Very good review. Said exactly like it is, and after owning this bike for few months now, it took my riding experience to the next level. Really looking forward on getting some carbon wheels for this machine.
Great video. Your review made me even happier with my purchase...and I was already happy. I got the exact same bike back in December -- same color even the same size 52.
Jim, if you don't mind me asking, how tall are you. Mike, if you see this, how tall are you as well? Always better to test in person but would love to see some impressions.
I got mine at the original msrp, then switched everything to carbon; all for under $5k. I know that's still a lot of money, but I like to think it's an "amazing" value. The handling is sublime, and the road vibration attenuation is impressive.
I've owned a 2021 sl5 in the same color for about a year. I very much recommend this bike. I upgraded the tires, aero handlebar, seat post(carbon), saddle(carbon rails) and have good performance. The wheels are definitely heavy and if you have the extra $1-2k lying around replace them asap
I’m not sure it’s a better choice. How do you define better? In my opinion, it’s not because mechanical ultegra is really not worth the price increase over 105 and you don’t get any performance benefits. Wheels are an area where you might argue the canyons better but they’re not so good that you wouldn’t consider upgrading them.
Ah Di2 version. Well yeah that’s a different story. I mean that’s what canyons known for. Offering great performance for far less than the big brands. But that being said, depending on where you live, delivery and fees don’t make it as enticing as it originally seems
I just sold my Domané AL5 Disc today and am picking this exact bike up tomorrow. Super stoked to upgrade to carbon from the aluminum frame. Had full 105 on my Domané and not once thought I needed to upgrade. I did opt for the new Ultegra pedals as they didn’t have 105 in stock and they’re a bit lighter anyway. Great review!
Have this bike for over a year and 2500 miles now and can confirm it is a great bike for the price* (*based on the crazy cost of bikes today - all are overpriced). I did swap out the wheels to hunt 44s and the tires to GP5k. This dropped the weight by 2 lbs and the handling is so much better - mostly because of the tires b/c the stock tires are garbage - they slide if there is any wetness or if the temps are low. I also changed the bar tape to a blue matching tape (that makes it faster to right?)
Thanks for the review. Was lucky to be able to pick this up for $3400aud ($3000 CAD) today in a store closing sale. Some savings to upgrade the wheels. Super excited!
@@himalvin1670 We have a bike chain in Melbourne called Cycles Galleria that was recently bought out by Trek. They had a "closing down" sale 20% off for a few days before the official handover. Just good timing.
Nice review. But wait! I somewhat disagree with you on upgrading the aluminum wheels. Why? If someone is going to upgrade these to carbon rims. Then why not just get the Emonda SL 6 pro?
You could. But those wheels might not be the ones you want. The wheels on the sl6 are a decent but still somewhat entry level 35mm deep carbon wheels. Some may prefer to save the extra money that an sl6 pro would cost and use that money to upgrade to a specific pair of wheels. For example, I for one would want to choose the wheel, one that is the depth and weight that I want.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Hmm, ok. Question I've never had a set of carbon rims. What do they really bring to the table for an average rider? And in your opinion, what factors into a good carbon rim?
Excellent question and I’m going to make a video about this very shortly. Check out my unboxing of my new hunt wheels. There will be a review coming out talking about this exactly. The difference they have made is incredible.
Great video!! I am about to purchase this bike, just trying to figure out if size 52 or 54 , I am 168cm tall and 76cm inseam, any sugestión appreciate any advice
Sounds like you’re very similar to me. I’d say 52 no doubt about it. I think you’d be much better off with a 52 unless you have really long arms and longer torso. Try if you can first
Oh that’s a tough one. Do you go for the top frame and settle on the groupset? Or go for the SL with a slightly higher spec? I think it all depends on what group set you want. Because at that price they are all great bikes. Unless, you’re the type that may change the groupset later? So there are two trains of thought
I think wheels are a tough choice cause there are so many options. I’m personally a huge fan of hunt wheels and would go for a pair of theirs and they have some great options at a variety of price points. I think anything between 40-45mm is an ideal depth of 98% of people.
