trek emonda test

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

The New Trek Émonda Is Faster Than Ever

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

The Takeaway: The Émonda SLR is a benchmark pro race bike—and it’s surprisingly rider friendly.

It has 183 grams less drag than the previous generation, but the frame is only 33 grams heavier
There are 10 models starting at $2,699
SL models ($2,699 to $5,999) have the aerodynamic shaping and features but in a frame that’s about 400 grams heavier than the SLR
SLR models ($6,699 and up) use a new carbon fiber composite that’s 30 percent stronger than Trek’s previous top-of-the-line carbon.

For Émonda SLR bicycles, Trek will provide an individual handlebar and stem until an updated handlebar/stem combo is available.

Additionally, all customers who bring in their handlebars for replacement will also receive a $100 in-store credit that can be used toward any Trek or Bontrager merchandise through December 31, 2022.

Remember professional road racing ? It’s that thing where super skinny people go unbelievably fast up and down hills and fly over flat roads for hours at a time. It’s been a while since the pros have beat up on each other for our entertainment, but there might, hopefully, be some races on the horizon. When the races do resume, Trek’s pro riders will be aboard its new third-generation Émonda climbing bike. The new Émonda isn’t lighter, but it is faster thanks to a dose of aerodynamic tuning.

.css-1hhr1pq{text-align:center;font-size:1.1875rem;line-height:1.6;font-family:Charter,Charter-roboto,Charter-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;}.css-1hhr1pq em{font-style:italic;font-family:Charter,Charter-styleitalic-roboto,Charter-styleitalic-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;}.css-1hhr1pq strong{font-family:Charter,Charter-weightbold-roboto,Charter-weightbold-local,Georgia,Times,Serif;font-weight:bold;} —Five Cool Details—

Now With Aero

The new Émonda gets a major drag reduction with a tiny weight gain.

Simple Seat Mast

The seat mast has lots of adjustment range, and an easy-to-use saddle clamp.

Light and Slippery

The new Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 wheels are light, sleek, and stable.

Wide and Threaded

The T47 bottom bracket has a wide stance, and user-friendly threads.

A built-in chain watcher prevents unwanted derailments.

Making the new Émonda frame more aerodynamic wasn’t exactly a tough hurdle as the previous Émonda had virtually zero aerodynamic optimization. But adding meaningful aerodynamic benefit while achieving the frame stiffness expected of a pro-caliber race bike, maintaining the well-regarded handling properties of the previous Émonda, and adding rider-friendly features like a threaded bottom bracket—all with adding only 33 grams (SLR frame, claimed)—is quite a feat.

Below you’ll find my review of the Émonda SLR—I’ve been on it since early March—followed by a dive into the technology and features of the new bike, and a brief model breakdown.

Ride Impressions: Émonda SLR 9 eTap

The Émonda SLR is a tool made to fulfill the needs of some of the world’s best road racers. This bike will never be as comfortable or versatile as a gravel bike. Going fast on pavement and climbing performance are its only goals. These are obvious facts, but that’s the lens through which it must be viewed. And through this lens, it is one of the very best.

The new Émonda was born out of a request from Trek’s pro racers and pitched as the company’s “fastest climbing bike ever.” So little surprise they set me up with the lightest model (the SLR 9 with SRAM Red eTap ), which also has a build kit almost identical to the team’s bikes. It’s also, excepting customized Project One builds, the most expensive model at a buck under 12 grand.

That massive pile of clams gets you an aerodynamic frame with disc brakes, power meter, and wireless electronic shifting that weighs less than 15 pounds (54cm). And that’s with a hefty T47 threaded bottom bracket unit, lustrous paint , clincher wheelset, a chain-watcher, standard butyl tubes, 37mm deep rims, 160mm disc rotors front and rear, and SRAM’s largest Red cassette (10-33). That’s “Holy shit!” impressive.

By cutting drag a ton without adding much weight, it’s hard to argue with Trek’s claim that the new Émonda is faster than the outgoing generation. But if you have any doubts, they’ll be erased when you ride it. This is an explosive bike: it feels as light as a feather and as solid as a steel girder at the same time.

Trek’s Émonda has always been a raw and rowdy bike that feels a little wild and a bit dangerous in precisely the ways you want a race bike to feel: That’s not lost with the added aerodynamics. If anything, the new Émonda is even crisper and punchier than before, which is saying something.

A small downside to all this fury is the Émonda’s smoothness. Light and stiff race bikes aren’t a smooth-riding lot to begin with, but even measured against a stiffer riding genre, the new Émonda is on the firmer end of the scale. Still, it escapes harsh or punishing labels—I did a six-hour ride on the Émonda on the stock 25 tires and didn’t feel worn down by its ride. Swapping to 28s helped a lot (no surprise) and were on the Émonda for the bulk of my testing. I’d suggest reserving the lighter and more aerodynamic stock 25s for racing or PR attempts—assuming good roads—and use 28s as daily drivers.

The Émonda’s handling is excellent. Well, let me caveat that: Road racing geometry is pretty uniform, so whether I’m on a current race bike from Trek, Specialized, Cannondale, Cervélo, Canyon, Colnago, Wilier, Pinarello, BMC, Giant (etc., etc.), I find the broad strokes of their handling feel and performance quite similar. There wasn’t anything about the Émonda’s handling or cornering performance that set any new benchmarks for me, but there wasn’t anything to dislike either.

It was quick and accurate, diving into corners with a light touch. It offered great feedback, so I always knew where I was relative to its and my limits, and I could count on it to be consistent and predictable. It was maybe a touch less settled in bumpy corners than the Specialized Tarmac, but the Émonda never broke traction or skipped. Overall, for such a light bike, the Émonda is remarkably solid and drama free. I’d have no qualms barreling down a technical alpine descent on the Émonda.

I received this test bike in early March, giving me plenty of time to ride it back to back with its primary competition—a Specialized S-Works Tarmac , what I consider the benchmark for aero-ized lightweight bikes. The Tarmac is smoother over the bumps and has a silkier feel overall, but the new Émonda feels more efficient, like it can go faster more easily.

I’ve also ridden a good slice of the Émonda’s competition, including the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX , Colnago V3Rs, Cannondale SuperSix Evo , Cervélo R5, Wilier Zero SLR , Pinarello Dogma F12 . These are all superb bikes, but I feel the Émonda is the class leader. It feels sharper and more explosive than all of them. It feels faster, and that’s what matters most in a race bike. But I also like that the Émonda is pretty straightforward and rider-friendly.

For example, I swapped the stock one-piece bar/stem for a standard stem and round bar. One, I could run a standard bar and stem on this bike, which you can’t say about every modern race bike. And two, I didn’t have to pull any cables, wires, or hoses to make the swap: Again, something you can’t say about all race bikes. For the record, the shape of the one-piece Aeolus bar/stem is great, and the tops are the most comfortable to grab of all the aero-topped bars I've used. The only reason I swapped is my preferred length and width combination (110x40) wasn't available yet.

The BB is threaded, which makes it easier to service and replace than a press-fit (however, I was getting some noise out of the BB area, which I never resolved). The wheels employ standard offset, and it uses regular thru-axles. It’s compatible with pod-style power meters and mechanical shifting. Its signature seat mast is pretty much the only non-standard thing about this frame, and even then, it’s pretty user-friendly. There’s no cutting necessary, height adjustment is ample, the saddle clamp is easy to use, and it’s travel-case friendly.

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.

Team Request

The new Émonda is partially a result of a request from the Trek-Segafredo race team. “They are one of our primary customers,” said Jordan Roessingh, Trek’s director of road product. “And they started to realize that it’s not just weight, it’s not just stiffness and responsiveness, there’s this other thing—aerodynamics and speed—that’s also really important to be competitive and be faster on the bike. They had been one of the loudest voices saying, ‘We need the lightest-weight, stiffest bike possible.’ And now they started coming back saying ‘We need those things, but we also need the bike to be faster in order for us to be really competitive.’ ”

It is (comparatively) easy to make a light frame, it is easy to make a stiff frame, it is easy to make an aerodynamic frame. Making a frame that’s two of those three things is more challenging: Making a bike more aerodynamic usually makes it heavier, making a bike lighter typically makes it less stiff, etc. Making a frame that is light AND stiff AND aerodynamic enough to satisfy the demands of a top-level professional race team is extremely difficult.

But not impossible. Many brands already make a light, stiff, and aero bike. The Specialized Tarmac is one, as are the Canyon Ultimate, the Cannondale SuperSix Evo, the Cervélo R5, the Wilier Zero SLR, the Pinarello F12, the Scott Addict, and the new Giant TCR . All of them seek to balance the three qualities—light, stiff, and aero—in the pursuit of the ideal race bike, and they all manage the balance differently. The common thread between these bikes: They’re all used by teams that compete against Trek-Segafredo.

Still Light, Now With Aero

The previous generation Émonda SLR Disc , launched in 2017, was an extremely light frame at 665 grams (claimed). But when a frame is already that light, it is much harder to make it even lighter. At least lighter enough to make a meaningful difference.

So, Trek took a different approach to making its climbing bike faster—instead of lighter, it made it more aerodynamic. The new Émonda frame is a touch heavier—yet still extremely light at 698 grams—but the bike has 183 grams less drag than the previous generation.

The important thing to note here is that, though the frame is more aerodynamic, the 183 gram drag reduction is not from the frame only. New wheels and a new aero bar (more info on both below) play a role. The specific setups Trek used to get that 183 gram number are: 2018 Émonda with 28mm-deep Bontrager XXX 2 wheels, and Bontrager XXX Bar/Stem Combo compared to the 2021 Émonda with 37mm deep Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 Wheels and Bontrager Aeolus RSL Bar/Stem Combo.

Another drag saving upgrade: the housing, hoses and wires for the controls are almost fully inside the frame. They dive into the frame at the head tube passing through the upper headset bearing. The front brake hose runs into the fork steerer and down the left leg before popping out just above the brake caliper. The fork steerer’s flattened sides provide room for the rear brake hose and derailleur control lines to travel down and into the frame. Though it has flattened sides, the fork steerer is still compatible with standard 1 1/8” stems.

The overall drag reduction results in a bike that is 18 seconds per hour faster when climbing an 8.1 percent grade (the average grade of Alpe d’Huez ), and 60 seconds per hour faster on flat roads than the previous Émonda. Trek also claims the new Émonda is 13 seconds per hour faster than a Specialized Tarmac when climbing an 8.1 percent grade (all assuming the rider maintains a constant 350 watts).

Eight Point One Percent

With three qualities—aero, stiffness, weight—that work in opposition to each other, how do you decide how much to optimize one quality when you know it will negatively affect the other two? How aero is aero enough? At what point is improved aerodynamics offset by the weight added to get there?

The team behind the Émonda used a legendary climb to help them decide: Alpe d’Huez. “It represents an extreme example of what most people see on a regular basis when they’re doing a big climbing ride,” said Roessingh, “It’s around an 8 percent grade, and it’s about an hour-long climb for the pros—amateurs might go a little slower. It gives us a good understanding of what the benefit of a drag savings is relative to a weight savings.”

By optimizing the weight and aerodynamic balance around this climb, Roessingh claims the Émonda is faster on Alpe d’Huez and also faster on everything shallower than the famous climb, “which is the vast majority of the environments that most riders are going to ride in, including the team,” said Roessingh. “So if we can say it’s faster up Alpe d’Huez, it’s going to be significantly faster everywhere because the flatter it is, the more aerodynamics benefit you.”

Computer-Aided Optimization

Achieving the weight to the aerodynamic balance of the new Émonda required careful design of each tube shape. Aiding the Émonda’s team was supercomputing horsepower. The abridged and simplified version of the process goes like this: into the computer was fed a rough draft of the shape based on Trek’s aerodynamic experience and other information like UCI regulations. The program then varies the tube’s parameters within a predefined range and spit back several iterations of the shape, each with a different weight to aerodynamic balance. The Émonda’s team evaluated the alternatives and picked the one most suited to its location in the frame and best able to help the frame achieve its overarching goal.

Roessingh says that Trek cannot afford to buy the computing hardware necessary to run the CFD and FEA optimizations (in a timely manner) that helped shape the new Émonda’s tubes. The processing happens in the cloud where Trek rents time on Google, Microsoft, or Amazon’s supercomputers. It’s more affordable than buying a supercomputer. Even so, it is not cheap, “Cloud computing is becoming a relatively significant budget line item for us because we’re doing so many of these optimizations in CFD and FEA and all that processing happens in the cloud.”

tube shape comparison of the generation two and three emonda

The new Émonda’s fork legs, head tube, down tube, seat tube, and seat stays all use a variation of a truncated airfoil. The top tube and chainstays, which have virtually no effect on drag, are optimized almost entirely for stiffness to weight.

In Trek’s line, the new Émonda’s aerodynamic performance is equal to the third generation Domane ; the Madone is still significantly more aero. But while the more aerodynamic Madone is faster in flatter terrain, once the climb hits about 5.5 percent, the lighter Émonda becomes the faster bike. And for many of the Trek-Segafredo team riders—and many amateurs—that means the Émonda is fastest when it matters most: the hardest part of a race or ride, which is almost always on a steep climb.

OCLV 800 Carbon

Getting the new Émonda SLR to be as light as it is while adding aerodynamic shaping would not be possible without employing a new carbon-fiber composite, said Roessingh. The new OCLV 800 composite is 30 percent stronger than Trek’s previous top-of-the-line composite (OCLV 700). Because it is stronger, they can use less: By using OCLV 800, Trek’s team was able to make the Émonda SLR frame 60 grams lighter than if they used OCLV 700.

The Émonda SLR is very cool, but it’s also very expensive (bike prices start at $6,699). For the 99 percenters, there’s the Émonda SL (models start at $2,699).

The SL uses OCLV 500 composite, and the frame is quite a bit heavier than the SLR’s. The SL’s frame comes in at 1,142 grams, with a 380-gram fork (SLR fork weight: 365 grams).

But material (and weight) are the only difference between the SL and SLR.

Aeolus Bar Stem

While a ton of work made the Émonda’s frame tubes faster, a big chunk of the new bike’s drag savings comes from the one-piece Aeolus bar stem. It alone is responsible for 70 grams of the Émonda’s 183-gram drag reduction. This means that if a traditional stem and round bar are installed on the new Émonda, its drag advantage over the previous-generation bike drops to 113 grams. And it means that you can make any bike with a round bar and traditional stem significantly more aerodynamic by merely installing the Aeolus. Retail price is $650.

The integrated Aeolus is made of carbon-fiber composite, of course, with a claimed weight of 297 grams (42x120). It’s offered in 14 length and width combinations, from 44x120 to 38x80. Hoses, housing, and wires run externally for easier service and repairs, but in a groove that keeps them out of the wind. A bolt-on plate keeps the control lines tucked and organized where they turn off the bar tops to run in line with the stem.

The Aeolus employs a mount that works with Bontrager’s line of Blendr accessories for mounting computers and lights.

