trek emonda 2015 sl6

Trek Émonda SL 6 road bike review

Giving the ride feel of a thoroughbred GC frame, Trek manages to deliver the perfect balance of stiffness and comfort in the elegant looking and reasonably priced Trek Émonda SL6.

• Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

The Trek Émonda SL 6 exists a few places below Trek's signature SLR model but that doesn't stop it embodying the GC spirit and as a frame it certainly feels worthy of Alberto Contador.

It's made the coveted  Cycling Weekly's Editor's Choice list for its lightweight, fast and comfortable ride quality that'll have dancing up climbs like Contador himself. 

Think of top Tour de France bikes, and there are only a handful of names that pop into your head faster than the Trek Émonda.

While its old sibling, the Émonda SLR occupies the top echelons of WorldTour racing, we've got our hands on the more reasonably priced Trek Émonda Sl 6, coming in at £2,250.

Made famous in recent years beneath the likes of Alberto Contador and his Trek-Segafredo team mates, the Trek Émonda SL 6 feels like a thoroughbred GC frame regardless of its lower price point, and it's a frame that looks built to race yet still manages to maintain an air of elegance.

Trek Émonda SL 6 : c lassy looks

Sweeping lines blur one area of the frame into the other, and the slender seat stays make the bike look responsive and nimble. Pair the sweeping design with the matte silver paint job, and the bike has a seriously classy look.

But it isn't just surface, and the 500 series OCLV carbon makes the frame a skimpy 1091g. On our scales, the whole bike weighed in at 7.66kg, with any additional weight no doubt coming down to the components rather than the frame.

Down below, an overbuilt, beefy bottom bracket makes sure that every pedal stroke powers the bike forward – which is especially helpful when things start heading uphill.

Without a doubt, the most exciting equipment on the bike is the Shimano Ultegra R8000 groupset. Newly updated, it marks an enormous overhaul of Shimano's everyman groupset.

In terms of shifting feel and action, it's every bit as good as it's older, more expensive Dura-Ace sibling. The re-designed front mech and more ergonomic levers offer a light action to front shifts, and rear shifts are crisp, accurate and powerful.

Of the new Ultegra groupset itself, the most exciting feature are the excellent rim brakes – again, they're every bit the match to the Dura-Ace models.

With them being so good, it was a bit of a disappointment to find them missing on the Émonda. Instead, Trek has specced its Bontrager Speed Stop Pro brakes rather than Shimano's far superior rim brakes.

Bontrager's in house stoppers can't match Shimano's for neither feel nor power but it's an oversight we can forgive considering the Émonda's excellent frame and ride qualities. Besides, the Ultegra brakes are always going to be there for that next upgrade.

Again, the Bontrager Paradigm aluminium wheelset could be lighter to match the svelte carbon frame but at this price point they're par for the course and they didn't feel like lead weights when heading uphill.

GC quality frameset

Out on the open road, the ride quality of the GC frame really shines through, and there's a sense of urgency laid up in the carbon that wants to let rip.

But there's a gentler side to it, too, and the high modulus frame gives comfort to the ride. Unlike so many stiff carbon frames, the Trek Émonda Sl 6 feels dampened and absorbent without that dreaded sluggishness that heavier bikes suffer from.

The skip in its step no doubt comes from its lack of weight, and even with the aluminium wheels and overbuilt brakes, the Émonda SL 6 weighs a tiny 7.66kg. Spoil yourself to some killer wheels and you'll bring that down even further.

Dancing out the saddle on the Émonda SL 6

On the hills it climbs like you'd expect from a frame built for Alberto Contador, encouraging you to imitate his signature out the saddle dance on the steepest inclines. But its a frame that really shines on the downs, too. The 992mm wheelbase is manoeuvrable but well balanced and the handling was sharp in the corners, everything you'd expect from a GC super bike.

