Stepping it up a bit?

The All New Contender Series | State Bicycle Co.

(Less terrible wheelset)

Looks pretty decent.

I like black and red, I like reynolds tubing so I guess i like this bike. I would certainly switch out the non square taper cranks with a something better and getting some decent wheels (non radials please).
There is some part of me that wants to dislike State but they seem to make some cool bikes with a few components that I would ditch but mostly solid.

While this isn't about their other frames, I love the color scheme on this:
Undefeated: Le Mans Edition Frame & Fork Set : Bike Fork Sets | State Bicycle Co.

I just ordered a Contender II frame set via emails with them. Pretty excited about it should be here today. Fell in love with the look and my previous bike before my current build was one of their core line "intro" bikes. Somethings drawing me back to steel (away from aluminum), and with the Reynolds 520 for added strength and reduced weight I decided to pull the trigger. This frame is 1lb lighter than the previous contender aka the core line 4130 frames.

Not to mention I'm swapping my parts over from a Leader Cretin frame..before registering I've read enough re: Leader's local rep in San Diego and seeing the way my friend has had to deal with their customer service to convince me to try something else for awhile

Reynolds 520 is not any stronger than generic 4130 chromoly steel. It's just branded chromo. Also, all steel weighs the same, and only varies based on butting and wall thickness. The main thing you are getting with basic branded steel tubing like Reynolds 520 is consistency in the drawing.

Yeah I love that paint and color scheme. The lines and flow kind of reminds me of a 80s pepsi can, despite the fact that it's orange and tealish.

The Gulf gasoline knock-off logo on the head tube bugs the **** out of me.

Alright then - I suppose it's the tubing thickness/design that's has changed setting this apart from core line steel frames because I just verified it's 428 grams lighter on the scale than the core line frame I still have laying around.

More likely the difference is due to the lighter carbon fork in the Contender instead of the steel fork in the Core.

Just FYI. State now has a policy where you must have your bike professionally assembled in order to register it with State to activate your warranty. You must provide them with written proof of the professional assembly within 30 days or NO WARRANTY.

I think if they had also just appropriated the Gulf racing livery in total they might be in seriously deep ****.

Anyone have the geo?




I always loved the Gulf blue/orange.

I was getting ready to paint my old Miata in similar colors before it was totalled...already had the wheels/roll bar done.

The green/black color scheme is awesome.

Meh.

Another inexpensive steel frame. Fork makes the frame tubes look disproportionality thin. Heavy looking wheels. Not into the bars.

Frame and crankset look good. Not badly priced but would probably ditch half the parts pretty quickly.

Slightly off-topic but for the record: The other day I built up a State Black Label frame a for a customer (that he brought in). State claims the seatpost size is 30.9mm but after realizing that was too small, I tried a 31.6 and there was no way that was fitting. So...I measured the inside of the seat tube and got 31.2mm.

Excellent job, State!

Close enough [to something] is ok, right?

Here is it built up if anyone is curious/cares:

A gulf racing color scheme is hard to pull off without looking corny or sacrilegious if you're not putting it along the lines of a ford GT or 911.

Looks like your MX5 became self-aware of your plans.

Gulf has sponsored so many different cars over the years...and the livery has been painted on everything from motorcycles to boats.
Just do a search for Gulf livery on google images.

To me it's like Rothmans, John Player's Special, Silk Cut, Martini, etc.. it can look rad on anything.

The Miata was a toy and going to be a lap day/track car.
I was thinking of something subtle like this...
https://66.media.tumblr.com/7173f31f9...2r6o1_1280.jpg

Never a miata though. Even if they stuck around, not a chance.

I'd accept gulf on a first gen MX5, not the newer ones.

i had issues with my gen 1 contender frame in terms of the seat post clamp. they said it was a 29.2 or something, I dont remember exactly. But it was not a common size, so long story short i ended up getting a 29.8 thomson and it worked for the time being, but it is not the appropriate size.

Opinions?

^ I already got ripped for the saddle angle so there's that lol. Nice welcoming by the regulars.

If your curious on my opinion so far so good. Solid and smooth ride, stiff enough for me with the steel frame. Welds are uniform and clean, paint is consistent. A definite upgrade over their "core" steel frame aka contender I.