Hi David. I bought an Emonda SLR in 2021 in size 58. It came with standard Ultegra but the aero bars. I’m 61 and can’t pretend to do the bike justice. But I run 28mm tubeless GP5000S at 70/74 psi on Hunt 44 Aero 44mm deep cabin rims without too much problem. Agreed it’s firm but sometimes there is something nice about the directness and the get up and go. My 13.5mph in hills and 18/19mph in the flat will never test the aero features or break any records, but it’s a nice thing in team colours. By the way mine weighed 7.3kg without pedals. As a comparison I also have a 2023 Madone SLR Ultegra Di2 12 speed with RSL51mm wheels. Weight is 7.6kg without pedals. It’s no featherweight!!
I would not say harsh, but definitely firmer than my Trek Domane. I am running 28mm tubeless at 70 psi on the Emonda. I also have a Giant TCR and it is a much stiffer ride than the Emonda.
You can save £3,000 (and gain ca. 500g weight) if you go for the 2023 Emonda ALR frame. I went that route and am quite happy with the result. Together with Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR 32mm tyres it rides smooth like a dream...
I own the 2022 SLR. It is an amazing bike and is a great riding bike. it handles great and puts all the power to the street. It is a bit stiff but it is designed to be.
@@RafalSto you can fit up to a size 30 tire on it (I have seen videos of people putting 32s on it). I have run the 25s it comes with and a 28 tire both clinchers. If you are on decent roads that are not too broken up it is smooth, fast, and snappy. It is extremely responsive and I feel no lost energy when I get into it. It is an amazing bike no question.
Looks amazing, i have the sl version and love the design and paintjob, thats why i love trek. Its honestly not that harsh, i ride clinchers 28mm, geometry is also not that aggressive
love your channel and your perspective...and your access to all these different bikes and components. imo riding the Emonda on cobbles and calling it harsh is a bit unfair. I don't think it was intended for anything other than very smooth surfaces...and was built specifically for climbs.
I own the same bike his weight is spot on! Way too many people claim how light their bike is, put on a real scale fully equipped! This frame really weighs 800-900 grams with paint. Mine has record mechanical.
Got a project one SLR9 late last year. In a size 60, with DA, Aeolus RSL 37/51 mullet, two piece aero bar/stem, cages, Speedplays and it weighs 7.38kg. Was sort of surprised it wasn’t a tad lighter. The thing is pretty quick up hill and on the flats and descends well. Compliance is good on the rear end but is definitely harsh at the front. TBH I mainly got it as the H1.5 geo suits me over other bikes in the class. Am getting a Specialized Aethos frameset later this week and will build it up pretty light. Will certainly be keen to compare both bikes on my regular local loops. BTW, the Emonda came with a Bontrager two piece aero bar/stem rather than the recalled one pice setup. Seems fine to me - aero and comfortable but as I said the front of the bike is a li’l harsh. Also, I’m impressed with wheel set, but if you don’t like a loud free hub maybe look elsewhere , very loud and aggressive buzz 😂. Hope this helps prospective buyers.
Thanks for the review, David. I have just ordered the new Émonda ALR 5 as my first ever road bike, after a long time weighing my options. I did test out some carbon endurance bikes, namely Giant Defy Advanced 2 and Cannondale Synapse Carbon L 3, but ultimately decided I prefer a more lively ride over comfort. I also think that, as a road cycling newbie, I'm still not quite ready for carbon. So, the ALR 5 looks like the perfect choice. Hope to see you review one soon. It looks incredible, too! Can't wait to pick it up soon.
Cancel your purchase. These entry level road bikes are overpriced nonsense. (I own the prior ALR 5, it was very much a waste of $$$, and it is consigned to my turbo trainer.) It's not going to serve you for very long or very well if you're serious about road riding. Handling (despite what reviewers say) is abysmal. Descents will be unsettling, and you will live on your breaks. The frame also has atrocious power tranfers, it feels like it's made of cooked spighetti. The rear triangle is a particularly flexy mess, resulting in never-ending brake rub. Then there are the wheels, which are total garbage (I looked at the present specs, and they are similarly bad). The tires are trash and will need to be replaced immediately. Finally, with clearance for max 28mm tires, this bike is hopelessly behind the times on tire size, especially if you are a leisure or for fun rider as opposed to competitive. You're going to want at least 30mm if not 32mm to fit comfortable tires. In the end, this bike is not a performance bike, and also doesn't have what it takes to be a bike thats just fun to ride. You'd be served just as well by buying used road bike that you can ride while you save up for a better bike.
