I have the Domane AL 3 and absolutely love it. Yeah it's not the fastest or lightest bike but it's so comfortable. I've seen guys on light weight bikes that are proably 2kg lighter than mine but they're maybe 10kg overweight themselves so that kinda defeats the object!
You are wrong about keeping up with grouprides with other race bikes. Unless everyone in your group can constantly keep 45kmph and above , this beast can keep up. I have the AL3 with Sora. My group rides an average of 35 to 40 kmph. This has no issue keeping up.
yes, most people I ride with don't ride that fast, at least here in the Philippines where most of us are just weekend riders. The rider counts way more than the bike as well.
I test rode this bike last weekend and I was able to keep up with the group rides for about 2 miles then after that I was behind the whole time. Don’t get me wrong if you’re using it on the gravel then this is a good bike but if you’re doing it on the pavement I would get the Emonda ALR5. It is $200 more but you get a bike with lighter weight of 4lbs. The climbing will be easier with the ALR too.
I have a few upgrades on my 2020 al5 with carbon rims weighing in at 8.5kg. I can easily hold 40-45km/h for quite a bit by myself. In a group, I would have no problem going faster with it.
I agree with your flat bar / drop bar assessment. I love my new FX E bike but after 45 minutes I’ve had enough. The drop bars support some of your weight using your arms and your core. The flat bars make you sit up more and nearly all your weight is in your trunk. If wears you out.
Your price savings correction was accurate. I purchased/ordered the FX3 last week and the store owner luckily locked me in to the "old" price. He said trek has been raising prices of most bikes by anywhere from 50 to 150 on a regular basis. Mine went up 150!
Give me the AL5 over the 4 all daylong because of the color. That’s just as important to me as the groupset, weight and so forth. I want a bike that my jaw drops every time I walk up to it.
The AL5 comes with sealed bearings and the AL4 comes with cone and roller bearings. Sealed bearings are faster, less maintenance, and last longer. Both bikes will easily keep up with a 15 to 17 mph group ride.
I just got this exact bike on sale today for $1,889. Same colors too! I was looking at an SL5 but decided against it due to thr cost and the issues I've heard about the ISO Speed. That bike would have been $3,499 and the only difference is the frame material. So i decided to buy the AL5 and i upgraded the wheels to carbon and i got better tires and pedals. I think it was the right decision.
Thanks so much for the comment! Actually, I did a review on the 2022 version of the AL 4, which is basically the same bike, minus the paint job. You can check it out here: Should YOU buy the 2022 Trek Domane AL 4? ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html Thanks for watching!
It’s used to prevent the chain from falling off into the wheel spokes. It’s basically useless though if you have your derailleur setup correctly. I always just take them off.
Thank you very much for this. I bought my first bike of 20 years - an FX 3, in July. I love it, but after an hour my left hand goes numb and I have a lot of pain in my palms. I have been eying up the Domane AL 5. I need something with some decent gear to climb hills. I go back and forth between this and the Checkpoint, since I ride a lot of broken roads, and the city is encompassed by a gravel trail that I could ride which makes my FX tires a bit slippery. Plus the Checkpoint has more low gear and apparently better alloy frame, but the gearing of the 105 seems more similar to the FX 3's Deore 1x. Think the AL 5 Domane with some more gravel oriented tires would be OK for gravel trails? Think I'll notice the Domane would be faster than the FX 3?
Thank you for watching! That’s a great question. I had the very same issue with my palms on the FX 3! I noticed it was very comfortable for a few minutes but would quickly become painful. I am a bit biased because I really really love my Domane AL 4. The AL 5 is even better. What I can say is that the Domane is built for rocky and bumpy roads, and it handles it very well. You can absolutely take the bike on gravel trails, and getting some gravel oriented tires will make this an truly excellent gravel bike. I think the only reason to go for the checkpoint over the Domane is if you are after comfort more so than speed and performance, and/or if you know for sure you’ll only be taking it on super technical gravel trails. The Domane will feel lighter and snappier, and in my opinion you can really dress it up in so many different ways to fit your needs. It can be a race bike, it can be a commuter, it can be a gravel bike, etc, depending on the wheels/tires. I think you will absolutely notice the Domane will be faster than the Checkpoint, and I think the Domane sounds like it will work just fine in your case.
