trek madone project one 6 series

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I've had a soft spot for Trek's Madones for a while because the ones I've ridden in the past have been soooo responsive. They're light and punchy, sharp-handling and lots of other things that you want from a performance-driven road bike. The good news is that this new design is the best ever. It's an absolute delight to ride.

What we have here is a bike built around the 2013 Madone 6 Series frame. You'll find the new features described below on the cheaper 5 Series (complete bikes starting at £2,100) and the newly introduced and more expensive 7 Series.

The difference is in the carbon. The 6 Series bikes use 600 Series OCLV (optimum compaction low void, if you're interested) carbon which has a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio than you get with the 5 Series but a lower stiffness-to-weight ratio than the 7 Series.

All three of these Series (but not the lower end Madones) get a completely new frame design for 2013...

New KVF tubing

The biggest new feature is the KVF aero tubing. KVF? It stands for Kammtail Virtual Foil and it was first introduced on Trek's Speed Concep t time trial bike.

Essentially, the KVF tube profile is an airfoil shape with the tail chopped off square. Trek reckon that the design makes the air behave as if the tail was actually there in order to reduce drag. The advantages of cutting the tail off are that it uses less material and so reduces weight; it works well in crosswinds; and it allows Trek to stay within the UCI's equipment rules.

You can see the KVF shape most clearly on the down tube – the sides curve around and then the rear edge is cut off flat. Trek use the same shaping on the head tube, seat tube, the seat stays and the upper portion of the fork blades. Extensively, then.

How much difference does it make? You have to have a statistic these days and Trek say the KVF shaping reduces frame (not including fork) drag by 60g over the previous generation Madone. Without taking the bike to a wind tunnel, we couldn't tell you how accurate that is. We're reporting it rather than confirming it.

Brake design

Integration has become ever more important in bike design recently with manufacturers seeking to reduce drag by making everything blend together for more aerodynamic efficiency.

Trek have been busy creating their own new front brake that fits neatly to the fork. Well, their in-house Bontrager brand have. One arm of the Bontrager Speed Limit brake is attached via a central bolt, the other fixes direct to the fork leg. This saves a little weight and allows the two arms to sit flush against the fork crown. Trek reckon that the combined effect of the KVF fork shaping and the integrated front brake reduces drag by another 76g.

Trek put the rear brake just behind the bottom bracket – a position that has been used on many bikes down the years including a whole bunch of today's time trial machines.

Slinging the brake down here allows Trek to keep it hidden from the wind for improved aerodynamics. It also means there's no longer any need for a brake bridge between the seatstays, cleaning up the airflow in that area. Plus, because they don't have to deal with the braking forces, those seatstays can be made with less material to reduce weight.

It works well. You'd be hard pressed to tell any difference between the braking power you get with Trek's new design and a standard set-up. I wouldn't say there's much in it either way. You can adjust the pad position of the rear brake on the fly just as easily as if it was mounted in the standard position because Trek fit a barrel adjuster at the point where the cable enters the head tube.

I did wonder whether the positioning of the rear brake would mean it would get bunged up with gunk from the UK's perma-damp roads, but that hasn't been an issue. It is a little more awkward than usual to clean but it's really not much of a problem.

Other features

The new Madone naturally comes with internal cabling, the rear mech cable emerging right at the end of the chainstay, and it's fully compatible with Di2 electronic shifting.

Trek continue their integration theme with a DuoTrap digital sensor recessed into the chainstay. You'll probably already know that this can take speed and cadence measurements and send them wirelessly (ANT+ compatible) to a computer on your bars.

Trek also integrate their 3S chain keeper directly onto the frame. It's a tiny plastic stop that bolts to a threaded hole just above the bottom bracket. There's no great level of technology going on here but it's really unobtrusive and it works to prevent the chain coming off the inner chainring and damaging any of that lovely carbon.

Okay, so that explains a few of the 2013 Trek Madone's key design features, but how does it ride? That, after all, is what matters.

Well, put simply, this bike rides beautifully. For a start, the lightness and punchiness of previous generation Madones is still there. Our complete bike weighs in at 6.78kg (14.9lb). That's with a mechanical Dura-Ace 7900 groupset and Bontrager's Aeolus 5 clinchers (we're going to do a separate review of those, so standby for that).

You can choose your own spec through Trek's Project One custom programme. Our one would cost you £6,725 – those wheels really jack the price up – although you can have a 6 Series Madone from £3,400 if you adjust the spec.

The Madone really flies forward the second you increase the power. It reacts so quickly. And when you get busy on the climbs, it's perfectly happy to pitch in and do its part.

I'm pretty big by cycling standards (75-77kg) and, despite its light weight, the Madone stood up to all the power I could sling its way. Trek's E2 head tube houses a standard 1 1/8in upper bearing with a big 1 1/2in bearing at the bottom, and it's a chunky piece of work. It holds the front end super-stable and, along with those KVF fork blades, it makes for precise handling through long, sweeping turns and quick, zigzagging ones.