Carbon endurance bikes from the big brands paired with light carbon wheels are very snappy! sure comfortable but snappy. Only similaroty between SL Emonda and ALR Emonda is the name.
I ❤️ my Emonda. I wasn't aware the aero claims included the handlebar. I guess it's a good thing I'm a recreational rider, where marginal gains don't apply 🙂
Mine Emonda 2021 with 28 mm tubeless on GP5000s is super smooth on most tarmac, but agree it feels harsh when bumping into a pothole. But with a 58 cm and 7.2 kg. including pedals, cages and tubeless inserts, I'm more than happy.
Interesting review Dave. I love the Emonda and have had 2 with both being very good. However, I think it's pricing is pushing too far to make it a value for money buy.
I truly appreciate your honest reviews, and I believe that may be hard to do when reviewing bikes that are loaned to you by the companies themselves. This is why we watch your reviews. I will subscribe today, after deciding you are the real deal.... Greetings from the mountains of West Virginia, in the USA.
I have to disagree with your comments about the comfort of the Emonda SLR. I’ve been riding one for 2 yrs and I find it very comfortable. I ride 28mm Pirelli Tires and it’s great. With the Carbon Bontrager one piece bar and stem it absorbs all the road buzz here in the west of Ireland. I’ve ridden long spins the length of the country and no bother with comfort.
Very honest review David. I have a 2020 SL model. It's not the fastest, nor is it the lightest, but it's comfortable. The SLR model is too expensive. Well, I'm thinking Chinese frames and wheelsets like Yoeleo, Winspace, Elves or Sake. Chinese brands are getting bigger. They definitely need to improve and fine tune groupsets like ltwoo and sensah. Once they perfect those areas, they will give strong competition to the big brands.
Came from a Ridley Noah fast rim that was 7.2 kg and little more comfortable, to this bike in the SL6 model. Slapped on my Dura Ace shifters, derailleurs and got 9270 calipers comes in at 7.34kg. I LOVE THIS BIKE. Power transfer is insane compared to the NF. Completely destroyed my PRs. But Trek, if you're listening, CHANGE THAT BLOODY SEATMAST to a freaking seatpost!
I personally like the big Trek Logos. They don't offer logos that size for all bikes and I wish they did. However it's worth mentioning that some bikes have smaller logos and some have miniscule logos, to appease those who like that look. But personally, I love the look of the big logos, and dislike the newer theme of bikes these days that look so plain. I liked cool paintjobs. Carbon with a blue gloss and gold leaf logos? Heck yeah! That would be such a fire bike!
I have the SL6 with SRAM Rival, which was a good value given that it came with a power meter. The large decals don't bother me. The type of decals I find most annoying are black decals on frames that are a slightly different shade of black. Regarding the weight, I'm more concerned about the weight above the saddle than the weight below the saddle.
I’ve been riding the stock SL 5 for almost a year now and its definitely a stiff ride. I’m currently running 26mm Pirelli cinturato velo, but I have thrown on some 35mm Pirelli cinturato H for light gravel riding. My biggest dislike of the bike is that when riding slow or do a track stand my foot frequently strike the front tire.
Why on earth would you test the emonda on cobbles for a ride comfort review!! You are giving the audience the wrong impression about the comfort of the bike and it’s intended use. I own the 2023 emonda slr 9 etap axs, with the post recall one piece bontrager rsl handlebar with bontrager Rsl 51 wheelset and 25 mm tires, and have ridden the 322 km hairshirt ride in Ontario, Canada and my ride was very comfortable during those 10 hours. I have almost 7500 km on the emonda and the ride is super comfortable. The emonda is a all rounder bike with intended use on road asphalt not COBBLES and it’s specialty is climbing. Your review of the emonda is unfair. There must be something wrong with your brand of test wheelsets from zipp. The emonda slr is a dream to ride on the Bontrager Rsl 51 wheelset and the ride is super smooth and super comfortable
the emonda sl 6 is my first road bike. i have started with a gravel bike last spring and a couple months after also wanted to try a road bike. i bought it for only 2500 CHF, which is 2233 pounds. The emonda feels very agile to me and it makes so much fund when riding around 35-40 km/h. its just giving a rush :-) i will ride it much more this year compared to my gravel.
You know what? I don't really give a lot on bike weight. I don't care if it is 7.6 or 7.2 kg and I think it is hard to find a difference when riding. I personally use a 15kg randonneur for group rides most of the time and I always have to pedal harder than the rest and maybe I am getting fitter than the rest.
