Should YOU buy the 2023 Trek Emonda SL 5?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ก.ย. 2022
- The 2023 Trek Emonda SL5 is an extremely comfortable road bike that looks absolutely beautiful. It is an excellent choice for smooth tarmac and bumpy and sketchy roads alike, given its superb comfort and durability. However, I found it to be very lacking in uphill climbing performance.
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This review is very refreshing. The big cycling TH-cam channels mostly act as a marketing arm for these companies.
Thank you!! I agree, many reviews are mostly commercials.
I liked Trek when I was a kid and like the paint job and design of this bike. But rationally speaking weight and value for money saidly just don’t match the price point.
This bike goes up hills very fast! I was more than impressed.
Hey bro AWESOME VIDEO, AN HONEST REVIEW! Keep ‘em coming! Thanks, Rick Moses, DFW TX!
Thanks man! I appreciate it!
Thumbs up for the honest review! Am going to get one soon!
Thanks so much for watching!
Recently got more into road biking and decided to upgrade from my 2010 Caad 9 earlier this year. Test rode this bike but ended up with a 2021 TCR Advanced Pro Disc. For 4.5k Australian I got SLR1 carbon wheels and tubeless. That alone sealed the deal in comparison to the Trek. I'm loving it and it's so much more comfortable than my old aluminium Caad (despite being nearly same geometry).
Most honest review I have seen, + 1 for that alone. Subscription added
Thank you!
the most honnest video i saw about this video. thx
Thanks for watching!
i have the sl7 etap and i love the bike.. great paint great group set and bike is really fun to ride. wont be changing the bike any time soon..
Thanks for the opinion. Good comments and I was looking to see a comparison between this and canyon
Thank you! I just uploaded a detailed review of the 2022 Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8. Feel free to check it out!
Good honest review, thank you!
Thank you for watching!
Just came across your videos now a subscriber love the fact your doing this on lower end model review what true not Fred will buy keep it up
Thank you!
Great review and honest feedback!
Thank you!!
Honest evaluation!
I picked up a new Domane SL6 (mech Ultegra group) in a sale for $2800. Changed wheels + added a $100 one peice carbon bar/stem to get down to 16.5lbs. Exceptional comfort + hill climber. Sure same is possible on that Emonda 🙃
That's an awesome deal! And I totally agree, I am sure you could do something very similar to the Emonda. Thanks for sharing!!
Is the SL7 frame set available in a rim brake version?
Hey Will, that’s a great question. You can get the Émonda SLR H2 Frameset and the Émonda SLR RSL H1 Frameset that are both compatible with rim brakes. Both are offered in Treks OCLV 700 carbon.
which carbon bar/stem?
😅 Man that's hard to believe. Too good to be true.. Domane with ultegra.. Which year model is that
I agree with you and I own a 2021 SL5 version. Reason I picked one up was because other options weren’t available due to the COVID shortages. However, the emonda rides beautifully. The sluggish ride feeling is a perception due to the rotational weight of heavy wheels, tires and tube config these come with. I swapped these out about 12 months later for Aeolus pro51s, contigo gp5000s, and lightweight tubilito tubes. The perception was night and day different and mind boggling for me.
Thank you so much for sharing! I do hope Trek starts shipping their bikes with higher end compoenents so consumers are not left with doubts after first impressions. Glad to know there is a solution to this!
I ride the 2021/22 (not sure which) sl5. Coming from slicks on a single speed flat bar bike, to drop bar gravel on 38's. This bike has been fantastic, It's snappy it's fast. I hit 38 some odd mph last night with a 15 average. It just feels good. I think for the price point it does everything a superbike does without the investment of 2-3x more money. The one complaint I have is that I beat it up and I just spent 1,000$ getting all my bearings and cracked carbon headset spacers replaced/cables/crankshaft/groupsets/etc. But man, when you get out on the road on this thing and put the power down, there's nothing like the noise of just rubber on road; "whoohhm whooohm whooohm whooohm". All in all I think it's a great bike, I've put at least 2 or 3 thousands miles in it so far.
I thought the same about my 2020(previous generation) Emonda sl5 being very sluggish, but, as you mentioned, changing the Bontrager tires to Conti 5000's made a huuuge difference and now it accelerates, climbs and holds its speed very nicely!😃
Awesome, thank you for sharing!