I had bought AL5 about 2 months ago. Haven't done a lot of rides and I consider myself a noob as I don't have the fitness levels of all the bikers I see zooming past me on the road & I never dared to ride in the group too (yet). Having said that, I do want to improve my speed. I recently rode 57k on a relatively flat surface with a top speed of 33kmph and averaged about 24-25 kmph. Any suggestion, what else can be done to improve the speed (apart from improving my fitness levels, I guess). Thank you!
That's a great question! I can almost guaruntee that changing out the stock tires and inner tubes would dramatically improve the performance of the bike. Changing to something like the Conti GP 5000 25mm tire, and a pair of Shwalbe Aerothan or Vittoria Latex innertubes should make the bike much faster. Both of those can be purchased for relatively cheap as well. Of course, changing out the wheels would make a huge difference too, but that is a more costly upgrade. I am about to release a video where I make these exact upgrades to my Domane AL 4 and see what kind of improvements I get. So if that is of interest to you, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!
People worried about a pound cracks me up. Eat less. Rotating weight matters. I have a Al 4 going with others and just starting I was holding my own with many on the road. Plus I'm 69.5. I have Corsa tires and latex tubes going on it soon. Probably get a new fully carbon bike soon. I think lower end Domane with new 105 12 speed.
Hey Edwin, thanks so much for the comment! Unfortunately I have not done a review of the Caad13. I've always heard excellent things about it though, I'd love to eventually get my hands on one. Thanks for watching!
@hikerbikeromar I'm new in road bike so the shimano tiagra already good enough for me. I like the al 5 gen 3 too but I don't want to spend extra $500 on top of the al4 lol. Ride safe brother 🙏
@Hiker Biker Omar howdy! I have a 2023 FX Sport 5 in red carbon smoke on order coming in. Do you think the Domane AL 5 is better? Both cost the same. I have multiple herniated discs and need something comfortable for longer rides once a week. Which would you choose? The 2023 Trek FX Sport 5 I have on order or should I change to the Domane AL5? Thank you sir
Hello and thanks for the comment! For me, I would choose the Domane AL5 every day of the week. The reason is because I actually find it to be more comfortable on longer rides given the multitude of positions you can shift to throughout the ride. With the FX Sport series, you are confined to a single position which can work well when going on shorter routes where the focus is on sight seeing or if you need to bike through crowded city street. For longer more serious rides though, I found the Domane to be much more suitable, and it would be my number one choice. However, given the herniated discs, I would strongly recommend trying it out at a bike shop to make sure it works well with your back. Feel free to keep me updated!
@@hikerbikeromar thank you kind sir. The reason I ordered the 2023 FX Sport 5 is because it looks to be pretty upright and it has a full Carbon frame and Carbon fork which is supposed to dampen vibrations. But just recently discovered the Domane AL5 and it’s the same exact price so now I’m debating if I should change the order to the AL5. The only downside is that the AL 5 uses aluminum frame but I do like that you can change hand positions like you said. I wonder which one is more upright? I know that the 2023 Trek FX Sport 5 I ordered has wider tires which would be good to absorb the impact on rough limestone trails I will likely be on half of the time. The goal is just one long bike ride a week half limestone trails half paved roads
@@gustavopaulette3496 The FX sport will definitely be more upright for sure, and the carbon frame will certainly dampen road vibrations more like you said. It's a very comfortable bike and I think your reasoning makes a lot of sense. The harshness of the AL frame on the Domane could be compenstated for by running a lower PSI on the tires, but I think it really comes down to which geometry you like more between flat bars and drop bars. If you prefer drop bars due to the multitude of positions, and like to get a little more aero and pump out the power, but are only choosing the FX sport just for the carbon fiber, I think you'll end up wanting the Domane more. However, if you are perfectly fine on either setup, then I think the FX Sport 5 will be an excellent choice for you.
