Frame Features and Geometry

State Bicycle Co is primarily known for their urban bikes, so at first glance the 6061 Trail + may seem like a bit of an anomaly, but as it turns out, this bike is better suited for urban pursuits than typical fat bike adventures. As the name suggests, the 40 lb or 18 kg bike is built from 6061 aluminum and is available in four sizes, S through XL. The frame features relatively conservative geometry, highlighted by a very steep 71 degree HTA. The size large we tested has a 431mm reach, 596 mm stack, 480mm seat tube. 

Inside the front triangle are two sets of bottle bosses as well as a pair of braze-ons on the seat stays for mounting a rear rack, but is otherwise free of mount points. The Trail+ also features internal cable routing for the rear derailleur and brake, but is sadly not compatible with an internally routed dropper post. Lastly, the bike is built around a 190mm QR axle in the back and 135 mm in the front, and comes in two colors, the eye-catching “Wildberry” we chose to test and a much more subtle “Slate Gray.”

Part Spec

An underlying theme across State Bicycle Co’s entire lineup is value, and the 6061 Trail+ is no exception. The bike rolls on 26” x 4.5” Kenda Juggernaut tires. The relatively short lugs and minimal tread pattern helped reduce rolling resistance while providing adequate traction on dirt and groomed snow, but struggled to maintain grip on the slippery packed snow around town. Braking was taken care of by Tektro’s MD-M300 mechanical disk brakes paired to 180 mm rotors, which at the relatively low speeds the snowy conditions demanded, served their purpose just fine.

The Trail+’s achilles heel is its 9 speed Shimano Altus drivetrain. The clutchless derailleur made missed shifts and dropped chains a frequent occurrence. In addition, the 11-36 tooth cassette paired with the 28 tooth chainring proved to be too narrow of a range for single track riding, especially in the snow. At the end of the day, this is a value priced bike and I know I shouldn’t be overly picky, but it would have been awesome to see Shimano’s new CUES drivetrain or microSHIFT Advent in place of Altus. 

Trail Ride

My first excursion on the 6061 Trail+ was on some mellow single track with just a dusting of fresh snow. These XC trails were relatively flat, with no steep climbs or screaming descents, and these conditions suited the bike well. The small reach and relatively short wheelbase made the bike feel surprisingly agile despite its portly weight and massive tires. The Kenda Juggernaut tires were of course heavy and slow rolling, but hooked up well without folding over too dramatically when inflated to 12 psi. The mechanical Tektro brakes were also up to the task, and on this relatively flat, non technical ride the Altus drivetrain wasn’t too big of a hindrance either. So while a trail ride in borderline normal conditions isn’t exactly what the State 6061 Trail+ is designed for, it ended up being a good bit of fun, as long as you kept in mind the inherent limitations of a $1,000 fat bike.

Groomed Fat Bike Ride

Next it was time to take the Trail+ to what I assumed would be its home turf, groomed fat bike trails. Sadly, however, it didn’t take long to realize that this wasn’t the case. My six mile loop began with a long descent, and the short reach, long stem, and steep headtube angle made for a narerackingly forward leaning weight bias. Thankfully however, the Kenda tires and Tektro brakes once again held their own, keeping me safe, albeit scared, all the way down.  

From there it was straight into a relatively steep, sustained climb. The added rolling resistance of the snow combined with the stiff gearing meant that I had to put down a decent bit of power to keep the Trail+ rolling, and the Altus drivetrain really did not like this. The chain was skipping under load so much that I stopped for a trail side adjustment, but to no avail.

Things improved later on the trail when the terrain grew more undulating and it was easier to maintain speed. The Trail+ had most definitely provided plenty of uniquely fun experiences in the snow, but the memory of walking up snowy hills or having to stop every few minutes to reinstall the chain kept me from going out for a second loop.

Urban Ride

Given my lackluster experience on the fat bike trails and State Bicycle Co’s reputation for making urban and city bikes, the last place I wanted to test the bike was around town. The frame’s relatively small dimensions made meandering in and out of traffic a breeze, and the Altus drivetrain was much easier to get along with on the low incline streets and cycling paths I found myself on. It was a bit of a different story with the Juggernaut tires, which slid out frequently in the harder packed snow around town.

In total, the State 6061 Trail+ excelled in the urban environment more than anywhere else, and that shouldn’t come as too big of a  surprise given the bike’s budget-focused part spec and a frame geometry that’s more akin to a hybrid or commuter than a mountain bike. I think that’s honestly a good way to think of the Trail+, a fat-tired hybrid bike designed to keep you riding around town all winter long.

How Does it Compare

At less than $1,000, the State Bicycle Co. 6061 Trail+ is in a league of its own, positioned between the slew of generic, Amazon-variety bikes and the higher-end models made by established mountain bike brands. One of its few close competitors is the Rocky Mountain Blizzard A10, which lists for $1,299. The most significant differences between these two bikes lie in the frame. The Blizzard is much more akin to a modern mountain bike, with a 66 degree headtube angle and larger 27.5” wheels. This will most certainly give it an edge off road, as will the additional mounting points and the ability to run an internally routed dropper post. 

	6061 Trail+ Fat Wildberry2023 State Bicycle Co.	Blizzard A10 Shimano2023 Rocky Mountain
MSRP	$999	$1,299
Spec Level
Weight		34.2 lbs
Wheel Size	26″	27.5″
Groupset	Shimano	Deore, SRAM
Drivetrain	1 × 9	1 × 10
Where to Buy		$1,299 At Rocky Mountain

View In-depth Comparison →

The only major part spec difference is the 10 speed Shimano Deore drivetrain that comes on the A10, which is certainly an upgrade over the Trail+. That said, the Altus drivetrain could be swapped for something even better than the 10 speed Deore and still keep your total price under that of the Blizzard A10. 

Choosing between these two bikes largely comes down to the rider’s intended use; those looking for a simple, stylish bike to use in town during the off season will likely be very satisfied with the $999 State 6061 Trail+. On the other hand, riders planning to spend the majority of their time in the woods or on multi day adventures would be better off spending the extra $300 on the Rocky Mountain Blizzard A10.

Conclusion

All in all, it’s great to see State Bicycle Co. bring their value-first approach to the world of fat bikes. The 6061 Trail+ is a great option for someone looking for an affordable way to extend their urban commuting or recreational riding into the off season, but the “Trail” moniker might be a bit of an overstatement. That’s not to say that the bike can’t be enjoyed in a traditional fat-bike context as well, but it may take an upgrade or two to get it there.