The bottom bracket is Trek's BB90 standard with widely spaced bearings and there's very little flex there either. As far as I can tell, Trek have managed to keep all of the Madone's frame stiffness with this latest incarnation. Despite the big changes, it's every bit as solid as before.

The other big feature is vertical compliance. Now, I don't really like to go on about vertical compliance too much because it's the biggest cliché in cycling. On Road.cc, we tend to take the Mick when manufacturers mention it because they'll wheel out the phrase even if their bike rides like a boneshaker. But that's not to say that vertical compliance isn't a valuable property for a bike to have; it certainly is if you want a comfortable ride.

The reason I bring it up is because the new Madone does have plenty of, you know... VC. Sorry, it just does, especially compared to other aero road bikes I've ridden. That back end in particular just seems to soak up rough roads, unexpected dips and so on.

It helps that I have such a massive (some might say 'ridiculous') amount of seatpost to take the sting out of things. Well, not seatpost exactly... the Madone uses what Trek call 'a no-cut Ride Tuned seat mast'. In other words, you get an extended seat tube with a long mast topper on the outside that gives you 10cm of adjustment. As the name suggests, you don't need to cut the seat tube to length like you do with some systems.

I can't say I'm a huge fan of the Bontrager Inform Affinity RXL saddle. Buy it separately and it's a £100 perch with carbon rails and a carbon-fibre reinforced shell. It's just that I found it to sag in the middle and that's really not comfortable for me. But, when it comes to saddles, one man's meat is another man's poison. Probably not the best choice of words there. Ahem!

As for the ride position, our 6 Series frame is built to Trek's H1 fit which is designed to be low and aero. Trek have increased the reach of the existing H1 geometry a touch for a slightly more stretched ride position.

I'm happy with that setup and find it perfectly comfortable but you might not, in which case, you're in luck... The 6 Series is available in an H2 fit too. The biggest difference is in the length of the head tube. With the H1 fit it's 16cm on a 58cm frame; with the H2 fit it's 19cm. That means your ride position is a little more upright to take the strain off your back and neck, without the need to use a stack of flexing spacers. The H2 setup is still performance-orientated, but it's a bit more relaxed.

I won't bother telling you about the Shimano Dura-Ace groupset because it's not standard – although, as I said, you can spec it if you go through the Project One system. You can also choose your own colour and have your name on the top tube if that's your thing.

I won't tell you about the Aeolus 3 wheels either because we're going to cover them in a separate review. They're brilliant though.

So, that just leaves me to round things up and I'll do that by saying the new Madone is an absolute triumph. It really is. It's light, it's very, very fast and it's way more comfortable than you've a right to expect of a high-performance bike (albeit that I didn't get on too well with the saddle).

I'd love to be more critical and give you a few negatives as well but I'm not going to do that just for the sake of it. This is one of the very best road bikes out there. If the 7 Series is even better, well, we'll happily ride one of those for a bit too. In the meantime, I suppose we'd better box this one up and send it back.

Lightweight, very fast and comfortable - a super-high performance bike that won't disappoint, if you have the cash.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Madone 6 Series 2013 (custom build)

Size tested: Project One build

About the bike

State the frame and fork material and method of construction. List the components used to build up the bike.

The frame is made from 600 Series OCLV carbon

The fork is full carbon too, including the dropouts

Our bike came with this spec:

Groupset Shimano Dura-Ace 7900

Brakes Bontrager Speed Limit integrated brakes with Shimano Dura-Ace levers

Wheels Bontrager Aeolus D3 3

Handlebar Bontrager Race XXX Lite VR-C

Stem Bontrager Race X Lite

Saddle Bontrager Affinity RXL Carbon

Tell us what the bike is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

It's a race/performance bike. The pros teams might be on 7 Series Madones but, really, the 6 Series of bikes are professional level.

In the build we have, it's 6.78kg without pedals (size 58cm). Add the pedals and it's just above the UCI's 6.8kg minimum weight limit for racing.

Trek say, "Madone 6 Series is race-bike royalty, with its legacy of 9 Tour de France wins. Still the same incredible ride feel and hand-built quality, now with an all-new super-aero shape.

"6 Series has charged the steepest climbs, staged the biggest comebacks, carried the greatest legends. It will take you past your limits, beyond your expectations."

Frame and fork

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

Spot on. You can chose your own colour from a vast selection.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

The frame is Trek's 600 Series OCLV carbon. For all the details, including how it compares to their other grades of carbon, go to Trek .

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

You get to choose between Trek's H1 and H2 geometries.

Essentially, H1 is low and aero. H2 is a little more relaxed. The main difference is in the height of the head tube. It's a bit longer with the H2 so you get a more upright ride position - although it's still a performance-orientated set-up.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

See above on that. You can go for low and stretched or a bit more relaxed.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Very comfortable, yes, especially for a performance-orientated machine.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Yep, it's as rigid around the front end and bottom bracket as previous generation Madones, as far as I can tell.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Yeah. Trek have built plenty of Tour-winning bikes in the past and this one is the equal of those in terms of efficiency.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so, was it a problem?