The Émonda Sl 6's frame is faultless – lightweight, comfort and stiffness all in perfect equilibrium. Its more than a match for the aluminium wheels it comes with, but it has to meet a price point after all.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Canadian outsprinted Romain Grégoire on the uphill finish at Les Estables on stage three to take over the race lead from Magnus Cort

By Tom Thewlis Published 4 June 24

Smart light, music and GoPro control with improved third-party training app integration through the touch of a button

By Rachel Sokal Published 4 June 24

Useful links

• Tour de France
• Giro d'Italia
• Vuelta a España

Buyer's Guides

• Best road bikes
• Best gravel bikes
• Best smart turbo trainers
• Best cycling computers
• Editor's Choice
• Bike Reviews
• Component Reviews
• Clothing Reviews
• Contact Future's experts
• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Cookies policy
• Advertise with us

Cycling Weekly is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site . © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

BEST WEEK EVER

Try out unlimited access with 7 days of Outside+ for free.

Start Your Free Trial

Powered by Outside

Trek Émonda comparison review: SL6 versus SLR6

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

In developing the Émonda, Trek devoted considerable resources to designing a lightweight race bike and trumped the industry with a 690g frame. CTech editor Matt Wikstrom takes a close look at the new bike and assesses the influence of different grades of carbon fibre by comparing the mid-level Émonda SL6 with the upper-level SLR6.

Trek is well known for its Madone and Domane road bikes but neither was ever designed as a lightweight race bike. So in 2012, the company set out to see what it could achieve and came up with the Émonda. The development process required over 30 months but the result is currently the world’s lightest production road bike. At 4.65kg for a size 56cm bike, the Émonda SLR10 trumps the previous title-holder by almost 1kg, but at a significant cost: $17,999.

There are, of course, more affordable versions of the bike yet Trek believes that the Émonda range is the world’s lightest production road line . There are over a dozen models in the Émonda range including women’s-specific versions and custom builds via Trek’s Project One portal . Variations in parts specifications account for some of the differences between each model, but there are also three different versions of the frameset (designated S, SL, and SLR) that differ in carbon fibre grade, country of manufacture, and ultimately, final weight.

| Related : How Trek is adapting to the challenges of online retail

Trek uses five different grades of carbon fibre for frame construction that vary in weight, strength, stiffness and cost. At one end of the spectrum there is 300 series carbon, a cost-effective blend, and at the other there is 700 series carbon, a high-cost, low-weight, military-grade blend.

As the base model in the range, the Émonda S is made in Taiwan from 300 series carbon with a simplified design (e.g. a standard seatpost is used rather than semi-integrated design) to reduce production costs.

In contrast, the Émonda SL and SLR share many of the same design features (such as a semi-integrated seatpost) however the SL is manufactured in Taiwan from 500 series carbon while the SLR is manufactured from 700 series carbon in the U.S.A. The use of the highest-grade carbon affords the SLR a weight saving of over 300g when compared to the SL but almost triples the price of the frameset.

While weight was an important design imperative for the Émonda, Trek spent a considerable period road testing the new bike to refine its handling characteristics while paying attention to its stiffness. Riders from Trek’s professional team were instrumental in determining the value of each refinement but engineers were also guided by data collected from strain gauges and accelerometers fitted to prototypes.

CT’s roving reporter Dave Everett attended the launch of the Émonda last year and was able to take one ride on the SLR8 . While his report served as a good introduction to the Émonda, the new bike deserved a longer look. In this review, I spend a lot more time on the Émonda, and thanks to Trek Australia , compare two models — SL6 and SLR6 — to learn more about how different grades of carbon fibre affect the performance of the bike.

Before the ride

In developing the Émonda, Trek’s engineers pared away at the frame and forks until they arrived at the minimum structure that satisfied all of their performance and safety criteria. The result is a frameset that is noticeably skinnier than the Madone and Domane .

| Related : Trek 5 Series Madone and Domane comparison review

Like the Madone and Domane, the Émonda SL and SLR framesets utilise a BB90 bottom bracket and E2 headtube. At 90mm wide, the BB90 bottom bracket provides a broad footing for the downtube and chainstays to help the stiffness of the frame. The E2 headtube also helps the stiffness of the frame with an oversized lower headset bearing and tapered fork steerer.

Trek further refines the design of the SLR with an asymmetric steerer that is wider from side-to-side and skinnier from front-to-back. The difference provides extra stiffness for cornering while affording some compliance to soak up road shock.