Aeolus 37 Wheels

Another new Bontrager product rolling out with the Émonda is the Aeolus 37 wheelset. It comes in two models: the Aeolus RSL 37 (1,325 grams/pair, $2,400) and the Aeolus Pro 37 (1,505 grams/pair, $1,300).

The RSL 37 is claimed to be lighter than Zipp’s 32mm-deep 202, yet more aerodynamic and more stable than Zipp’s 45mm-deep 303. Both wheels are disc brake only (only Center Lock interface), tubeless compatible, use DT-Swiss internals, have no rider weight limit, and come with a lifetime warranty.

Surprisingly Rider Friendly

Though the new Émonda is clean and integrated looking and uses high-performance standards, it is also remarkably rider-friendly. Cables, hoses, and housing run externally on the one-piece Aeolus bar/stem for easier repair and service (with one exception: wiring for a Shimano Di2 or Campagnolo EPS bar-end junction box runs partially inside the bar). If you prefer a more traditional cockpit, it can be run with a standard bar and stem with 1⅛-inch steerer clamp.

The bottom bracket uses the threaded T47 standard , which is compatible with almost all common crank-axle standards.

Front and rear thru-axles are standard 12x100 and 12x142mm, and the wheels employ a standard dish. The standard flat mounts for the brake calipers are compatible with 140, 160, or 180mm rotors.

Tire clearance is officially 28mm, but that’s with a ton of extra space. I fit 32mm tires in the Émonda with ease.

And though all models do use a seat mast, it’s a no-cut variety with lots of adjustment range.

H1.5 Geometry

Trek did offer its top-of-the-line race bikes in the aggressive H1 geometry for riders seeking an ultra-long and low geometry, or H2 which was an endurance fit. The new Émonda is offered only in H1.5, which splits the difference between H1 and H2. The result is pretty typical dimensions for a modern race bike—a 54cm Émonda H1’s geometry is remarkably similar to a 54cm Specialized Tarmac.

There are eight sizes starting at 47cm and topping out at 62cm.

There are 10 models of the new Émonda. SL models start at $2,699 and are priced up to $5,999. SLR models start at $6,699 and go up to $11,999.

Only SLR models come with the Aeolus integrated bar/stem stock; and only the Émonda SL 7 ($5,499) and up come with the Aeolus 37 wheelset.

The new Émonda is a disc brake-only platform.

Project One

The new Émonda is in Trek’s Project One paint and parts personalization program. If that’s not luxe enough for you, Trek’s Project One Ultimate program allows you to work with a designer to come up with a one-of-a-kind finish, and Trek will source any parts you want for your new bike.

Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Bike Reviews

The 10 Best Mountain Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

The Best Beach Cruisers for Leisurely Rides

a person riding a bike on a trail in the woods

The Best Hardtail Mountain Bikes

Best Hybrid Bikes You Can Buy Right Now

The 14 Best Road Bikes of 2024

The Best Commuter Bikes for Getting Around Town

a person riding an aventon electric bike

The 10 Best Electric Bikes, Tested by Our Editors

These Folding Bikes Can Go Everywhere

Smoother and Faster: The New Pivot Switchblade

riding specialized rockhopper elite 29 mountain bike on trail

The Best Beginner Mountain Bikes

Reviewed: Colnago's Italian Made C68 Gravel

BEST WEEK EVER

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

Start Your Free Trial

2021 Trek Emonda SL Pro 6 road bike review: for the climb lovers

The first review from our 2021 road bike field test. we review and compare the mid-priced version of trek's newly overhauled emonda race bike..

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 .

When it was first released, the Emonda was a climber’s dream that Trek claimed as the world’s lightest production offering. Dealer events would have the ultra-premium 4.6 kg (10.25 lb) SLR 10 hanging from large helium balloons, and the American company made a big deal of it providing a benchmark stiffness-to-weight ratio.

In many ways the Emonda back-filled the void left by the once round-tubed and low-weight Madone that was then becoming more aero. And as the Madone further trended to becoming Trek’s full aero racer (with an obvious element of comfort, too), the Emonda kept to its round tubes and stiff hill-attacking personality.

That changed for 2021 with Trek overhauling the Emonda in a similar way to how almost every other brand has overhauled its lightweight race machine. The Emonda, now disc-only, gained a little weight by moving to slippery truncated airfoil tubes and a wholly new approach to cable routing in an effort to make it sleeker all-around. Additionally it should run quieter with a new threaded bottom bracket format, too.

All of those techy details (and more) were covered in James Huang’s review of the top-tier Emonda SLR . And while James went pretty deep with that review, he left a few unanswered questions in relation to the more affordable 2021 Emonda SL. And so it’s exactly this more-affordable, second-tier version – specifically the Shimano Ultegra-equipped Emonda SL 6 Pro – that we took to our Field Test in Victoria’s High Country .

Emonda SLR vs Emonda SL

Story highlights.

What: A second-tier version of Trek’s all-round lightweight race bike. ||Key updates: Aero frame design, a more performance-oriented geometry, sleek semi-concealed cable routing, T47 threaded bottom bracket||Weight: 8.01 kg for the Emonda SL 6 Pro as tested (54 cm, without pedals), claimed frame weight is 1,142 g (56 cm). ||Price: US$3,800 / AU$5,500 / £3,350 / €3,880-4,000||Highs: Obviously a race bike with geometry to match, agile handling, high-end looks, more tyre clearance than claimed, threaded bottom bracket, Shimano Ultegra is hard to fault, great saddle. ||Lows: Stiff ride quality, weight penalty in frame versus premium option, heavy carbon wheels, bend of handlebar is too tight.

There’s no denying that the Emonda SL (starting from US$2,700 / AU$4,000 / £2,275 / €2,580-2,600) is substantially cheaper than the pro-level SLR (starting from US$6,700 / AU$9,300 / £5,450 / €6,200), but what are you giving up in the process? Simply, it’s a matter of weight.

An unpainted 56 cm Emonda SLR frame has a claimed weight of 698 g, while the matching fork adds 365 g. By comparison, the Emonda SL frame sits at 1,142 g, with the fork at 380 g. This 450-gram difference is simply attributed to the carbon composite layup used (in Trek marketing speak, that’s OCLV 800 vs OCLV 500), and simply less material is needed when the more expensive fibres and resins are stiffer and stronger.

That 1,142 g figure for the Emonda SL isn’t terribly heavy, but it is noticeably plumper than many other second-tier racing frames on the market. For example, the new Giant TCR Advanced frame offers a claimed weight of just 850 g, while Canyon’s comparable Ultimate CF SL frame has a figure of 980 g. And the Emonda SL’s higher frame weight is of course reflected in the complete bike weight, too, with our 54 cm SL 6 Pro tester tipping the scales at 8.01 kg (without pedals).

Beyond the weight, the Emonda SL and SLR framesets are remarkably similar. They share the same moulds, and therefore the geometry and aero tube profiles are identical. Trek claims the stiffness profiles, and therefore ride quality is effectively equal. The way the cables are funnelled through the front of the head tube is the same, the new threaded T47 bottom bracket is mirrored, and likewise for the use of Trek’s reverser topper seatpost design. And heck, even the paint of our SL 6 Pro was an almost exact match to the SLR 9 that James tested.

Beyond the frame there are some more apparent differences. The SLR models feature a wonderfully light Bontrager one-piece carbon handlebar and stem, while the SL models use a more traditional bar and stem setup. And it’s a similar story for the other components which are lighter (and more expensive) on the SLR models.

A race-ready geo and ride

The Emonda of old had two geometry options. There was the low and aggressive “H1” pro fit (offered in the SLR level only), and then the more mainstream “H2” with its more accessible and upright stack figure. For 2021 Trek combined those two fits into one with “H1.5” being used across all Emonda models.

That means the new Emonda SL is more aggressive than the last, and relatively speaking the reach figures are on the long side and the stack figures are fairly low. For example, our 54 cm tester offers reach and stack figures of 386 mm and 541 mm respectively, right in the realm of where many race-focused machines sit.

The handling is equally as sporty, with a traditional 73º head angle and 45 mm fork offset combining for a 58 mm trail figure with the control 28 mm Continental GP500 tyres fitted (25 mm Bontrager tyres are fitted as stock). And the wheelbase is kept fairly tight, too.

Trek balances that longer reach by fitting a shorter-than-usual stem (90 mm on the 54 cm), and as a result the bike fits a little more upright than the figures may suggest. At the same time, that shorter stem produces a bike that handles even quicker and with less input than other race bikes with comparable trail figures.

And it’s this quick-feeling attitude that will reward a rider with good handling skills. The Emonda can dive into turns and jump back out of them with little input. And it does that without an inkling of instability at speed.

Further rewarding a good handler is the stiff frame that pounces when called on and lets you feel what the tyres are doing through your hands and bum. No doubt, this was the firmest-riding bike we had at our small Field Test, and despite the wider 28 mm tyres, I could still feel the cracks and inconsistencies in the road surface. Thankfully that stiffness manages to find the right side of the line between a bike that speaks to you and one that skips about.

Both Andy van Bergen and I agreed the Emonda was the most impressive under power when directly compared to the Giant TCR Advanced Pro and Canyon Ultimate CF SL , and similarly it beats the Specialized Tarmac SL6s that we both have sitting at our respective homes. I’d most liken the ride to BMC’s recently updated and stiffened Teammachine SLR01 .

That stiffness is great for riders who like out-of-the-saddle attacks and to feel their energy reach the rear wheel, but it’s less ideal for those seeking a smooth and compliant machine. And while many other brands utilise flexible seatposts to achieve more comfort through the saddle, Trek’s own reverse topper seatpost design just rides stiffer than the company claims and there are no options to change it for something more flexible – a somewhat surprising element given the company has gone to great lengths with its IsoSpeed technology to produce seated flex in its aero race and endurance platforms.

Instead your best bet to add comfort to the Emonda is through the tyres. Trek officially states the Emonda can fit up to a 28 mm tyre, however that figure is extremely conservative. I trialled some 32 mm GP5000s (measured 32 mm width) in the frame without any sign of issue.

Compared to the previous version, living with the new Emonda frameset has some wins and losses. The new internal cable routing sees the brake hoses and shift cables enter through a funnel at the proprietary headset top cap, and then squeeze between the squared-off fork steerer and top headset bearing. It looks wonderfully clean, but as James previously covered, it does introduce some servicing difficulty, and that’s especially true for this model that uses mechanical shift cables.

Perhaps offsetting that servicing pain is the new T47 threaded bottom bracket , something that’s more universally compatible with oversized crankset spindles and surely simpler to service than Trek’s previous BB90 design that saw bearings pressed directly into the carbon frame. And while that new bottom bracket (made by Praxis) does require a unique tool, servicing it is vastly more accessible than with the former press-fit design.

I won’t get into the nitty-gritty of the aerodynamic design – we’ve done that – but I will say that the lines of this bike are quite stunning. The aero head tube is just so distinct, the wide and concave top tube offers a wonderfully interesting curvature, and similar can be said for where the long and flowing seat stays connect.

The paint is also well done and makes this look far more expensive than it is. And as an added bonus there’s a second choice of colours, too (dark grey with chrome lettering). Although, perhaps Trek could have been a little more subtle with its logo, rather than turning the down tube into a rolling billboard.

Carbon wheels aren’t always light

The tested Emonda SL 6 Pro sits smack bang in the middle of the Emonda’s range and features a full Shimano Ultegra R8020 mechanical groupset matched with a smorgasbord of Bontrager components (Trek’s own component and accessory brand).

Below the SL 6 Pro (US$3,800 / AU$5,500 / £3,350) is the SL 6 (US$3,300 / AU$n/a / £2,900). The two bikes are effectively the same with the exception of the rolling stock. The cheaper SL 6 features Bontrager’s aluminium Paradigm Disc wheelset shod with the company’s R2 Hard-Case Lite tyres in a 28 mm size, whereas the tested Pro version moves to the carbon-rimmed Aeolus Elite 35 Disc wheels wrapped in a 25 mm version of the same tyre model.

Adding US$500 to the bike’s price, those carbon rims offer a relatively shallow 35 mm aero-profiled rim that handles remarkably well without any sign of the flutter often present with deeper wheels in crosswinds. They offer a fairly modern profile, with an inner width of 19.2 mm and an outer width at 27.7 mm. However, the material is somewhat misleading and these wheels aren’t as light as you may expect. I weighed my sample set at 1,740 g for the pair (770 g front, 970 g rear).

That weight doesn’t sound like much, but it impacted how the bike felt when attacking steep slopes, with Andy remarking that it made the bike feel sluggish to respond. Carbon isn’t always an upgrade.

Another area that left Andy and I underwhelmed was the Bontrager Elite VR-C handlebar. We just didn’t get along with the ultra compact shape of the drops which left me complaining of wrist clearance issues, while Andy found that he was unable to make comfortable use of the drops due to his hand sitting proud within the tight radius. We both agreed that the handlebar would be the first thing we’d change.

Thankfully that’s the extent of our issues, and the rest of the build kit is hard to fault. Bontrager’s basic alloy stem works with its Blendr series of computer and light attachments (some of which are supplied), while the new Bontrager Aeolus Comp saddle features a modern short-nose design with a generous centre channel. And all the smaller details, including the proprietary headset top cap and seat post topper, add to a premium look and feel.

And finally there’s the Shimano Ultegra groupset. One thing James wasn’t able to test in his review of the SLR 9 was how the internal cable routing impacted mechanical shifting quality. I can confirm that it doesn’t. The shifts were just as snappy and consistent on this bike as they were on other bikes, and they should remain that way for a fair while with full-length housing used from shifter to derailleur. And that full-length housing should ease future repairs, although it does add to the bike’s total weight.

Champagne tastes on a (craft) beer budget

Despite the lower price, Trek has done a solid job of bringing the Emonda SLR’s attributes to the SL. It offers the same handling, stiffness and aesthetic of its pro-level sibling, and that makes for an impressively enjoyable bike to ride.

However where the more expensive Emonda jumps with joy at every thought of an attack, the extra mass of the SL sees it hesistate somewhat. That difference may not be reflected on the clock, but it sure can be felt and it’s a constant reminder of the price tag attached to this ride.