There are so many options. Tires: i recommend conti gp 5000 all day. There are a ton of good wheelsets available. Personal preference: I’d love to try a pair of Hunt carbon wheels
1)Upgraded bontrager carbon wheels 2)SLR stem and bar combo 3)Ultegra disc for esthetics *4)Upgrade crank to a 105/ultegra 52/36:optional *I'm waiting for 2023 emoda to see how they did the seat post..ive heard they're going back to a tradition seatpost..fingers crossed because I'm not a fan of their seat post.
Great review. But I am confused: Why is this called a lightweight carbon bike and as some people say a climbing bike-- when it's weight at over 20lbs? Isn't that pretty heavy for a lightweight climbing bike especially considering the endurance oriented SL5 weighs within a pound of this? I guess what Trek is trying to say is the stiffness and responsiveness and aggressive position even at over 20lbs makes this a climbing bike. From my point of view the Emonda is the perfect mix between a pure racing bike and a pure endurance bike but for marking purposes that doesn't sound as good as saying a lightweight carbon bike.
Trek have three road bike family’s. Emonda, which is typically their lightweight carbon bike because in the past this was a very light frame with very little aero tech. However this generation sees a little added weight because they added some aero features. The Domane is the endurance model and the madone is the aero model. The Emonda sl5 is heavier because it’s not the top tier model with top tier components. It’s not just marketing
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Thanks. That makes sense!!! So the aero futures make it faster than the domane and better at climbing even though technically speaking the SL5 emonda is not really that light weight.
Agree that it’s a great option. It’s just not my personal preference. Not really a fan of how giant can cut corners on certain components and I don’t like the way they look.
I’d argue the sl5 because it’s mechanical ultegra which is basically the same thing as 105. The performance of 105 is so good that it made mechanical ultegra irrelevant (which is why it doesn’t even exist now). If it was Di2 then I’d say sl6 pro but it’s not. The only thing you’re getting is a wheel upgrade. I’d rather buy the sl5 and put the extra money to whichever wheelset I want rather than the bontrager ones. I say that because I want the Hunt Limitless wheels but I think my point is clear
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Sorry for the negative reply.. I’m jsut frustrated how hard it is to find a new bike yet everyone is reviewing them lol…ughhh
Lol no worries I totally get it. We were so lucky to get this one. Found it the day of the shipment and bought it within an hour of being off the truck
I bought this bike (silver) a month ago with huge reduction about 2500€ with pedals included. I've upgraded from a 20 year old aluminum bike. I've gained 1 kilo with the carbon but I'm wondering why my average speed is staying the same (versus old alu bike) on the 3 rides I did with it.
i have this bike and the only issue I have with it is the seat post/mast. I wish there were options longer than 175mm and also more affordable seat posts.
If the Emonda is a race bike, are people replacing the 28mm tires with 25mm tires? What do people say is the affect on speed, smoothness and handling when switching to 25mm and do they usually stay at 25mm or go back to 28mm?
Most people will probably benefit from the wider 28mm which generally can be run at lower pressures not only offering better grip and comfort, but also having less rolling resistance. Modern data shows that wider tires are actually faster and have less rolling resistance.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre But won't the weight and less aerodynamics of a 28mm tire have a negative impact on speed when traveling at faster speeds compared to a 25mm tire?
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre My view is that the 25mm tire will be faster. And that is why the pros use them on flat roads and even thinner on time trails compared to 28mm that they usually only appear to put on during cobblestones. However, as you point out there really is not that much difference between between the 25mm and 28mm tire. That is only a 3mm difference. Therefore I do agree that the better grip and smoother ride of the 28mm may be the preference for certain riders.
great review ! i have been on the fence between domane or the emonda. This review continues to tilt the scale ! There seems to be more love on the domane side not sure why. Again, great review !