The Émonda SL and SLR also inherit the semi-integrated seatpost design that was introduced with the Madone. A seatpost cap fits over an extended seat tube and offers a range of 10cm for saddle height adjustment. Trek offers a choice of two lengths for the seatpost cap (135mm and 175mm) along with two offsets (5mm and 20mm) to help with refining the fit of the bike.

| Related : First-look review: 2016 Trek Madone

Both framesets provide internal routing for the gear and rear brake cables, with interchangeable cable stops and ports to suit mechanical and electronic transmissions. There is also an adjustable chain keeper that is integrated into the seat tube while the left chainstay is ready to accept Trek’s DuoTrap S speed/cadence sensor .

Aside from the difference in carbon fibre blend and country of origin, the SLR frameset is further distinguished from the SL in a number of small ways. I’ve already mentioned the asymmetrical fork steerer above. Another difference lies with the brake caliper mounts: the SLR frameset uses direct mount calipers front and rear, while the SL uses conventional calipers.

The front derailleur mount also differs: the SL frameset has an alloy fitting that is riveted to the seat tube while the SLR has a carbon mount that is molded into the frame. Finally, the SLR frameset is offered with a choice of Trek’s H1 or F2 fit, while the SL is only available with a H2 fit. The difference between the two is in the length of the head tube, which is 30-35mm taller for the H2 fit at every frame size (see chart below).

There is a choice of up to nine frame sizes for the Émonda, as shown in the table below:

The range of frame sizes varies, depending on the model and fit of the frame. The SL6 is offered in sizes 47-62cm with a H2 fit only while the SLR6 is available in sizes 50-62cm with a H1 fit and 47-64cm with a H2 fit. Trek’s H1 fit can be considered very aggressive and race-oriented, affording plenty of handlebar drop. In contrast, the H2 fit is more moderate but riders looking for a more upright position will be better served by the geometry of Trek’s Domane. Visit Trek for detailed geometry charts for the SL6 and SLR6 .

The styling of the Émonda is very clean and simple with inviting lines that flow from one point to the next. The seat tube junction in particular is elegant and I like the way the seat stays seem to sprout with energy for the dropouts.

Trek keeps the paintwork simple with a minimum of decoration though the gloss paint adds some luxury to the final result. The Émonda SL6 is currently available in a choice of two colours (Matte Trek Black with Gloss Trek Black logos, or, Viper Red with Trek Black logos) compared to one for the SLR6 (Crystal White with Argent Silver logos and Trek Cyan details). However, there are many more paint finishes available for the SLR via Project One .

The SL6 and SLR6 are both dressed with Shimano’s mechanical 11-speed Ultegra groupset and a suite of Bontrager components but there are some distinct differences between the two bikes. For example, the SL6 uses Bontrager’s entry-level Race wheelset while the SLR6 gets an upgrade with a Race Lite wheelset that is lighter.

Similarly, the SL6 is supplied with a Bontrager Paradigm Race saddle with chromoly rails while the SLR6 gets a Paradigm RL saddle that has hollow titanium rails. There is also a difference in brake calipers, where the SL6 has standard Ultegra calipers while the SLR6 uses Bontrager Speed Stop calipers.

All of these differences, from the grade of carbon fibre to individual parts, provide significant weight savings for the SLR6 when compared to the SL6. The SL6 sent for review (size 54cm, H2 fit) weighed 7.42kg sans pedals and cages while the SLR6 (size 54cm, H1 fit) weighed 6.68kg. The savings (740g) can be attributed largely to the SLR frameset (~300g) and the Race Lite wheelset (300g), with smaller weight savings provided by the shorter head tube and a lighter saddle.

Unsurprisingly, the weight savings come at a significant cost: the Émonda SL6 has a recommended retail price of $3,699 while the SLR6 retails for $8,499. In both instances, the frames come with a lifetime warranty while the forks and all Bontrager parts are covered by a two-year warranty. For more information on the Émonda range, visit Trek .