I have the FX6 Sport and it’s amazing for the upright position. I can’t compare the position on the Domane as I haven’t ridden it, the bike performs as good as the road bikes running 32s, it’s fast and smooth.
Hello. Can I ask how long your leg inseam/total height is. It actually would be a help. I'm guessing your Trek looks to be a 58. I'm a 89cm leg at 183cm so I was considering a Domane in a 56 with a couple of spacers to keep the TT horizontal short . Aside from that twas a good review, much appreciated.
Thanks for watching! I am very close to you actually. I’m 89cm inseam and 185cm tall. This was indeed a size 58 that I was riding and I felt the size was very good. My sense is that a size 56 might be a hair small for you, but of course I’d recommend just trying it in shop and see how it feels. Good luck! It’s an awesome bike.
Get the 58. The 58 only has a 56.7 effective top tube so it is equivalent to size 56 race bikes in terms of reach. This is due to the endurance geometry. The handlebar to seat drop for your inseam will be way too large. I am 186cm tall with a 86cm inseam and ride the 58. My seatdrop is around 3cm with one 10mm spacer removed.
@@peternaughton3301 you're welcome. The size down argument works for those who wanna squeeze every bit of aero gains at the sacrifice of comfort. Nothing wrong with that, but if you don't care about comfort and only want to shave seconds off your time, you're probably better off on a different bike. Just my 2 cents
I personally thinkg the Trek Domane AL 4 is one of the best bikes you can possibly buy for comfort, leisure, and long distance riding! I did a video on the AL 4 here: ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html I also did an upgrade video on the AL 4 as well!: ruclips.net/video/hfqQ20wEER0/видео.html
Great question, sorry for the confusion! I think both these bikes may struggle to keep up with competitive group rides out of the box, but after I upgraded the tires and inner tubes on my AL4, I discovered just how much hidden potential that bike had. The same would absolutely be true for this bike as well.
Having 11 speed 105 instead of 10 speed Tiagra is far more preferable. 10 speed is dying out. 11 speed means being able to upgrade with a wider range of components, getting a higher climbing gear, 105 is lighter and better engineered. An alloy frame with 105 will have no problems keeping up on a group ride. The gains (if any) of carbon, more expensive wheels, groupset etc will have little difference as the Domane has a less racy position but is still perfectly capable of smashing out a fast ride.
Great question! These two bikes are so similar, there is barely going to be any difference. The Giant AR 1 might be a little more comfortable on the rear since it has a D-fuse seatpost, but the Trek Domane AL 5 might be more comfortable on the front since it has the IsoZone handlebar. I personally would probably choose the Trek since it has the 105 crankset and the Giant does not, but realistically, the differences are negligable. So I would probably just get whichever one you can find a better deal on. Good luck!
@@hikerbikeromar thank you, great answer too. Very detailed and technical. The sitting posture remains the same right. I can combat the rear with a bunch of accessories, i find trek more compatible with myself because of its colour combination, giant is very simple yet costlier here.
I have another question, if I'm not a race oriented person and do a joy ride about 50 miles a day. Will Trek checkpoint ALR 5 or Trek Emonda ALR be the right option? With this you will save my hours of research!
You bet! You could easily add a carbon fiber seatpost to the trek to make the rear more comfortable. I also like the color scheme more too! Plus the 105 crank makes it look nicer in my opinion. The geometry will be very close, so I personally would go with the Trek :)
@@hikerbikeromar thank you again :) , i shot another question. This is the fight within the family of Trek. Very confusing. All similar versions and similarly priced. Can you guide here as well?
I'm looking into getting this bike, but getting the 1x drivetrain. Thanks for posting! Yes, the paintjob is amazing! You mentioned that this is a "slow" bike. What would you say it's "slow" in comparison to?