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre I just returned from my favorite trek store and rode them both. The Emonda is responsive and stiff and i felt like i took off immediately. The Domane was nice and i was moving a lot faster than my dual sport bike. However, based on how the road felt on an Emonda is not the bike ill be doing a century ride on. Therefore, The Domane would be a better fit. I might just wait for the 2023 model at this point :) Love the videos and thank you for taking the time to do them and provide the community informative information.
Domane sounds like the way to go for you. Yeah you may wait for the 2023 mode at this point. And you can always make the Domane faster by swapping tires and wheels out and dropping the handlebars if you want.
@@shaheerkhan5171 based on what i am looking to accomplish the Domane SL6 E -tap is great . i’ll be able to do century rides and is a fast bike . is it faster than an emonda ? no but there is no way i’ll survive 10 miles on that bike . let alone 100 miles without developing a back problem . Therefore, the domane is the winner. Hope this helps.
Hi, i have just bought the sl5 disc bike in grey. It is a very good bike. I am an ex cat 2 road racing cyclists and winning a few strava koms recently. My question is this: i have just paid 3000 euros for the bike and cant pay more to upgrade the wheels. Are the wheels really so bad or still good enough to last a couple of years. Would you call this bike mid range race bike?
Wheels are more than capable of lasting a few years. I think people make a big deal about wheels. I have not experienced carbon wheels myself but am constantly told they make a huge difference. Problem is the cost for that difference is also huge.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre sure, i agree. Tyres can help as much. I have stuck on some top end continental gp tyres and it flies. I defo think it is a good mid range bike, not entry at all. I have also improved on a climb of 2,5km at 8 per cent improving by 40 seconds compared to a lighter bike i was using recently. The trek sl5 is semi aero and veery stiff, the 9kg makes it race competitive still
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre i run a 24 mm on the back and 22mm on the front. Continental gp attack and force sold it like that claiming it has an advantage on those two different sizes. The fashion is 25 or more but i can say that those tyres i have on are as fast as a 25 mm or more
Yes but keep in mind everything I said. It’s treks second tier frame. Not the SLR. It comes with 105, the third tier groupset, and it comes with very budget friendly aluminum wheels and tires that both weigh a ton. And that’s with pedals and bottle cages and everything. If you were to remove the mounts and cages and pedals, you’d be close to 9.2. Then swap these tires for something like a GP5000, then you’re at 8.5 or 8.6 KG. And then finally swap the wheels for something lighter and carbon and you’re at 7.5 KG which is super respectable.
The seat mast seems to be the first thing people complain about. I had read it at least twice, but it's to the point that when I bought mine, they said "We don't have the carbon seat mast in-stock, so don't ask.". Lol
That's strange. I seen your post above that says yours weighs 9.6kg at size 52. I have a size 54 and mines weighs 9.3kg. I know it's not much difference but I don't understand why mines would be lighter. I weighed it with standard paradigm comp wheels and R1 tyres with tubes. Any idea why there's a difference? Mines is a 2022 model.
Is it worth to spend more money($1350 CAD more) for an SL5 to get lower tier carbon and an integrated handlebar over an ALR5 which is the same bike with full 105 groupset and wheels & tires? I have an ALR5 and couldn’t see paying more for a mostly aesthetic feature difference. Wheels on mine still need to be upgraded. I let the Bontrager tires go after 6 months and went with Continental GP4000. Emonda SL5 $3979.99 Emonda ALR5 $2629.99 Prices in CAD
I realize it’s a lot more money but it is the same groupset on both bikes and you’re right, wheels and tires will need to be upgraded on both. That being said, there is a huge difference between carbon and aluminum. I’m gonna do a video at some point comparing the two. While it may not be the top of the line slr, it’s still an incredible carbon frame. So bottom line, I think it’s worth it if you can swing it.
If you go smaller, than you could always lengthen the stem and raise the seat post. That’s a benefit. You can only make a larger frame so small if you understand my thinking
Hey Mike, thanks for the great review. I have the option to buy either this exact bike, or the Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 which is $4150 CAD. How does the Synapse Carbon compare to this? Haven't had a chance to try out either yet since shipments won't arrive till end of May unfortunately.