After the ride

After spending the day riding an Émonda SLR8 last year , Dave Everett found that “the first noticeable thing for me was not so much the weight but how planted the bike felt on the road.” Later though, once he found himself in hillier terrain, Dave was “definitely using the big chainring a lot more” than he normally would thanks to the low weight (6.15kg) of the bike.

Like Dave, I wasn’t wowed by the weight of the SL6 or SLR6. Instead, the Émonda was surprisingly ordinary, even mundane, compared to its marketing hype. Of course, there was more to discover, but after my early rides on the SL6 and SLR6, all I could say was that both bikes offered a very smooth and refined kind of ride that I’ve long associated with Trek’s bikes.

A “refined kind of ride” is not necessarily a compliment though. For those riders that like the bike to disappear beneath them so that they remain unaffected by road feedback, the Émonda should have plenty of appeal, regardless of whether it is the SL or SLR. However, I found myself wanting more from the bike, and while I could criticise the Émonda as being “dead” or “unlively”, that wouldn’t be fair. Instead, I’ll say this: riding an Émonda is like visiting a library to enjoy the quiet.

The steering and handling of the Émonda was very stable and predictable. As such, the bike is incredibly easy to ride. The bike obeyed my every instruction and while the steering tended towards slow, I didn’t find it required any extra effort to hold a line through sharp corners. I wouldn’t recommend the bike for criterium racing but then there isn’t much about the Émonda’s styling or marketing that would likely attract a dedicated criterium racer.

Neither the SL6 nor SLR6 felt like a particularly light or responsive climbing rig. Capable, yes, but still some distance from ever being explosive. What seemed to be missing was any great sense of the bike’s stiffness. It’s not that the bike was too compliant, but rather, I wasn’t getting any feedback from the bike in order to judge its performance. Thus it seems the Émonda is defined more by the absence of any sensation rather than what can be felt by the rider.

The Émonda was well suited to long rides. The bike doesn’t rattle or chatter, even on rough roads, and I found the hours passed by with ease as the bike continued with steadfast assurance. I found myself re-evaluating the subdued ride quality as a comfort, like the support and encouragement from a devoted friend. After all, there’s no need for showmanship on a long ride, just steady commitment from the rider and the bike, and the Émonda was prepared to keep going for as long as I wanted.

By taking turns on the SL6 and SLR6, and then swapping the wheelsets between each bike, I found that the SLR6 was a stiffer bike. It was only a mild difference, but it could be felt when rising out of the saddle on a climb, traversing rough roads, and as a little feedback from the road. Overall, it provided the SLR6 with a racier feel than the SL6, but I must stress, it was very mild. Switching to stiffer mid-profile carbon wheels ( Curve 38mm clinchers ) enhanced this sense a little more but the wheels weren’t able to transform the Émonda into an aggressive race bike.

The Domane has a strong reputation for its comfort but the Émonda shouldn’t be overlooked, especially the SL series. I found myself marvelling at how well the SL6 was able to soak up every crack, bump and rut. Furthermore, there was a good balance of compliance between the front and rear of the bike. Adventurous riders that enjoy demanding terrain may find the Émonda lacking, otherwise the bike is well suited to a wide variety of terrain.

The SL6 had a lot in common with the SLR6. The overall ride quality was very similar while the steering and handling were identical. I’ve already mentioned that the SLR6 was marginally stiffer; it was also marginally more agile, but that was due largely to the lighter wheelset. Indeed, swapping wheelsets between the two bikes improved the SL6, however it made no difference to the stiffness of the bike.

Finally, I’m pleased to report that Bontrager’s new direct mount Speed Stop calipers are a significant improvement over the previous iteration supplied with the Madone . The calipers were smooth and effective with plenty of bite but they didn’t suffer any of the heavy effort that defined the last version. Indeed, I couldn’t find anything to separate the performance of Speed Stop calipers from the standard Ultegra brakes fitted to the SL6.

My only complaint is with the way the inner cable is routed: it ends up between the tyre and the brake arm to rest upon the brake pad. Cutting the cable short removes any risk of it getting caught against the rim but then is too fiddly to hold when re-adjusting the cable.