A touch on the 58cm frame we have. Not a problem, though.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively, neutral or unresponsive? The lively side of neutral.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

It feels super-smooth compared to a lot of other high-performance bikes and the steering is pin sharp.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I actually didn't especially like the saddle. I felt the comfort was despite the saddle rather than because of the saddle. It's always a matter of individual taste. There's plenty of give in the frame and seatmast to keep things feeling smooth.

The drivetrain

Not especially good value compared to Ultegra or 105 but very good value compared to top-end groupsets from the other leading brands

Wheels and tyres

You can get lighter wheels; these major on aerodynamics.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes.

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Without doubt.

Overall rating: 9 /10

About the tester

Age: 41   Height: 190cm   Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:    My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years   I ride: Most days   I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

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Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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It's possibly a small detail, but one of things I love about the Trek kit is the DuoTrap compartment. Attention to detail like that matters to me and hints that other things have also had a little more care taken over them. Personally I'd go for a Domane as the roads around where I live are far from ideal...but this is stunning.

I think the translation to grams is effectively a comparative that makes it easier for cyclists to understand. Rather than talk about how it reduces the drag coefficient, they talk in grams because people can understand how this is equivalent to, say buying a lighter group set, or saddle, for instance. So if I am thinking of buying a bike, and like one that weight 6.80Kg, and the other weighs 7.0Kg, but is fandangled in such a way that it reduces drag by 200g, there's no real difference.....I think that is the logic.

But if I was an engineer I would probably dislike the terminology, but I guess most people without an engineering background would struggle to understand how a drag coefficient would affect their ride, especially when so often there are so many factors that add to or detract from riding performance - aerodynamics and weight being just two.

im going to say something i have never said before.. these new treks actually look really impressive.

russyparkin wrote: im going to say something i have never said before.. these new treks actually look really impressive.

Have to agree. Never liked Trek much, always seemed a bit sterile and a bit ugly. Nothing offensive, just very anonymous. This model really does look the part.

In science and engineering drag would typically be measured in Newtons, ie. units of force.

I'm not sure why the cycling community measure it in grams, as of course grams (kilograms SI) is a measurement of mass. Weight on the other hand, is a force due to mass sitting in a gravitational field. Measuring drag in grams, is, in my view (as an engineer) just wrong.

Why is drag measured in weight (grams) as opposed to er...erm, well whatever you measure drag with?

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Trek Madone 6.9 Road Bike

Lighter, faster, better. That was Trek's goal in creating their best-of-the-best Madone 6.9. Brutally efficient and ultra light, it features ingenious new technology for a superior ride, such as a 90mm-wide bottom bracket for maximum efficiency, sealed headset and bottom bracket bearings that simply press into the frame saving weight and reducing maintenance, and a seat mast that saves even more weight, while also boosting compliance for supreme comfort. And, it's built of Trek's team-spec OCLV Red carbon, while the fork is equally impressive. It's Bontrager's Race XXX Lite Carbon with E2 steerer, which is oversize at the base for excellent efficiency and control. A frame of this level deserves only the best and you get it with top-of-the-line Bontrager Race XXX Lite carbon wheels and Shimano's Tour-winning Dura-Ace components for the ultimate in shifting and braking, while the Bontrager stem, bars and seat add the finishing touches of class.

• USER REVIEWS

Sprints, breakaways,is what this thing was made for. Never felt a more efficient relay of pedal power to the wheel. When I get up out of the seat, I feel like I was shot out of a cannon, so nimble and quiet, just a "woosh, woosh, woosh," as I go by other riders, they never hear me coming as I slingshot around them. Handling, 15% better than the Cannondale SuperSix I had before. If I can see the line in the curve I want to ride, the bike takes me there.

None found yet

I'm 6'3", just under 200lbs, have a 60cm frame. With any carbon fiber frame of a bike this caliber, the smaller the frame, the stiffer the bike. Trek only tests the 56cm frame, because that's their biggest seller. Anything larger than 56 has a little more flex in the frame, smaller and they get stiffer. Anticipating a stiff ride, I did my build with Rolf (engineered and made in America by American hands, not some soulless 3rd world zombie factory that are contracted by 90% of the rim companies). Vigor rims with ceramic bearings. Oh, what a smooth ride this gives this bike. Had steel bearings the first week as a loaner until my wheels came, and what a difference in handling these rims made at high speeds. The small chatter from road vibration was gone, and best of all, NO WEIGHT LIMITS ON THESE RIMS. Matter of fact, the bigger you ore, the faster you'll go downhill. The rest of my build components are Dura-Ace, what a perfect match for this frame. Stops on a dime, have never missed a shift.

Very light, very stiff, very responsive.

The retail price.

