trek domane al2 2016

• Domane AL 2

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• Domane AL 2 Gen 4

Trek Domane AL 2 Gen 4

Domane AL 2 is a speedy and versatile performance road bike that's a perfect starting point for anyone looking to get into road riding. With an Alpha Aluminum frame, clearance for larger tires, an 8-speed Shimano Claris drivetrain, rack, fender, and top tube mounts, and a comfortable all-day riding position — Domane AL 2 is perfect for group rides, fast commutes, and even venturing beyond paved paths to most gravel roads. It's right for you if… You're looking to venture into the world of road bikes and want one that's fast, smooth, and comfortable, and won't break the bank. You want to ride primarily on roads but also want a bike that can handle a rail trail and most gravel paths, too. Days spent pedaling under the sun sound perfect and you need a bike that is comfortable enough to let you ride as long as you see fit. The tech you get A 100 Series Alpha Aluminum frame with advanced tube shaping for high-end looks and ride quality, a Shimano Claris 8-speed groupset, powerful disc brakes for all-weather stopping, super durable wheels, integrated frame mounts for carrying additional gear, flared handlebars for extra control and stability, and 32mm tubeless ready road tires for added cushion. The final word Domane AL 2 is a true road bike and the perfect option if you're just getting into riding. It's comfortable for long days, quick enough to hang with the group, and extremely versatile for when you're ready to venture off-road. Why you'll love it - A totally versatile and smooth ride that's a perfect choice for your first performance road bike - Versatile 40mm tire clearance (as measured) lets you run bigger tires for extra comfort on most gravel roads - Internal cable routing and an integrated cockpit provide premium looks and a clean aesthetic - Rack, fender, and top tube mounts make it easy to carry all the gear you'll need - Powerful disc brakes allow for super fast stopping power in all conditions

* Subject to change without notice.

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Trek Domane AL 2 Review: High-End Endurance on a Budget

An affordable mid-range road bike for those looking to level up their weekend rides to something a bit more competitive.

The Domane AL 2 is a good bike for those looking for an introduction to competitive road racing. It may not have all the bells and whistles of an expensive road bike but provides everything needed to put some serious hours in on the tarmac.

You’ll struggle to find a road bike under $1,000 that comes equipped with the same quality parts and advanced frame geometry.

Trek Domane AL 2 Quick Overview

Main features, is trek domane al 2 worth the money, final verdict.

Overall, the Trek Domane AL 2 is an excellent introductory road bike for amateur riders looking to take their cycling to the next level.

It has a professional frame feel, but it’s not too aggressive so it doesn’t take the fun out of the ride.

If you’re looking for quality at an affordable price, it’s hard to fault the Trek Domane AL 2.

Whether you simply want comfort and performance for weekend rides or a bike that will help you compete professionally, it’ll do the job.

• Frame: 100 Series Alpha Aluminum
• Fork: Domane Carbon, fender mounts
• Front Derailleur: Shimano Claris R2000,
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Claris R2000, 8-Speed
• Number of Gears: 16
• Rear hub: Formula RX-142 alloy, 6-bolt, Shimano 11-speed freehub, 142x12mm thru axle
• Rims: Bontrager Tubeless Ready 24-hole, 17mm
• Tire Size: 700x32c
• Weight: 23.73 lbs / 10.76 kg

Get From Trek

The Trek Domane AL 2 combines midrange Shimano components with a high-quality frame, carbon fork, and some nice finishing touches to provide a smooth, solid ride.

Lightweight endurance frame

The Domane AL 2 adopts Trek ‘s high-performance 100 Series Alpha aluminum frame for a blend of comfort and performance.

The frame aims to strike a balance between saving on weight while maintaining decent strength and stiffness.

All frames come fitted with a lightweight Trek carbon fork to keep the weight down and provide a comfortable ride.

The endurance geometry is another well-balanced work of art that manages to put the rider in a race-ready position without compromising on comfort. The frames have an average 74-degree seat tube angle with 8cm of clearance on the bottom bracket and 37.4cm of frame reach on the midsize (54cm) bike.