Summary and final thoughts

The Émonda has been positioned by Trek as an ultralight bike, purpose-built for climbing, with a strong emphasis on race performance. I don’t have a quarrel with their claims or strategy but the bike is much more versatile than a dedicated climbing rig. The ride quality is easy to like and the steering and handling ensure its reliability in essentially any situation, so while it won’t satisfy buyers looking for extremes in performance, it’s hard to see how it will disappoint anybody else.

The differences between the SL6 and SLR6 were modest at best. Some were a matter of the parts specified for each bike, but fundamentally, the SLR frameset is lighter, stiffer and more race-oriented that the SL.

It is interesting to note that most of the weight savings offered by the SLR6 can be obtained for an Émonda SL by upgrading from the SL6 to an SL8 (RRP $4,999) and substituting the stock Race wheelset for the Race Lite version without spending any more than $6,000. I’m not criticising the price of the SLR though, just highlighting what is perhaps the Émonda’s greatest strength, which is Trek’s range of models and options for the bike.

Trek Émonda SL6 Gallery

Trek Émonda SLR6 Gallery

Popular on Velo

\n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/how-watch-unbound-gravel-2024\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"how to follow the 2024 unbound gravel race live\"}}\u0027>\n how to follow the 2024 unbound gravel race live\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"what will red bull-bora-hansgrohe look like blue kits but no pidcock, van aert for incoming mega-team","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/what-will-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-look-like-blue-kits-but-no-pidcock-van-aert-for-incoming-mega-team\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/what-will-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-look-like-blue-kits-but-no-pidcock-van-aert-for-incoming-mega-team\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"what will red bull-bora-hansgrohe look like blue kits but no pidcock, van aert for incoming mega-team\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/what-will-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe-look-like-blue-kits-but-no-pidcock-van-aert-for-incoming-mega-team\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"what will red bull-bora-hansgrohe look like blue kits but no pidcock, van aert for incoming mega-team\"}}\u0027>\n what will red bull-bora-hansgrohe look like blue kits but no pidcock, van aert for incoming mega-team\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"fourth time\u0027s the charm for lachlan morton at unbound gravel 2024","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/results-lachlan-morton-2024-unbound-gravel\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/results-lachlan-morton-2024-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"fourth time\u0027s the charm for lachlan morton at unbound gravel 2024\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/results-lachlan-morton-2024-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"fourth time\u0027s the charm for lachlan morton at unbound gravel 2024\"}}\u0027>\n fourth time\u0027s the charm for lachlan morton at unbound gravel 2024\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"velo\u0027s 2024 unbound gravel elite race predictions","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/2024-unbound-gravel-elite-race-predictions\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/2024-unbound-gravel-elite-race-predictions\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"velo\u0027s 2024 unbound gravel elite race predictions\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/2024-unbound-gravel-elite-race-predictions\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"velo\u0027s 2024 unbound gravel elite race predictions\"}}\u0027>\n velo\u0027s 2024 unbound gravel elite race predictions\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"f1 driver valtteri bottas spotted riding an unreleased canyon road bike","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/f1-driver-valtteri-bottas-spotted-riding-an-unreleased-canyon-road-bike\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/f1-driver-valtteri-bottas-spotted-riding-an-unreleased-canyon-road-bike\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"f1 driver valtteri bottas spotted riding an unreleased canyon road bike\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/f1-driver-valtteri-bottas-spotted-riding-an-unreleased-canyon-road-bike\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"f1 driver valtteri bottas spotted riding an unreleased canyon road bike\"}}\u0027>\n f1 driver valtteri bottas spotted riding an unreleased canyon road bike\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"tom pidcock went on a 140-mile recovery ride after winning the nov\u00e9 m\u011bsto\u00a0world cup","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/tom-pidcock-went-on-a-140-mile-recovery-ride-after-winning-the-nove-mesto-world-cup\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/tom-pidcock-went-on-a-140-mile-recovery-ride-after-winning-the-nove-mesto-world-cup\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tom pidcock went on a 140-mile recovery ride after winning the nov\u00e9 m\u011bsto\u00a0world cup\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/tom-pidcock-went-on-a-140-mile-recovery-ride-after-winning-the-nove-mesto-world-cup\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tom pidcock went on a 140-mile recovery ride after winning the nov\u00e9 m\u011bsto\u00a0world cup\"}}\u0027>\n tom pidcock went on a 140-mile recovery ride after winning the nov\u00e9 m\u011bsto\u00a0world cup\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"sepp kuss on tour de france gc: \u2018my best chance to win is if jonas vingegaard is there\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sepp-kuss-on-tour-de-france-gc-my-best-chance-to-win-is-if-jonas-is-there\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sepp-kuss-on-tour-de-france-gc-my-best-chance-to-win-is-if-jonas-is-there\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sepp