I bought this frame brand new from a dude off craigslist and built it up with DA and Bontrager XXX wheels. I'm 5'10" 200lbs, and I ride this bike like I stole it. The bike feels great and is fun to ride. I'm probably too heavy for the wheels- I have to true them every couple months, but this review is on the bike- I really like the bike. The MSRP is shocking! $7,700... I paid less then $3,000 to build mine up. If you have the funds, go for it. If not, the lower priced 5 series are very comparable.

Similar Products Used:

Madone 5.something

Handles great, very stiff and responsive

rear end too stiff vertically. my old sciatica returned. rechecked measurements and that, unfortunately, was not the problem.

got this 2012 6 series as a warranty replacement of a 5.9 (loved the ride of that one). The 2012 6 series handles great, is light and very stiff. Too stiff for me. Rear end rides harsh- same as my super stiff aluminum back up bike. Took both bikes to a short circuit with some pavement cracks at a corner, and both handled the same.

I have a 6 series and its the best Bike I have ever owned.

Don't buy it with the Std Trek Wheels, There crap.

Buy the Bike and make sure your don't buy the Trek brand wheels.

Performance, Styling, Customization options

This is a true racing machine! As a current Cat3 & Masters racer, I need every bit out of a bike as I can. For years I've raced Wilier Triestina(Sestriere, Izoard) and Look(585, 595, 695SR) and until now thought the technology/set up couldn't get much better. The Trek Madone 6.9 SSL Project 1 changed all that. For years, I resisted the Armstrong affect and subsequent market saturation, but now understand the errors of my ways. As a non-climber, this bike is nimble, quick and almost effortless. Surprisingly, with the tighter geometry and shorter wheel base, I expected compliance to be an issue in the descents, but I could carry higher speeds without any worry. Sprinting is a pure delight! The H1 & H2 option is great for those with flexibility concerns. Overall, this is it! A bike with great looks, performance and versatility.

Gorgeous to look at and beautiful to ride. Light and stiff yet still quite comfortable. Project One customization is awesome.

Price - but you get what you pay for!

I started road racing in 1982 on an old Motobecane and bought my first Trek (a 170?) in 1984. I owned Treks for the next 10 years. I stopped riding altogether for 5 years until purchasing a LeMond Zurich (technically still a Trek - I think) in 1999. I loved that bike (although it didn't get ridden nearly enough when I moved to Chicago in 2003) until it flew off my roof (along with the entire rack) while driving through Nebraska to our new home in Oregon. Sad for the LeMond but good for me - as I was able to upgrade to a 2012 Project One Madone 6.9 SSL with the SRAM Red group. The difference was astounding - I was actually afraid of the bike for a week because it felt so twitchy underneath me and I was scared I'd do something stupid and wreck the gorgeous paint job! I contemplated mounting it on the wall as a work of art and buying something I wouldn't be so emotionally invested in! After a few weeks I became less of a spaz and the bike felt more and more stable. It is so quick to respond it's almost telepathic. It's ability to transfer energy into speed is really amazing. I would love to say that it climbs like a rocket but I'll have to lose another 40 lbs before I make that claim. I can say it WANTS to climb like a rocket but it has a 225 lb anchor. It's not as stable on the descents as the LeMond was - I frequently hit the high 50's riding the hills around Eugene, OR on the LeMond and it was rock solid. The Madone is a bit more squirrely in the 50mph range although some of that may be the deep wheels catching air. I'm going to put some RXL wheels on it and see if that makes any difference. My only complaint is with the SRAM front derailleur - total piece of crap! The first one cracked, the second one flexed so much it came of the chain ring on both sides on numerous times. SRAM sent me a different version (steel/aluminum instead of titanium) and it appears to be fixed. All in all it's a great bike that I would highly recommend (just go with a Force front derailleur) if you're getting the SRAM group.

Trek 170, Trek 1300, Trek 2300, LeMond Zurich

Light, Fast, Climbs Very Good, Comfortable, Good value.

I have had my P1 6.9 for almost a year now. Setup with Sram Red components and Bontrager carbon aero wheels. The bike has been great. I swapped out the Sram FD with a DA FD, but other than that the bike has been flawless. It is very light, fast and comfortable. I could not be happier with the bike.

Extraordinary hill climber. My Madone 6.9 has climbed many of the rugged passes in B.C. and it's rented cousin took me to the 10,000 ft. peak of Maui's Haleakala fron sea level at Paia. Bike is great downhill as well and sucks up the bumps and rough pavement at any speed. It is frankly an extraordinary bike. Kudos to the U.S. engineered and built bike.

Ultegra components need more attention than I used to have with my prior Shimano powered bikes.

Fantastic bike. I am lucky enough to have started road riding as a hobby in the mid 80's on a Birtoni Italian steel bike then graduated to a Cannondale P8 with an aluminum frame and carbon forks. The leap to a Madone 6.9 Project bike was enormous but it certainly made me a convert. The ride experience makes me count the days between my ski season at Whistler and my rides on the Sea to Sky highway.