The new Emonda SL will be a good fit for the rider wanting a well-rounded race bike that handles and behaves like a WorldTour machine. However it’s best to avoid this one if you’re seeking an opulent ride quality or the lightest bike for the given sticker price.

trekbikes.com

Photo gallery

Popular on Velo

\n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/these-guys-finished-unbound-gravel-on-beach-cruisers-from-walmart\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"these guys finished unbound gravel on beach cruisers from walmart\"}}\u0027>\n these guys finished unbound gravel on beach cruisers from walmart\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 6: primo\u017e rogli\u010d powers to win, drops evenepoel to prove he\u0027s back","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-stage-6-primoz-roglic-powers-to-win-lead-to-prove-hes-back\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-stage-6-primoz-roglic-powers-to-win-lead-to-prove-hes-back\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 6: primo\u017e rogli\u010d powers to win, drops evenepoel to prove he\u0027s back\"}}\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-stage-6-primoz-roglic-powers-to-win-lead-to-prove-hes-back\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 6: primo\u017e rogli\u010d powers to win, drops evenepoel to prove he\u0027s back\"}}\u0027>\n crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 6: primo\u017e rogli\u010d powers to win, drops evenepoel to prove he\u0027s back\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"before unbound, laurens ten dam and thomas dekker spent the night in an oklahoma jail","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/laurens-ten-dam-and-thomas-dekker-spent-the-tuesday-before-unbound-in-an-oklahoma-jail\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/laurens-ten-dam-and-thomas-dekker-spent-the-tuesday-before-unbound-in-an-oklahoma-jail\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"before unbound, laurens ten dam and thomas dekker spent the night in an oklahoma jail\"}}\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\/laurens-ten-dam-and-thomas-dekker-spent-the-tuesday-before-unbound-in-an-oklahoma-jail\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"before unbound, laurens ten dam and thomas dekker spent the night in an oklahoma jail\"}}\u0027>\n before unbound, laurens ten dam and thomas dekker spent the night in an oklahoma jail\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 7: primo\u017e rogli\u010d beats matteo jorgenson on race\u2019s queen stage","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-stage-6-primoz-roglic-beats-matteo-jorgenson-on-races-queen-stage\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-stage-6-primoz-roglic-beats-matteo-jorgenson-on-races-queen-stage\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 7: primo\u017e rogli\u010d beats matteo jorgenson on race\u2019s queen stage\"}}\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-stage-6-primoz-roglic-beats-matteo-jorgenson-on-races-queen-stage\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 7: primo\u017e rogli\u010d beats matteo jorgenson on race\u2019s queen stage\"}}\u0027>\n crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 7: primo\u017e rogli\u010d beats matteo jorgenson on race\u2019s queen stage\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"power analysis: how lachlan morton won unbound gravel","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/power-analysis-how-lachlan-morton-won-unbound-gravel\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/power-analysis-how-lachlan-morton-won-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"power analysis: how lachlan morton won 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\/power-analysis-how-lachlan-morton-won-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"power analysis: how lachlan morton won unbound gravel\"}}\u0027>\n power analysis: how lachlan morton won unbound gravel\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 4: remco evenepoel wallops gc rivals with huge time trial victory","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-stage-4-results-and-report\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/criterium-du-dauphine-stage-4-results-and-report\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 4: remco evenepoel wallops gc rivals with huge time trial victory\"}}\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-stage-4-results-and-report\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 4: remco evenepoel wallops gc rivals with huge time trial victory\"}}\u0027>\n crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9 stage 4: remco evenepoel wallops gc rivals with huge time trial victory\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"\u0027turn the cameras off\u0027: the juiciest revelations from netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027 season 2","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/juiciest-reveals-of-netflix-tour-de-france-unchained-season-2\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/juiciest-reveals-of-netflix-tour-de-france-unchained-season-2\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u0027turn the cameras off\u0027: the juiciest revelations from netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027 season 2\"}}\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\/juiciest-reveals-of-netflix-tour-de-france-unchained-season-2\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u0027turn the cameras off\u0027: the juiciest revelations from netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027 season 2\"}}\u0027>\n \u0027turn the cameras off\u0027: the juiciest revelations from netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027 season 2\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":"\u0027my helmet saved me today\u0027: evenepoel, rogli\u010d involved in massive crash at crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9, stage neutralized","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/evenepoel-roglic-among-riders-in-massive-crash-at-dauphine\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/evenepoel-roglic-among-riders-in-massive-crash-at-dauphine\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u0027my helmet saved me today\u0027: evenepoel, rogli\u010d involved in massive crash at crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9, stage neutralized\"}}\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\/evenepoel-roglic-among-riders-in-massive-crash-at-dauphine\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u0027my helmet saved me today\u0027: evenepoel, rogli\u010d involved in massive crash at crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9, stage neutralized\"}}\u0027>\n \u0027my helmet saved me today\u0027: evenepoel, rogli\u010d involved in massive crash at crit\u00e9rium du dauphin\u00e9, stage neutralized\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"opinion: unbound gravel delivered the good news all of us have been craving","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/opinion-unbound-gravel-delivered-the-good-news-all-of-us-have-been-craving\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/opinion-unbound-gravel-delivered-the-good-news-all-of-us-have-been-craving\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"opinion: unbound gravel delivered the good news all of us have been craving\"}}\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\/opinion-unbound-gravel-delivered-the-good-news-all-of-us-have-been-craving\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"opinion: unbound gravel delivered the good news all of us have been craving\"}}\u0027>\n opinion: unbound gravel delivered the good news all of us have been craving\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"the great american wheel race is the coolest new thing on gravel","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/the-great-american-wheel-race-is-the-coolest-new-thing-on-gravel\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/the-great-american-wheel-race-is-the-coolest-new-thing-on-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the great american wheel race is the coolest new thing on 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\/the-great-american-wheel-race-is-the-coolest-new-thing-on-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the great american wheel race is the coolest new thing on gravel\"}}\u0027>\n the great american wheel race is the coolest new thing on gravel\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"\u0027i don\u0027t understand much about cycling\u0027: visma-lease a bike puts faith in swim coach for top management","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/i-dont-understand-much-about-cycling-visma-lease-a-bike-puts-faith-in-swim-coach-for-top-management\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/i-dont-understand-much-about-cycling-visma-lease-a-bike-puts-faith-in-swim-coach-for-top-management\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u0027i don\u0027t understand much about cycling\u0027: visma-lease a bike puts faith in swim coach for top management\"}}\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\/i-dont-understand-much-about-cycling-visma-lease-a-bike-puts-faith-in-swim-coach-for-top-management\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u0027i don\u0027t understand much about cycling\u0027: visma-lease a bike puts faith in swim coach for top management\"}}\u0027>\n \u0027i don\u0027t understand much about cycling\u0027: visma-lease a bike puts faith in swim coach for top management\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"everything you need to know about netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027, season 2","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/ultimate-guide-to-netflix-tour-de-france-unchained-season-2\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-culture\/ultimate-guide-to-netflix-tour-de-france-unchained-season-2\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"everything you need to know about netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027, season 2\"}}\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\/ultimate-guide-to-netflix-tour-de-france-unchained-season-2\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"everything you need to know about netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027, season 2\"}}\u0027>\n everything you need to know about netflix \u0027tour de france: unchained\u0027, season 2\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"tour de suisse preview: big names square off in major tour de france tune-up","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-suisse-2024-preview\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-suisse-2024-preview\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tour de suisse preview: big names square off in major tour de france tune-up\"}}\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-suisse-2024-preview\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"tour de suisse preview: big names square off in major tour de france tune-up\"}}\u0027>\n tour de suisse preview: big names square off in major tour de france tune-up\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"the best photos from unbound gravel","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-photo-gallery-2024\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/unbound-gravel-photo-gallery-2024\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the best photos from 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\/unbound-gravel-photo-gallery-2024\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the best photos from unbound gravel\"}}\u0027>\n the best photos from unbound gravel\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"meet rosa kl\u00f6ser, the new queen of unbound","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/rosa-kloser-unbound-gravel\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-racing\/rosa-kloser-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"meet rosa kl\u00f6ser, the new queen of unbound\"}}\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\/rosa-kloser-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"meet rosa kl\u00f6ser, the new queen of unbound\"}}\u0027>\n meet rosa kl\u00f6ser, the new queen of unbound\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"5 years after the crash: chris froome holding out for a tour de france return","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/5-years-after-the-crash-chris-froome-holding-out-for-a-tour-de-france-return\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/tour-de-france\/5-years-after-the-crash-chris-froome-holding-out-for-a-tour-de-france-return\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"5 years after the crash: chris froome holding out for a tour de france return\"}}\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\/5-years-after-the-crash-chris-froome-holding-out-for-a-tour-de-france-return\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"5 years after the crash: chris froome holding out for a tour de france return\"}}\u0027>\n 5 years after the crash: chris froome holding out for a tour de france return\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"all the unreleased and new gear we spotted at unbound gravel","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/all-the-unreleased-and-new-tech-we-spotted-at-unbound-gravel\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/all-the-unreleased-and-new-tech-we-spotted-at-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"all the unreleased and new gear we 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\/all-the-unreleased-and-new-tech-we-spotted-at-unbound-gravel\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"all the unreleased and new gear we spotted at unbound gravel\"}}\u0027>\n all the unreleased and new gear we spotted at unbound gravel\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"how thymen arensman gained 5 kilos while racing the 3,500km giro d\u2019italia","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-training\/how-thymen-arensman-gained-5-kilos-while-racing-the-3500km-giro-ditalia\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-training\/how-thymen-arensman-gained-5-kilos-while-racing-the-3500km-giro-ditalia\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"how thymen arensman gained 5 kilos while racing the 3,500km giro d\u2019italia\"}}\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-training\/how-thymen-arensman-gained-5-kilos-while-racing-the-3500km-giro-ditalia\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"how thymen arensman gained 5 kilos while racing the 3,500km giro d\u2019italia\"}}\u0027>\n how thymen arensman gained 5 kilos while racing the 3,500km giro d\u2019italia\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"remco evenepoel cracks in dauphin\u00e9, insists zero panic for tour de france","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/remco-evenepoel-cracks-in-dauphine-insists-zero-panic-for-tour-de-france\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/remco-evenepoel-cracks-in-dauphine-insists-zero-panic-for-tour-de-france\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"remco evenepoel cracks in dauphin\u00e9, insists zero panic for 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\/remco-evenepoel-cracks-in-dauphine-insists-zero-panic-for-tour-de-france\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"remco evenepoel cracks in dauphin\u00e9, insists zero panic for tour de france\"}}\u0027>\n remco evenepoel cracks in dauphin\u00e9, insists zero panic for tour de france\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

Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap road bike in review

With the Émonda SLR 9 eTap, Trek send a climbing specialist into our group test. The current model has been given some aerodynamic upgrades for which the Madone aero bike served as inspiration. Is this enough to take on the four fastest race bikes of the 2021 season?

Get an overview of the grouptest here: The best race bike of 2021 – 5 high-end models on test

The Trek Émonda SLR 9 proved that it is a capable racing machine not only with a stage win at this year’s Tour de France. The Émonda has always been lightweight, so the focus for the current model was on improving aerodynamics in order to increase performance across its whole spectrum of uses. In addition to adapted tube profiles, the Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 wheels, which were specially developed for the Émonda, and the one-piece Bontrager Aeolus RSL cockpit should also contribute to this. On our size 56 test bike the stem is 100 mm and the handlebar is 420 mm wide. The 700 x 25C Bontrager R4 320 tires mounted on the 37 mm deep, 21 mm internal width rims, measure 26 mm wide.

This bike needs speed – then the concept works. However, it can do little at half throttle. Are you looking for a race bike? Here it is!

Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap 2022

Specifications.

Seatpost Bontrager Carbon Seat Mast Cap, long 20 mm Brakes SRAM RED eTap AXS HRD 160/160 mm Drivetrain SRAM RED eTap AXS GS-RED-E-B1 2 x 12 Chainring 48/35 Stem Bontrager Aeolus RSL 100 mm Handlebar Bontrager Aeolus RSL 420 mm Wheelset Bontrager Aelous RSL 37 Tires Bontrager R4 320 26 mm

Technical Data

Size 47 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 Weight 6.86 kg

Specific Features

one-piece Bontrager Aeolus RSL cockpit dual-sided power meter integrated seat mast Bontrager DuoTrap sensor compatible

On our test bike, Trek spec a SRAM RED eTap AXS groupset with 48/35 t chainrings and a 10–33 t cassette. Together with the Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7, this bike has the widest gear range in the group test, offering sufficient reserves for very demanding climbs and less ambitious riders. However, the gaps between gears are somewhat larger than the BMC Teammachine SLR01 ONE with its 10–28 t cassette. With the factory-fitted dual-sided power meter, you can keep an eye on your performance at all times and keep things under control. Thanks to the powerful and easy to modulate SRAM AXS HRD brakes with 160 mm discs at the front and rear, the Émonda is extremely well equipped for the descents that usually follow demanding climbs. Here too, the rattling brake levers are a nuisance, especially on rough, poorly surfaced roads. The Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap costs € 12,999 in the standard version. The € 800 Project One paint job on our test bike brings that to €13,799. In size 56, the bike weighs 6.86 kg.

If you win a Tour de France stage, you no longer have anything to prove – this applies to both the riders and their bikes. The Trek Émonda has already fulfilled its duty, yet it has to deign to show what it’s capable of, and that it does! Thanks to its low weight and high stiffness, it accelerates willingly in any situation. However, on the flats and undulating terrain, it doesn’t hold its speed quite as efficiently as the Specialized or BMC.

On climbs, it always offers enough reserves and happily hangs with the other bikes in the pack. However, it falls somewhat short of our expectations of a dedicated climbing bike. On the downhills, it is also in the middle of the pack over our timed section – faster times are prevented by a lack of confidence in the Bontrager R4 320 tires, which tend to lock up too easily at the rear when braking. In terms of speed, the Trek doesn’t show any particular weaknesses on any terrain. However, its problem is that it doesn’t outperform its competitors either. Thus, it takes the longest time for our calculated 150 km test route with almost 2,000 metres of ascending, covering it with an average speed of 25.7 km/h and taking 5 h 49m 56 s to complete it.

The bike’s handling is purpose-built for racing and very agile. For experienced riders, this is a real pleasure and makes for great manoeuvrability, especially in technical sections. However, for newcomers, it can seem nervous, especially when riding slowly. Comfort is also subordinated to its racing bent: vibrations are sufficiently damped but overall, the Émonda is very stiff. Those who race with it will celebrate the direct feedback from the road, all others will perceive it as too firm. However, it is noticeable that the bike’s comfort increases the harder you push it – a real race bike! In terms of safety, we have to mention the Bontrager R4 320 tires, which struggle to offer optimal grip when braking at the rear. Especially in the wet, we recommend changing the tires for something that generates more confidence and a greater sense of safety. Otherwise, there are no complaints thanks to great brakes and high precision. By the way, this very bike will be at the start of the Ötztaler Radmarathon at the end of August!