It's a grand bike that Trek but judging by comments on the recent comparison vlog most folks would go for the red CAAD 12 instead and pocket the difference towards a continental holiday and a nice new watch!
Собрал себе недавно SL7 на SRAM red disk E-tap, колёса Elite 45 mm, втулки DT SWISS 350. В общем, получился довольно лёгкий велосипед, вес без педалей 7,25 кг в ростовке 54 см. До этого был ORRO PYRO на ободных тормозах. Скажу честно, разницы в торможении почти нет никакой))) Единственное, что радует, нет свиста тросиков на ветру, а так примерно одно и тоже, только в несколько раз дороже😅
@David, why not make a top of the bikes that you rode and thought they are the smoothest. We all agree here that we ride for fun and not for the time trial seconds. So comfort on long rides is highly important. I for one am very interested in finding the smoothest road bike (not endurance geometry) - is it Giant TCR, Specialized SL7, Cannondale SuperSix EVO etc
I came from the Emonda SLR myself. Got a good deal for it so why not..Then went to the Cannondale SSE LAB71 and boy is it more comfy than the Emonda..roads where i live is just bad, filled with potholes, loads of rocks and uneven surfaces. Going to the Cannondale, its a faster, lighter, more aero race bike than the Emonda. Absolutely love it.
A question! Do you have any materials that demonstrate Madone vs Emonda aero benefits? It just hard to get without the real life numbers what “much much more” aero means. Thank you in advance!
I have the SL version of this bike with the lower end carbon. I noticed immediately how stiff and harsh it rode. The SLR high end carbon is more harsh? Yikes.
Having had both, i can say its not a harsher ride. There's definitely some offset in the frame from different carbon layups, basically they engineered the SLR first to achieve the goals they wanted and kinda just tried to recreate the bike in a cheaper way. Unfortunately i think having more material resulted in less compliance for the SL but resulted in similar climbing ability.
Yep a lot of people complained when Cannondale dropped their large logos a few years back, personally I think Cannondale look better with the larger branding, Trek don't. I covered my Trek logo with amber reflective tape for night riding.
You have to know this bike is bad when David isn't 100% glowing about it in every way...or not! I still remember David knocking the 3T Explore RaceMax and after riding one, it's my favorite bicycle.
Exactly. All credibility out the window with this one. I own this bike and it's amazing. He does touch on how "lively" the handling is, but tears it down in every other aspect.
Want to lighten it up, go with something crazy like mechanical shifting and rim brakes… seriously, the weight weenie days were 10 years ago. These bikes are beautiful and fast and any cyclist would love to have one, but the actual frames have not evolved much in a decade. (Says the guy who feels the pinnacle of racing bikes was the sl4) 😊
David i have a quick question for you, I was looking at the Merida Reacto and the Scultura, Ive always rode alluminium endurance bikes for years, Which model should i go for ? Im after speed and high km/h average speed but id like some comfort too.
The SLR frame is certainly not for UK and cobbles roads - it's transmits any imperfection from a road surface. I have SLR7 with RSL components, I love it, but I prefer riding Time ADH because of more comfort.
This bike is for climbing , it does wha tis says on the tin. If you want cobble riding that is why there is the Domane. Not sure this a correct comparison.
One thing on the seatpost/seat mast....its an absolute b***h to get in a bike box. I have an XL Domane and its a mega ball ache trying to squeeze that mo fo in to standard bike box. I am glad its not got a one piece bar and stem otherwise I dont reckon it would fit!
Dislikes that fact its harsh on cobbles. Erm, thats why Trek make the Domane!! And you talk about the 1 piece handlebar being recalled. Yes - and Replaced with a new 1 piece so the aero benefit remains. Also, when reviewing a frame, stop talking about groupset benefits. They are not exclusive to the bike. whats the point saying how great Sram Force is when its nothing to do with Trek?
We all know someone who will shell out that 5-figure retail price just to be the first at their local club ride to show up with that stupid rainbow fork. 🥴
This was just a Trek frame set review squeezed into a Zipp infomercial…..Us mere mortals will not have a sponsor build up a frame set with their equipment. A bike review should be a factory fit out and not from one of your sponsors.
to be clear this wasn't a sponsored video, Zipp paid me no money to produce this video, they never have. Yes I would have preferred to have reviewed a standard/stock Trek Emonda but it's difficult to get a bike out of them so it made sense to use this bike since I had it. I did focus much more on the frame than the components of course
DON'T buy a TREK, they lie about EVERY bike weight, wheel weights and part weights, they also dont stand behind their "return for any reason within 30days" promo they plaster ALL over the site. Also you will NEVER sell your trek second hand. Ive had a new madone SLR for sale for almost 2 months for a 20% discount and not a single call on it despite it being brand new never ridden!.