Both great bikes but the synapse is much more of an endurance bike where as the Emonda is quite aggressive. It’s much racier and will have a lower handlebar position
i have this same bike in size 56cm but the paint is rubbish it scratches very easy and the shape of the seatpost is really shit too otherwise its ok its fast and the frame is light but trek has to do a better job on the paint because the bikes are too expensive to be paying to paint them again.
I waxed mine after its first wash and so I have a few scratches as well. Mines are really superficial though and it still looks great. Just not quite as super shiny as that first day I picked it up 😂
A road bike review, and never mentions the weight of the bicycle. Brilliant. That SL5 weighs about 8kg!! For a 'climber' bike. NOT worth it. Save your money, get a second hand Domane SL7 or the SLR.
I bought one today and road it home before it started to rain.
I absolutely loved it am an excited to hit the local straightaways and hills.
It’s a great bike enjoy it
Very good review. Said exactly like it is, and after owning this bike for few months now, it took my riding experience to the next level. Really looking forward on getting some carbon wheels for this machine.
Yes. I’m sure that will take it to another level.
Just bought this bike today for my first road bike so exited to go to places with it 😁
Nice enjoy
Great video. Your review made me even happier with my purchase...and I was already happy. I got the exact same bike back in December -- same color even the same size 52.
Yeah it’s such a good buy
Jim, if you don't mind me asking, how tall are you. Mike, if you see this, how tall are you as well? Always better to test in person but would love to see some impressions.
I am 5’7
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre thank you, much appreciated!
No problem
I got mine at the original msrp, then switched everything to carbon; all for under $5k. I know that's still a lot of money, but I like to think it's an "amazing" value. The handling is sublime, and the road vibration attenuation is impressive.
Nice sounds like a sweet deal
That's my bicycle! I've loved it...have almost 40,000 km on it and loved every km! Great review bro 👋
Wow that’s impressive 40k
I've owned a 2021 sl5 in the same color for about a year. I very much recommend this bike. I upgraded the tires, aero handlebar, seat post(carbon), saddle(carbon rails) and have good performance. The wheels are definitely heavy and if you have the extra $1-2k lying around replace them asap
Nice. Completely agree.
for that investment isnt the canyon ultimate cf sl 8 a better choice?
I’m not sure it’s a better choice. How do you define better? In my opinion, it’s not because mechanical ultegra is really not worth the price increase over 105 and you don’t get any performance benefits. Wheels are an area where you might argue the canyons better but they’re not so good that you wouldn’t consider upgrading them.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre iwas talking about the di2 version with carbon wheels, the trek 105 with carbon wheels, wouldbe more expensive
Ah Di2 version. Well yeah that’s a different story. I mean that’s what canyons known for. Offering great performance for far less than the big brands. But that being said, depending on where you live, delivery and fees don’t make it as enticing as it originally seems
I just sold my Domané AL5 Disc today and am picking this exact bike up tomorrow. Super stoked to upgrade to carbon from the aluminum frame. Had full 105 on my Domané and not once thought I needed to upgrade. I did opt for the new Ultegra pedals as they didn’t have 105 in stock and they’re a bit lighter anyway. Great review!
I really think you’ll really enjoy the carbon Emonda. Congrats
Have this bike for over a year and 2500 miles now and can confirm it is a great bike for the price* (*based on the crazy cost of bikes today - all are overpriced). I did swap out the wheels to hunt 44s and the tires to GP5k. This dropped the weight by 2 lbs and the handling is so much better - mostly because of the tires b/c the stock tires are garbage - they slide if there is any wetness or if the temps are low. I also changed the bar tape to a blue matching tape (that makes it faster to right?)
Love the upgrades as I’ve experienced similar benefits to those very same upgrades. Enjoy the ride
Thanks for the review. Was lucky to be able to pick this up for $3400aud ($3000 CAD) today in a store closing sale. Some savings to upgrade the wheels. Super excited!