kuss on tour de france gc: \u2018my best chance to win is if jonas vingegaard is there\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/sepp-kuss-on-tour-de-france-gc-my-best-chance-to-win-is-if-jonas-is-there\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sepp kuss on tour de france gc: \u2018my best chance to win is if jonas vingegaard is there\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n sepp kuss on tour de france gc: \u2018my best chance to win is if jonas vingegaard is there\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"unbound updates: fat tires are in, aero number plates are out, and drafting is still allowed (for women)","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-2024-updates\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-2024-updates\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"unbound updates: fat tires are in, aero number plates are out, and drafting is still allowed (for women)\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-2024-updates\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"unbound updates: fat tires are in, aero number plates are out, and drafting is still allowed (for women)\"}}\u0027>\n unbound updates: fat tires are in, aero number plates are out, and drafting is still allowed (for women)\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"rosa kl\u00f6ser wins historic nine-woman sprint at unbound gravel 2024","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-2024-womens-results\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-2024-womens-results\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"rosa kl\u00f6ser wins historic nine-woman sprint at unbound gravel 2024\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-2024-womens-results\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"rosa kl\u00f6ser wins historic nine-woman sprint at unbound gravel 2024\"}}\u0027>\n rosa kl\u00f6ser wins historic nine-woman sprint at unbound gravel 2024\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"lael wilcox just left chicago on the longest ride of her life","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/lael-wilcox-guinness-world-record-around-the-world\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/lael-wilcox-guinness-world-record-around-the-world\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"lael wilcox just left chicago on the longest ride of her life\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/lael-wilcox-guinness-world-record-around-the-world\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"lael wilcox just left chicago on the longest ride of her life\"}}\u0027>\n lael wilcox just left chicago on the longest ride of her life\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"\u2018we are going to stick with road racing\u2019: bad luck undoes matej mohori\u010d in unbound gravel","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/we-are-going-to-stick-with-road-racing-bad-luck-undoes-matej-mohoric-in-unbound-gravel\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/we-are-going-to-stick-with-road-racing-bad-luck-undoes-matej-mohoric-in-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018we are going to stick with road racing\u2019: bad luck undoes matej mohori\u010d in unbound gravel\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/we-are-going-to-stick-with-road-racing-bad-luck-undoes-matej-mohoric-in-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018we are going to stick with road racing\u2019: bad luck undoes matej mohori\u010d in unbound gravel\"}}\u0027>\n \u2018we are going to stick with road racing\u2019: bad luck undoes matej mohori\u010d in unbound gravel\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"the rapha blaero project takes aero clothing at unbound to a whole new level","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/the-rapha-blaero-project-takes-aero-clothing-at-unbound-to-a-whole-new-level\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/the-rapha-blaero-project-takes-aero-clothing-at-unbound-to-a-whole-new-level\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the rapha blaero project takes aero clothing at unbound to a whole new level\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/the-rapha-blaero-project-takes-aero-clothing-at-unbound-to-a-whole-new-level\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the rapha blaero project takes aero clothing at unbound to a whole new level\"}}\u0027>\n the rapha blaero project takes aero clothing at unbound to a whole new level\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"who could fill a visma leadership void, is there really a gc \u0027big 4\u0027, and more: what the dauphin\u00e9 will tell us about the tour de france","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-could-kuss-fill-in-for-visma-at-the-tour\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-could-kuss-fill-in-for-visma-at-the-tour\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"who could fill a visma leadership void, is there really a gc \u0027big 4\u0027, and more: what the dauphin\u00e9 will tell us about the tour de france\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-could-kuss-fill-in-for-visma-at-the-tour\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"who could fill a visma leadership void, is there really a gc \u0027big 4\u0027, and more: what the dauphin\u00e9 will tell us about the tour de france\"}}\u0027>\n who could fill a visma leadership void, is there really a gc \u0027big 4\u0027, and more: what the dauphin\u00e9 will tell us about the tour de france\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"opinion: ineos grenadiers under pressure to deliver tour de france home run","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/opinion-ineos-grenadiers-under-pressure-to-deliver-tour-de-france-home-run\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/opinion-ineos-grenadiers-under-pressure-to-deliver-tour-de-france-home-run\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"opinion: ineos grenadiers under pressure to deliver tour de france home