Tuning tips: very coherent race concept, which is successfully conceived for the intended area of use | tires with a little more grip for wet days

Riding Characteristics

comfortable

Value for money

Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap

Size: 47 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 Weight: 6.86 kg Price: € 13,799

Indended Use

The Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap is a race bike for all those who ride mainly on winding, technical routes. It wants to be ridden quickly and rewards this with sufficient comfort and razor-sharp handling. All those who ride race bikes for prestige and want to be able to take it easy too should choose an alternative with better compliance at lower speeds and with more forgiving handling.

light-footed acceleration in every situation
a scalpel with razor-sharp precision when ridden by an experienced hand
gearing offers sufficient reserves even for demanding climbs
made for racing, where it blossoms fully

braking traction of the Bontrager R4 320 tires
somewhat nervous steering when riding slowly
lacking efficiency on the flats
rattling SRAM shift levers

You can find out more about at trekbikes.com

The test field

All bikes in test: BMC Teammachine SLR01 ONE (Click for review) | SCOTT Addict RC Pro (Click for review) | Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL7 (Click for review) | Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap | Wilier Filante SLR Astana-Premier Tech Team Edition (Click for review)

This is where you eat up the miles, setting a quick pace for a long time. Anything that is pan flat or includes short punchy climbs or slightly longer ones, albeit with limited elevation gain, falls into this category. If you want to be fast here, you need a bike that offers excellent aerodynamics and maximum efficiency – from 15 km/h on level ground, air resistance is the greatest force a cyclist needs to overcome. On the other hand, weight is comparatively insignificant, with no need to constantly change speed or fight earth’s gravity. However, the most aerodynamic package is no use if the rider ruins everything – after all, they are responsible for 75 % of the total drag on a bike. To blossom fully in this terrain, a bike needs to do well when it comes to ergonomics and comfort so that the rider can maintain a low and aerodynamic riding position for a long time. On top of aerodynamics, rolling resistance, comfort and smoothness play a key role. Thus, tire dimensions and pressure should be adjusted to suit the surface for maximum speed. A nervous bike will tire you out faster, because it requires constant work to hold your line. ↩

The steeper the hill, the more significant weight becomes. That’s because as your speed drops on ever steeper climbs, air resistance decreases too, meaning that gravity becomes an ever-larger proportion of the force acting against your progress. Stiffness in the right places, together with a sensibly chosen gear ratio, ensure maximum climbing efficiency. A good climbing bike delivers low weight and gearing that lets you maintain a smooth and comfortable cadence. However, it also takes aerodynamics into account, given that there’s usually a descent after every mountain – what good is the best time on the mountain if your whole advantage is wiped out by poor aerodynamics on the downhill? ↩

Descending a mountain quickly is possibly the most demanding task for both rider and bike. The steeper and more winding the descent, the greater the handling skills of the rider need to be and the larger the demands on the bike itself. A good downhill bike combines aerodynamics with balanced handling. It should be agile and yet offer sufficient security to master fast changes of direction and stay safely on track at high speeds. It needs to deliver the highest precision to hit your chosen line exactly and steer quickly without excessive input required. If you ride fast, you need good anchors too: powerful brakes that are easy to modulate are fundamental on every good downhill bike. To put that braking power on the ground, tires with good grip are needed and they’re just as indispensable for fast cornering. In addition to the tires, the frame itself helps generate grip through corners. If it’s stiff as a board, it can’t build up much grip before being shaken up by the smallest bumps. An appropriate amount of flex ensures optimum grip in bends, but it’s a narrow margin before the bike simply becomes spongy and imprecise. ↩

You can find more info about our rating system in this article: Click here! ↩

Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of GRAN FONDO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality cycling journalism. Click here to learn more .

Words: Photos: Valentin Rühl

Is silver the new gold? Unboxing the new Roval Rapide CLX II Team LTD wheelset

ROSE BLEND – The drop bar all-rounder in review

The Lab: Tailfin Frame Bag – Plenty of Storage, Minimal Wobble

The Lab – Beeline Velo 2 in review

Test debut of the 2024 SRAM RED groupset – Effortless wins?

The perfect wheel and tire combo – Why it’s not just the rim depth that matters

Emonda goes aero

The Trek Emonda lineup of bikes has been one of Trek’s lightest road bikes and is defined by their race-ready geometry and performance. With the Emonda SLR bikes, Trek has taken that winning formula and added additional aerodynamic tweaks to make the bikes even faster. In this review, we’ll be looking at the latest Emonda SLR 7 which retail for $8,999.99 and sits in the middle of the SLR range. The SLR 7 combines the 800 Series OCLV carbon fiber frame with fast shifting Shimano Ultegra R8100 Di2 12 speed drivetrain. Aerodynamic tube shaping optimizes the bikes performance while the Bontrager Aeolus RSL integrated bars eliminate any exposed cabling. What makes the Emonda SLR bikes feel special is the H1.5 race fit geometry that provides stability and responsiveness.

In terms of the Emonda SLR lineup, there are quite a few bikes to choose from. The top-of-the-line version is currently the $13.2k SLR 9 AXS which includes all the Bontrager RSL goodies and SRAM Red AXS drivetrain. A step down from that is the $12.7k SLR 9 which features Dura-Ace Di2. Then there are the SLR 7 pairs which includes the $9k SLR 7 we have here and a $9.7k AXS version featuring SRAM Force AXS. The SLR 7 uses a few Bontrager Pro components instead of the RSL versions. Additionally, there are the $8.4k SLR 6 AXS using SRAM Rival AXS and the $7.7k SLR 6 with Shimano 105 Di2. Trek also offers the SLR Disc frameset for $4.2k which gives you the opportunity to build up your own bike. It’s also important to note Trek offers various Emonda SL and even an aluminum Emonda ALR that are much more budget friendly.

The Trek Emonda SLR 7 combines an aerodynamically tuned carbon frame with stable and responsive handling.

We were lucky enough to receive the Trek Emonda SL7 as a part of the Trek Red Barn Refresh program which is Trek’s certified preowned bike program. That meant we received the bike in used condition but with a full warranty and professional inspection. Unlike other bike boxes, the Red Barn Refresh offers a more user-friendly design that allows the entire front portion of the box to flip open. That makes it easy to access all the bike components and even provides a working surface to stand on. The bike itself came nearly fully assembled with only the handlebars, front wheel and saddle removed. Setting up the bike was a simple process of sliding the integrated bars onto the fork and putting the thru-axle through the front wheel. The proprietary seat mast design allows you to simply slide the seat onto the frame and then torque everything down to factory specs. Trek does include a 5 Nm torque bit, but you’ll want a torque wrench like the Topeak Torq Pro Stick to achieve the proper torque amounts.

Trek Emonda SLR 7 Aero Road Bike Review - Carbon Fiber Frame

FIT AND FINISH

Visually, the Trek Emonda SLR bikes have a classic double triangle frame design with curved top tube that’s constructed from Trek’s 800 OCLV carbon fiber. While the SLR bikes may lack the distinctive wedge cutout of the Trek Madone bike, it’s clear that Trek has optimized the aerodynamics. Starting from the front you’ll find the integrated Bontrager Aeolus RSL aero bars with internally routed cabling. In fact, the only cabling that is exposed is where it tucks into the front of the headset and where it enters the brake calipers. Even the stem spacers are cut to match the headtube profile with a fun “go go go” text printed on the backside that’s only visible at higher steering angles. The headtube and top tube have a sharp curved profile that flow into each other with aerodynamically shaping tubing to optimize the bike’s performance.

Trek Emonda SLR 7 Aero Road Bike Review - Easter Egg

Trek currently offers the Emonda SLR 7 in seven different color variations from traditional black finishes to bright metallic and gorgeous color shifting options. Many of the colors are shared across the SLR lineup which means there are plenty of options to choose from. There is also the Project One program which lets you customize the bike colors and logo designs for an additional charge. The bike in this review is the Deep Smoke version which has a matte black finish and a color shifting Trek logo on the downtube for a pop of color. While it’s not our favorite color scheme it’s a sharp looking bike that’s nearly blacked out for a sinister appearance. A small Trek Shield head badge sits on the headtube along with simple Emonda branding on the top tube.

With a retail price of nearly $9k it’s not no surprise that the Emonda SLR 7 comes very well equipped. Unlike budget bikes such as the State Bicycle Core-Line that uses unbranded parts, the SLR 7 features the latest and greatest Shimano and Bontrager parts. Specifically the SLR 7 is equipped with the wireless Shimano Ultegra R8100 Di2 drivetrain which is an ultra fast 12 speed setup. The bike is set up with a compact 52/36 Ultegra crank and 11-30 cassette which provides enough gearing to tackle the steepest climbs. The hydraulic 160mm disc brakes provide smooth and powerful braking to bring the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 wheelset to a stop. These are a tubeless ready carbon fiber wheelset with a relatively light 1505g claimed weight and versatile 37mm depth.

Trek has mounted the Bontrager R3 700×25 tires onto the bike which provide nice grip and durability. The SLR bikes all have a claimed max tire size of 28mm but it seems like many have had success sizing up slightly wider than that without clearance issues. Not surprisingly, the SLR bikes also have quite a bit of other Bontrager branded parts such as the Bontrager Aeolus Elite saddle and Bontrager bar tape. Perhaps one of the most notable parts of the bike is the integrated bars which are the sleek one-piece Bontrager Aeolus RSL. Although the integrated bar eliminates any adjustment, it’s a beautiful design with a tapered aerodynamic center section and a nice 124 mm drop with internal cable routing. As with other SLR bikes, the SLR 7 has Trek’s seat mast design which means the seat post slides over the frame. It’s a clever design that is easy to adjust but it limits you to using Trek’s seat masts.

Trek Emonda SLR 7 Aero Road Bike Review - Drivetrain

RIDING IMPRESSIONS

We were impressed with the Emonda SLR 7 from our very first ride. The Emonda SLR’s magic sauce is the H1.5 race geometry which gives the SLR bikes responsive handling while still being stable. That means the bike handles instantly to any steering input without feeling twitchy or nervous. It’s an impressive feat as it makes the Emonda SLR equally comfortable to ride on training rides or for high-effort sprints. The stock wheelset feels like and offers plenty of grip to make you feel comfortable even on rough pavement. We suspect that’s partially due to the relatively skinny 700×25 tire setup which feels light and allows the SLR 7 to quickly accelerate.

Comparing the 56cm SLR 7 to our 56cm ALR Disc, it’s easy to see just how aggressive the bike geometry is. The handlebars of the SLR 7 with the stock multi-spacer setup are at the same height as our slammed ALR Disc with flipped stem. That was surprising for us considering the fact that the SLR 7 bars could be dropped another few inches by just cutting the stem and losing a few spacers. Even with similar seat to handlebar drops, the SLR 7 feels far more responsive then our ALR Disc and older SL5 Specialized Tarmac. Despite that, the SLR 7 is still quite compliant and smooth even over rough roads and is comfortable on multi-hour rides. Although it’s not as plush as the more endurance Domane lineup, the SLR achieves an impressive balance of speed and stability.

While we’re still skeptical of integrated bar setups, the Aeolus RSL one piece carbon bars on the SLR bikes fit the bike perfectly. Their smooth aerodynamic shaping and internal cable routing give the bike a clean look while still being ergonomic. The center section of the bars taper which makes them comfortable to hold when you’re cruising while still having a nice drop to them. The Shimano Ultegra Di2 drivetrain is also a highlight of the SLR 7 bike as it offers lightning fast and smooth shifting. In fact, the gears shift happen nearly instantaneously and are completed before you can even lift your fingers off the levers. With the focus of the Emonda SLR bikes on climbing, Trek has done a great job gearing the bike with a compact crank that lets you spin up even the steepest climbs.

THE VERDICT

Overall, we found the Trek Emonda SLR to be a fast and responsive road bike. The combination of the 800 OCLV carbon frame, aerodynamic optimization and fast electronic shifting make the SLR perfect for chasing PR’s on climbs or riding centuries. We were particularly impressed with the H1.5 Race geometry which gives the bike a responsive feel without being twitchy. It’s clear that Trek has sweated the details as the SLR bikes all of a sleek frame design, integrated bar setup and hidden cabling. All the performance doesn’t come cheap though as the base SLR 6 still costs $7.7k and you are limited by Trek’s Seat Mast design. That said, if you’re looking for an aggressive and fast bike that doesn’t sacrifice comfort for speed then the Trek Emonda SLR bikes are tough to beat.

Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Trek . The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.

Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap Long-Term Review: Light for Climbing, Slippery for Speed

How Aero Is the Emonda?

Aerodynamics on a bicycle frame is mainly dependent on tubing shapes. And often, going “full aero” means losing vertical compliance, which hinders comfort. Super aero tubing also often adds weight.

Trek had to walk fine lines to keep the weight and compliance advantages and maintain lateral and torsional stiffness. But engineers wanted substantial free speed offered by improved aerodynamics.

Modern bike designers use CFD (computational fluid dynamics) and CAD (computer-aided design) to help them in their quest for the ultimate alchemy of shapes to produce the intended results. And Trek claims they scrutinized every inch over hundreds of CFD and CAD models.

The result is truncated-airfoil profiles other than the seat tube, which is still round. Trek also went integrated, with a one-piece bar and stem that hides the cables from the wind.

The claimed reduction in drag is 182 g, with the claimed frame weight for an unpainted 56 cm size being 698 g.

Somewhat surprisingly, Trek kept the non-dropped seat stays. This greatly pleased my antiquated tastes in bicycle aesthetics.

Other Significant Frame Changes

Trek didn’t stop at the truncated airfoil. The brand incorporated several other significant changes.

Trek used to offer aggressive (H1) and more upright (H2) geometries but split the difference on the new Emonda SLR with the middle-of-the-road H1.5. This singular geometry follows the lead of the full aero Madone.

Surprisingly, Trek omitted women’s-specific Emonda frames. But it does offer a full spread of sizes, from 47 cm to 62 cm.

T47 Bottom Bracket

Gone is the BB90 press-fit bottom bracket. A T47 threaded bottom bracket takes its place, pleasing home mechanics everywhere. The BB90 was reportedly problematic, although I never experienced issues with any Trek BB90 bottom brackets.

Not only does this follow the current trend to a homologated bottom bracket standard, but T47 also allows oversized crank spindles where BB90 did not.

800 Series OCLV Carbon

Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap long term review OCLV carbon

Trek’s longstanding OCLV (Optimum Compaction Low Void) carbon on the Emonda SLR frame moved from 700 series to 800 series, purportedly to allow aero profiles without a concomitant increase in weight.

The Waterloo, Wisconsin-based brand claims the new carbon contains fibers that are 30% stronger, with the same amount of stiffness as before, and with no gain in mass. This means less material is required to maintain the same positive characteristics, which translates to aero shapes without adding weight.

Trek also developed over 50 new carbon layups (how the carbon fibers are aligned) to create the new 800 Series OCLV. Real-world testing of the final layup choices was done by the professional Trek-Segagredo team. And the brand builds these frames in Waterloo.

Trek Emonda SLR 9 Ride Experience

Testing high-end road bicycles these days is an act of trying to split hairs that have already been split. All these bikes are sublime. Any differences in performance are minuscule, and much of it is subjective. But here’s my best attempt after 18 months of solid use.

Damn, It’s Light

There is no getting around how light the bike is (our 56 cm tester weighs a verified 14 pounds, 5 ounces with tubed tires). That attribute alone brought me joy when accelerating or climbing. The Emonda SLR 9 eTap floated like a butterfly. No need for more explanation. Remember when race bikes were 21 pounds?