Oh that sounds like a great deal
Enjoy your new bike
Where did u buy it for 3000 CAD ONLY????
@@himalvin1670 We have a bike chain in Melbourne called Cycles Galleria that was recently bought out by Trek. They had a "closing down" sale 20% off for a few days before the official handover. Just good timing.
Nice
Freaking love that colour. That with some nice carbon wheels would be super cool
Bought mine in Japan (2021 version) for 2200. Quite the upgrade from my 2017 Fuji Sportif 2.3
Nice
Nice review. But wait! I somewhat disagree with you on upgrading the aluminum wheels. Why? If someone is going to upgrade these to carbon rims. Then why not just get the Emonda SL 6 pro?
You could. But those wheels might not be the ones you want. The wheels on the sl6 are a decent but still somewhat entry level 35mm deep carbon wheels. Some may prefer to save the extra money that an sl6 pro would cost and use that money to upgrade to a specific pair of wheels. For example, I for one would want to choose the wheel, one that is the depth and weight that I want.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Hmm, ok. Question I've never had a set of carbon rims. What do they really bring to the table for an average rider? And in your opinion, what factors into a good carbon rim?
Excellent question and I’m going to make a video about this very shortly. Check out my unboxing of my new hunt wheels. There will be a review coming out talking about this exactly. The difference they have made is incredible.
Just got this bike with upgrade wheels love it thx for the info
Nice!
What wheels did you upgrade to?
I like this review, very well made
Great video!! I am about to purchase this bike, just trying to figure out if size 52 or 54 , I am 168cm tall and 76cm inseam, any sugestión appreciate any advice
Sounds like you’re very similar to me. I’d say 52 no doubt about it. I think you’d be much better off with a 52 unless you have really long arms and longer torso. Try if you can first
Great review. Thank you. Is it possible to share a link for the 3D printed Wahoo mount?
Yes of course. It was purchased here www.shapeways.com/product/WMMCRZP2G/wahoo-elemnt-bolt-v2-bmc-blendr-mount-low
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Thanks a million I’m running almost identical set up and this helps a lot to clean up the cockpit.
Yeah it makes such a difference. Super clean
Hello mate, where did you get the 3d printed wahoo mount from? Just bought this bike and I can’t find them anywhere
Got it on shapeways. Made by MagCad
Good job on the review- thoughts on the SLR6?
Oh that’s a tough one. Do you go for the top frame and settle on the groupset? Or go for the SL with a slightly higher spec? I think it all depends on what group set you want. Because at that price they are all great bikes. Unless, you’re the type that may change the groupset later? So there are two trains of thought
Is this bike a good option for thriatlon?
I’m sure it can be with a few upgrades. I mean a tt bike is ideal but you can use whatever fits your needs and budget
Just ordered one from Sigma for £2,200 can't wait
Nice enjoy
SWEET RIDE - Looking to order one this week in Toronto
Nice. It’s an amazing choice
Hi fellow Toronto rider, I will be joining you very soon hahaha
Shimano does not sell a 10-30 11-speed cassette, all thier cassette start with an 11t cog.
That is correct. Did I saw 10 tooth? I meant 11.
Any specific recommendations for wheel upgrades? Compatible with GP5000 tyres?
I think wheels are a tough choice cause there are so many options. I’m personally a huge fan of hunt wheels and would go for a pair of theirs and they have some great options at a variety of price points. I think anything between 40-45mm is an ideal depth of 98% of people.
how long did you ride your domane AL3 prior to getting your emonda SL5
I still ride the Domane al3. It’s been 3 years now. The Emonda sl5 is my dads bike
Hey man what tires/wheelset do you recommend for this bike?
There are so many options. Tires: i recommend conti gp 5000 all day. There are a ton of good wheelsets available. Personal preference: I’d love to try a pair of Hunt carbon wheels
I love road bike brand trek. I have bicycle already but MTB. But I love also,but for me is much better the road bike.
Is it available for 32c tires?
If they fit, I dont imagine you’d be able to go bigger than 32. You could fit 30s for sure but I’m not sure about 32s.