Everything you said is counter to what ive experienced, weight for my sl6 pro was 8kg as stated, including a new seatpost mast ive bought, maybe 3 gram difference, another thing, i was able to return a seat i bought after 23 days without any problems to the local trek shop. Sold my alr emonda within 2 days with a price i would consider was really good.
@@mikael-xr6cv i have 5 other guys who got new SLR madone and they are all 200-500g over stated weight! 2700$ wheelset is also 100grams over stated. we are not talking peanuts here
Hi David. I bought an Emonda SLR in 2021 in size 58. It came with standard Ultegra but the aero bars. I’m 61 and can’t pretend to do the bike justice. But I run 28mm tubeless GP5000S at 70/74 psi on Hunt 44 Aero 44mm deep cabin rims without too much problem. Agreed it’s firm but sometimes there is something nice about the directness and the get up and go. My 13.5mph in hills and 18/19mph in the flat will never test the aero features or break any records, but it’s a nice thing in team colours. By the way mine weighed 7.3kg without pedals.
As a comparison I also have a 2023 Madone SLR Ultegra Di2 12 speed with RSL51mm wheels. Weight is 7.6kg without pedals. It’s no featherweight!!
I’ve always loved how Trek’s bikes look. This Emonda is stunning. Love the look.
I fully agree. I was in the dropped seat-stay camp until I laid eyes on this bike 😍
Agreed, not in love with Madone but Emonda and Domane look real cool
My 2022 SLR 9 is awesome. Very quick and responsive and comes in at 14.7lbs. Thanks for the review and glad you enjoyed the bike as much as I do.
Is that stock? Or did you change out some components/wheels and upgrade some bits?
Yeah... when people have more luck than brain.
My 2017 Emonda SLR 9 ready to ride weighs in at just 14 lbs or 6.3 kg. Fantastic bike.
What size was that and what wheels and group do you have?
58mm frame, Bontrager Aeolus 3 D3 TLR with Schwalbe Pro One tubeless, Dura Ace Di2 9150.
Progress right 😅 Sometimes newer isn’t better. Had a 2016 Emonda and it was a great bike.
very harsh rides ?
I would not say harsh, but definitely firmer than my Trek Domane. I am running 28mm tubeless at 70 psi on the Emonda. I also have a Giant TCR and it is a much stiffer ride than the Emonda.
You can save £3,000 (and gain ca. 500g weight) if you go for the 2023 Emonda ALR frame. I went that route and am quite happy with the result. Together with Vittoria Corsa Pro TLR 32mm tyres it rides smooth like a dream...
Keen to try the Emonda ALR, looks really smart
I own the 2022 SLR. It is an amazing bike and is a great riding bike. it handles great and puts all the power to the street. It is a bit stiff but it is designed to be.
how about "comfort" ? is it harsh riding? whats the max wide tyres you can fit there ?
@@RafalSto you can fit up to a size 30 tire on it (I have seen videos of people putting 32s on it). I have run the 25s it comes with and a 28 tire both clinchers. If you are on decent roads that are not too broken up it is smooth, fast, and snappy. It is extremely responsive and I feel no lost energy when I get into it.
It is an amazing bike no question.
Looks amazing, i have the sl version and love the design and paintjob, thats why i love trek. Its honestly not that harsh, i ride clinchers 28mm, geometry is also not that aggressive
Not a fan of the paint...
love your channel and your perspective...and your access to all these different bikes and components.
imo riding the Emonda on cobbles and calling it harsh is a bit unfair. I don't think it was intended for anything other than very smooth surfaces...and was built specifically for climbs.
Yep, this is true.
I own the same bike his weight is spot on! Way too many people claim how light their bike is, put on a real scale fully equipped! This frame really weighs 800-900 grams with paint. Mine has record mechanical.
Got a project one SLR9 late last year. In a size 60, with DA, Aeolus RSL 37/51 mullet, two piece aero bar/stem, cages, Speedplays and it weighs 7.38kg. Was sort of surprised it wasn’t a tad lighter. The thing is pretty quick up hill and on the flats and descends well. Compliance is good on the rear end but is definitely harsh at the front. TBH I mainly got it as the H1.5 geo suits me over other bikes in the class. Am getting a Specialized Aethos frameset later this week and will build it up pretty light. Will certainly be keen to compare both bikes on my regular local loops. BTW, the Emonda came with a Bontrager two piece aero bar/stem rather than the recalled one pice setup. Seems fine to me - aero and comfortable but as I said the front of the bike is a li’l harsh. Also, I’m impressed with wheel set, but if you don’t like a loud free hub maybe look elsewhere , very loud and aggressive buzz 😂. Hope this helps prospective buyers.