The H1.5 geometry fits me exceptionally well. I have had custom-built titanium road race frames, and if I ever ordered one again, I would replicate the Emonda SLR geometry.

I am 6 feet tall, but my inseam is only 32 inches, making my torso long. My lower back is accustomed to road racing positioning, but my hips and hamstrings are not exceptionally flexible. I found the reach and stack spot on, and the stock-integrated 100mm stem, without spacers, was also perfect.

The 42cm-wide bars of the Bontrager RSL felt correct, but I had to move the SRAM Red brake hoods a touch higher up the bar’s primary curve to feel comfortable. Moving the hoods up the bar created slack in the brake hoses that was hard to manage. The stiff hoses run straight from the underside of the bars through the head tube.

A tiny range of brake hose lengths will provide a clean run. So this is a concern to anyone that wants to change the dimensions of the front cockpit. But lines are not threaded through the bar, simplifying at least that part of the process.

Stiffness vs. Compliance

Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap bottom bracket and driveline long term review

Climbing out of the saddle and sprinting revealed that the Trek Emonda SLR chassis is plenty stiff laterally and torsionally about the head tube. The bottom bracket felt equally rigid, and I never felt like the frame was squandering energy.

Riding a stiff, efficient bike typically means trading off some vertical compliance and comfort. And I felt the Emonda SLR chassis sat on the efficient side more than the comfortable side. But it wasn’t overly so, as it tends to be with super light bikes. Much of how the bike felt regarding compliance came down to wheels and tires.

Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 wheels trek long term view

The Emonda SLR 9 eTap came with tubeless-ready Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 wheels, which felt like a great all-around road wheel. But the Bontrager R4 320 tires (with tubes) were 25c. I felt wider tires on hookless rims with lower air pressures would drastically improve the comfort. Trek states that the frame can accept 28c tires.

It was ridden with various wheels and tires over 18 months as a long-term review bike. Using hookless wheels, 28c tires, and lower pressures improved comfort drastically.

Zipp 353 NSW wheels on trek side shot long term review

I felt like just swapping the tires to 28c on the RSL 37 stock wheels would be such a welcome change. But going to a wheel like a Zipp 404 Firecrest or Zipp 353 NSW with the ability to use lower pressures (for me, on those wheels, I ran under 72 psi) was an absolute game changer.

It gave me the best of both worlds. A light, super efficient bike that kept me comfortable over long hauls on rough chip seal blacktop.

As expected, the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap was a snappy, quick-turning bike. On twisty tarmac, it felt like it wanted to turn about the head tube axis, with the rest of the bike to follow — more of a “turn and flick” instead of the other way around. It was one of the quicker-steering road bikes I’ve tested over the last few years.

Yes, the bike required attention on the straights and in groups, but I never thought it was twitchy or nervous. It reacted to small inputs without delay, but that’s what I expect in a WorldTour race bike. The bike wasn’t a lazy café cruiser, and it shouldn’t be.

On wider radius turns on smooth pavement at high speeds, the Emonda was pure joy. I felt the chassis was reading my mind, putting the tire contact patches precisely where I desired, and fed me the tactile information I needed to predict how it would respond to any slight irregularities in the road.

How Fast Is the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap?

The bike came with a SRAM Red eTap AXS groupset with a power meter. And I’m familiar with the power output versus speed on my regular routes. I’m not a human strain gauge, but subjective feelings mated with the power output did convince me that for a “non-aero” bike on moderately aero wheels, the Emonda SLR 9 eTap was a rocket.

On calm days on smooth, flat pavement, the feeling of speed while churning a tall gear was palpable and brought a big grin to my face. Trek’s data points to an aero gain while climbing, but I felt the bike’s super light weight and stiffness contributed more to my feeling of speed on ascents.

With either the Bontrager RSL 37 wheels or the mentioned Zipp wheels, I didn’t feel any buffeting or other negatives of aero profiles except in extremely windy conditions. Only once did the buffeting cause an unstable feeling to the point where I tensed up.

I had exited the cover of trees on a speedy descent, and the sudden, super-gusty, 90-degree crosswind got me pretty good. I cannot say that about other “full aero” setups, which I’ve found somewhat puckering when large trucks pass me.

So, in the end, I felt like the aero gains of the new tube shapes delivered free speed without much downside.

Final Thoughts

Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap side shot long term review

One trend in cycling that I don’t necessarily like is the continued segmentation of products. The number of mountain bikes one could “need” is astounding. And coming from road racing in the ’80s, the “need” for a climbing bike and an “aero” bike seems superfluous. Now throw in gravel rigs, and you could have a garage full of bikes.

I can somewhat understand having multiple mountain bikes, as different terrains’ travel and handling requirements dictate wholly differing chassis. But road bikes? Most of us will never see the level of competition that demands different chassis and a slew of wheels. But plenty of serious recreational cyclists buy high-end road bikes, and it’s the category that splits choices into “aero” and “climbing.”

Although Trek labels the Emonda SLR 9 eTap as a “climbing” bike, with the aero gains, it makes a perfect all-around high-end road bike. It’s under the minimum legal weight for the WorldTour, satisfying the weight-obsessed.

It has enough aero shaping for legitimate free speed gains, yet it doesn’t ride like a brick (especially with wider tires and lower pressures). And it’s super efficient.

The MSRP of the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap is an astonishing $13,000 . It sits at the top of the Emonda SLR lineup. But the pricing is in line with other bikes of the same caliber. And for that money, to me, the bike should perform well in all areas. Which it absolutely did.

Trek does offer Emonda SL bikes with the same aero gains at a much lower price, using 500 Series OCLV carbon.

Trek Domane Gets Racier, Looks to Keep Reputation for Comfort

Trek cut up to 1.5 pounds of frame weight off the Domane, its all-around road bike that cyclists have long known for a comfy ride. Read more…

Seiji Ishii is an Editor at Large at the AllGear network and the Climbing, Cycling, Fitness, Travel, and Powersports editor at GearJunkie.

He has been writing about cycling, climbing, outdoor endeavors, motorsports, and the gear and training for those pursuits for 20+ years.

Before AllGear, Ishii was a freelance contributor to print and web publications related to his interests and professional experiences. He continues to pursue climbing and cycling objectives seriously.

Subscribe Now

Get adventure news and gear reviews in your inbox!

Join Our GearJunkie Newsletter

Gear Top Stories Deals

Trek Emonda ALR Disc 5 review

Trek has launched an updated aluminium bike in 2018. The new Trek Emonda ALR is a super lightweight machine that rides really well

Trek has raised the game in my eyes when it comes to aluminium and offers something truly amazing for £1,750. Aluminium has never looked so good and a disc-brake bike weighing in under 8kg is just what you need.

Quality feel

Handling not as sharp as rivals

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

An entrant for the second year in a row is the Trek Emonda ALR. It still performs incredibly well for the price and looks totally badass, especially for an aluminium bike. Trek has done an amazing job with its welds, the ride and the price and that is why it is in Editor’s Choice again.

Has Trek helped make aluminium sexy again? Well, I'm my eyes it has – just look at how good this bike looks! It has turned many heads, even in this black colour way. I'm just upset I didn't get the shiny purple colour in the Trek Emonda ALR range.

Trek call its new bike "lightweight aluminium perfection" and it is hard to disagree with that statement, especially as the disc brake-ready frameset weighs a claimed 1,131g for a 56cm, and the 52cm build you see here only weights 7.8kg – possibly even claiming the title for the lightest aluminium bike on the market currently.

>>> Aluminium road bikes: five of the best

This is very good for a sub £1,800 bike, great for an aluminium bikes, let alone one with disc brakes.

Part of this weight saving is down to what Trek claims is its most optimised structure ever which, via hydroforming, has allowed the Trek engineers to manipulate, stretch and design complex shapes from the 300 series Alpha aluminium.

This itself is said to offer great ride quality as well as a strong structure and a carbon-like aesthetic. It also means that each tube can fit to its neighbour perfectly, resulting in less material being required around the welds – thus saving weight without losing strength at the joins. This is where its slender 7.8kg comes in.

What makes the bikes look like carbon is what Trek call its “Invisible Weld Technology” and it ultimately increases the surface area of the frame which adds to strength and cuts down weight.

I rode the purple piece of perfection (called purple flip) in Waterloo, Trek's base at home. Get up close and you can really see that Trek has done a stellar job at making the Trek Emonda ALR as close as an aluminium can be to looking like carbon. It really does look that good.

I have the black version here, which comes in Trek's Emonda ALR 4 guise, but it's been built up with Shimano 105 hydraulic disc which means it is really the Emonda ALR 5 – the frameset stays the same. It still looks great though and on our industry ride from the Cycling Weekly office the other day, it turned a lot of riders' heads, followed by a "no way!" when I told them the price.

Trek Emonda ALR: the ride

My lasting memory of the Trek Emonda ALR was a good one. I got to ride the Emonda ALR 5 disc for 60 or so kilometres around Trek’s home in Waterloo, Wisconsin. On relatively well paved roads on a very warm summer’s evening the bike performed amazingly well and did one thing that I like for an aluminium bike: that is to not to ride like an aluminium bike. But did the Emonda ALR live up to it at home on UK roads?

I think so!

What I like the most here is that you are getting the best from the brakes and the best from the tyres thanks to the clearance, without the weight penalty that a sub-£1,800 bike would normally give.

Right now the lanes are in pretty poor condition and it was no issues on the ALR: those chunky 28c tyres cushioned the road well enough and the frame did a fantastic job at reducing the buzz. Look at those slender and long rear stays with no brake arch to help compliance!

The geometry is based on Trek’s H2 formula, which gives a more relaxed fit. It basically means the front of the bike is slightly higher in a more endurance style. H1 is more aggressive and racier and can be found on the Emonda SLR, the top-end carbon version of the bike raced by the pros.

This slowed the bikes handling down a little and is where I'd say the Cannondale CAAD12 performs better. If the endurance market is where Trek wants the bike to be aimed, then it has got it right, but compared to the Cannondale it doesn't feel as fun.

It does, however, ride better than its rival and for the price, weight and spec (yes, you can get Shimano Ultegra mechanical around this price point) it's pretty unrivalled thanks to the performance of the new Shimano 105 disc brake groupset.

Braking is effortless, shifting is quick and precise, more so than the previous version of 105, and you don't get much of a weight penalty for it.

Ultimately the Trek Emonda ALR is a great bike for those looking to get a ride on the well equipped machine that rides more like carbon than aluminium. For an aluminium bike it feels assured and comfortable which is one thing that this material in particular can struggle with and it looks great!

Buy now: Trek Emonda ALR Disc 5 from Rutland Cycles for £1649.99

Trek seems to have got this right with the Emonda ALR: is this aluminium making a strong comeback once again? It seems so.

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!

Symon Lewis joined Cycling Weekly as an Editorial Assistant in 2010, he went on to become a Tech Writer in 2014 before being promoted to Tech Editor in 2015 before taking on a role managing Video and Tech in 2019. Lewis discovered cycling via Herne Hill Velodrome, where he was renowned for his prolific performances, and spent two years as a coach at the South London velodrome.

Pfeiffer Georgi wins the 2023 national championships

Stacked field set for action in Saltburn over 19-23 June

By Adam Becket Published 10 June 24

The peloton at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes

The fourth edition of the race will begin in Brittany

Try the platform free, for 30 days

By Cat Glowinski Published 10 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.

Tour de Suisse stage 3 Live - Puncheurs take aim at explosive, hilly finale

Trek Emonda SLR 9 Project One - First look gallery

We take a closer look at trek's all-new lightweight emonda slr.

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Fresh out of the big red barn in Waterloo, Wisconsin, we’ve just unboxed Trek’s brand new Emonda . Slotting in as the brand's lightweight race bike, the Emonda was first launched in 2015, and since then has only received minor updates — the new bike has been redesigned from the ground up.

When it comes to race bikes, whether the consumer likes it or not they are still largely handcuffed to the UCI’s 6.8kg weight limit, so brands don’t have a whole lot of incentive to keep making frames lighter. But, as Trek’s Industrial Design Manager Hans Ekholm told me some time ago, the UCI rules influence the direction of the race bikes, but his team don’t see them as a limitation, it simply means they need to get a bit more creative to keep improving the bikes they produce.

Best lightweight bikes Best carbon road bikes Best road bikes Trek launches new Emonda Giant TCR Advanced SL 0 review Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-Mod review

With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that Trek focused on improving the aerodynamics of the new Emonda. Trek is not alone in this with Giant, Scott, Specialized and Focus (among others) also going this route, addressing the fact that aerodynamics come into play, even when you’re not travelling 40kph on flat ground. The new frame sees truncated aerofoils on the fork legs, downtube, seat tube and seat stays which the brand says saves 183g of drag over the previous model. Interestingly the no-cut integrated seat mast is round, and so is the cap, which Trek says helps to retain compliance.

While 183g of drag is probably an abstract figure to anyone doesn’t have an aerodynamicist within arms reach, Trek has modelled how much time a rider would save up various famous climbs around the world riding at 350-watts on the 2018 Emonda vs the 2021 Emonda. The new bike saves 15-seconds on Alpe D'Huez, 11-seconds on the Angliru, 21-seconds up the Stelvio, 80-seconds up the Taiwan KOM Challenge and 4-seconds up Willunga Hill.

While the aero shaped tubing will have played a significant role in the aero gains, the new Aeolus RSL bar-stem combo also shoulders some of the burden. The new integrated bar and stem hide the cables from the wind while routing them entirely on the outside of the bar, thanks to a deep groove on the bottom, and a removable plate. For anyone who had to try and route a cable through the previous version of this bar, it marks a colossal improvement, and far fewer hours trying to finagle cables and housing through what felt to be a black hole.

All that said, they still suffer from the shortcomings of all similar one-piece systems in that if you want a longer stem, or don’t like the shape of the bar, you have to replace the whole thing. Example ‘A#1,’ Bontrager has gone with an extremely compact bend for the drops which are a smidge too tight for my hands.

Trek has also employed split headset spacers, so there is no need to disconnect and re-bleed anything should you want to raise or lower your bar a few mm. That said, they are a little bit fiddly to work with, but are still a better option than the alternative.

However, when it comes time to replace a headset bearing you’re in for a big job. Both brake hoses run inside the top bearing, and the front brake line is routed through the lower bearing too. With all the bends the hoses take, it's a bit more challenging to coax air bubbles in the lines out of the system.

The top-end SLR models are made from a new OCLV 800 carbon. According to Trek, this new carbon fibre was in development for two years. The result is claimed to be 30 per cent stronger than the OCLV 700 it usurped for the top spot, and saves about 60g of weight in an equivalent frame.