Which frame size do you have? How tall are you? Thanks! I’m also deciding between this and the Domane AL5 :)
I’m 5”7 and ride a size 52 frame
Wow I just purchased this bike in silver not really knowing what I was doing but your review put my mind at ease that I didn’t make a huge mistake 🍻
Glad to hear that it helped lol
1)Upgraded bontrager carbon wheels
2)SLR stem and bar combo
3)Ultegra disc for esthetics
*4)Upgrade crank to a 105/ultegra 52/36:optional
*I'm waiting for 2023 emoda to see how they did the seat post..ive heard they're going back to a tradition seatpost..fingers crossed because I'm not a fan of their seat post.
Yeah wheels are the big thing here but other than that I think the big is amazing
the wheelset compatible with 25c tyre?
Yes if you wanted to go smaller but I don’t see why you would
Great review. But I am confused: Why is this called a lightweight carbon bike and as some people say a climbing bike-- when it's weight at over 20lbs? Isn't that pretty heavy for a lightweight climbing bike especially considering the endurance oriented SL5 weighs within a pound of this? I guess what Trek is trying to say is the stiffness and responsiveness and aggressive position even at over 20lbs makes this a climbing bike. From my point of view the Emonda is the perfect mix between a pure racing bike and a pure endurance bike but for marking purposes that doesn't sound as good as saying a lightweight carbon bike.
Trek have three road bike family’s. Emonda, which is typically their lightweight carbon bike because in the past this was a very light frame with very little aero tech. However this generation sees a little added weight because they added some aero features. The Domane is the endurance model and the madone is the aero model. The Emonda sl5 is heavier because it’s not the top tier model with top tier components. It’s not just marketing
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Thanks. That makes sense!!! So the aero futures make it faster than the domane and better at climbing even though technically speaking the SL5 emonda is not really that light weight.
Yes. More or less.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Oh the Emonda is lot stiffer and more responsive as well.
Yes that too
how much are we going to spend to upgrade the wheelset to carbon? TIA
Lol you can spend anywhere from 800-8000
TCR adv 2 is also a incredible bike for the price
Agree that it’s a great option. It’s just not my personal preference. Not really a fan of how giant can cut corners on certain components and I don’t like the way they look.
Would you recommend this or the sl6 pro disc ? As it will be coming with carbon wheels and ultegra
I’d argue the sl5 because it’s mechanical ultegra which is basically the same thing as 105. The performance of 105 is so good that it made mechanical ultegra irrelevant (which is why it doesn’t even exist now). If it was Di2 then I’d say sl6 pro but it’s not. The only thing you’re getting is a wheel upgrade. I’d rather buy the sl5 and put the extra money to whichever wheelset I want rather than the bontrager ones. I say that because I want the Hunt Limitless wheels but I think my point is clear
I’m so glad everyone can get ahold of emonda I can’t get my hands on one of those damn things.. it’s so annoying.. everyone is out of stock…
Yeah it’s tough right now
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre Sorry for the negative reply.. I’m jsut frustrated how hard it is to find a new bike yet everyone is reviewing them lol…ughhh
Lol no worries I totally get it. We were so lucky to get this one. Found it the day of the shipment and bought it within an hour of being off the truck
I bought this bike (silver) a month ago with huge reduction about 2500€ with pedals included. I've upgraded from a 20 year old aluminum bike. I've gained 1 kilo with the carbon but I'm wondering why my average speed is staying the same (versus old alu bike) on the 3 rides I did with it.
So many factors could be at play here
It comes with shit wheels
i have this bike and the only issue I have with it is the seat post/mast. I wish there were options longer than 175mm and also more affordable seat posts.
Seems to be the one thing that some people have difficulty with.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre do you know of any longer after market seat posts? I already have the longest one trek sells.
Not sure. It’s such a proprietary piece that I doubt you’ll find one other than treks
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre I love the bike but would expect better from Trek.
Understandable
Sharp bike and setup. What is your saddle height?