Thanks for your opinion; any update on your Aethos and comparison to your SLR9?
Interested in how you are getting on with the aethos as well. I have heard some people say its a little noodley in the large sizes. I'm 80kg as well.
Thanks for the review, David. I have just ordered the new Émonda ALR 5 as my first ever road bike, after a long time weighing my options. I did test out some carbon endurance bikes, namely Giant Defy Advanced 2 and Cannondale Synapse Carbon L 3, but ultimately decided I prefer a more lively ride over comfort. I also think that, as a road cycling newbie, I'm still not quite ready for carbon. So, the ALR 5 looks like the perfect choice. Hope to see you review one soon. It looks incredible, too! Can't wait to pick it up soon.
Cancel your purchase. These entry level road bikes are overpriced nonsense. (I own the prior ALR 5, it was very much a waste of $$$, and it is consigned to my turbo trainer.) It's not going to serve you for very long or very well if you're serious about road riding. Handling (despite what reviewers say) is abysmal. Descents will be unsettling, and you will live on your breaks. The frame also has atrocious power tranfers, it feels like it's made of cooked spighetti. The rear triangle is a particularly flexy mess, resulting in never-ending brake rub. Then there are the wheels, which are total garbage (I looked at the present specs, and they are similarly bad). The tires are trash and will need to be replaced immediately. Finally, with clearance for max 28mm tires, this bike is hopelessly behind the times on tire size, especially if you are a leisure or for fun rider as opposed to competitive. You're going to want at least 30mm if not 32mm to fit comfortable tires. In the end, this bike is not a performance bike, and also doesn't have what it takes to be a bike thats just fun to ride. You'd be served just as well by buying used road bike that you can ride while you save up for a better bike.
@@matthewjasilli682 such a bullshit :D overpriced maybe yes but the emonda alr is a super bike
@@matthewjasilli682 Harsh review but kudos for your honesty and detail haha
Carbon endurance bikes from the big brands paired with light carbon wheels are very snappy! sure comfortable but snappy. Only similaroty between SL Emonda and ALR Emonda is the name.
I ❤️ my Emonda. I wasn't aware the aero claims included the handlebar. I guess it's a good thing I'm a recreational rider, where marginal gains don't apply 🙂
Mine Emonda 2021 with 28 mm tubeless on GP5000s is super smooth on most tarmac, but agree it feels harsh when bumping into a pothole. But with a 58 cm and 7.2 kg. including pedals, cages and tubeless inserts, I'm more than happy.
Interesting review Dave. I love the Emonda and have had 2 with both being very good. However, I think it's pricing is pushing too far to make it a value for money buy.
I went from the Giant TCR pro 0 to Emonda and what a change that is! So much better to ride, pure enjoyment both uphill and downhill.
Really? Care to elaborate? I am genuinely interested as I ride a TCR and am happy with it but always liked the Emonda a lot.
David is really honest in this review. Very refreshing
I own a 2024 Emonda SL5 and I find it to be very comfortable on the tarmac/road. No complaints at all and absolutely love it
I truly appreciate your honest reviews, and I believe that may be hard to do when reviewing bikes that are loaned to you by the companies themselves. This is why we watch your reviews. I will subscribe today, after deciding you are the real deal.... Greetings from the mountains of West Virginia, in the USA.
I have to disagree with your comments about the comfort of the Emonda SLR. I’ve been riding one for 2 yrs and I find it very comfortable. I ride 28mm Pirelli Tires and it’s great. With the Carbon Bontrager one piece bar and stem it absorbs all the road buzz here in the west of Ireland. I’ve ridden long spins the length of the country and no bother with comfort.
Have the same and have to conclude that you have no proper reference point thus your post is meaningless.
Very honest review David. I have a 2020 SL model. It's not the fastest, nor is it the lightest, but it's comfortable. The SLR model is too expensive. Well, I'm thinking Chinese frames and wheelsets like Yoeleo, Winspace, Elves or Sake. Chinese brands are getting bigger. They definitely need to improve and fine tune groupsets like ltwoo and sensah. Once they perfect those areas, they will give strong competition to the big brands.