However, the 2021 Emonda actually gained about 30g in weight over the 2018 version, with an unpainted 56cm frame said to weigh 698g and the unpainted fork with a 220mm steerer comes in at 365g. You won’t hear us complaining about these additional grams, because they are the result of a threaded T47 bottom bracket — well actually a slightly narrower version (1mm) to allow for a better connection with your BB tool. Even still, this 54cm Emonda SLR 9 Project One tips our scales at a feathery 6.86kg.

One of the things that immediately caught my eye when I unboxed the Emonda was the traditional seat stays that come all the way up to the seat cluster to form the conventional double diamond. According to Jordan Roessingh, Trek’s Director of Road Product, Trek did evaluate a design concept of the Emonda with dropped stays, but decided the potential aero benefit didn’t outweigh the costs to torsional stiffness, at their targets for frame weight.

For the latest edition of the Emonda, Trek as added a few new colour schemes to its Project One program ICON, KOM and Ultimate. Our test sample is the latter, which allows you full creative license over Trek’s colour palates as well as tailoring every component. The yellow to pink fade is definitely Trek flexing its proverbial painting muscles, and the bike is anything but subtle.

Being that this bike, in particular, is the top flagship Emonda, it should come as no surprise that it is shod with SRAM’s Red eTap AXS drivetrain , complete with a Quarq power meter, 48/35t chainrings and a 10-30T 12-speed cassette.

Bolted between the stays and fork are the new Aeolus RSL 37 carbon clinchers . These feature a new rim profile and layup that’s said to be lighter than the Aeolus XXX 2, and nearly as fast as the XXX 4, which are 10mm deeper. At 37mm deep, they tip our scales at 1360g sans rotors and cassette. The wheels are compatible with tubeless tyres , though the rim strips needed to make the swap were not included with our test sample.

Sitting atop the no-cut seatmast is Bontrager's Aeolus Pro saddle . The perch is Bontrager's take on the wide snub nose seat, and initially, my derriere seems to get along with it quite well — for reference I have a Fizik Vento Argo R3 on my personal bike.

With every bell and whistle currently available, it should come as no surprise that the Emonda SLR 9 is less affordable than a used car, coming in at an eye-watering US$11,999 / €10,999 / £9,700 / AU$15,799.

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

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

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

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

Based on the Gold Coast of Australia, Colin has written tech content for cycling publication for a decade. With hundreds of buyer's guides, reviews and how-tos published in Bike Radar, Cyclingnews, Bike Perfect and Cycling Weekly, as well as in numerous publications dedicated to his other passion, skiing.

Colin was a key contributor to Cyclingnews between 2019 and 2021, during which time he helped build the site's tech coverage from the ground up. Nowadays he works full-time as the news and content editor of Flow MTB magazine.

What is a hands on review?

'Hands on reviews' are a journalist's first impressions of a piece of kit based on spending some time with it. It may be just a few moments, or a few hours. The important thing is we have been able to play with it ourselves and can give you some sense of what it's like to use, even if it's only an embryonic view.

Best bike accessories: Tools, parts and upgrades for your bike

British supercar brand returns to its cycling roots, launches all-new Dash

Most Popular

The ultimate featherweight Émonda is the lightest road bike in our lineup and the first up every climb. We scrutinized every inch of this legendary race bike to offer ultimate ride quality and balanced handling without compromising weight. Complete with fast and light aerodynamic tube shaping, Émonda helps riders go faster than ever on flats and climbs alike.

Our fastest Émonda, by the numbers The newest Émonda SLR is faster than its predecessor (and its competition) on almost any climb. And the steeper the grade, the bigger the benefit. Here’s how it stacks up to the previous Émonda SLR:

Our fastest Émonda, by the numbers The latest Émonda SLR is faster than its predecessor on almost any climb. And the steeper the grade, the bigger the benefit. Here’s how it stacks up to the previous Émonda SLR:

60 seconds per hour faster on flats

18 seconds per hour faster at 8% grade, 182 grams of drag saved.

Trek’s fastest climbing bike The newest generation Émonda SLR frame still weighs less than 700g, but all-new aero tube shaping adds even more speed.

Our best carbon yet

It takes more material to make aero shapes, but we refused to compromise on weight — so we developed all-new 800 Series OCLV Carbon for Émonda SLR.

Speedy design details

The latest Émonda models have hidden cable routing, most come with aero wheels, and Émonda SLR comes with an aerodynamic Aeolus RSL bar/stem.

Incredible performance, unbeatable price Émonda SL delivers the same legendary performance and aerodynamic tube shaping as Émonda SLR, but it’s built with 500 Series OCLV Carbon that’s still lightweight without weighing heavy on your wallet.

Explore the Émonda family

Enjoy balanced ride quality, superior handling, and the added benefit of free speed thanks to new aero tube shaping wrought from our ultralight 500 Series OCLV Carbon.

Our lightest and fastest Émonda, this bike delivers incredible ride quality and aerodynamic advantage. Its frame is made of all-new 800 Series OCLV Carbon and weighs less than 700 grams.

Our lightest aluminum road bike handles like its pricier carbon cousins, with a strikingly light and aerodynamic aluminum frame that’s fast, fun, and affordable.

off.road.cc
Dealclincher
Fantasy Cycling

Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Sportive and endurance bikes
Gravel and adventure bikes
Urban and hybrid bikes
Touring bikes
Cyclocross bikes
Electric bikes
Folding bikes
Fixed & singlespeed bikes
Children's bikes
Time trial bikes
Accessories - misc
Computer mounts
Bike bags & cases
Bottle cages
Child seats
Lights - front
Lights - rear
Lights - sets
Pumps & CO2 inflators
Puncture kits
Reflectives
Smart watches
Stands and racks
Arm & leg warmers
Base layers
Gloves - full finger
Gloves - mitts
Jerseys - casual
Jerseys - long sleeve
Jerseys - short sleeve
Shorts & 3/4s
Tights & longs
Bar tape & grips
Bottom brackets
Brake & gear cables
Brake & STI levers
Brake pads & spares
Cassettes & freewheels
Chainsets & chainrings
Derailleurs - front
Derailleurs - rear
Gear levers & shifters
Handlebars & extensions
Inner tubes
Quick releases & skewers
Energy & recovery bars
Energy & recovery drinks
Energy & recovery gels
Heart rate monitors
Hydration products
Hydration systems
Indoor trainers
Power measurement
Skincare & embrocation
Training - misc
Cleaning products
Lubrication
Tools - multitools
Tools - Portable
Tools - workshop
Books, Maps & DVDs
Camping and outdoor equipment
Gifts & misc

Trek likes to keep it simple, stupid when it comes to navigating its road bike range. Madone: that's the aero one. Domane: that's the comfort one. Emonda: that's the lightweight one. Easy-peasy.

The Emondas are then divided up into the aluminium ALR and the S, SL and SLR carbon fibre frame platforms, getting progressively lighter and – because this is the way things generally work – more expensive.

Coming in at 8.55kg (18.8lb), the Emonda SL 5 is light but it doesn't feel like Trek has filled the tubes with helium (the frame weight is a claimed 1,091g, size 56cm). The Merlin Nitro SL (£200 more expensive at £1,999.99) that we reviewed back in the summer hit the scales at 7.7kg (17.0lb), for instance, while the Boardman SLR Endurance Disc 9.0 (also £1,999.99) we tested was 8.2kg (18.2lb).

Don't get too hung up on weight, though. I only really bring it up because Trek makes such a big deal of it when talking about the Emonda. Climb aboard the SL 5 and it immediately feels alive, responding keenly as soon as you turn the pedals. Put a serious amount of power through the cranks and it springs forward as if it was just waiting for the flag to drop. Both the head tube and the down tube are enormous, holding the frame firmly in shape when you're recruiting every muscle fibre on an out-of-the saddle sprint or climb.

Relaxed but performance-orientated

Speaking of climbing, the Emonda SL 5 is fitted with a Shimano 105 compact chainset (50/34-tooth chainrings) which, matched to an 11-28 11-speed cassette, provides enough low gears to get you up the steep stuff in relative comfort. All of the other Emonda SLs are fitted with compact chainsets too, by the way, and they all come with frames built to Trek's H2 fit. That requires an explanation and, as luck would have it, there's one coming along right now... While Trek's H1 fit puts you into a low, flat-backed, aggressive riding position, H2 is a little more relaxed, although it's still performance orientated.

I have the 58cm Emonda SL 5 here with a 57.3cm effective top tube, a 55.3cm seat tube and a 19cm head tube. The stack height is 596mm and the reach is 391mm.

With an H1 fit (the Emonda SLR Race Shop Limited frameset is available in H1) the reach is a little longer (400mm) and the stack is quite a lot lower (567mm). You all know what reach and stack are... (no? stack is the vertical and reach the horizontal measurements from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube).

Don't get the impression that the Emonda SL 5's H2 fit will have you sitting bolt upright in the saddle because it's a long, long way from that. For comparison, a 58cm Domane SL 5 has a stack height that's 15mm higher and a reach that's 11mm shorter. In other words, the H2 fit sits somewhere in the middle, an Aristotelian golden mean. Or Goldilocks' favourite porridge, if that's a cultural reference that works better for you. Put simply, a lot of people will get on well with the fit because it requires less flex in the back and neck than a traditional race fit without binning off the idea of efficiency.

One aspect of the Emonda SL 5's ride that surprised me is the level of comfort on offer here, particularly for a performance bike with 25mm-wide tyres. Okay, you don't get a clever IsoSpeed decoupler like you'll find on a Madone or a Domane to cushion the ride, but there's a decent amount of give in the seatmast and cap that Trek provides instead of a more traditional seatpost, and in the flattened, ultra-skinny seatstays.

As we all know, saddles always come down to personal preference – what feels like an armchair to one person can feel like a razor blade to another – but the steel-railed Bontrager Montrose Comp specced here has a pressure-relief channel/hole in the centre and loads of flex in the shell so I imagine it'll make more friends than enemies.

Great groupset

The Emonda SL 5 descends with assurance, giving you the confidence to lay off the brakes when others are nervously feathering theirs. When you do need to slow down the Shimano 105 brakes work on the alloy rims to provide plenty of predictable power. Shimano does make very good brakes. These are of the direct mount variety and they can be relied upon to hold tight when you need them. They even put in a decent performance in damp conditions although, like any rim brakes, they're outperformed by disc brakes when it's properly wet. If that bothers you and you can stretch to £2,650, the Emonda SL 6 is available in a disc version – with 12mm thru-axles front and rear, a Shimano Ultegra groupset including flat mount hydraulic discs, and an 11-32t cassette.

As well as the brakes, the SL5's shifters, derailleurs, chainset, cassette and chain are all Shimano 105. We've covered this groupset a million times on road.cc and it really is difficult to fault for the money.

I particularly like the light action shifters. They're slim, comfortable and easy to operate from either the hoods or the drops. There's not a massive difference between these and more expensive Ultegra, or even top of the pile Dura-Ace mechanical shifters. Sure, you can tell them apart but in use... puh! I'd happily use 105 on every ride. It's amazingly popular and rightly so. Although a couple of others run it close, 105 is still arguably the best value groupset out there.

> Head to head: Shimano 105 vs Shimano Ultegra

> And: Shimano Tiagra vs Shimano 105

This has all been a bit of a lovefest so far, but my one tiff with the Emonda SL 5 was right at the start of our relationship. I picked up the bike and was riding home from the office on it – five miles in, whistling a happy tune, thinking about what I'd have for tea, you know the sort of thing – and the front end started to feel... odd. I got out of the saddle on a climb and it felt decidedly spongy. Weird!

I stopped to check everything and it turned out that several spokes had loosened – about eight of them, I think. And I mean that they'd really loosened to the point that the nipples were just about holding on by their fingertips (shut up! Of course they do). My multi-tool has a spoke wrench on it so I tightened them up at the side of the road, then did a proper job when I got home. Since then the wheel has been fine.

I've reviewed loads of Treks before and this hasn't been an issue in the past, so I'm happy to put it down to bad luck. To be honest, if you know which way up to hold a spoke wrench it's not a massive problem, but it would be a pain if you had to book your bike in to a shop and have a mechanic do the fettling for you. Anyway, I've forgiven the Emonda SL 5 for that now and we've both moved on.

Spoilt for choice

The Emonda range is large, kicking off with the Shimano Tiagra-equipped ALR 4 at £1,000 and going right up to the SLR 9, with Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 components, at £8,500 (a customisable Project One version of the Emonda SLR 9 is also available).

There are four SL models ranging in price from £1,500 (SL 4, Shimano Tiagra) up to £4,300 (SL 7, Shimano Ultegra Di2). At £2,000, the Emonda ALR 6, with an aluminium frame, is actually more expensive than the SL 5 courtesy of a next-level-up Shimano Ultegra groupset. The SL 5 is also available as a women's model.

Oh, and you can buy an Emonda SL frameset for £1,350 – but why would you do that when you can get a complete Emonda SL 4 for £1,500?

> Check out our guide to Trek's 2018 road bike range here

As well as the Emonda SL 6 Disc mentioned earlier, there's an Emonda SL 7 Disc, equipped with a Shimano Ultegra Di2 groupset and Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3 Tubeless Ready wheels, for £4,400.

You can certainly get complete bikes with carbon fibre frames and Shimano 105 components considerably cheaper than the Emonda SL. The Focus Izalco Race Carbon 105, for example, is £1,399 and Giant's TCR Advanced 2 is £1,449. Those two are killer value. Equally, there are plenty of carbon/105 bikes out there that are more expensive. Cervelo's R2 105 is £2,199, for example, and BMC's Teammachine SLR02 Two is £2,250.

I would say that you're getting an extraordinarily good frame with the Trek Emonda SL 5 – one that'll handle considerable upgrading if you fancy doing that gradually as and when individual components wear out. It's that which makes this bike such impressive value for money.

Overall, the Trek Emonda SL 5 is excellent. I had an early issue with one of the wheels but that doesn't detract from the fact that this is a fast and nimble road bike that reacts like something considerably more expensive. Also comfortable and well behaved, it makes you question whether it's worth spending any more money than this.

A fast and nimble road bike that puts in an exceptional performance for its price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Emonda SL 5

Size tested: 58cm

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

Frame Ultralight 500 Series OCLV Carbon, ride-tuned performance tube optimisation, E2 tapered head tube, BB90, direct mount brakes, internal cable routing, DuoTrap S compatible, Ride Tuned seatmast

Fork Emonda carbon, E2 steerer, direct mount brakes

Wheels Bontrager Tubeless Ready

Tyres Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite, 700x 25c

Shifters Shimano 105, 11-speed

Front derailleur Shimano 105, braze-on

Rear derailleur Shimano 105

Chainset Shimano 105, 50/34 (compact)

Bottom bracket BB90

Cassette Shimano 105, 11-28, 11-speed

Chain Shimano 105

Brakeset Shimano 105, direct mount

Saddle Bontrager Montrose Comp, chromoly rails

Seatpost Bontrager Ride Tuned alloy seatmast cap, 10mm offset

Handlebar Bontrager Race VR-C, 31.8 mm

Handlebar tape Bontrager

Stem Bontrager Elite, 31.8 mm, 7-degree, w/computer and light mounts

Headset Integrated, cartridge bearing, sealed, 1 1/8in top, 1 1/2in bottom

Tell us what the bike is for

It's a road bike designed for racers and other performance-type riders who are interested in speed and fitness.