Frame sizes range from 44cm to 62cm to accommodate riders of almost any height. The smallest 44cm model has a 65.7cm standover height, with an 84.2cm standover height on the largest unisex model

IsoSpeed Carbon Fork

The Trek IsoSpeed headset and carbon fork is designed to provide a smoother ride while improving stiffness and reducing weight.

It features a unique dropout placement that optimizes the wheelbase and a rocker cup with zero lateral movement for extra precision.

The slightly wider fork provides additional tire clearance, allowing for wider tires if you feel the desire to tackle tougher terrain.

Shimano Claris Drivetrain

Shimano provides the gears, derailleurs, and shifters for the Domane AL 2. Trek has chosen to go with the Claris R2000 gearing system which, while not top of the range, provides a smooth shifting experience.

Claris is a well-trusted gearing system used on many midrange road bikes. Some professional riders may opt to upgrade to Shimano’s Sora or Tiagra system at a later stage but if well maintained, Claris gears shouldn’t give any trouble.

The rear cassette features 8 speeds ranging from 11T to 34T and on the front crank is a compact double ring with 50 and 34T cogs.

DuoTrap S Compatibility

The Bontrager DuoTrap S digital sensor is a nifty tool that can be attached to compatible Trek bicycles for measuring cycling data. Rather than messy, makeshift zip ties, the DuoTrap S screws securely onto the frame and transmits data wirelessly to your phone or bicycle computer.

You can use the DuoTrap’s combined ANT+ 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth signals to simultaneously send data to both your phone and a Trip 300 cycling computer. The sensor is concealed neatly on the inside of your chainstay to maintain a clean appearance and aerodynamic functionality.

Blendr Compatible Stem

The Trek Domane AL 2 features a stem that is compatible with the Blendr integration system for cycling accessories. It allows for the easy attachment of various holders for lights, computers, phone holders, and navigation systems.

Blendr is a proprietary stem attachment system developed by Trek’s Bontrager components team. It fits a wide range of purpose-built Blendr Duo Base attachments to fit almost any bicycle accessory. No need for any more fiddly screw-on or clip-on attachments that often fail, putting your devices at risk.

There are seven sizes of Trek Domane AL 2 for riders 4’11” to 6’3″

• 44 : 4’11” – 5’0″
• 49 : 5’1″ – 5’4″
• 52 : 5’4″ – 5’6″
• 54 : 5’6″ – 5’9″
• 56 : 5’9″ – 5’11”
• 58 : 5’11” – 6’1″
• 61 : 6’1″ – 6’3″

Trek Domane AL 2 is worth the money!

It fits neatly into the price range of road bikes with similar components. While you might find cheaper bikes with a Shimano Claris drivechain, not many would benefit from the same quality frame materials that Trek is famous for.

When you add the lightweight carbon fork and high-quality finishing touches, you have a bike that would be difficult to beat for around $1,000. If you can afford the extra cash for the Domane AL3 and want slightly better parts, go for it. But if you want value for money, with the Domane AL 2, you certainly can’t go wrong.

Check out our other Trek Domane reviews: AL3 , SL 4 , SL 5 , and SL 6 .

Want to read more about Trek Bikes? Check out our review on the best Trek Bicycles You Can Get .

The Domane AL 2 is part of a range of Trek bikes aimed at riders looking to advance their road cycling to the next level. While it is one of the lowest-specced bikes in the range, it is in no way a beginner’s bike.

The Domane AL 2 is the perfect bike for an amateur rider that wants to begin competing more seriously in competitions or weekend sports.

If you feel you are already past the stage of an amateur competitor, you could check out the slightly upgraded Domane AL3. It’s slightly lighter and benefits from a Shimano Sora groupset.