Strong competition Gil? Competition yes but big corps have power to adapt
Came from a Ridley Noah fast rim that was 7.2 kg and little more comfortable, to this bike in the SL6 model. Slapped on my Dura Ace shifters, derailleurs and got 9270 calipers comes in at 7.34kg. I LOVE THIS BIKE. Power transfer is insane compared to the NF. Completely destroyed my PRs. But Trek, if you're listening, CHANGE THAT BLOODY SEATMAST to a freaking seatpost!
I just traded my 2022 lynskey helix full sram force d1 to a 2021 emonda slr 7 ultegra 11 speed di2 and I’m loving it 😍
I personally like the big Trek Logos. They don't offer logos that size for all bikes and I wish they did. However it's worth mentioning that some bikes have smaller logos and some have miniscule logos, to appease those who like that look. But personally, I love the look of the big logos, and dislike the newer theme of bikes these days that look so plain. I liked cool paintjobs. Carbon with a blue gloss and gold leaf logos? Heck yeah! That would be such a fire bike!
I have the SL6 with SRAM Rival, which was a good value given that it came with a power meter. The large decals don't bother me. The type of decals I find most annoying are black decals on frames that are a slightly different shade of black. Regarding the weight, I'm more concerned about the weight above the saddle than the weight below the saddle.
No front chain drop issues?
I’ve been riding the stock SL 5 for almost a year now and its definitely a stiff ride. I’m currently running 26mm Pirelli cinturato velo, but I have thrown on some 35mm Pirelli cinturato H for light gravel riding.
My biggest dislike of the bike is that when riding slow or do a track stand my foot frequently strike the front tire.
Same issue striking my foot and my biggest deslike too
Why on earth would you test the emonda on cobbles for a ride comfort review!! You are giving the audience the wrong impression about the comfort of the bike and it’s intended use. I own the 2023 emonda slr 9 etap axs, with the post recall one piece bontrager rsl handlebar with bontrager Rsl 51 wheelset and 25 mm tires, and have ridden the 322 km hairshirt ride in Ontario, Canada and my ride was very comfortable during those 10 hours. I have almost 7500 km on the emonda and the ride is super comfortable. The emonda is a all rounder bike with intended use on road asphalt not COBBLES and it’s specialty is climbing. Your review of the emonda is unfair. There must be something wrong with your brand of test wheelsets from zipp. The emonda slr is a dream to ride on the Bontrager Rsl 51 wheelset and the ride is super smooth and super comfortable
sir you must be very rich
And/or stupid...
Just having Trek eliminated the seat post seized with the use of a seat mast cap, worth it.
Is a beautiful bike. The amonda range is probably next for an update. Riding a domane alot right now. Awesome bike. 👌
Thank you for such an honest and comprehensive review.
the emonda sl 6 is my first road bike. i have started with a gravel bike last spring and a couple months after also wanted to try a road bike. i bought it for only 2500 CHF, which is 2233 pounds. The emonda feels very agile to me and it makes so much fund when riding around 35-40 km/h. its just giving a rush :-) i will ride it much more this year compared to my gravel.
You know what? I don't really give a lot on bike weight. I don't care if it is 7.6 or 7.2 kg and I think it is hard to find a difference when riding. I personally use a 15kg randonneur for group rides most of the time and I always have to pedal harder than the rest and maybe I am getting fitter than the rest.
Great review. Where are those lovely roads? Any chance of a Strava segment link?
It's a grand bike that Trek but judging by comments on the recent comparison vlog most folks would go for the red CAAD 12 instead and pocket the difference towards a continental holiday and a nice new watch!
David, do you think the Zipp wheels in this video contributed to the rough ride? Those Zipp's look like they may be 60mm deep.
its just such a well balanced package.
Собрал себе недавно SL7 на SRAM red disk E-tap, колёса Elite 45 mm, втулки DT SWISS 350. В общем, получился довольно лёгкий велосипед, вес без педалей 7,25 кг в ростовке 54 см. До этого был ORRO PYRO на ободных тормозах. Скажу честно, разницы в торможении почти нет никакой))) Единственное, что радует, нет свиста тросиков на ветру, а так примерно одно и тоже, только в несколько раз дороже😅
I would choose a tcr over the emonda any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Emonda is not a bad bike but not the best in class anymore
Interested in both . What’s your thinking ?