Frame and fork

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

The quality is exceptionally good throughout.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

The frame is made from Trek's 500 Series OCLV carbon fibre. The fork is carbon too.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Like all the Emonda SL frames, this bike is built to Trek's H2 geometry which sits somewhere between a low and stretched H1 fit and a more upright endurance setup. H2 is certainly performance-focused, it's just not as aggressive as H1.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

It's about what you'd expect.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

It's surprisingly comfortable for a bike of this type. You only get so much cushioning from 25mm tyres but the seatmast certainly helps to damp vibration and soften the blows.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The super-wide down tube holds the bottom bracket firmly in place and the tapered (1 1/8in to 1 1/2in) head tube keeps the front end in order.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

It felt efficient, without a doubt.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so

Some. It's only ever an issue for tight manoeuvres at walking pace.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively Lively.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

It offers a great ride whether you're going uphill, downhill or on the flat. It's a well-balanced bike that feels like it can cope with pretty much anything.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

The seatmast and seatmast cap take some of the credit here, along with Bontrager's saddle.

You can swap to 28mm wide tyres if you want to run lower pressures for more comfort.

The drivetrain

Wheels and tyres

I have to take into account that several spokes came loose almost immediately. The rims are tubeless ready, if you want to go down that route.

After an initial scare they were fine.

Anything else you want to say about the componentry? Comment on any other components (good or bad)

The Shimano 105 groupset put in an excellent performance.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Trek Emonda SL 5 puts in a really strong performance. You'd be hard-pressed to tell from riding it alone that this wasn't a considerably more expensive bike. You're getting an exceptionally good bike for the money, and that equates to a 9.

Overall rating: 9 /10

About the tester

Age: 43 Height: 190cm Weight: 75kg

I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding

Help us to fund our site

We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99.

If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.

Help us to bring you the best cycling content

If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

16 comments.

I share similar thoughts on Emonda SL 5. Bought new in 2019 as 2018 model for only 1.200 € and it seemed like a great deal. But wheels almost fell appart after 30 km, most of the spokes were totaly loosened. I was lucky to find that out just before the fast descent. Both wheels, front and rear! I took it to dealer and they said I was just unlucky, one in a million. Then I waited more than 2 months for new pair of wheels, replaced under guarantee. Got Bontrager Affinity TLR wheels. They were fine but bearings seem to be totaly destroyed after about 7000 km. So I did upgrade to Mavic Cosmic.

What do I think about the bike now? It is a great bike, with perfect geometry for me, very responsive and good for climbing. Not super light but good enough. Not aero at all but new wheels are doing the job much much better. It's a climber not a TT bike. Would I recommend the bike to anybody? Probably not, due to the serious issue with wheels that could affect safety.

I still cannot understand how can a company like Trek put so awfull wheels on a nice carbon bike like Emonda 5. In my eyes this was a recall situation and obviously not a one in a million case.

I might be corrected but up to last year or perhaps this, the model was fitted with lighter 'Race' wheels. They kept the price at £1800 and put cheaper wheels on it. It's a shame as the frame and groupset is excellent, in my opinion.

"Coming in at 8.55kg (18.8lb), the Emonda SL 5 is light...

Don't get too hung up on weight, though. I only really bring it up because Trek makes such a big deal of it when talking about the Emonda".

How does a carbon bike which sells for £1800 and weighs over eight and a half kilos get described as LIGHT ?

For comparison at £1800: the Canyon Endurace CF8.0 is size Medium is 7.2 kilos.

The £1800 Rose GF Team 4 Ultegra is 7.1 kilos.

Both bikes have a complete Ultegra groupset - no sneaky substitutions, both have excellent DT Swiss wheels and are well equipped right down to Conti's top tyres.

What they seem to lack (apart from a kilo and a half) is the word Trek written down the side.

macbob wrote: "Coming in at 8.55kg (18.8lb), the Emonda SL 5 is light... Don't get too hung up on weight, though. I only really bring it up because Trek makes such a big deal of it when talking about the Emonda". How does a carbon bike which sells for £1800 and weighs over eight and a half kilos get described as LIGHT ?

If the original article was from 2014 when the SL5 was launched, then 8.55 Kg would have been viewed as somewhat light for a fast endurance bike back then.

"If the original article was from 2014 when the SL5 was launched, then 8.55 Kg would have been viewed as somewhat light for a fast endurance bike back then".

All true, although the article is bylined:

by Mat Brett May 25 2018

and a quick check of the Evans website suggests the bike is still nearly eight and a half kilos.

macbob wrote: "If the original article was from 2014 when the SL5 was launched, then 8.55 Kg would have been viewed as somewhat light for a fast endurance bike back then". All true, although the article is bylined: by Mat Brett May 25 2018 and a quick check of the Evans website suggests the bike is still nearly eight and a half kilos.

Unlike the German bikes this bike does come with boat anchors for wheels and wire bead tyres. Along with the 105 groupset that would explain most of the weight difference.

The review suggests though that the frame is fantatsic so a wheel + tyre upgrade would leave you wth a fantastic bike. Sure it would cost more than the German bikes but there's more to a bike than just it's weight.

Joe Totale wrote: macbob wrote: "If the original article was from 2014 when the SL5 was launched, then 8.55 Kg would have been viewed as somewhat light for a fast endurance bike back then". All true, although the article is bylined: by Mat Brett May 25 2018 and a quick check of the Evans website suggests the bike is still nearly eight and a half kilos.

European reviews of the Rose & UK and European reviews of the Canyon suggest the frames on both those bikes are excellent too. So the question is: do you want a lightweight bike with an excellent frame, a complete Ultegra groupset, highly regarded DT Swiss wheels and top drawer finishing kit... or do you want the Trek.

Or you could take the view that a bike is more than just a frame, a groupset, wheels, tyres and finishing kit in which case the big American brands with their overweight, under specced and overpriced offerings are for you.

"Updated May 25th 2018". It was a recycled article, hence my comment......

Why is this bike being compared to the Boardman SLR Endurance Disc 9.0? The calliper version comes in at 7.6kg and gives you an almost complete Dura-Ace groupset and a better wheelset for only £99 more. https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/242-slr-9.2-endurance.html

Did a few hundred KMs on a rented SL5 in Mallorca earlier this year.

Nice machine, although the most impressive element was the 105 groupset (especially the brakes), which is easy to find on other makes/models.

It was definitely comfortable, and reasonably light - although I couldn't say I noticed a huge improvement on my 725-framed Equilibrium. May be my own frame which means a couple of KG off the bike doesn't make much obvious difference, of course...

So certainly not a bad option but I'd be tempted to look around a bit more before splashing that sort of cash.

Decent / good frame with full 105, own brand everything else (bars, stem, seatpost, wheels, tyres, may be ok stuff) inc wheels which look very spokey.

giant tcr advanced pro 2 would be a potentially better bike

in a sale at £1800 it has giant tcr frame (one of stiffest on market) giant slr carbon wheels and 105.

beaut bike would reccomend. Its weight is also 7kg

spinner98 wrote: giant tcr advanced pro 2...has giant tcr frame

Well that's very reassuring.

Incredibly generous considering the wheel supplied was in a dangerous condition.

An ordinary person may not have noticed the odd feeling and ridden it until it collapsed under them, throwing them under a car. It’s pretty serious.

Prosper0 wrote: Incredibly generous considering the wheel supplied was in a dangerous condition. An ordinary person may not have noticed the odd feeling and ridden it until it collapsed under them, throwing them under a car. It’s pretty serious.

Well that really depends, for most people that would have been picked up by the shop you purchased the bike from. For everyone who orders it direct I would expect them to check the wheel before riding it

Really? They'd notice the wheel not fitting between the brake pads a long time before collapsing.

Latest Comments

If we're going to ban everything which "forces" drivers to cross the centre line, on-street parking will have to go from virtually every urban...

So my 2003 Cannondale F800sl 650b conversion is less than a kilo heavier with 80mm of front suspension ....

For "share their tunes with" read "inflict their tunes on".

When on a tour, I use bogroll. First wipe the externals. Then twist half a sheet of bog roll and pull it through a link. Repeat .......

Although all the parties are promising "you'll pay less, or at least definitely not more, AND we'll fix things"... from the little I have heard...

Aren't you worried your wheelchair wheels might get stuck in the rails?

Something something number plates drivers are accountable ...

Miracle escape for pair after car plunges off West Country cliff...

Yeah, nothing at all wrong with my 15 year old Colnago EPS.

It could easily be captioned "EU breaks up into its constituent countries..."

Related Reviews

Scott Addict RC 30 2024

Screaming out for some better wheels, but a brilliant frameset in terms of stiffness and ride quality

Sonder Prima Al 105 Di2

Fun, fast and great value, though not the most refined aluminium frame on the market

Orbea Orca Aero M10iLTD 2024

Stunningly fast without sacrificing versatility, handling or comfort

Boardman SLR 8.6

Comfortable, lively ride, an excellent gear range and well-chosen components – one of the best entry-level bikes you can buy

www.cyclonline.com
Bicycles news review test
Cycling Food Supplement Tips
Cycling tips
GDPR if you browse you accept it
Cookie if you browse you accept it

Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 road test ride review all you need to know (really)

Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024, all you need to know before buying a new bike Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 strengths flaws performance opinions and much more!

Best offers prices TREK BIKES

Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 Road test review Build quality

We are at a high level, with a good value for money.

All well made and cared for, even if the bike is not cheap in absolute terms.

But everything is well done, the only drawback is the total weight of the bike which is close to 8.3Kg.

Not a little in absolute terms and also in relation to the price.

Competitors don't do better, but if it weren't well pushed by marketing it would be a racing bike like any other.

Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 Road Test Review Frame

The frame is made very well, in this version a heavier corbon is used and feels.

On the other hand, the frame is more reliable and also more comfortable, even slightly stiffer, more suitable for heavy and powerful athletes.

Good size availability.

Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 Road Test Assemblies Review

The assembly is valid and cared for on the whole.

Nothing to report if not a total weight not suitable for an uphill bike.

Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 Road test Comfort review

It is not an endurance bike, like the Domane, but as mentioned the ride comofrt is also superior to the SLR version, making the Trek EMonda SL6 Pro one of the most comfortable racing bikes.

Long bike rides are easily feasible.

Among the high-performance racing bikes it is one of the best ever.

Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 Road Test Review Guide

The Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 follows the driving qualities of the SLR, but with greater ease of driving and greater safety.

Fast and safe downhill, it is much easier than the SLR to drive at high speeds, safer, more stable and sincere in reactions.

Slightly slower to enter corners, slightly less maneuverable, but much more stable.

Excellent braking.

An experienced biker will be faster with the SLR, but an amateur will be faster with this frame.

It puts less fear at speed, is better controlled, is less affected by the crosswind and is ultimately much less tiring than the SLR version.

Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 Road test review Performance

The weak point of this Trek Emonda SL6 Pro can be considered the performance compared to the lighter SLR.

In absolute terms they are competitive with its direct competitors in terms of list price.

Clearly, the heavy weight is discounted, especially uphill, where the differences with the SLR are more marked.

In the plains, all in all, one is as good as the other, at least at an amateur level.

On the downhill, however, our opinion is that the more stable and precise SL6 Pro is still faster than the SLR.

However, it remains a balanced racing bike at ease on any route.

Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 Road test review Pros and cons

The Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 is a valid racing bike, with good performance, even if it is offered at a price that is not exactly low.

The weight, in relation to the list price, is high and limits climbing performance.

On the plains, hills and slopes, on the other hand, its performances are more than valid.

Downhill it can create a void behind it.

It is not a cheap bicycle.

The price and the high weight are its faults.

For more information write to: salvatelliluca @ hotmail.com

NDR: the photo does not refer to the specific bike being tested

Food Supplements News

Integratorinews.it.

I DIECI migliori integratori alimentari da prendere a GIUGNO 2024 quali sono e cosa fanno
Sudore che puzza di cipolle (BROMIDROSI) cause rimedi naturali e consigli utili ed efficaci
Sudore acido cause pericoli rimedi naturali e consigli utili per eliminare il sudore che diventa acido
Carnitina dosi quanta carnitina assumere al giorno
Meglio Polase o Supradyn differenze efficacia benefici controindicazioni Polase Vs Supradyn
Ebikenews.it
Trek Fuel EX E 2024 prova test recensione opinioni pregi difetti problemi autonomia tutto quello che devi sapere
ebike Specialized Turbo Levo Alloy 2024 prova test recensione pregi difetti problemi autonomia tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)
Ebike Canyon Strive:ON 2024 prova test recensione pregi difetti problemi tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)
E-Bike Scott LUMEN eride 910 2024 prova pregi difetti problemi tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)
Decathlon e bike Rockrider E-ST 100 prova test recensione
Ciclonline.com
Giant XTC Advanced SL 29 2024 prova test recensione pregi difetti problemi tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)
Bianchi Specialissima Campagnolo Super Record EPS 2024 prova test recensione pregi difetti problemi tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)
Bianchi Arcadex Carbon Gravel 2024 prezzo scheda tecnica recensione completa
Giant Revolt Advanced 2024 prova test recensione pregi difetti problemi tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)
Scott Addict RC Pro 2024 prova test recensione pregi difetti problemi tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)

MotorBike News

Crazywheels.it.

Nuova YAMAHA Tracer 700 2025 RUMORS scheda tecnica potenza velocità massima tutto quello che sappiamo
Nuova KTM 990 ADVENTURE 2025 uscita potenza prezzo ultimissime news e rumors
Offerte Promozioni moto e scooter GIUGNO 2024 elenco completo prezzi sconti migliori
Piaggio Medley 125 2024 prova su strada test recensione difetti problemi prestazioni velocità massima tutto quello che devi sapere (realmente)
Piaggio Medley 125 2024 velocità massima top speed raggiunta
Autopromonews.it
Auto invendute quasi regalate elenco completo offerte
Mahindra Kuv 100 difetti e problemi rilevati dai suoi possessori
offerte e promozioni auto nuove GIUGNO 2024 tutte le offerte migliori sempre aggiornate
Audi A3 2024: Prova su Strada, Pregi, Difetti, Consumi e Velocità Massima tutto quello che devi sapere
Mahindra KUV 100 2024: Prova su Strada, Pregi, Difetti, Consumi e Velocità Massima tutto quello che devi sapere

Our Magazines!

Crazywheels.it
Integratorinews.it

Trek keep the guessing game going with 'Madone/Émonda' at Critérium du Dauphiné

A fter recently teasing a new bike on social media during the Giro d’Italia , Lidl-Trek riders have been spotted aboard what appears to be a new edition of the brand’s Madone aero bike at the key Tour de France tune up race, the Critérium du Dauphiné .