Thanks for watching! You'll love it. In my opinion, it can be slow compared to carbon fiber lightweight and aero bikes, but it's still a decent performer, especially with the right tires. I did an upgrade video where I upgraded the tires and innertubes, and was really surprised with how much performance improvement I got! Feel free to watch: ruclips.net/video/hfqQ20wEER0/видео.html&ab_channel=HikerBikerOmar
For me, anything more than 5 miles or 30 minutes starts to become uncomfortable. The FX is a great commuter bike, especially if you are going around a city. But for actual road biking for sport or leisure, I think the Domane is the much better choice.
@@hikerbikeromarI think I agree with would you said considering my experiences with my trek fx3. Thing i also really wish to get is Isospeed or similar technology, but unfortunetly, you have to spend 3500$ (SL5) to get such features.
Totally hear you! It’s crazy how expensive these things are. However, even without the ISO speed, I’ve found the AL Domane to still be very comfortable. Not sure if you’ve seen it, but I did a full review on the Domane AL 4 which I go into a lot of detail about the ride quality. You are welcome to check it out! ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html
In my experience, this bike can go between 15-18mph comfortably on average type terrain. I talk more about it in my Trek Domane AL 4 full review: ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html&ab_channel=HikerBikerOmar Also consider watching my Domane upgrade video, where the speed was massively improved! ruclips.net/video/hfqQ20wEER0/видео.html&ab_channel=HikerBikerOmar
Hey Omar, Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I would be grateful if you could advice me on a pre owned 2017 Domane Alr 5, asking for 1200$ With iso speed frame Thanks!
Hey Badr, thanks for the comment! I have never ridden the 2017 ALR 5 model, so I am not able to give a recommendation based on experience. However, based on the spec sheet, I don’t think there is much of a difference. The geometry is basically the same, and the 2017 model still uses hydraulic disc brakes just like the latest model. In fact, the aluminum Domane series really doesn’t change much year to year, so if you can get the 2017 model for $1200, it’s probably a better value than the latest model. That’s just my opinion, but again, I haven’t ridden the 2017 model, so take it with a grain of salt :)
Made in china?!!?! Man I thought they wouldn't stoop to china. Taiwan, fine. Korea, fine. Japan, even better. Vietnam, fine. No china. Man just think if it were still the world when things were made in USA.
I have the Domane AL 3 and absolutely love it. Yeah it's not the fastest or lightest bike but it's so comfortable.
I've seen guys on light weight bikes that are proably 2kg lighter than mine but they're maybe 10kg overweight themselves so that kinda defeats the object!
I would love to have the AL 3, but it’s not in stock anywhere. That’s awesome that you have one!
You're right about the AL4 with regards to price value. But I got the AL5 because of the color 😂
I agree the color is really good on the AL 5!!
You are wrong about keeping up with grouprides with other race bikes. Unless everyone in your group can constantly keep 45kmph and above , this beast can keep up. I have the AL3 with Sora. My group rides an average of 35 to 40 kmph. This has no issue keeping up.
yes, most people I ride with don't ride that fast, at least here in the Philippines where most of us are just weekend riders. The rider counts way more than the bike as well.
All about the engine.
I test rode this bike last weekend and I was able to keep up with the group rides for about 2 miles then after that I was behind the whole time. Don’t get me wrong if you’re using it on the gravel then this is a good bike but if you’re doing it on the pavement I would get the Emonda ALR5. It is $200 more but you get a bike with lighter weight of 4lbs. The climbing will be easier with the ALR too.
Exactly. It's not the bike. It's the cyclist.
I have a few upgrades on my 2020 al5 with carbon rims weighing in at 8.5kg. I can easily hold 40-45km/h for quite a bit by myself. In a group, I would have no problem going faster with it.
I agree with your flat bar / drop bar assessment. I love my new FX E bike but after 45 minutes I’ve had enough. The drop bars support some of your weight using your arms and your core. The flat bars make you sit up more and nearly all your weight is in your trunk. If wears you out.