run\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/opinion-ineos-grenadiers-under-pressure-to-deliver-tour-de-france-home-run\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"opinion: ineos grenadiers under pressure to deliver tour de france home run\"}}\u0027>\n opinion: ineos grenadiers under pressure to deliver tour de france home run\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"opinion: 5 reasons why tadej poga\u010dar will win the tour de france","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/opinion-5-reasons-why-tadej-pogacar-will-win-the-tour-de-france\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/opinion-5-reasons-why-tadej-pogacar-will-win-the-tour-de-france\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"opinion: 5 reasons why tadej poga\u010dar will win the tour de france\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/opinion-5-reasons-why-tadej-pogacar-will-win-the-tour-de-france\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"opinion: 5 reasons why tadej poga\u010dar will win the tour de france\"}}\u0027>\n opinion: 5 reasons why tadej poga\u010dar will win the tour de france\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"bike check: lael wilcox\u0027s around-the-world specialized roubaix","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/bike-check-lael-wilcoxs-around-the-world-specialized-roubaix\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/bike-check-lael-wilcoxs-around-the-world-specialized-roubaix\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"bike check: lael wilcox\u0027s around-the-world specialized roubaix\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/bike-check-lael-wilcoxs-around-the-world-specialized-roubaix\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"bike check: lael wilcox\u0027s around-the-world specialized roubaix\"}}\u0027>\n bike check: lael wilcox\u0027s around-the-world specialized roubaix\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"\u2018we make a winning plan every day:\u2019 coach says vingegaard is pulling out all stops to be ready for the tour de france","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/we-make-a-winning-plan-every-day-coach-says-vingegaard-is-pulling-out-all-stops-to-be-ready-for-the-tour-de-france\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/we-make-a-winning-plan-every-day-coach-says-vingegaard-is-pulling-out-all-stops-to-be-ready-for-the-tour-de-france\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018we make a winning plan every day:\u2019 coach says vingegaard is pulling out all stops to be ready for the tour de france\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/we-make-a-winning-plan-every-day-coach-says-vingegaard-is-pulling-out-all-stops-to-be-ready-for-the-tour-de-france\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018we make a winning plan every day:\u2019 coach says vingegaard is pulling out all stops to be ready for the tour de france\"}}\u0027>\n \u2018we make a winning plan every day:\u2019 coach says vingegaard is pulling out all stops to be ready for the tour de france\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"power analysis: poga\u010dar\u2019s giro d\u2019italia domination was like nothing in recent memory","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/giro-ditalia\/power-analysis-pogacars-giro-ditalia-domination-was-like-nothing-in-recent-memory\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/giro-ditalia\/power-analysis-pogacars-giro-ditalia-domination-was-like-nothing-in-recent-memory\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"power analysis: poga\u010dar\u2019s giro d\u2019italia domination was like nothing in recent memory\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/giro-ditalia\/power-analysis-pogacars-giro-ditalia-domination-was-like-nothing-in-recent-memory\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"power analysis: poga\u010dar\u2019s giro d\u2019italia domination was like nothing in recent memory\"}}\u0027>\n power analysis: poga\u010dar\u2019s giro d\u2019italia domination was like nothing in recent memory\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"unreleased 13-speed sram xplr drivetrain spotted at unbound gravel","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/new-13-speed-sram-xplr-drivetrain-spotted-at-unbound-gravel\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/new-13-speed-sram-xplr-drivetrain-spotted-at-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"unreleased 13-speed sram xplr drivetrain spotted at unbound gravel\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/new-13-speed-sram-xplr-drivetrain-spotted-at-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"unreleased 13-speed sram xplr drivetrain spotted at unbound gravel\"}}\u0027>\n unreleased 13-speed sram xplr drivetrain spotted at unbound gravel\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"unbound, the \u0027world\u0027s premiere gravel event,\u0027 doesn\u0027t have prize money. should it","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-prize-money\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-prize-money\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"unbound, the \u0027world\u0027s premiere gravel event,\u0027 doesn\u0027t have prize money. should it\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-prize-money\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"unbound, the \u0027world\u0027s premiere gravel event,\u0027 doesn\u0027t have prize money. should it\"}}\u0027>\n unbound, the \u0027world\u0027s premiere gravel event,\u0027 doesn\u0027t have prize money. should it\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "}]' > >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>advertise >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>privacy policy >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>contact >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>careers >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>terms of use >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>site map >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": "link"}}'>my newsletters manage cookie preferences privacy request healthy living.