I just bought one today and plan to go for a long ride tomorrow. I was kind of thinking it didn’t feel as light as I’d expected a carbon bike to feel. Thanks for the tips on how to get the weight down. I definitely plan on getting some carbon wheels as well as the Conti 5000s/lightweight tubes, and a carbon stem.
Let me know how the upgrades do for you! I’m super curious!
please review the 2023 ultimate cf sl, your reviews are amazing
Thank you so much!! Stay tuned 🙂
Just bought at 2200€, I will make some changes and that's it! Love this bike
Bought this bike on discount for 2500 euro and swapped the wheels with a pair of aeolus elite 50’s. Still not the lightest wheels but they are lighter than the stock wheels and more aero (and cool looking). Replaced the tyres with Conti Grand Prix for better rolling resistance. Other upgrades are not planned yet. Losing some excess bodyweight is cheaper and saves a lot more 😂
Did the carbon wheels make this significantly less sluggish?
Like your honest review. If not the emonda sl5, what are my alternatives in the same price range and similar components?
Thanks! I’d you are OK with some very basic assembly, the best bang for buck value would almost certainly be the Canyon Ultimate, especially if you find it in their outlet section in your size.
Love the refreshing honesty on the weight. Yes, this is a very overweight bike compared to the competition.
I agree!
I respect this video. Thanks for the feedback. That being said, any racer worth their salt will immediately switch out the Paradigm wheels and alloy seatmast to lighter, more aero carbon alternatives. Those upgrades alone make this a really formidable race machine. We offer the Aeolus carbon wheels, stem, etc at 15% off with the purchase of a new bike at our dealer. It actually ends up being a pretty sweet deal.
Thank you for sharing! I think that is very important for people to know. I am also very curious to try out this bike with that setup.
What about the SL6? I’m a rider looking to improve my speed but not trying to race or anything, I honestly believe I’ve outgrown my domane al3 (rim brakes) and looking to upgrade. The emonda seemed to be a good mix of fast/comfort but your videos about the cervelo’s have me intrigued. Also, any thoughts if I spent a bit more about the pinarello F5?
Hey man, thanks for watching! I haven't tried the SL6, but based on my experience with the SL5 (and others in the comments), I cannot recommend the SL6. It is not really that different, so I can't imagine the performance would be much better. If you want a lightweight climbing bike, I think the Canyon Ultimate is the absolute best bang for buck, and is an incredibly well perfoming machine.
Pinerallo F5 is an awesome bike, but I think Pinarello is overpriced. You're paying mostly for the name with them, which is not something I personally care about. I would definitely recommend checking out the Canyon Ultimate, but that's just my two cents!
I had a 2022 Domane AL 4 disc. Upgraded the tires to the Continental 5000 along with a carbon fiber seat post. Slammed the stem too. Great upgrades and a noticeable difference. About two months ago I traded up the the 2023 Emonda SL 5 in a size 60 frame. I'm 6'2" and weigh 185 lbs. I felt the difference between the two bikes instantly. I live in a flat area of the country with no hills etc. The Emonda is definitely faster than the Domane at least on the flats. I have now upgraded the tires to the 5000s with TPS inner tubes and changed the wheels to carbon fiber. This thing flys. On the flats weight is not a thing,. My bike with add ons and gear comes in @ 20 lbs. Just FYI.
Nice informative video! I like your honest reviews...What's your honest opinion about the Trek Emonda SL 6 Disc Pro for $4,429.99?
Thank you for the comment! That's a great question. My sense is that the SL 6 Disc is going to be a much better ride. It's practically 3 lbs lighter and it uses carbon fiber wheels. The aluminum wheels of the SL 5 I believe were one of the biggest culprits to why the SL 5 felt so slow.
I haven't actually ever ridden that one though, so I can't say for sure. But that would be my guess!
I got an SL5 and a very good discount on bontrager aeolus pro 37 carbon wheels. I switched the wheels, the bike is a dream. pro 37 come on SL7 and up (even SL6 has cheaper wheels).
Very good to know, thank you for sharing!
Much lighter now ?