That’s a great way to put it! I wish I would have said it like that in the video :)
Your price savings correction was accurate. I purchased/ordered the FX3 last week and the store owner luckily locked me in to the "old" price. He said trek has been raising prices of most bikes by anywhere from 50 to 150 on a regular basis. Mine went up 150!
That's true, the prices have been going up, unfortunately! Seems many manufacturers are raising their prices.
Give me the AL5 over the 4 all daylong because of the color. That’s just as important to me as the groupset, weight and so forth. I want a bike that my jaw drops every time I walk up to it.
Totally agree with importance of paint job!
The AL5 comes with sealed bearings and the AL4 comes with cone and roller bearings. Sealed bearings are faster, less maintenance, and last longer. Both bikes will easily keep up with a 15 to 17 mph group ride.
Thanks for the comment Danny!
it's not the bike, it's all about the rider.
my 2020 al5 with carbon wheels and few small upgrades comes at 8.5kg and with -10 degree stem, I have no problems dropping more race-oriented bikes.
-10 degrees keeps you completely horizontal to the ground?
It defaults to -7 degrees and if there is a slight upward tilt.
Which model do you use?
I just got this exact bike on sale today for $1,889. Same colors too! I was looking at an SL5 but decided against it due to thr cost and the issues I've heard about the ISO Speed. That bike would have been $3,499 and the only difference is the frame material. So i decided to buy the AL5 and i upgraded the wheels to carbon and i got better tires and pedals. I think it was the right decision.
Sounds like an awesome ride, congrats on the purchase!
I just got this exact bike at a yard sale for $300. Took it to the bike shop for new tires and a tune up. 450 all in
Please, would you look into reviewing the DOMANE AL4 2023 in black?
As always great stuff from u. Appreciate your content. Thank you!
Thanks so much for the comment! Actually, I did a review on the 2022 version of the AL 4, which is basically the same bike, minus the paint job. You can check it out here: Should YOU buy the 2022 Trek Domane AL 4?
ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html
Thanks for watching!
What is the purpose of that clear plastic disc sitting next to the largest sprocket on the rear wheel?
It’s used to prevent the chain from falling off into the wheel spokes. It’s basically useless though if you have your derailleur setup correctly. I always just take them off.
It's called a "dork disk" and should immediately be removed upon taking possession of the bike.
Yes the honesty from a reviewer. So many out here saying yes for similar spec bike but more expensive.
I agree! My reviews will always be 100% honest.
Thank you very much for this. I bought my first bike of 20 years - an FX 3, in July. I love it, but after an hour my left hand goes numb and I have a lot of pain in my palms. I have been eying up the Domane AL 5. I need something with some decent gear to climb hills. I go back and forth between this and the Checkpoint, since I ride a lot of broken roads, and the city is encompassed by a gravel trail that I could ride which makes my FX tires a bit slippery. Plus the Checkpoint has more low gear and apparently better alloy frame, but the gearing of the 105 seems more similar to the FX 3's Deore 1x. Think the AL 5 Domane with some more gravel oriented tires would be OK for gravel trails? Think I'll notice the Domane would be faster than the FX 3?
Thank you for watching! That’s a great question. I had the very same issue with my palms on the FX 3! I noticed it was very comfortable for a few minutes but would quickly become painful.
I am a bit biased because I really really love my Domane AL 4. The AL 5 is even better. What I can say is that the Domane is built for rocky and bumpy roads, and it handles it very well. You can absolutely take the bike on gravel trails, and getting some gravel oriented tires will make this an truly excellent gravel bike. I think the only reason to go for the checkpoint over the Domane is if you are after comfort more so than speed and performance, and/or if you know for sure you’ll only be taking it on super technical gravel trails. The Domane will feel lighter and snappier, and in my opinion you can really dress it up in so many different ways to fit your needs. It can be a race bike, it can be a commuter, it can be a gravel bike, etc, depending on the wheels/tires. I think you will absolutely notice the Domane will be faster than the Checkpoint, and I think the Domane sounds like it will work just fine in your case.