Emonda is the heaviest bike in the bunch. Shame trek
@David, why not make a top of the bikes that you rode and thought they are the smoothest. We all agree here that we ride for fun and not for the time trial seconds. So comfort on long rides is highly important. I for one am very interested in finding the smoothest road bike (not endurance geometry) - is it Giant TCR, Specialized SL7, Cannondale SuperSix EVO etc
I came from the Emonda SLR myself. Got a good deal for it so why not..Then went to the Cannondale SSE LAB71 and boy is it more comfy than the Emonda..roads where i live is just bad, filled with potholes, loads of rocks and uneven surfaces. Going to the Cannondale, its a faster, lighter, more aero race bike than the Emonda. Absolutely love it.
For not english native like asia, big trek lego for this model is very cool that match with the emonda design.
A question! Do you have any materials that demonstrate Madone vs Emonda aero benefits? It just hard to get without the real life numbers what “much much more” aero means. Thank you in advance!
I absolutely love the seat mast. it has better stiffness and best in class, dust/dirt/water proofing.
David, when are you going to review a Factor Ostro Vam?
whenever they decide to send me one :)
Been wondering for a few videos, what helmet and glasses are you rocking here David?
I have the SL version of this bike with the lower end carbon. I noticed immediately how stiff and harsh it rode. The SLR high end carbon is more harsh? Yikes.
Having had both, i can say its not a harsher ride. There's definitely some offset in the frame from different carbon layups, basically they engineered the SLR first to achieve the goals they wanted and kinda just tried to recreate the bike in a cheaper way. Unfortunately i think having more material resulted in less compliance for the SL but resulted in similar climbing ability.
My problem is how to pay the high price for a bike , I'm not a racer just wanting a nice bike.
I have a Gen6 Madone and a Emonda like this. I like the Madone more, handling is way better.
Logo is obviously personal preference and Trek are clearly going for oversized branding, some like, some don't
Yep a lot of people complained when Cannondale dropped their large logos a few years back, personally I think Cannondale look better with the larger branding, Trek don't. I covered my Trek logo with amber reflective tape for night riding.
Recommends spending £3500 more to save 400g 😂. My water bottle alone is 1kg. Very happy with my SL6 Pro.
Valid point - It’s a nice bike, happy riding.
Sl6 pro is pure crap for money. You get lighter amd cheaper sl7 even with 105 groupset. Shame Trek.
I mean Tarmac Sl7
Great review 👍🏾
You have to know this bike is bad when David isn't 100% glowing about it in every way...or not! I still remember David knocking the 3T Explore RaceMax and after riding one, it's my favorite bicycle.
Exactly. All credibility out the window with this one. I own this bike and it's amazing. He does touch on how "lively" the handling is, but tears it down in every other aspect.
Beautiful bike. I have a 2019 rim Domane that I love also.
That bike is almost one pound lighter with Shimano Ultegra Di2 instead of SRAM Force AXS. Not to mention $650 less expensive too.
Must really be crying out for new tarmac to launch to do this video haha
Want to lighten it up, go with something crazy like mechanical shifting and rim brakes… seriously, the weight weenie days were 10 years ago. These bikes are beautiful and fast and any cyclist would love to have one, but the actual frames have not evolved much in a decade. (Says the guy who feels the pinnacle of racing bikes was the sl4) 😊
I find almost no 2020s road bike desirable. Almost all of my favourites are 2010s bikes.
It’s a race bike. So how did it go in the race?
Hello,
Can someone confirm, that it is Dark Prismatic/Trek Black paintjob?
Yes it is…I have the same one.
@@marshallyyc
Thank you.
Hi there. I am not sure if I should go for a 60 or a 58 frame size. Could you advice me? I am 185,5 cm tall. Inner-leg=87,5cm.
Thanks in advance!!
I’m the same height and own a 58cm Emonda sl7 (2021).
How it compared to trek slr same year as colnago v2r or colnago c60? I'm just curious
David i have a quick question for you,
I was looking at the Merida Reacto and the Scultura,
Ive always rode alluminium endurance bikes for years,
Which model should i go for ?
Im after speed and high km/h average speed but id like some comfort too.
Reacto would fit your brief best
The SLR frame is certainly not for UK and cobbles roads - it's transmits any imperfection from a road surface. I have SLR7 with RSL components, I love it, but I prefer riding Time ADH because of more comfort.
Any chance you can review the Pinarello X3?
My good man David--downtube logo way too big! Agreed!! .A proper all around solid review..Cheers Mate, Pjw
Lovely bike. But nobody buys a Trek for value for money. Nice if you can score a deal at your local shop though.
This is definitely not better than an SLR. It’s not a very aerodynamic bike. SL7 is light and aero
BB90 is fine, its on my 12 year old Madone and I have never had problems. What a odd comment oh it was so bad?