• Clean Eating
• Vegetarian Times
• Yoga Journal
• Fly Fishing Film Tour
• National Park Trips
• Warren Miller
• Fastest Known Time
• Trail Runner
• Women's Running
• Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
• FinisherPix
• Outside Events Cycling Series
• Outside Shop

© 2024 Outside Interactive, Inc

• Rider Notes

2015 Trek Émonda SL 6 WSD

A carbon frame women’s race bike with high-end components and rim brakes.

For This Bike

View more similar bikes →

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Émonda SL 6 WSD

Similar Bikes

(descending)

Add custom gearing

When Trek first introduced the Émonda back in 2014, it was sort of a surprising addition. Seeming to compete directly with the Madone, the biggest difference was that Trek’s new lightweight lacked the aerodynamic touches of its sibling. Now with the most modern iteration of the Madone, we know that Trek was already working on creating …

Read Review

Mar 2016 · Greg Kaplan

This everyday race bike is low weight, high value, and high fun

In developing the Émonda, Trek devoted considerable resources to designing a lightweight race bike and trumped the industry with a 690g frame. CTech editor Matt Wikstrom takes a close look at the new bike and assesses the influence of different grades of carbon fibre by comparing the mid-level Émonda SL6 with the

Jul 2015 · Warren Rossiter

One of the lightest chassis ever made, the Émonda is a climber's dream but also a fantastic all-rounder

Nov 2014 · Mat Brett

Super light and lively road bike that flies up the climbs, with many other talents too

Nov 2014 · Matthew Pioro

My test bike, the Trek Émonda SLR 8, shares the same frame and fork (690 g and 280 g in Size 56, respectively) as the SLR 10, but has a less-rarified spec.

Last updated June 29 Not listed for 2,531 days

• Émonda SL 6

We'll take care of you. Period.

It's our mission to provide you with world-class hospitality every time you visit us online or in-store. We're always here to help you. It's the Trek way.

Free shipping and professional assembly

All bikes ordered online ship for free to your local Trek shop for professional assembly. Participating retailers will even deliver your new ride to your doorstep!

Warrantied for life

Each Trek carries a simple promise. We'll take care of you and do what's right.

'One of the fiercest climbing bikes available, the new Émonda is even faster thanks to a dose of aero.'

'I expect so much from a modern high-end pro-level road racing bike that it’s hard to exceed those expectations. It’s rare when a bike does: The Émonda SLR is one of those rare bikes.'

'It's an incredible update from Trek.'

'The updated Emonda packs one hell of a punch, and Trek has a winner on its hands. The integrated cockpit is nice and all, but the real win is the H1.5 fit, which makes the Emonda feel more stable while maintaining the aggression and responsiveness of previous Emondas. That, coupled with a lightweight construction, comfortable ride and aerodynamic shaping, brings Trek's top-of-the-line climber from a very good bike to an excellent one.'

'The Emonda is still light, and it’s still stiff, but now there’s an extra dose of free speed.'

'Overall, Trek has done a solid job here of updating the Emonda, infusing meaningful improvements in several key areas, but without breaking the basic formula that has made the bike so popular.'

More options