Not sure where you are looking for the tyre pressures but Trek recommend 80 - 110psi for the R1 hard case lite tyres.
Very good review and honest statement.
I had bought AL5 about 2 months ago. Haven't done a lot of rides and I consider myself a noob as I don't have the fitness levels of all the bikers I see zooming past me on the road & I never dared to ride in the group too (yet). Having said that, I do want to improve my speed. I recently rode 57k on a relatively flat surface with a top speed of 33kmph and averaged about 24-25 kmph. Any suggestion, what else can be done to improve the speed (apart from improving my fitness levels, I guess). Thank you!
That's a great question! I can almost guaruntee that changing out the stock tires and inner tubes would dramatically improve the performance of the bike. Changing to something like the Conti GP 5000 25mm tire, and a pair of Shwalbe Aerothan or Vittoria Latex innertubes should make the bike much faster. Both of those can be purchased for relatively cheap as well. Of course, changing out the wheels would make a huge difference too, but that is a more costly upgrade. I am about to release a video where I make these exact upgrades to my Domane AL 4 and see what kind of improvements I get. So if that is of interest to you, make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!
@@hikerbikeromar Thanks, much appreciated!
Great video, and accurate.
People worried about a pound cracks me up. Eat less. Rotating weight matters. I have a Al 4 going with others and just starting I was holding my own with many on the road. Plus I'm 69.5. I have Corsa tires and latex tubes going on it soon. Probably get a new fully carbon bike soon. I think lower end Domane with new 105 12 speed.
What is the avg speed and course time with this on the default tires and upgrading It with the new tires?
Great question! I made a video about that very topic here: I UPGRADED my 2022 Trek Domane AL 4!
ruclips.net/video/hfqQ20wEER0/видео.html
Hi Omar, love the show! Just wondering if you have done a review of the Caad13? And what your thoughts were?
Hey Edwin, thanks so much for the comment! Unfortunately I have not done a review of the Caad13. I've always heard excellent things about it though, I'd love to eventually get my hands on one. Thanks for watching!
I tested ride on al 4 gen 4 and al 5 gen 3 both are great for starting road bike but I came back home with al 4 gen 4 😁
Awesome! That’s the bike I want to pick up next too!
@hikerbikeromar I'm new in road bike so the shimano tiagra already good enough for me. I like the al 5 gen 3 too but I don't want to spend extra $500 on top of the al4 lol. Ride safe brother 🙏
Answer is “yes”
@Hiker Biker Omar howdy! I have a 2023 FX Sport 5 in red carbon smoke on order coming in. Do you think the Domane AL 5 is better? Both cost the same. I have multiple herniated discs and need something comfortable for longer rides once a week. Which would you choose? The 2023 Trek FX Sport 5 I have on order or should I change to the Domane AL5? Thank you sir
Hello and thanks for the comment! For me, I would choose the Domane AL5 every day of the week. The reason is because I actually find it to be more comfortable on longer rides given the multitude of positions you can shift to throughout the ride. With the FX Sport series, you are confined to a single position which can work well when going on shorter routes where the focus is on sight seeing or if you need to bike through crowded city street. For longer more serious rides though, I found the Domane to be much more suitable, and it would be my number one choice.
However, given the herniated discs, I would strongly recommend trying it out at a bike shop to make sure it works well with your back. Feel free to keep me updated!