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Trek Domane AL 2 review

In these days of ever-increasing bike prices, Trek’s entry-level Domane is still refreshingly affordable

Dave Caudery / Our Media

Simon Withers

Great handling; excellent component specification; willing ride

The handlebar can transmit vibration at high tyre pressures on rough stuff

The class-leading Domane has always been the wild child in Trek’s triumvirate of road bikes whose names are all anagrams of each other. Shortlisted for our 2022 Budget Bike of the Year award , the AL 2 offers impressive handling and spec at an entry-level price.

Forever searching for alternate lines, not phased by rough surfaces, and with the ability to conquer almost anything, the Domane was one of the first really effective endurance bikes .

Far from the World Tour’s Paris-Roubaix winning rigs, this Domane AL 2 promises elements of those bikes’ performance at a very realistic price. Is it just marketing, or does it really work?

Trek Domane AL 2 specifications

The Domane AL 2’s frame is built from Trek’s 100 Series aluminium tubes, which include some hydroformed profiles. It’s Trek’s lowest grade of aluminium tube, as you’d expect on an entry-level road bike , but shows obvious design care, and is welded neatly throughout.

The IsoSpeed carbon fork is designed to absorb a lot of road vibration up front, with a 27.2mm alloy seatpost and well-padded saddle at the rear.

To keep costs low, Trek fitted Shimano’s 8-speed Claris groupset, although the double chainset is substituted with a non-series RS200 item, and the brakes with some unbranded Lee Chi alloy dual-pivot calipers. The alloy handlebar and stem are from Bontrager, as are the TLR wheels and tyres.

Trek Domane AL 2 geometry

The Domane follows the evolved geometry trend for endurance bikes, which is that of slightly relaxed race machines.

The head angle on my 54cm example is 71.3 degrees, with a 73.7-degree seat angle. Head tube length is kept to a sporty 16cm, while the effective top tube length is 54.2cm.

The chainstays are 42cm, the wheelbase 101cm, and bottom-bracket drop is a stability-inducing 8cm, which all suggests that the Domane AL 2 has the essential qualities to calm stormy tarmac.

Trek Domane AL 2 ride impressions

An endurance bike is intended for all road types, although predominantly tarmac. With countless miles of roads and lanes to hand, where smooth surfaces were definitely the exception, I aimed the Domane at many of my tried-and-tested training routes.

I inflated the 25mm tyres to 75-80psi, which usually works well for my 78kg, and took in every sort of climb, slog and drag I could, as well as plenty of technical corners.

Trek has designed the Domane to fit most riders, whether they prefer to get long and low, or ride in a more commanding position. Since testing the very first Domane to arrive in the UK, I’ve always found them to be an ideal fit, straight out of the box. So it proved here, with all positional options easily achievable.

Unlike its loftier brethren, and particularly the carbon Domane range , the Domane AL 2 can only count on an IsoSpeed fork to help quell roughness.

The aluminium frame, although nicely constructed, has no elements that are designed to offer any IsoSpeed-like benefits. Instead, the rear of the bike relies on the classic 27.2mm alloy seatpost and a very plush saddle. The air volume of the 25mm tyres, which measure 27.5mm wide, helps further.

Up front, Bontrager’s alloy Comp VR-C handlebar and Elite stem are fairly standard fare, with a tough black finish and rounded drops.

The head tube mimics the shaping of the carbon Domane, and is satisfyingly, organically chunky.

All of the cables are routed externally, running beneath the down tube, and the rear brake cable angles pleasingly across beneath the flattened top tube from right to left, which gives it an ideal route from the left brake lever.

Casting an eye over the AL 2 exposes the groupset shortcuts, which help keep costs down.

The non-series RS200 chainset is pretty basic, and spins on a UN300 cartridge bottom bracket, with square tapered axle ends.

These are simple fit-and-forget items that can provide decent service, but their bearings are well inside the bottom bracket shell, and this narrow arrangement makes them prone to lateral play sooner than bottom brackets with more widely spaced bearings positioned on each side of the shell.

The Domane’s plain black dual-pivot rim brake calipers aren’t named on Trek’s component spec, but a check of the spare parts list shows them to be Lee Chi items.