I have the SLR9 DA di2 and it’s fast..! complete joy and very snappy. My guess is the wheels on the bike in this video are a great detriment to the performance. I have the RSL 37 and they are very light and fast. The SLR 9 is roughly 15lbs maybe a bit less
I agree that the wheels probably have a lot to do with it. Thank you for sharing!!
that was a fair and honest review of this bike. Trek are really selling quite heavy non-aero bikes at their entry to medium price level. It dosen't matter much when you go straight, but uphills or when accelerating a lot (city traffic) it surely does matter a bit. But despite some flaws with the spec I'm sure it's a nice bike in this price bracket. And Treks are definitely super cool looking bikes, something that matters to me a lot, and I guess to many other people out there.
Of course a Canyon Ultimate or Endurance will beat this bang for the buck wise. But one important point: Canyon bikes are hard to get. At least in Europe most sizes are sold out for months already. Also you can't just test drive it in a store. With Trek you can.
I couldn't agree more with everything you said! Very well stated.
Here on Brazil, I'm finding it though to even find a seller for these bikes... In my city we have stores for specialized, trek, bmc, cannondale, but Canyon, no!
Great video and explanation. But I think the background music is little distracting
Thank you so much for your feedback!! This helps me a lot for future videos.
I had the same experience with this bike. When first sitting on it, I thought, “Ooooh!”, the geometry seemed to be a great fit and I expected good things. However, as soon as I tried to put the hammer down it just wasn’t there. I felt as if I were dragging something behind me.
I think the wheels and tires have to go, then reassess. Unfortunately that turns a $3500 bike into a $5k bike. At that point you’re getting close to the next model up.
However, I think this issue is present across the entire trek/bontrager line. I also rode a Domane SLR 6 etap. This bike had the Aleous Pro 3V on it with the R3 tires. Thats an $8k bike. I still felt resistance. $8,000....
I haven’t had this experience with other brands. Maybe the fit just isn’t there or a build is week for the price, but I don’t get that feeling of drag with Spec or Cannondale.
I have yet to Love a Trek bike, but I would really like to as their shop is closest to my home. I think, short of the massive, metallic, “TREK” on so many of their bikes, they have some very attractive designs that LOOK like they should go fast.
Trek does offer their 30-day return policy. I may use that as my safety net, as I’d really like to see if any of these bikes liven with known good carbon wheels and good, non-Bontrager slicks.
I’d love to hear from someone putting their late model Emonda or Domane into the low/mid 20’s over long stretches...
Thank you so much for sharing! I've always found the same as you with Trek, it's always seemed more difficult to get up to speed with Trek bikes than other brands. At first, I thought it was just me, and I blamed things like bike fit, unfamiliarity, etc. But after reading through some comments like yours, I am starting to feel differently.
Like you suggested, I'm sure with better wheels, this could definitely be livened up, and others have left comments on this video indicating that the bike becomes a much more formidable race machine with the right equipment. The only problem with that is, as you suggested, that brings the price up quite a bit.
In any case, I am grateful to hear of everyone's experience, including yours. Thank you!
@@hikerbikeromar it’s interesting: My LBS is a Trek shop. I likely wouldn’t seek out Trek were it not my closest option.
I just purchased a Domane SLR 7 Gen 3 at a nicely discounted price. I moved my “endurance” bike from a Synapse to Domane. I also have a Tarmac upgraded to Ultegra mech w/Hunt 44’s and Continue GP 5000’s. It’s a missile.
I A/B/C/D’d a Domane SLR 6 Gen 3 vs Domane SL 6 Gen 4 vs Emonda SL5 vs Synapse Carbon 3.
The LBS scale was “broken” (they likely never had one”, but anecdotally, the Domane Gen 4 was lightest, Followed by Gen 3 Domane, Emonda and Synapse (105 w/Roval C38 & Pirelli PZero).
Top speed on the short route I was riding went to Domane SLR, followed by Synapse, Emonda and Domane SL.
Perceived “comfort” went to Domane Gen 3, followed by Emonda (surprising, right?), Synapse and Domane Gen 4.
