RNAV

My local Trek dealer gave me a call yesterday to tell me he got in his first Emonda and wanted to see if I'd like to come ride it. So I made the drive out today to take the bike out for a quick spin.

The model he got in was the entry level Emonda S4, which has a full Shimano Tiagra group and Bontrager alloy tubeless ready wheels. Trek's website says the bike is supposed to weigh just under 20 lbs. in a 56cm . . . this bike was a 58cm (my size), and I honestly thought it'd weigh more than it did -- it was pretty comparable in weight to the Domane 4.3 demo bike I've been riding recently.

Pulled out of the parking lot and immediately hammered it in a hard sprint . . . whoa! This thing'll move! I was expecting sloppy response, frame flex, and general sluggishness but was really surprised at how crisp this bike is. Out of the saddle, I couldn't detect any frame flex climbing or sprinting. In the saddle, the ride quality was surprisingly good. It's more comfortable than my '08 Madone 5.5, and I'd say it's more comfy than the new '14 Madone 5.2 that I test rode. Obviously it's not plush like a Domane, but still . . . for an entry level bike with an alloy seat post, it's a darn nice ride. It also handles very, very well -- of the three (Madone, Domane, Emonda), the Emonda was the only one that actually excited me when throwing it around traffic circles and flinging it down descents.

After riding it for a while, I came to the conclusion that it climbs better than my '08 Madone, sprints about the same, and has a slightly more comfortable/smooth ride compared to my Madone. And then I had to remind myself that this was the entry-level bike. I think Trek's really done a good job with this one.

Just thought I'd share.

Slackerprince

Thanks for the report with useful details.
Interesting that Trek has offered two new models, Domane and Emonda, in the last few years, and wondering if there is some overlap within their brand.

S

dleccord

why is it so heavy even the tiagra groupset?

SundayNiagara

This bike uses the heaviest, "S" frame.

redlude97

The low end emonda shares almost nothing with the top end frame. The frame weighs almost twice as much and doesn't use the direct mount brakes or seatmast

Samfujiabq

The one I saw today was a tad over 10lbs,and had all Sram Red,it was priced at 15k.The top tube near the stem,I was able to push in causing noticeable flex with my thumb.I didn't ride it though,but it was feather light!but not a trek guy.

buffalowings

Thanks for the first impressions, do you think the SLR8 or SLR6 is race/crit worthy? I'm thinking of getting it along with a Bontrager wheelsets as a backup bike for races.

loimpact

That's redonkulous! But at 10lbs, the weight's gonna come from somewhere! Still impressive to think they're probably tested well enough to know that despite the flex, it's legit.

To the OP.......I think the biggest reason it feels more comfortable is that in the last 5 years or so, all mfgrs have really fine tuned the tricks for making these frames absorb & still be fast. As I've mentioned before, I don't even know why Cannondale makes a Synapse.....my Supersix Evo is ridiculously compliant. I often expect to look down & see shocks sometimes.

valygrl

^^ alot of light carbon frames are squishy when you squeeze the tubes.

I sure wish Trek made it's extra small frames in an H1 fit, the Emoda is gorgeous (and I'm not a trek fan) but they don't make a size for me.

mattheis

Interesting they didnt incorporate the integrated brakes on the Emonda, I like the the look.. but they must add too much weight compared to red/dura

RNAV

Well, considering they're racing the SLR frame in the Tour de France, I'd say yes. Just out of curiosity, if you're considering dropping $7500 (SLR8) on a back-up race bike, what's your main race ride?

bahula03

Wait...are you talking about the light Emonda, or the heavy Emonda that the OP rode? Cause I'm *pretty sure* the direct mount brakes on the light model weigh less than any of the stuff from SRAM or Shimano.

mattheis

looks like all... unless Im missing something. Sorry, trek branded brake set, but still not integrated like the 5-7 madone. Beautiful bike none-the-less

loimpact

Hmmmm......without any logos on it, if someone were to ask me, I'd have called it a Tarmac.

But, yes, still good looking nonetheless. Hard to beat black on a nice bike. (My 3 black bikes pose no bias or anything)

Axiom

Koenigsegg makes their own carbon fiber wheels that can handle speeds up to 280mph. Maybe it's one of those things that they produced themselves because they figured out a way to do it better than anything else on the market.

redlude97

The brakes are still direct mount, they just happen to use lighter versions without the aero fairings to save weight.

jrossbeck

I also test rode the Emonda S4, and almost bought it. At the time I was just about to pull the trigger on a Madone 2.1, and the guy had me test ride it because it just came in and it was close to my stated price range. The carbon frame did feel amazingly solid, and absorbed quite a bit of vibe vs. the Madone (aluminum frame / carbon fork). At the end of the day, I couldn't justify spending $1700 after tax, getting a Tiagra groupset and only shaving one pound off the aluminum Madone (which has 105 and it $400 cheaper).

bt

fugly

PeregrineA1 

Climbing...Pensacola? Jumbo shrimp....

RNAV

LOL, yeah, there's no real climbing out here. The Trek dealer is in Mobile and has some nearby hills that have decent gradients to them . . . enough to get a feel for the bike under climbing conditions.

The 4.3 Domane demo bike I've been riding has 105 on it, and I couldn't really tell that much of a difference between the 105 and the Tiagra from a functionality standpoint. Both groups shifted fine . . . better than I expected, actually, for every-level stuff. I think Trek should've gone with Sram Rival for the entry-level S4.

Campag4life

The low modulus carbon Emonda seems to be a bit contrary to its branding which is an uber light climbing bike with featherweight frameset with high modulus carbon lay up and big price tag. So if you strip off the heavy wheels and low end groupset, perhaps the low cost and low module carbon Emonda will still be lighter...or perhaps as light as say any pedigreed high end high modulus carbon frameset. No doubt the weight numbers will emerge.
The technical bar continues to move up. The Emonda is an interesting foray into the uber light world but the lower level may be a great value for somebody who wants a competitive racing frame at a reason cost. Generally lower modulus frames have a bit of a weight penalty and/or lack perhaps a bit of stiffness.
Time will tell if the weight minimum of 15 lbs changes in pro racing as lighter and strong bike components continue to emerge.

SundayNiagara

I think Trek shoulda taken the tiny extra step and internalized the cables on the "S" frame. It would be a lot more appealing.

softreset

It's their U5 Vapor coat with a faint red outlined Trek on the down tube. It's there it's just not the billboard style.

BenPS

work at a shop, and have been riding the slr8 , which is mechanical DA, and its a blast. The other great thing that they did with these is spec a full group throughout. So no more "its a 105 group, but it has tiagra brakes and cassette". If it's 105, it's all 105. makes it easy for salesmen and consumers.

fstshrk

Looks like the tarmac regardless of labeling/.