Handling , weight, Position, Climbing. Comfy ride. Wheels a surprise. Scandium ..Lite and durable. .25 mm Vitoria Rubino pro slicks helped the ride .

This thing eats bb bearings to the tune of a set every 2k miles or less.. Change chains , change bearings..Got some new ones from Hawk-Racing. Hope they help ..Last week the fork cracked on both sides in nearly the same place..Not safe to ride now.. My old 5500 at least rides every day.. Learned long ago to keep one bike for go when it counts. Not the Madone.. Each year the price goes up.. What really matters most is the motor.

Fun ride at first..Liked the ride and power transfer. This bike was a retirement gift..I ride several hours most days.. Impressed with the Race Lite wheels. Durable so far..I get 6-8000 miles yearly.. The more i ride this the more it needs work. I find myself letting it hang many days and ride another.. 2010 MADONE 6.9

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First Ride Review: 2014 Trek Madone 7-Series Project One

A little lighter, a smidgeon smoother

This article first appeared on BikeRadar .

Trek says the updated Madone 7-Series is more comfortable, offers better rear brake performance, and is lighter than ever before - supposedly down to just 725g for a 56cm sample finished in the company's ultra-svelte U5 Vapor Coat paint scheme. We haven't had a chance to tear our sample down to check the chassis weight yet but our early rides suggest that the other two claims hold true.

Ride and handling: Smoother under fire

Ride quality has gotten better on this latest Madone although it's a subtle improvement. Whereas the previous one offered a reasonably firm but somewhat wooden feel, this edition has a little more blood flowing through its veins with a livelier and springier personality along with a little less jarring over bigger pavement imperfections - and that's even before we switched to 25mm tires. It's still no magic carpet, mind you, but we nonetheless found the new Madone 7-Series a willing partner during a 5 ½-hour day in the Dolomites. Four big passes - including 2,900m (9,540ft) of vertical gain - left us physically drained but far from beat-up.

Trek says the updated Madone's beefed-up chain stays lend a more solid foundation for the bottom bracket-located, direct mount rear brake caliper and truth be told, brake performance is undoubtedly improved over the Madone 6-Series we reviewed earlier this year. However, we also upgraded this time around to Shimano Dura-Ace calipers instead of the Bontrager house-brand ones so it's difficult - if not impossible - to isolate the effect of the new chain stay shape.

We noted some slight front brake rub when climbing out of the saddle on our 2013 Madone tester and we're happy to report that there was no similar issue this time around. However, we did notice a substantial amount of rear brake rub but only after switching to a set of very stiff, deep-section carbon fiber tubular wheels. We'll continue to investigate this issue as we delve further into testing as it's not something we observed with the stock Bontrager Aeolus 3 D3 carbon clinchers supplied with our tester.

That all being said, the Dura-Ace setup actually works very well. There's ample power, excellent control, and a lighter and silkier lever feel where there was once far too much friction and sponginess. The rear caliper's location still makes it occasionally tricky to set up but Trek at least seems to have tightened up the tolerances on the head tube-mounted housing stop, which incorporates an easy-to-use barrel adjuster and quick-release function.

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Trek hasn't messed much with the Madone elsewhere and for the most part, that's just fine. Overall stiffness still feels around the middle of the scale with good snap under power and precise handling. As we've frequently mentioned in the past, frame geometry feels spot-on. The bike's confident high-speed stability had us comfortably rocketing down passes at 80km/h (50mph) while the solid front triangle and excellent braking let us scrub speed late before diving hard into tight downhill corners.

We went with the more aggressive H1 fit and felt right at home with just a handful of headset spacers but riders looking for a more upright feel can simply go with the taller front end of the H2 variant.

Frame: a familiar formula

There's very little to distinguish the 2014 Madone 7-Series from the 2013 edition from a visual standpoint. The driveside chain stay is noticeably bigger than before and now has a pronounced step as it approaches the dropout, the fork tips are now made of molded carbon fiber instead of aluminum, and that's about it.

Otherwise, it's familiar stuff, including truncated Kamm tail tube shaping throughout, a tapered 1 1/8-to-1 1/2in head tube, a 90mm-wide bottom bracket with molded-in bearing seats, and Trek's trademark no-cut semi-integrated seatmast.

Cable routing is once again internal and convertible between mechanical and electronic drivetrains with similar entry and exit locations as last year - meaning we still wish the input stops up front were moved a little further back to create a smoother path when using very low and/or short stem setups. Trek looks to have refined the exit port for the rear brake, though, as the cable no longer drags on the aluminum housing stop.

Finish quality on our custom painted Project One 'real fire' frame was excellent and particularly impressive given the size of Trek's operations.

We unfortunately weren't quite as impressed with the quality of those new carbon fiber fork tips, though. The fit is curiously sloppy around the axle and we've been struggling with wheel alignment throughout our first few weeks of testing.

As you read this, our test bike is en route back to Trek to be evaluated.