While the Domane Gen 4 was certainly lighter than its predecessor, the ride was abysmal. One of the worst rides I’ve felt. Granted, it was on stock al wheels and lower end tires…but I rode it about 500yds before I simply took it back. It was bad.
I was surprised at the comfort level of the Emonda. It was a muted feel, though not as much as the Domane. Again, as you discovered, the “lightweight climber”, wasn’t all that lightweight. Though, had I not already owned the Tarmac, I may have gone with the Emonda and upgraded components: Carbon wheels, good tubeless tires and Ultegra mechanical would make this thing dangerous, though still likely heavier than my Tarmac.
The Domane Gen 4, while a lesser outfit, was a disappointment. It felt cheap. Not $4k+ cheap. Toy, cheap.
I also tested a P1, $13k Madone. While it looked like I was pedaling a cyber truck, or robocop, I could make it go no faster that the Domane or Emonda. This could be a “me” limitation, but it certainly felt like running into the law of diminishing returns.
My experience with the Trek shop was Abysmal. Zero product knowledge. I have an independent shop about 20 minutes away; they know everything about every bike in their shop. Absolute opposite with Trek.
I don’t know what to make of Trek. My new Domane is a very pretty, well configured bike. I’m going to ride the hell out of it and if anything feels a bit off, will return it within 30 days and RUN a different direction.
@@markramsey113 This is all super interesting, thank you so much for sharing!! If nothing else, it is good to know I am not the only one who observed these types of things.
I really like Trek paint jobs and love how they are so prevelant, since the idea of walking into any Trek store and getting a bike serviced is appealing to me. But for pure performance, it seems like they are lacking, especially if you felt the $13k Madone was not much faster than the rest. Again, thanks for sharing your experience!
Should I upgrade my EMONDA SL5 with Carbon wheels Bontranger RSL 51mm and a Aero carbon handlebar? Please advise 🙏
Of course would depend on your budget but I think if you did that, it would significantly improve the ride quality of this bike for sure. But at that point, you might want to consider just going for a Canyon Ultimate if the upgrades would cost more.
I actually test rode this bike last weekend, and it felt sluggish.. I thought maybe because it was raining when I was riding it. I don’t really like how the bike looks either, I’ve had a Domane and a Madone in the past and the Madone is the best in every way…
Thanks for the comment! I totally agree, that Madone is awesome.
Would you recommend this bike vs Trek Emonda ALR 5. Almost same weight despite ALR frame being aluminum instead of carbon frame on the SL5. I am currently looking at both bike because are the few options where I live where my size is available. Other options would be Domane Al2 and Specialized allez sport, but both does not have 105 group set and does not have disc brakes. Thank you. Great videos by the the way.
That is a great question! I personally would recommend the Emonda ALR 5 vs the SL5. The ALR 5 is a bit lighter and almost $1k cheaper! If you upgrade the SL5 a lot, I think it will be a better bike than the ALR 5, but out of the box, I think the ALR 5 is a much better value.
@@hikerbikeromar Thank you!!
@@hikerbikeromar hey! What upgrades you think will be valuable on the sl5 and what's the minimum weight achievement you think it could have?
@@joanfernandolopezdelmonte7124 Great question! It all depends on your budget, but realistically within a reasonable budget, you could probably drop to 17.5 lbs.
First thing I would do right off the bat is upgrade the tires and innertubes to Conti GP 5000 + Tubolito lightweight innertube.
Then, I would upgrade saddle to something much lighter.
Next, that seatpost could easily be switched out to a carbon fiber seatpost.
Lastly, I would switch out the wheels. Switching out the wheels might be something you want to do first, but because it's so much more money, I am putting it last. Adding a nice pair of performance lightweight wheels would massively change the quality of the bike.
And that's all I would do! You'd probably get down to around 17.5 lbs.
@@hikerbikeromar its kinda of what i have on mind, what about steam and handlerbar 1 piece
Que opinas de la bianchi sprint disc 105 ? O la trek emonda sl5 2023? Cual elegis
Es difícil de decir. Creo que desde el punto de vista de la escalada pura, la Bianchi será mejor. Sin embargo, creo que la Emonda SL5 se ve mejor y tiene un mejor conjunto de características, por lo que será una mejor opción para todo uso, especialmente si actualizas las ruedas, que creo que son el principal cuello de botella de esa bicicleta.