I don’t know it in cm. I’d have to measure it
If the Emonda is a race bike, are people replacing the 28mm tires with 25mm tires? What do people say is the affect on speed, smoothness and handling when switching to 25mm and do they usually stay at 25mm or go back to 28mm?
Most people will probably benefit from the wider 28mm which generally can be run at lower pressures not only offering better grip and comfort, but also having less rolling resistance. Modern data shows that wider tires are actually faster and have less rolling resistance.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre But won't the weight and less aerodynamics of a 28mm tire have a negative impact on speed when traveling at faster speeds compared to a 25mm tire?
The weight and aero dynamic penalty is so minimal that you actually benefit from the wider tire and less rolling resistance.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre My view is that the 25mm tire will be faster. And that is why the pros use them on flat roads and even thinner on time trails compared to 28mm that they usually only appear to put on during cobblestones. However, as you point out there really is not that much difference between between the 25mm and 28mm tire. That is only a 3mm difference. Therefore I do agree that the better grip and smoother ride of the 28mm may be the preference for certain riders.
The data shows that the wider tires on wide rims with disc brakes are faster
I love ❤️ my 2021 Domane SL5.
Nice
great review ! i have been on the fence between domane or the emonda. This review continues to tilt the scale ! There seems to be more love on the domane side not sure why. Again, great review !
Really depends on what you’re looking to get out of the bike.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre I just returned from my favorite trek store and rode them both. The Emonda is responsive and stiff and i felt like i took off immediately. The Domane was nice and i was moving a lot faster than my dual sport bike. However, based on how the road felt on an Emonda is not the bike ill be doing a century ride on. Therefore, The Domane would be a better fit. I might just wait for the 2023 model at this point :)
Love the videos and thank you for taking the time to do them and provide the community informative information.
Domane sounds like the way to go for you. Yeah you may wait for the 2023 mode at this point. And you can always make the Domane faster by swapping tires and wheels out and dropping the handlebars if you want.
@@Jason2k23 hey I am in the exact same dilemma. Please give a more detailed breakdown as to why domane over emonda sl5
@@shaheerkhan5171 based on what i am looking to accomplish the Domane SL6 E -tap is great . i’ll be able to do century rides and is a fast bike . is it faster than an emonda ? no but there is no way i’ll survive 10 miles on that bike . let alone 100 miles without developing a back problem . Therefore, the domane is the winner. Hope this helps.
Hi, i have just bought the sl5 disc bike in grey. It is a very good bike. I am an ex cat 2 road racing cyclists and winning a few strava koms recently. My question is this: i have just paid 3000 euros for the bike and cant pay more to upgrade the wheels. Are the wheels really so bad or still good enough to last a couple of years. Would you call this bike mid range race bike?
Wheels are more than capable of lasting a few years. I think people make a big deal about wheels. I have not experienced carbon wheels myself but am constantly told they make a huge difference. Problem is the cost for that difference is also huge.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre sure, i agree. Tyres can help as much. I have stuck on some top end continental gp tyres and it flies. I defo think it is a good mid range bike, not entry at all. I have also improved on a climb of 2,5km at 8 per cent improving by 40 seconds compared to a lighter bike i was using recently. The trek sl5 is semi aero and veery stiff, the 9kg makes it race competitive still
Yeah tires are a huge upgrade. I run the same
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre i run a 24 mm on the back and 22mm on the front. Continental gp attack and force sold it like that claiming it has an advantage on those two different sizes. The fashion is 25 or more but i can say that those tyres i have on are as fast as a 25 mm or more
Nice very cool setup
I'm between this and the Supersix EVO 105
I’m sure that they are both going to be great
Super 6 !
Compare it to the madone ... Also what's the weight?