Equipment: Awesome Dura-Ace 9000 group, great wheels and finishing kit

We continue to be blown away by Shimano's latest Dura-Ace 9000 group - it's everything the previous 7900 group should have been but wasn't. Shift quality both front and rear is silky smooth with a light lever action and extremely precise movement that's highly reminiscent of the iconic 7800 generation. Front shifts are particularly good with incredibly positive chain engagement. We still wouldn't mind shorter lever throws but aside from that, the shifting is virtually flawless.

Critics are quick to discount the new direct brake mount but now that we've been able to sample a setup with high-quality calipers, there's not much to complain about. It's certainly a tidier setup - at least up front, in this case - as as the arms are offset less from supporting structure to which they're bolted, there's less flex under very hard braking, too. Details aside, the most important thing to note here is that they work exceptionally well. In addition to the power and modulation comments we made earlier, lever feel is fantastic, too - even with the somewhat squishy carbon-specific Bontrager cork brake pads.

Speaking of Trek's house brand, the rest of the Bontrager bits on our tester have been excellent so far - as one would hope considering we hand-picked each one through the Project One custom program.

The molded carbon fiber Race XXX Lite stem is rigid and light but it's the Race X Lite IsoZone carbon handlebar that's really impressive with its relatively thin foam pads that sit in slight recesses on the tops up to the hoods and on the drops. They don't add much in terms of girth but they're quite effective at quieting vibration. We'd even say it's almost the equivalent of switching from 23mm-wide tires to 25s.

Though they're not cheap, the Aeolus 3 D3 carbon clinchers have been excellent all-rounders - both on this bike and in previous encounters. They're pretty light and quick to spin up, quite stiff and snappy, and have very good braking performance in dry conditions. They're quite stable in blustery conditions, too, although it'd be nice if they were tubeless compatible.

The Bontrager Paradigm XXX Carbon saddle is utterly fantastic. The firm shell and high-density foam provide excellent support on long days and the excellent shape is supremely comfortable, too. We rolled the dice and set out on three days in the Dolomites without allowing sufficient time to get used to the thing and thankfully, we had no ill effects as a result.

Total weight for our 52cm H1 test rig was just 6.32kg (13.93lb) without pedals.

Price: US$10,579.98 Weight: 6.32kg (13.93lb, 52cm H1, without pedals) Available sizes: H1: 50, 52 (tested), 54, 56, 58, 60, 62cm; H2: 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 64cm Available colors: Project One custom Pros: Brilliant handling, improved ride comfort, very light, good stiffness Cons: Rear brake rub, sloppy-fitting fork tips BikeRadar verdict: TBD pending longer-term testing and test bike evaluation from Trek More information: www.trekbikes.com

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Up Close:Trek’s 2010 Madone 6 Series And Lance Bike History

As new model launches go, you can hardly blame Trek for following the same page from the same play book that they’ve relied on for the last six years. It’s a simple strategy really, but one that has proven more successful than any other bike company could ever hope to duplicate. In a nutshell, Trek’s recipe is this: design a new bike, make sure Lance is racing, enter both in the Tour de France, sit back and wait for the phone to ring.

It’s been three years since Lance Armstrong last raced the Tour de France and it’s been five years since Trek introduced an all new pro peloton worthy road bike. It was in fact at the 2003 Tour de France that Lance first race tested an early prototype of the bike which would go on to become the three time Tour de France winning Madone (replacing the venerable Trek 5200 which he won four Tours on).

So here it is in 2009 and although it owes more to coincidence than purposeful planning (Lance didn’t announce his return to racing until well after the new bike was being developed) Trek has once again used the annual French foray in July to showcase a new model Madone with the Texan aboard. Trek’s Team Astana team liaison Ben Coates was kind enough to take some time and roll the new team bikes out for us to shoot while traipsing around the marina in Monaco – thanks Ben.

  The Bikes

Trek is making two models of the 6 series available, both outfitted with Shimano 7900 Dura Ace drivetrains. Look for retail prices of $6614 and $8609 for the respective models which are further distinguished by their level of Bontrager components. You can choose between five different Signature color options or go the custom route using Trek’s much evolved Project One program where you can also order a bike with a team spec SRAM Red drivetrain and best of all, any number of color choices for your cable housing.

Trek’s E2 carbon fork has been totally redesigned (and now weighs 30 grams less), just as the new Bontrager Aeolus wheels have – no more paired spoking! Here, Contador is running with the Race XXX Lite carbon wheels.

The tapered, full carbon E2 fork is now ovalized just above the crown to provide both increased stiffness and comfort (with more fore/aft flex). Internal cable routing is designed to accommodate both mechanical and Shimano DI-2 cables. The Madone frame now uses what Trek calls their Step Joint construction process to minimize frame tube overlap which not only helps the frame lose weight, but also provide an improved ride quality.

The underbelly exposes the internal cable routing. An example of Trek thinking ahead, is the black plastic plate which can be replaced with one specifically designed as a mount for a Shimano’s electronic drivetrain battery so there’s no need to drill holes in your frame. The Madone is dedicated to the maxi-wide BB90 bottom bracket.