Alternativamente, consulte mi reseña sobre el Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8, que creo que sería la mejor opción de todas: th-cam.com/video/_GDtUmQRZ4s/w-d-xo.html
Great video
Thank you!
idk if im wrong, but treks are just built excelent, long lasting feel. I've never even talked to a guy that has a Canyon so IDK...
I bought an used older Trek Domane half year ago and it feels very slow and sluggy. Tyres and inner tubes were crazy heavy. I changed inner tubes and tyres, saved almost a pound and it feels like a complete other bike.
The cheap Bontrager components are often crazy heavy. The simple rigid Aluminium seatpost on my Trek Superfly weighted nearly 400 grams.
Thank you for sharing! This is great information and I hope others see it too.
so if you were looking at this back and wanted something fast and snappy in the same price range--ish what would you consider? Was about to pull the trigger on one of these tomorrow.
That's a great question. For me personally, I would go with the Canyon Ultimate. It's in the same price range and it's one of the fastest all around bikes I have ever ridden. I'm sure with the right upgrades, this Trek Emonda would be snappier, but then you'd probably end up looking at $4k+
@@hikerbikeromar My badd was midway watching through your video you answered that question already. My only issue is not having a canyon dealer in my location.
No prob! Actually, they are online only. So you can only get them buy purchasing in their website.
Excellent review! Very thorough! Trek now offers this bike at $2500 which makes me think I should buy it.
Thanks! Oh interesting, I didn't realize it dropped in price! Yes that for sure makes it a more compelling option. I think the Canyon Ultimate still remains a better value, however, even at that price. This is just my two cents of course!
It's still $3400 here. I'd get it for $2500 and swap wheels and tires first.
Still $3400 at my lbs
I just got this model at my local trek shop for $2200. The color way is beautiful
The cheap wheels are why it’s sluggish up hill. Just bought one secondhand with Bontrager Aeolus 3V Pro wheels on it. Weighs a couple of pounds less.
Stock bontrager on Trek bike always heavy af. My Marlin 5 seatpost, handlebar, wheel really heavy like a cheap bike.
I bought a Model: TREK Emonda SL 5 Disc 2024 Bike today (4/18/2024) for $1999, down from $3999.
I'll let you know how things go in a few days.
Where was this? Which geography? Please let me know. I'm in California in the Bay area, selling now at $2799 here
Does a decent set of carbon wheels make this any less sluggish or is it still bad? I tested this bike with the alloy wheels and was very unimpressed. I wonder would a good carbon wheelset rescue it?
I have the same question. Others in these comments have indicated that putting nice carbon wheels does in fact change the ride quality quite a bit, but I've never experienced it myself.
Oh yeah for sure, good wheels do make a massive difference, but the question is, do they rescue the bike! @@hikerbikeromar
If you upgrade to lighter wheels and tires carbon one piece handle bars…this bike would feel much snappier for sure.
I have a 12 year old 54cenimeter Pinarello Quattro (similar to the Prince) with HED Ardennes alum. wheels, Campy Chorus drive- train, alum stem, small Sigma computer, a mini tail light and head light, Conti. Gatorskins tires, and a spare tube in a mini seat bag. With these components and additional gear the bike weighs 19.2 lbs. I'd rather climb in my Pinarello than the Trek Elmonda! I believe we need to be better at introducing new and more non-road bikers to road bikes rather than trying to sell another "just gotta have it" bike to a guy that already has three in his garage.
Agreed! Thank you for the comment!
Is emonda alr 4 is good bike for beginners?
The Emonda ALR 5 would be great for beginners. However, you may want to instead consider the Domane AL4, as it will be cheaper and more comfortable, and I think more practical.
The ALR 4 I believe is discontinued, but if you find it around the $1k mark, I think it is a great deal.
What about upgrading the wheels for carbon! saving weight + faster
Yes, if you upgrade to lighter wheels and tires carbon one piece handle bars…this bike would feel much snappier for sure.
Why compare the trek emonda with disc brake to a rim brake canyon ultimate??
Great question! Although, I'm not necessarily comparing them. I'm just indicating that both of these are sold as lightweight climbing bikes and I think the Canyon is the lighter, faster, and cheaper option.