@@hikerbikeromar thank you kind sir. The reason I ordered the 2023 FX Sport 5 is because it looks to be pretty upright and it has a full Carbon frame and Carbon fork which is supposed to dampen vibrations. But just recently discovered the Domane AL5 and it’s the same exact price so now I’m debating if I should change the order to the AL5. The only downside is that the AL 5 uses aluminum frame but I do like that you can change hand positions like you said. I wonder which one is more upright? I know that the 2023 Trek FX Sport 5 I ordered has wider tires which would be good to absorb the impact on rough limestone trails I will likely be on half of the time. The goal is just one long bike ride a week half limestone trails half paved roads
@@gustavopaulette3496 The FX sport will definitely be more upright for sure, and the carbon frame will certainly dampen road vibrations more like you said. It's a very comfortable bike and I think your reasoning makes a lot of sense. The harshness of the AL frame on the Domane could be compenstated for by running a lower PSI on the tires, but I think it really comes down to which geometry you like more between flat bars and drop bars. If you prefer drop bars due to the multitude of positions, and like to get a little more aero and pump out the power, but are only choosing the FX sport just for the carbon fiber, I think you'll end up wanting the Domane more. However, if you are perfectly fine on either setup, then I think the FX Sport 5 will be an excellent choice for you.
I have the FX6 Sport and it’s amazing for the upright position. I can’t compare the position on the Domane as I haven’t ridden it, the bike performs as good as the road bikes running 32s, it’s fast and smooth.
Hello. Can I ask how long your leg inseam/total height is. It actually would be a help. I'm
guessing your Trek looks to be a 58. I'm a 89cm leg at 183cm so I was considering a
Domane in a 56 with a couple of spacers to keep the TT horizontal short . Aside from that
twas a good review, much appreciated.
Thanks for watching! I am very close to you actually. I’m 89cm inseam and 185cm tall. This was indeed a size 58 that I was riding and I felt the size was very good. My sense is that a size 56 might be a hair small for you, but of course I’d recommend just trying it in shop and see how it feels. Good luck! It’s an awesome bike.
Get the 58. The 58 only has a 56.7 effective top tube so it is equivalent to size 56 race bikes in terms of reach. This is due to the endurance geometry. The handlebar to seat drop for your inseam will be way too large. I am 186cm tall with a 86cm inseam and ride the 58. My seatdrop is around 3cm with one 10mm spacer removed.
@@hikerbikeromar Hi, thanks so much for your feedback.
@@Nahduge Thanks LL, you're probably right.
@@peternaughton3301 you're welcome. The size down argument works for those who wanna squeeze every bit of aero gains at the sacrifice of comfort. Nothing wrong with that, but if you don't care about comfort and only want to shave seconds off your time, you're probably better off on a different bike. Just my 2 cents
Then which bike we should buy for leisure riding long distances and for fun and fitness
How about
2023 merida scultura
I personally thinkg the Trek Domane AL 4 is one of the best bikes you can possibly buy for comfort, leisure, and long distance riding!
I did a video on the AL 4 here: ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html
I also did an upgrade video on the AL 4 as well!: ruclips.net/video/hfqQ20wEER0/видео.html
What the rear light model thanks
That's actually just a reflector, but when I use a rear light, I always use the Garmin Varia RTL515.
How come you reckon that you can keep up on group rides on the al4 but not on this?
Great question, sorry for the confusion! I think both these bikes may struggle to keep up with competitive group rides out of the box, but after I upgraded the tires and inner tubes on my AL4, I discovered just how much hidden potential that bike had. The same would absolutely be true for this bike as well.
Having 11 speed 105 instead of 10 speed Tiagra is far more preferable. 10 speed is dying out. 11 speed means being able to upgrade with a wider range of components, getting a higher climbing gear, 105 is lighter and better engineered. An alloy frame with 105 will have no problems keeping up on a group ride. The gains (if any) of carbon, more expensive wheels, groupset etc will have little difference as the Domane has a less racy position but is still perfectly capable of smashing out a fast ride.
Hello, Is this bettter then Gian AR 1? and in what way please?
Great question! These two bikes are so similar, there is barely going to be any difference. The Giant AR 1 might be a little more comfortable on the rear since it has a D-fuse seatpost, but the Trek Domane AL 5 might be more comfortable on the front since it has the IsoZone handlebar.
I personally would probably choose the Trek since it has the 105 crankset and the Giant does not, but realistically, the differences are negligable. So I would probably just get whichever one you can find a better deal on. Good luck!