Both the internal cable routing and Trek’s new Duo Tap computer can be seen here. The inboard Duo Tap which records speed and cadence and Lance is also using the Duo Tap handlebar mounted computer as it also records SRM info as well.

The 6 Series Madone will be available in five select colors as well as an array of Project One paint/build options…luckily this isn’t one of them! Our 2010 Madone test bike is supposed to be arriving any day now so soon enough we can get started finding out what all the Wisco hoopla is about. Stay tuned. 

A Look Back: Lance’s Bikes of Old

For more info, head over to the Trek web site .

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Shop new & used Trek Madone bikes at TPC - The Pro's Closet. Find reviews, specs, weight info, prices and size charts on various models (SLR 9, 7) and popular years (2018, 2021, etc). Read our Trek Madone Quick-Take Review below.

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Trek Madone SLR Gen 7 - Weight, Specs, Price

Trek madone 3rd party reviews ,   trek madone size chart, 2022 trek madone review - a tpc rider's quick take.

• Aero masterclass
• Trek engineers locked themselves in a wind tunnel with this bike. Every curve, edge, and component shouts aerodynamics. From the IsoFlow tech to the one-piece aero bar and stem this bike is designed for slicing through air.
• IsoFlow Comfort
• One of the standout features of the Madone is Trek’s IsoFlow technology, which makes for a forgiving ride, especially on longer epics. IsoFlow helps the seatmast flex, soaking up road vibrations. It’s rare for a speed-focused road bike to excel in comfort, yet here we are.
• Integrated everything
• In the Madone, the term "fully integrated" is taken to new heights. From the cables to the cockpit, everything is tucked away, contributing not just to aerodynamics but also to a jaw-dropping aesthetic.
• Speed and beauty come at a cost. The Madone’s premium price could act as a barrier for many. It's a serious investment, and budget-friendly aero options are out there.
• Price: $7,999 (SLR 6)
• Weight woes
• Despite the carbon fiber frame and components, the Madone isn't a featherweight in its category. It's a solid build, but riders focused on climbing might find it a tad on the heavier side.
• Weight: 17lbs (56cm)
• Versatility questions
• While the Madone excels on flat terrain and downhill blasts, it's not the most versatile option for a wide range of riding conditions. Climbers and those who encounter varying terrain may find it limiting.

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2011 Trek Madone 6.9 SSL – First look

Major changes to 5 Series Madone line, too

James Huang

For 2011, Trek's flagship 6 Series range follows in the footsteps of past Madones with a new lightweight 'SSL' variant. This is 100g lighter on average, bringing claimed weight down to just 815g (bare 56cm frame with 'nude' paint scheme), and putting Trek well in-line with carbon superbikes from other manufacturers.

To achieve this weight saving, 50g has been taken out of the frame itself, 30g has been lost thanks to lighter paint processes, and another 20g courtesy of a standard Cane Creek AER upper headset assembly.

Trek say the new model makes no sacrifices in overall rigidity or durability, however, thanks to a new HexSL carbon fibre that's said to be 10 percent stiffer and stronger than the standard OCLV Red blend.

As a result, engineers were able to design the SSL with fewer carbon plies, which imparts a slightly different ride quality when rolling down the road but virtually identical test bench numbers (90Nm/degree at the head tube, according to Trek).

Externally, the new SSL is visually identical to the standard 6 Series, using the same moulds and Near Net Molding, StepJoint, asymmetrical steerer, DuoTrap and BB90 technologies. Fit and geometry will generally remain the same (more on this later) so current Madone owners who choose to upgrade will be treated to the same dialled-in handling and feel.

Two clenched fists come together at the head tube as part of the Unity paint scheme

Trek will offer the new SSL in two range-topping complete bike models that will replace last year's Madone 6.9 and 6.5, as well as a bare fuselage (frame, fork, headset, seatmast cap). The flagship Madone 6.9 SSL will come with Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 and Bontrager Race XXX Lite carbon clinchers while the second-tier 6.7 SSL will swap in more conventional Race X Lite aluminium wheels.

Two 6 Series complete bikes will be offered in 2011; this is the second-tier Madone 6.7 SSL

As before, all 6 Series Madone models will also be available in Trek's Project One custom programme, which allows buyers to choose geometry and paint, component models and sizing, and even component colours in many cases. New for 2011 are tubular Bontrager wheel options (with colour options extended to the top-end models) alongside Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra.

New Project One paint schemes will include a Team Radioshack replica option

Trek have acknowledged that Project One lead times last year were longer than anticipated, with some customers waiting more than 30 days to receive their orders, and say the hiring of additional staff should bring that delay down to two to three weeks.

6 Series technology trickles down to mid-range 5 Series

Trek's bread-and-butter Madone 5 Series range gets a complete overhaul for 2011, inheriting the same external shaping and most of the features of last year's 6 Series models. Key changes include the cleaner internal cable routing – with a trick Dura-Ace Di2 option – the optional DuoTrap integrated wireless speed and cadence sensor integrated into the non-driveside chainstay, and an updated round-profile seatmast cap.

