Trek Emonda Alr thoughts...
 

Hello,

Has anyone looked at the Trek Emonda ALR series? In particular the 5 ALR? What are thoughts and or opinions?

Thanks

I purchased and have been riding the Madone 2.1 for two seasons, which the Emonda ALR 5 is basically replacing/upgrading. If the ALR5 is indeed a bit nicer, it's a hell of a ride. I'd love to have my Madone, or the Emobda in mid level carbon, but I just didn't have the budget.

105 is a nice setup and the 11 speed will be even nicer. The aluminum frame is a bit stiff, but the carbon forks help quite a bit and fitted properly I've had zero comfort issues on my bike.

I'm in love with my ALR 5. My wife is a little jealous.

Very smooth shifting from the 105 5800, awesome braking, and a nice geometry (for me). It's a pretty solid bike, but the carbon fork does help a bit. There really isn't much to complain about with a well made, lightweight alu bike that has a full 105 gruppo. I did not like the stock tires and the wheels weren't that great, so I put on some Vuelta Corsa Lites with Conti GP4000s IIs.

I debated a while on buying one. I still might.

Very nice alloy bike.

My only nit to pick is the H2 fit.

If you are used to, or want to ride an agressive position, it requires a low profile headset cap and a -17 stem.

Want lower bars then that? I'd buy a more agressive frameset.

why not ask dreamrider85, he claimed he bought one a few months ago lol!

I love my ALR 5!
As mentioned above, I also needed to swap out the bars and stem to get a little more aggressive, but shifting is excellent and the ride quality is incredible.

It looks nice to me but for the price I'd go with Emonda S5 or maybe even S4. Give em a test ride and see which you like.

i really like mine, its completely 105 groupset so everything works smoothly on the bike. the only upgrade that i made was changing out the stock tires to gp4000 II's. i'm not crazy about the wheelset either, but they are ok for now.

The S5 is $400 more and has Trek's low end carbon. I'd go with an ALR5 over that bike any day.

For what it's worth, the two LBS I visited both recommend the ALR over the S-series, despite the fact that the ALR will net them less money. They said that when you consider the "high-quality aluminum" compared to the "low-quality carbon", then Trek might as well stop making the S-series. If you want carbon, then you want the SL.

I respect that, I've ridden both and prefer the ride of the so called "low end" carbon. Weight wise not much difference.

I totally agree, the S5 is just not work it.

I had a 2012 Madone 4.6 (400 level carbon) and it was heads and shoulders better than a S5 (300 level carbon).

Interestingly enough, the S frame weighs 1200g compared to the ALR frame weight of 1050g, matching the weight of the SL frame. The one you REALLY want is the SLR frame, which is under 700g.
:speedy:

Agreed, I just don't like the SL price tag lol. Honestly my bones prefer the ride of carbon so I'd probably even take the S4 over the AL5. I realize most probably wouldn't though.

I totally understand. It's all about rider preference! :thumb:

OP, now that I'm thinking about it, as much as I love the ALR 5, I probably should have opted for the ALR 6. Sure, it's $500 more, but it has 6800 gruppo, a carbon seat post, and better wheels than the 5, which I already swapped, lol. While the wheels I got are lighter than the stock ALR 6 wheels, I think I could've appreciated them for at least a couple years before upgrading.

If it's in your budget, you may want to opt for the 6. That being said, there's pretty much zero discernible difference between the 5800 and 6800 groups (unlike the 5700 and 6700), but you'd get the cool brake levers that say ULTEGRA on them. :D

This is the right answer. Ride what feels best!

I have the alr5 and have no complaints. The 105 gruppo is a winner and the bike is as agressive as I want it to be. New tires are coming for sure(Conti gp 4 season or gatorskins)and possibly new wheels and a carbon seatpost.

I just bought the ALR5 in Red and moved my Ultegra drive train from my Synapse over to it. I am just waiting on the Ultegra crank to arrive in the next day or so. Looking forward to a post surgery ride on it. On the ride I took on it, I was surprised by the ride quality, it had a Carbon feel without the Carbon price. I'm putting FSA SL-K handle bars and seatpost on it, to smooth it out even more. I also moved over my Boyd Altamont's and it should get the bike very close to 16 lbs when all is complete.

Sheesh, what frame size are you on?

I swapped wheels and tires on mine and I'm still at a little over 18lb (60cm).

I am currently riding a 52 cm 2011 Fuji Roubaix 2.0 (9 Speed Tiagra crank and shiffter's) which is not exactly relaxed setup, carbon bladded forks as well, but I love that way it rides. Sounds like the ALR 5 would a nice upgrade. Anyone else agree?

54cm. the base bike was 18.4 lbs, but just changing the wheels and tires, it went to 17.2. These weights are not including pedals, but I will be putting on Ulltegra road pedals. Changing out the Seatpost and Handlebars to the FSA SL-K models will eliminate almost 180 grams.

If you like the ride of the bike, I would just pick up an 11 speed grouppo from PBK or Wiggle and go that route for less than $500 or so. In my case, I just did not like my Synapse....it was too relaxed for me. I guess I just like a more aggressive approach.

Brian

Man, my stock ALR5 was around 20lbs. Your sig says ALR 6. Do you have both the 5 and 6?

Edit: Ah, without pedals. I see. :) Mine was with, and my pedals weigh .81 lbs.

Well...the Trek Factory Racing Viper Red frames only come as a 5, but I moved all my Ultegra over from my Synapse to this bike and moved the 105 stuff to replace the 10 speed Ultegra\105 mix on my CrossRip. The frames are all the same though, just different colors, so technically it specs out as a 6 now.

I like my bike, yes, but I would rather have a new bike that has a braze on derailer. Something that does not have "learning" marks, or have to change out my wheels. I have priced out how much it would cost more to do a full 5800 105 series groupo.