That’s a good video idea. I may do that. The weight on this one with bottle cages, mounts and pedals is about 9.5 KGs
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre oh wow that's surprisingly heavy for a "climbing bike"
Yes but keep in mind everything I said. It’s treks second tier frame. Not the SLR. It comes with 105, the third tier groupset, and it comes with very budget friendly aluminum wheels and tires that both weigh a ton. And that’s with pedals and bottle cages and everything. If you were to remove the mounts and cages and pedals, you’d be close to 9.2. Then swap these tires for something like a GP5000, then you’re at 8.5 or 8.6 KG. And then finally swap the wheels for something lighter and carbon and you’re at 7.5 KG which is super respectable.
if you look at the geo charts, its exactly the same.. it really depends if you want aero or not
The seat mast seems to be the first thing people complain about. I had read it at least twice, but it's to the point that when I bought mine, they said "We don't have the carbon seat mast in-stock, so don't ask.".
Lol
What size is that?
52cm frame
That's strange. I seen your post above that says yours weighs 9.6kg at size 52. I have a size 54 and mines weighs 9.3kg. I know it's not much difference but I don't understand why mines would be lighter. I weighed it with standard paradigm comp wheels and R1 tyres with tubes. Any idea why there's a difference? Mines is a 2022 model.
I had bottle cages, pedals, wahoo mount, light mount and all that on the bike when I weighed it. That could be the reason
Is it worth to spend more money($1350 CAD more) for an SL5 to get lower tier carbon and an integrated handlebar over an ALR5 which is the same bike with full 105 groupset and wheels & tires?
I have an ALR5 and couldn’t see paying more for a mostly aesthetic feature difference. Wheels on mine still need to be upgraded. I let the Bontrager tires go after 6 months and went with Continental GP4000.
Emonda SL5 $3979.99
Emonda ALR5 $2629.99
Prices in CAD
I realize it’s a lot more money but it is the same groupset on both bikes and you’re right, wheels and tires will need to be upgraded on both. That being said, there is a huge difference between carbon and aluminum. I’m gonna do a video at some point comparing the two. While it may not be the top of the line slr, it’s still an incredible carbon frame. So bottom line, I think it’s worth it if you can swing it.
What is the correct size for someone who is 1.72 cm? 52 or 54?
If you go smaller, than you could always lengthen the stem and raise the seat post. That’s a benefit. You can only make a larger frame so small if you understand my thinking
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre what seat height to you run to top of saddle ?
Top of saddle is at about 27inches from the BB
take a look what i did with sl6 pro21
Did you make a video?
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre yes
Hey Mike, thanks for the great review. I have the option to buy either this exact bike, or the Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 which is $4150 CAD. How does the Synapse Carbon compare to this? Haven't had a chance to try out either yet since shipments won't arrive till end of May unfortunately.
Both great bikes but the synapse is much more of an endurance bike where as the Emonda is quite aggressive. It’s much racier and will have a lower handlebar position
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre thanks for the info!
can you please do a free hub sound video?
Yes I will be making another video of this bike and can include that
i have this same bike in size 56cm but the paint is rubbish it scratches very easy and the shape of the seatpost is really shit too otherwise its ok its fast and the frame is light but trek has to do a better job on the paint because the bikes are too expensive to be paying to paint them again.
Have you ever tried to protect with a wax or spray wax? Might help prevent scratches.
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre I polished it with ceramic wax but the metallic blue part is not scratched, it is the color smoke blue.
But the whole thing was waxed?
@@AllThingsSportsMikeMcIntyre yes
I waxed mine after its first wash and so I have a few scratches as well. Mines are really superficial though and it still looks great. Just not quite as super shiny as that first day I picked it up 😂
go for p zeros race instead of gp5000
Heard good things about them. I may give them a shot next
i dont like the new seat mast set up.i like the old set up
That’s the one common complaint that people have. I personally thinks it’s great and don’t have any issues with it
A road bike review, and never mentions the weight of the bicycle. Brilliant.
That SL5 weighs about 8kg!! For a 'climber' bike. NOT worth it. Save your money, get a second hand Domane SL7 or the SLR.
Cause weight isn’t everything in a road bike. Aero is far more important hence the 8kg sl5. Read more about stuff before commenting.
Don't buy new weels just loose weight.
Nah wheels