Trek Ditches Emonda And Goes All In On Madone With Builds as much as $17k

The Trek Madone Gen 8 takes inspiration from the Emonda and earlier Madone fashions to create a brand new “super-bike.” Consider it as a best hits album from the Trek Highway applied sciences, however all gathered beneath the Madone title. The Madone Gen 8 combines two widespread (and generally laborious to select from) Trek fashions now (mild and quick) beneath a singular bike mannequin. Trek makes the highway bike shopping for determination simpler for the client and retains Trek’s dedication to decreasing general SKUs by 40% by 2026.

Trek Madone Gen 8 Overview 

Trek’s new Gen 8 Madone line appears just like the “each bike” that corporations are at all times looking for—a motorbike that may climb and dash and has all of the aerodynamics to fulfill the “free watt” counters. 

So, Did Trek Do It? 

On paper, the Madone Gen 8 is as mild as the present Emonda SLR frameset and 320g lighter than the Madone. This weight discount is because of an all-new degree of Trek carbon dubbed “900 sequence OCLV Carbon.” 

Trek says the brand new OCLV 900 Collection Carbon is as much as 20% stronger materials than the earlier 800 OCLV carbon. Treks’ new and extra environment friendly molding processes use much less materials and save weight. Additionally, the brand new Madone Gen 8 makes use of a single-piece carbon fork, saving further weight. Test that the field is achieved. 

Trek Madone Gen 8 Weights

Under is a full breakdown of every Trek Madone Gen 8 and its corresponding weight. No shock, the lightest mannequin is the Madone SLR 9 Gen 8 ($17K) at 15.55 lbs; the heaviest is the Madone Gen 8 SL5 at 19.18 lbs ($3,500). However the Madone Gen 8 story isn’t all weight; it’s a steadiness of weight, aerodynamics, and luxury—the trifecta of a well-rounded trip and one thing difficult to supply.

How About Sprinting and Aerodynamics?

For the Madone Gen 8, Trek used totally different tube shapes and a “Full System Foil” aero design, a departure from the Kamtail Foil Trek beforehand used.

Trek says the Madone Gen 8 is 77 sec/hr quicker than Émonda and as quick because the earlier Madone. So, it’s as quick as the present mannequin however a lot lighter, giving the bike one other dimension in climbing skill and agility.  

For this Madone, Trek opted for various tube shapes optimized for smaller and bigger sizes. This ensures a balanced trip throughout sizes and a extra proportional aesthetic.

Improved IsoFlow Know-how

A key takeaway from the Madone Gen 7 is the IsoFlow know-how. Madone Gen 8’s up to date IsoFlow know-how is lighter and supplies 80% extra vertical compliance than earlier than. Keep in mind, this isn’t precise journey; it’s extra like mirco-small-bump-compliance, and it’s a notable distinction in consolation whereas on barely gravel/nation highway terrain.

New lighter-weight and extra ergonomic bar/stem

The Trek Madone Gen 8 SLR fashions include an up to date Aero RSL Highway Built-in Bar/Stem. The brand new cockpit is crafted from OCLV Carbon in “ultra-fast aero shapes” and has hoods which might be 3cm narrower than the drops. 

Aero-accessories 

Some aero-help assist comes from neatly built-in race day bottles, dubbed RSL Aero Bottles. The brand new bottles include the SRL model of the Madone Gen 8 and can be found individually. They provide sufficient water for a sizzling 60-minute crit, and the cages are appropriate with conventional bottles in case you drop on making an attempt to place it in (they’re one-way bottles.) 

Extra Madone Gen 8 For the Lots 

The all-new Madone SL shares the identical body know-how because the SLR mannequin however retains prices down. The Madone SL makes use of a extra economical 500 Collection OCLV Carbon and two-piece handlebar/stem combos. The Madone SL fashions vary in worth from $3,500 for the Madone SL 5 to $6,500 for the Madone SL7 (our check trip). 

Trek Madone Gen 8 Geometry 

For the Madone Gen 8, Trek went for T-shirt sizing reasonably than conventional. This transfer to T-shirt sizing eliminates the smallest XXS and the most important XXL sizing, conserving XS, S, ML, L, and XL. The body sizing sticks to a considerably “regular” sizing chart. Essentially the most pivotal sizing: M has a 54.5, and the ML has a 55.7 efficient prime tube. 

Welcome H1.5

In the event you’re a Trek rider, you already learn about H1 and H2 sizing. H1 is a “skilled” race match, and H2 is aero and drop. Now, Trek is combining the becoming and ushering in H1.5 – a combo of the 2 choices. Trek says the brand new Madone has the identical drop form because the Gen 7 Madone and continues to be 3cm narrower on hoods than drops.

Trek Madone Gen 8 Pricing 

The brand new Trek Madone Gen 8 is out there in 9 totally different full bike fashions (4 Madone SL fashions and 5 SLR fashions) and two frameset choices. The fashions begin a race-ready $3,500 worth level and develop to a “Who is that this for?”  $17,000 Challenge One providing. 

All bikes are both SRAM or Shimano builds with Bontrager wheels and elements. The Madone SLR bikes have Trek RSL Aero-Cages, and RSL bar stem combos. The Madone SL fashions have a Bontrager (proprietary) aero stem and bar combo. 

Search for a full overview as we get extra time beneath the monster, and search for the Lidl-Trek and the new Madone SLR on the Tour de France.

Madone Gen 8 can be out there globally at choose Trek retailers and on-line at trekbikes.com.