@@hikerbikeromar thank you, great answer too. Very detailed and technical. The sitting posture remains the same right. I can combat the rear with a bunch of accessories, i find trek more compatible with myself because of its colour combination, giant is very simple yet costlier here.
I have another question, if I'm not a race oriented person and do a joy ride about 50 miles a day. Will Trek checkpoint ALR 5 or Trek Emonda ALR be the right option?
With this you will save my hours of research!
You bet! You could easily add a carbon fiber seatpost to the trek to make the rear more comfortable. I also like the color scheme more too! Plus the 105 crank makes it look nicer in my opinion. The geometry will be very close, so I personally would go with the Trek :)
@@hikerbikeromar thank you again :) , i shot another question. This is the fight within the family of Trek. Very confusing. All similar versions and similarly priced. Can you guide here as well?
I'm looking into getting this bike, but getting the 1x drivetrain. Thanks for posting! Yes, the paintjob is amazing! You mentioned that this is a "slow" bike. What would you say it's "slow" in comparison to?
Thanks for watching! You'll love it. In my opinion, it can be slow compared to carbon fiber lightweight and aero bikes, but it's still a decent performer, especially with the right tires. I did an upgrade video where I upgraded the tires and innertubes, and was really surprised with how much performance improvement I got! Feel free to watch: ruclips.net/video/hfqQ20wEER0/видео.html&ab_channel=HikerBikerOmar
when you say short rides is better for the fx, how many miles \minutes would you consider a short ride ?
For me, anything more than 5 miles or 30 minutes starts to become uncomfortable. The FX is a great commuter bike, especially if you are going around a city. But for actual road biking for sport or leisure, I think the Domane is the much better choice.
@@hikerbikeromarI think I agree with would you said considering my experiences with my trek fx3. Thing i also really wish to get is Isospeed or similar technology, but unfortunetly, you have to spend 3500$ (SL5) to get such features.
Totally hear you! It’s crazy how expensive these things are. However, even without the ISO speed, I’ve found the AL Domane to still be very comfortable. Not sure if you’ve seen it, but I did a full review on the Domane AL 4 which I go into a lot of detail about the ride quality. You are welcome to check it out! ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html
What size bike is that ?
58
what’s considered a “slower” bike
In my experience, this bike can go between 15-18mph comfortably on average type terrain. I talk more about it in my Trek Domane AL 4 full review: ruclips.net/video/FUU3BQ_7MH0/видео.html&ab_channel=HikerBikerOmar
Also consider watching my Domane upgrade video, where the speed was massively improved!
ruclips.net/video/hfqQ20wEER0/видео.html&ab_channel=HikerBikerOmar
Hey Omar,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts,
I would be grateful if you could advice me on a pre owned 2017 Domane Alr 5, asking for 1200$
With iso speed frame
Thanks!
Hey Badr, thanks for the comment! I have never ridden the 2017 ALR 5 model, so I am not able to give a recommendation based on experience. However, based on the spec sheet, I don’t think there is much of a difference. The geometry is basically the same, and the 2017 model still uses hydraulic disc brakes just like the latest model. In fact, the aluminum Domane series really doesn’t change much year to year, so if you can get the 2017 model for $1200, it’s probably a better value than the latest model. That’s just my opinion, but again, I haven’t ridden the 2017 model, so take it with a grain of salt :)
@@hikerbikeromar thanks,
If you were really riding the bike, it would have pedals. I’m still interested in this one
Bike was ridden, and then cleaned and pedals removed before returning. Video was filmed right before returning.
🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤 how did I miss this up load !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shimano 105 components yummy!!!!!!!
Hahahahaha, I was waiting for you juicy comment!
Trek are just painting over old models and adding 200 dollars or 100 dollars
No. it's over priced.
All bikes are overpriced nowadays. Thanks COVID...😢
you're @ 103
MADE IN CHINA!
Made in china?!!?! Man I thought they wouldn't stoop to china. Taiwan, fine. Korea, fine. Japan, even better. Vietnam, fine. No china. Man just think if it were still the world when things were made in USA.