I really don't understand how they sleep well at night. Selling these low speced bikes with place holder contact point components for 3-4k.
I only notice Trek having deep discounts on their last yr model bikes which makes me very interested at the lower sale price. But unfortunately when I tried the 2022 Emonda and Domane both of those models did not fit my body type. I'm 5'7" with a 30" inseam. I test rode a 52cm Emonda and the seat just barely lowered enough for it to be a proper height but then front tire would hit my foot when I turned. The rise of the seat stem as part of the bike frame really eliminated Trek road bikes for me due to incompatible fit... 🤷
What bike did you end up getting. Had similar size issue with the emonda. I’m the same height and inseam
@@imixmag I went with a 2022 Giant Defy Advanced 2 in size small. I wanted a carbon frame with shimano 105 groupset. Still playing with the reach. I may swap the stem out from 90mm to 100.
The 2023 Domane doesn't have the frame extended up from the frame so you may consider those. I did like the look of current 2023 Domane, but @ $3500 it is a bit more expensive than the Giant @ $2800.
@@jcadvanced thanks for the info and keep on enjoying your rides.
@@imixmag what are you going with if your on the market?
Not watched the video yet but it better be a yes cause I put the order in for one today
Haha awesome! I found it to be an extremely comfortable bike. Regardless of my experience, I’m sure you’ll love it!
@@hikerbikeromar it's an upgrade from a Trek dual sport 1, I had modded into a gravel bike with tourney shifters an drops. For me it's a massive upgrade. But thanks for the honest review
@@jonathanhumphreys256 I’m sure you’ll love it! Definitely a big upgrade.
I am 188 cm and run 80.5cm saddle height. 58 or 60 emonda?
You could definitely go with either. I tend to prefer smaller bikes since they won’t be stretched as much, will be a hair lighter, and I feel more in control with the ability to toss it around underneath me on intense efforts. The 60 might allow you to be a bit more upright, but will stretch you out a bit more. I’d personally recommend the 58, but of course if you are able to get to your LBS and try both, that would be best. Good luck!
It‘s sluggish because of default wheels. Buying A-brand bike you always have to invest in wheels, otherwise you get no outcome
I think Trek has successfully shown that there is no reason (other than looks) to buy low/mid tier carbon bikes over high tier alu bikes. Is it worth 1k+?
Loudness of the background music is distructive more than enough. 🤦🏻♂
Thank you for letting me know! I appreciate the feedback. Sorry!!!
all the road bike names are anagrams of eachother
You’re better off in terms of money for performance getting the ALR5 Emonda with it’s a full 105 mechanical groupset. Upgrade the wheels and you still save money for the same performance. The “smart welds” on the ALR5 are invisible so it’s mistaken for a carbon fibre frame all the time. Also it’s a traditional seat post setup which is much better with a better stock saddle & wheels.
I know this because that’s what I got in 2020 over the SL5. I couldn’t justify the extra cost for essentially the same component spec bike with the SL5 having a little better cable integration.
Oh gezz that bike is expensive. I have an older Cannondale CAAD10 105. That bike feels lighter than this thing. I'd head elsewhere for a new bike. Maybe I grab another Cannondale bike or something. Quality bikes aren't cheap these days.
That’s true 2022 sl 6 is slow too
I'm so disappointed....i thought this bike was gonna be killer .... but I understand... my 2020 Domane AL 2 is slow as well.... it's not a high end bike tho.... but I can almost ride my big wheel BMX the same time over a 20 mile ride and that's not good
Thanks for sharing! I really wanted to like this bike but it just didn't do it for me either. I suspect with upgraded wheels and tires it would feel different, but that would add a lot to the price.
I call my Trek Dealer he said 2025! """"""""" I said What the """""""""""" :(
Sorry to hear that! Road bikes are definitely in limited supply these days :/
This is 2022 model.
The wheels and tires are not good quality
You are the only one I have watched that gave it a bad review!
Honesty is key. You will continue to build lots of trust and new relationships because of it. Trek should also value your honest opinion. Who knows... maybe they may send you a free bike
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Chinese carbon fiber, no thanks.