You didn’t work at a bike shop that had to fix them constantly… glad you had a good experience
This bike is for climbing , it does wha tis says on the tin. If you want cobble riding that is why there is the Domane. Not sure this a correct comparison.
Got a 2021 Emonda SL7. A week ago the frame cracked (makes an awful sound).
We'll he did say it felt good when it goes up!
Come to think of it, this also might explain the 'stiff' ride.😊
I like the Emonda so much so I thought about buying one. You know what put me off, the logo on the down tube. Deer TREK PLEASE MAKE YOUR LOGO smaller.
The logo is smaller on the silver sl5.
Deer ;)
@@ayowser01yep and the crimson red sl6 etap
One thing on the seatpost/seat mast....its an absolute b***h to get in a bike box. I have an XL Domane and its a mega ball ache trying to squeeze that mo fo in to standard bike box. I am glad its not got a one piece bar and stem otherwise I dont reckon it would fit!
Was looking at these but not I'm not I like fact it's quick etc but sounds to harsh for me
the frame is not that light.... the claimed weight is without paint, with paint is 880g in 56
this is the only frame left that looks apart from everything else.
These bikes are too expensive with needless tech.
100%... Bought one to check and sl6 pro is waaaay overpriced. You essentially getting nothing over my lighter and cheaper alr disc 2019.
Ive got one SL coming same colour too. I just kike the classic look as ive had the dropped stay bikes and im a bit bored of that look.
basically, if you're not worried about anything, buy this bike
Nice paint, for sure, but as you say that logo is just over the top gaudy.
Dislikes that fact its harsh on cobbles. Erm, thats why Trek make the Domane!! And you talk about the 1 piece handlebar being recalled. Yes - and Replaced with a new 1 piece so the aero benefit remains. Also, when reviewing a frame, stop talking about groupset benefits. They are not exclusive to the bike. whats the point saying how great Sram Force is when its nothing to do with Trek?
Hate the logo, especially on the Madone.
I'll take the 2014 model & through away all the stem spacers to be just as aero. PS can anyone from the the $11k for 2014 bike 😉
most of this mid range 4-5000$ carbon completes can't compete with my lovely build steel custom bike....
The Madone is not lighter than the Emonda. The opposite is true
that knob on the stem looks weird!
Yup the steerer tube really needs to be cut down
The roads are shite in Derbyshire
We all know someone who will shell out that 5-figure retail price just to be the first at their local club ride to show up with that stupid rainbow fork. 🥴
Tarmac is a product of Merida engeenering and factory.
This was just a Trek frame set review squeezed into a Zipp infomercial…..Us mere mortals will not have a sponsor build up a frame set with their equipment. A bike review should be a factory fit out and not from one of your sponsors.
to be clear this wasn't a sponsored video, Zipp paid me no money to produce this video, they never have. Yes I would have preferred to have reviewed a standard/stock Trek Emonda but it's difficult to get a bike out of them so it made sense to use this bike since I had it. I did focus much more on the frame than the components of course
Stick with the tcr m8…
Nice bike but utterly stupid price - I mean let's make cycling the exclusive reserve of millionaires, why not?
what a joke road bikes have become. just ridiculous $$$. everything wrong with the world on 2 wheels, well done trek and friends.
DON'T buy a TREK, they lie about EVERY bike weight, wheel weights and part weights, they also dont stand behind their "return for any reason within 30days" promo they plaster ALL over the site. Also you will NEVER sell your trek second hand. Ive had a new madone SLR for sale for almost 2 months for a 20% discount and not a single call on it despite it being brand new never ridden!.
Everything you said is counter to what ive experienced, weight for my sl6 pro was 8kg as stated, including a new seatpost mast ive bought, maybe 3 gram difference, another thing, i was able to return a seat i bought after 23 days without any problems to the local trek shop. Sold my alr emonda within 2 days with a price i would consider was really good.
@@mikael-xr6cv i have 5 other guys who got new SLR madone and they are all 200-500g over stated weight! 2700$ wheelset is also 100grams over stated. we are not talking peanuts here
@@BladeBarn rim strips
@@ayowser01 35g for the pair.....
@@mikael-xr6cvit mite have been 8kg but closer to 8.5kg
sadly Trek now is overpriced. not so much value for money :/
I had a 2016 emonda I like better than that monstrosity..
Bone shaker no thanks
Cycling has always been a power to weight dominated sport, why are modern bikes so heavy 👎🏻
To be honest who cares about these few ks
Yep, a very subjective review indeed. Glad the reviewer mentioned it himself wich makes the review completely worthless.
Can’t please everyone can you