Shots of the bike show the word Madone clearly marked on the top tube. However, Trek is evidently keen to keep the guessing game going, with closer inspection revealing the name Émonda just showing through beneath the white lettering.

Since Trek's climbing focused Émonda hasn't been updated since 2020, whilst the aero Madone had a refresh in 2022, knowledge of cycling's product cycles would suggest the former would be next in line for a renewal. However, when it became clear that a new bike was on the cards, at Cycling Weekly , we placed our bets on a Madone .

Now that the bike is being ridden at the Tour warm-up race, it looks more and more likely that we're anticipating an aero racer, and perhaps even the end of the Émonda climbing machine.

Other brands, most notably Specialized with the Tarmac SL8 , have converged their aero and lightweight bikes, to create one all purpose machine, and it looks as if Trek may be aiming to provide the same for the likes of Mads Pedersen and Tao Geoghegan Hart.

The new bike still features Trek's 'IsoFlow' tech, a hole in the seat tube which replaced the compliance boosting 'Isospeed' that Trek was so well known for, in the name of improved aerodynamics.

Of course, it's possible Trek may have applied this tech to its climbing machine. However, the fork legs have a similar depth to the brand’s aero machine and the kink in the downward surface of the bike’s top tube is still present.

Clearly, whatever name the bike will take, it works - Pedersen rode to victory and claimed the race’s first yellow leader’s jersey aboard the new weapon.

Having been the source of speculation for several months, it's obvious that this bike is primed to be used by Lidl-Trek riders during the Tour and other major races this season.

Meanwhile, other brand new bikes have been spotted at the Dauphiné last weekend. This included the new Pinarello Dogma F and a fresh new Canyon Aeroroad .

Trek keep the guessing game going with 'Madone/Émonda' at Critérium du Dauphiné

MAGAZINE OFFERS
BIKE INSURANCE
Best Products
Maintenance
Accessories
Long-Term Reviews
BikeRadar Podcast
First Look Friday
Bike of the Week
Tech Features
Routes and Rides
Bike Galleries
BikeRadar Bargains
Buyer's Guides
Fitness & Training
Sizing & Fit
Mountain Biking UK
Cycling Plus
Bike of the Year 2024

Brand new lightweight Trek Madone spotted: Has Trek killed the Emonda?

We get a close look at the bike that may become Trek’s one-and-only road race option

Liam Cahill / Our Media

Liam Cahill

A new, slimmed-down Trek Madone RSL has been spotted at the Critérium du Dauphiné, raising questions about the future of Trek’s road racing lineup.

The unreleased bike has been on a diet, compared to the current aero-focussed Madone – but retains the Madone name on the top tube. Trek's IsoFlow design – the hole in the seat tube – is present, too.

There are no official details on the new bike yet but, with Lidl-Trek riders using Trek's latest machine at the Dauphiné – a key Tour de France shakedown race – a release is likely to be around the corner.

One bike to rule them all?

The first notable aspect of the new bike is the slimmed-down silhouette.

Trek seems to have reduced the depth of tube shapes across the frame, suggesting the Madone has been on a diet to make it lighter.

This may mean that Trek claims the Madone can be used on all stages of a road race, be that the high mountains or flat sprint stages.

To do so, Trek will have had to take steps to retain the Madone’s aerodynamic credentials – though without wind tunnel and real-world testing data, it is impossible to decipher whether this is the case at this point in time.

What about the Emonda?

The key consideration is whether Trek has left space in its racing line-up for its current climbing bike, the Emonda .

Trek’s Emonda is currently the only bike the Lidl-Trek team has in use that can be built down to the UCI’s 6.8kg minimum weight limit. A 56cm Madone, for example, tipped our scales at 7.29kg for the existing model.

The slimmed-down tubes suggest weight savings.

Specialized killed off its Venge aero race bike, replacing it with the Tarmac SL7 and later refining the design with the current Tarmac SL8 . Pinarello, meanwhile, is among the brands to also offer one race bike, sticking steadfast to the Dogma for Team Ineos-Grenadiers.

If Trek has reduced the Madone’s weight to get closer to the UCI's minimum limit, it would be hard to see any racer opting for the less aero Emonda.

IsoFlow...lite

Mads Pedersen's 2024 Paris-Roubaix Trek Madone SLR

Trek sent the cycling world into a minor meltdown when it introduced the previous Madone in 2022 .

The IsoFlow seat tube hole and cantilevered seat post divided opinion, to put it mildly, but the design is back on the latest Madone, which comes only two years after the original release.

Mads Pedersen's Trek Madone with IsoFlow seat tube hole

Back in 2022, IsoFlow replaced the IsoSpeed ‘decoupler’ system, which had been a feature of the Madone since it went all-in on aero with the 9 Series in 2015 .

Trek claimed IsoFlow allowed the Madone SLR to match the compliance of the previous IsoSpeed system on its stiffest setting. It was also said to improve the aerodynamic performance of the frame by “around 3 watts”, while saving weight.

It is unclear whether Trek has refined the IsoFlow system in any way. As a result, we’ll have to wait for word from the brand about drag reduction.

Aero water bottles

While the standard shape of a water bottle is ideal for fitting any bottle and cage to your bike, their tubular profile is not exactly aerodynamically optimised.

Some brands, such as Pinarello, make an effort to smooth the airflow onto the down tube bottle by recessing the mounting points into the tube.

Others, such as BMC, design proprietary bottle cages that sit flush with the down tube and seat tube.

Trek appears to have taken a different approach, creating a bottle and cage system that, at first glance, is specifically designed for the Madone SLR.

It’s a measure that we often see on time trial bikes, but with racers requiring several bottle hand-ups throughout a stage, it hasn’t yet been a common sight on the road.

Given that the new Madone has been seen with specific aero bottles, we would expect Trek to admit this plays a key role in keeping the Madone SLR as fast as the outgoing bike, if not making it faster.

When will we find out for sure? Well, there's no official news yet, but we'll bring it to you when Trek's ready to announce this new Madone.

Share this article

Road and gravel presenter

Terms & Conditions
Subscribe to our magazines
Manage preferences

IMAGES

Trek Émonda 2021 Test: Endlich aero
Trek Émonda 2021 Test: Endlich aero
Trek Emonda SL6 Pro review
Bike Test: Trek Emonda SLR 9 Disc RSL
test trek emonda slr
Evaluation: Trek Émonda SLR 8 with Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical

VIDEO

My Review Of The Trek Emonda SL5
Trek Emonda SLR9 #trekbicycles #racingbike #cyclist #cycling #triathlon #trekmadone #tri
Trek Emonda SLR www.rowerownia.com
Hell on Wheels: Conquering Rapha's 'A Day in Hell' on a Trek Emonda ALR Road Bike!
Tech&Test Trek Emonda
Specialized Tarmac czy Trek Emonda

COMMENTS

Trek Émonda Review
For the 99 percenters, there's the Émonda SL (models start at $2,699). The SL uses OCLV 500 composite, and the frame is quite a bit heavier than the SLR's. The SL's frame comes in at 1,142 ...
Trek Emonda SL6 Pro review
As with the entire Emonda range the SL6 Pro runs on Bontrager wheels; Aeolus Elite 35 to be precise. These feature a carbon 35mm depth and complement the new 'aero' frame without compromising too ...
2021 Trek Emonda SL Pro 6 road bike review: for the climb lovers
For 2021 Trek combined those two fits into one with "H1.5" being used across all Emonda models. All models of the Emonda SLR and SL now feature the same "H1.5" geometry. That means the new Emonda SL is more aggressive than the last, and relatively speaking the reach figures are on the long side and the stack figures are fairly low.
Review: Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro 2021
Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro 2021. 8. 4. The latest iteration of the Trek Émonda focuses on aerodynamics more than ever before, which makes this SL6 Pro one very quick and efficient road bike. The stiff frameset offers a firm yet fun ride, while the component choice keeps the weight down to exploit that stiffness on the climbs.
Review: Trek Émonda SL 5 Disc
Trek's Émonda SL 5 Disc is a solid all-round race bike offering great handling, a stiff platform for performance and a comfortable riding position, plus it's all wrapped up in a minimalistic, clean-looking package. ... As an experiment I switched the SL 5's wheels for a pair of 1,400g Scribe Élan Wide+ 42-D wheels I had on test, and that ...
2021 Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro review
The 2021 Trek Emonda SL 6 Pro is an uncompromising and spectacularly stiff all-round race bike, but one spec niggle makes it is just short of greatness.
Review: Trek Émonda ALR 5 2023
The Trek Emonda ALR 5 uses the latest aluminium alloy Emonda frameset, with aero tweaks and a geometry that matches other high-end performance bikes in Trek's line-up. It showcases the fact that this material still has a place on the racing scene, offering up the sort of stiffness and ride comfort found with carbon, although this build is far ...
2021 Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap review
How does the new Emonda SLR 9 eTap compare to other road bikes? Find out in our detailed review of its features, performance and value.
Trek Emonda SLR 8
Our Trek Emonda SLR 8 test sample came with Shimano's excellent Dura-Ace mechanical group (Image credit: James Huang/BikeRadar) The front derailleur mounts to a very stout bonded-on plate.
Trek Emonda SL6 Pro review
Trek Emonda SL6 Pro review | BikeRadar
Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap road bike in review
Here too, the rattling brake levers are a nuisance, especially on rough, poorly surfaced roads. The Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap costs € 12,999 in the standard version. The € 800 Project One paint job on our test bike brings that to €13,799. In size 56, the bike weighs 6.86 kg. Size.
Trek Emonda SLR 7 Ultegra Di2 Aero Road Bike Review
With the Emonda SLR bikes, Trek has taken that winning formula and added additional aerodynamic tweaks to make the bikes even faster. In this review, we'll be looking at the latest Emonda SLR 7 which retail for $8,999.99 and sits in the middle of the SLR range. The SLR 7 combines the 800 Series OCLV carbon fiber frame with fast shifting ...
Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap Long-Term Review: Light for ...
The MSRP of the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap is an astonishing $13,000. It sits at the top of the Emonda SLR lineup. But the pricing is in line with other bikes of the same caliber. And for that money ...
Trek Emonda ALR Disc 5 review
Here's how it works. Trek Emonda ALR Disc 5 review. Trek has launched an updated aluminium bike in 2018. The new Trek Emonda ALR is a super lightweight machine that rides really well. Trek has ...
Trek Émonda SL 6 eTap review
How does the Trek Emonda SL 6 eTap compare to other models in the Emonda range? Find out in this detailed review by BikeRadar.
Trek Emonda SLR 9 Project One
There is a new carbon fiber on the block. Trek say OCLV 800 is 30-percent stronger than OCLV 700 (Image credit: Colin Levitch) However, the 2021 Emonda actually gained about 30g in weight over the ...
Émonda, our lightest road bike
Émonda is the lightest road bike in our lineup and the first up every climb. We scrutinized every inch of this legendary race bike to offer ultimate ride quality and balanced handling without compromising weight. Complete with fast and light aerodynamic tube shaping, Émonda helps riders go faster than ever on flats and climbs alike. TK23 MARQ ...
Review: Trek Emonda SL 5
The Trek Emonda SL 5 is a lively and agile road bike with an excellent frameset and a solid component spec. It provides very good value for money. Pros: Fast reacting, comfortable, great ride feel. Cons: Not aero, wheel issue on our review bike.
Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 road test ride review all you
The Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 follows the driving qualities of the SLR, but with greater ease of driving and greater safety. Fast and safe downhill, it is much easier than the SLR to drive at high speeds, safer, more stable and sincere in reactions. Slightly slower to enter corners, slightly less maneuverable, but much more stable.
Trek Emonda SL 6 review
The Trek Emonda SL 6 is a high-performance road bike with a carbon frame and advanced features for an exceptional riding experience.
Trek keep the guessing game going with 'Madone/Émonda' at ...
The bike ridden by Lidl-Trek riders at the Tour de France warm-up race features both model names Cycling Weekly ... Both the words Madone and Emonda can be seen, but the former is stronger, in ...
Trek Emonda SL 5 Disc review
How does the Trek Emonda SL 5 Disc compare to other road bikes in terms of performance, comfort and value? Read our review to find out.
Brand new lightweight Trek Madone spotted: Has Trek killed the Emonda
Brand new lightweight Trek Madone spotted: Has Trek killed the Emonda? | BikeRadar.

The New Trek Émonda Is Faster Than Ever

Now With Aero

Simple Seat Mast

Light and Slippery

Wide and Threaded

Ride Impressions: Émonda SLR 9 eTap

Team Request

Still Light, Now With Aero

Eight Point One Percent

Computer-Aided Optimization

OCLV 800 Carbon

Aeolus Bar Stem

Aeolus 37 Wheels

Surprisingly Rider Friendly

H1.5 Geometry

Project One

Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap

2021 Trek Emonda SL Pro 6 road bike review: for the climb lovers

Emonda SLR vs Emonda SL

A race-ready geo and ride

Carbon wheels aren’t always light

Champagne tastes on a (craft) beer budget

Photo gallery

Popular on Velo

Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap road bike in review

Trek Émonda SLR 9 eTap 2022

Technical Data

Specific Features

Riding Characteristics

Value for money

Indended Use

The test field

You may also like

Is silver the new gold? Unboxing the new Roval Rapide CLX II Team LTD wheelset

ROSE BLEND – The drop bar all-rounder in review

The Lab: Tailfin Frame Bag – Plenty of Storage, Minimal Wobble

The Lab – Beeline Velo 2 in review

Test debut of the 2024 SRAM RED groupset – Effortless wins?

The perfect wheel and tire combo – Why it’s not just the rim depth that matters

Emonda goes aero

FIT AND FINISH

RIDING IMPRESSIONS

THE VERDICT

Share this:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap Long-Term Review: Light for Climbing, Slippery for Speed

How Aero Is the Emonda?

Other Significant Frame Changes

T47 Bottom Bracket

800 Series OCLV Carbon

Trek Emonda SLR 9 Ride Experience

Damn, It’s Light

Stiffness vs. Compliance

How Fast Is the Trek Emonda SLR 9 eTap?

Final Thoughts

Trek Domane Gets Racier, Looks to Keep Reputation for Comfort

Subscribe Now

Join Our GearJunkie Newsletter

Trek Emonda ALR Disc 5 review

Get The Leadout Newsletter

Useful links

Buyer's Guides

Trek Emonda SLR 9 Project One - First look gallery

What is a hands on review?

Most Popular

60 seconds per hour faster on flats

Support road.cc

Relaxed but performance-orientated

Great groupset

Spoilt for choice

Help us to fund our site

Help us to bring you the best cycling content

Add new comment

Latest Comments

Related Reviews

Scott Addict RC 30 2024

Sonder Prima Al 105 Di2

Orbea Orca Aero M10iLTD 2024

Boardman SLR 8.6

Trek Emonda SL6 Pro Shimano 105 Di2 2024 road test ride review all you need to know (really)