle Co. Titanium All-Road delivers premium material performance at working-class prices. For riders who measure success in miles, not likes, it’s tough to argue with this formula.
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