From the lever, their action feels quite lively, but whatever Trek has used for the brake pads seems to be allergic to alloy rims, as they have no bite, just a very wooden feel with no pad compression or the ability to increase pressure and stop faster.

I didn’t get the chance to ride them in the wet, but I doubt that would improve their performance. Swapping the brakes would have been very easy and inexpensive, and it’s a shame Trek didn’t do exactly that.

In the very comfortable saddle, the Domane AL 2 showcases its bump-smoothing ability. Like oil calming a rough sea, it glides along, seemingly rolling across the surface.

If I was riding on 32mm or larger tyres at lower pressures, it would be easier to understand, but these are 25mm at normal road pressure. The higher-specced carbon Domanes amplify this effect much further, but finding this ride quality on an entry-level machine is impressive.

Anyone expecting a choppy ride on a budget aluminium frame will be blown away by the Domane AL 2.

Where the tarmac’s top surface coating has worn away, leaving uneven patches, or when it looks more washboard than A-road, the Domane rounds off the sharpness of the expected impact, keeping everything well under control.

The Shimano Claris levers have a very familiar feel, and are about as comfortable as most Shimano levers. Their shifting, across an eight-speed cassette, has less finesse than Shimano’s 10, 11 and 12-speed groupsets, but is still quite swift.

One downside of only having eight sprockets is larger jumps between some gears, which is inevitable with their 11-32 range. The front shifting performance is acceptable – it mainly does the job reliably, but occasionally needs a little coaxing not to get stuck mid-shift.

The gearing range is ideal for the Domane’s expected use, with a 50/34 compact chainset mated to that 11-32 cassette. Almost 1:1 low gearing on a reasonably swift road bike is quite generous, and 50x11 is big enough for most scenarios.

That relaxing ride quality translates to handling fun. It gives great confidence when cornering, descending and changing line to avoid obstructions. The Domane feels utterly stable, encouraging you to push a little harder, and the Bontrager tyres grip very well.

With a helpful breeze and friendly gradient, the Trek can really fly, but when the tables are turned, the Bontrager TLR wheelset shows its limitations.

On short drags, where I’m usually able to carry speed, until needing to stand up and power over the top, I found my approach speed was slower, and I’d have to change at least one gear before slogging over the crest.

They’re solid wheels that can be converted to tubeless for some puncture protection, but trying to muster a town sign sprint requires far more power than it should, and the resultant speed is underwhelming.

With mounts for full mudguards and a rear rack, this Domane could make an ideal winter bike or quick commuter , and there’s enough room for at least a 28mm tyre without mudguards.

Trek Domane AL 2 bottom line

Trek’s Domane AL2 has a lot to offer, especially at this price.

Its tidy frame and vibe-eating fork are a sound basis for a good bike, which overall the Trek is.

The groupset does its job well, but the non-series chainset and narrow cartridge bottom bracket let the side down, with some iffy shifts and axle deflection. And the less said about those rim brakes, the better.

The ride quality from 25mm tyres is impressive, and increasing volume would add comfort and a little grip. Adding speed would require a wheel upgrade , which is quite straightforward, but not essential.

Budget Bike of the Year 2022 | How we tested

Our 2022 Budget Bike of the Year testing was handled by regular BikeRadar contributors Simon Withers and Robin Wilmott – two highly-experienced testers who have reviewed dozens of road and gravel bikes at the budget end of the market over the years.

Testing involved long rides on favourite routes around Bath, as well as laps of rolling hills in Somerset. Unlike our more performance-focused categories, the best road bikes around £1,000 are also more likely to be used for commuting by bike and other errands.

With this in mind, we’ve paid close attention to how easy the bikes are to live with for day-to-day use and how they fare on urban jaunts.

Our 2022 Budget Bike of the Year contenders are:

• Boardman ADV 8.9
• Forme Monyash 2
• Giant Contend 1
• Trek Domane AL 2
• Triban RC 500

Thanks to our sponsors HUUB , Lazer , 100% and Garmin for their support in making Bike of the Year happen.

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