The Trek Madone 5.9 is substantially upgraded from last year with a new 6 Series-like shape

As a result, the 2011 5 Series will drop 150g on average relative to 2010 frames while also getting a 15 percent bump in stiffness. The StepJoint tube joining technology and asymmetrical steerer tube will remain exclusive to the 6 Series, though, and the 2011 5 Series will change to Trek's TCT carbon process, meaning that production will shift from Waterloo, Wisconsin to Asia. As a result, 5 Series Madones will no longer be offered with Project One options.

The new 5 Series gains the 6 Series's integrated DuoTrap wireless speed and cadence sensor

Last year's 4 Series Madone frame will carry into 2011 unchanged aside from updated paint, graphics, and build kits.

4 Series Madone frames will carry into 2011 unchanged aside from colours and graphics

Updated fit options

As before, Trek will offer the entire Madone range in a broad selection of sizes and fit options but with one additional geometry option and new naming schemes across the board to eliminate some of the emotional baggage that occasionally accompanied the old monikers – worth noting is that the most upright Project One 6 Series Madone will no longer include a clearcoated 'WSD' decal.

Last year's 'Pro' fit is now called 'H1' and features the shortest head tubes of the range while the 'Performance' fit is again 3cm taller at the head tube. New for 2011 is an 'H3' variant, which is similar to last year's WSD geometry but with even slighter shorter reach (by nearly a centimetre) and even taller stack (by 1.5-2cm) than before. Unlike WSD, H3 will be available in a full size spread from 50cm all the way up to 62cm.

2011 bikes that were formerly badged 'WSD' and use the same frame moulds as last year will carry over the same geometry but all Trek bikes will eventually transition to the H1-3 scheme as older models are phased out. Trek will offer the highest-end SSL Madone models exclusively in H1 and H2 fits but standard 6 Series Madones will be available in H1, H2 or H3. Other Madone models will be offered in H2, H3 or WSD fits depending on the model but not in H1.

About those steerer tubes

We took the opportunity to ask Trek road and triathlon product manager Tyler Pilger about the recent attention surrounding the company's carbon fibre steerer tubes. According to Pilger, there is no recall in place for current models, though Trek do prescribe fairly stringent guidelines with regards to stem model and clamp torques, saying stems with overly aggressive extension cutouts and excessive torque can generate too much point stress.

Use a properly designed stem, and pay attention when tightening bolts and placing spacers, and you should have no problems. Even so, Pilger admits that 2011 Madone carbon steerer tubes will feature additional fibre plies in stem clamp areas to better tolerate out-of-spec stems and clamp torques just in case, and weight penalties are said to only be about 15g.

2011 steerer tubes are reinforced with 15g of additional carbon fibre

2011 Madone line prices and specs

• Madone 6.9 SSL w/ Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 and Bontrager Race XXX Lite clinchers: US$8,709.99
• Madone 6.7 SSL w/ Shimano Dura-Ace 7900 and Bontrager Race X Lite clinchers: $6,819.99
• Madone 6.5 w/ SRAM Force and Bontrager Race X Lite clinchers: $5,039.99
• Madone 6.2 w/ Shimano Ultegra 6700 and Bontrager Race Lite clinchers: $4,199.99
• Madone 5.9 w/ Shimano Dura-Ace/Ultegra and Bontrager Race Lite clinchers: $3,989.99
• Madone 5.9 frameset: $2,309.99
• Madone 5.5 w/ SRAM Force and Bontrager Race Lite clinchers: $3,779.99
• Madone 5.2 w/ Shimano Ultegra 6700 and Bontrager Race clinchers: $3,149.99
• Madone 5.1 w/ SRAM Rival and Bontrager Race clinchers: $2,939.99
• Madone 4.7 w/ Shimano 105 and Bontrager Race clinchers: $2,519.99
• Madone 4.5 w/ Shimano 105 (R600 crank) and Bontrager SSR clinchers: $2,099.99

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2011 Trek Madones Released: Includes 6 Series SSL and New 5 Series

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Utilizing the 2010 Tour de France Grand Départ from Rotterdam, Netherlands as a venue, Trek has shown their hand when it comes to the hottest bikes of 2011. Building on the already immensely popular Madone line, the newest models boast lighter weight, more features, and a wider range of pricing.

While the biggest news is the release of a new 6 series SSL model which is over 100 grams lighter than the previous 6 series, there are big changes to the 5 series, as well as an additional fit geometry that are not to go unnoticed.

Check out Trek’s new carbon, all the changes to the 5 series, and the most upright Madone ever after the break!

How did they manage to make the 6 series SSL even lighter? With a new carbon fiber, of course. Dubbed OCLV Hex SL, it exhibits the same stiffness as High Modulus carbon, but with over four times the strength and twice the elongation properties. When asked about the new material, Trek Road Product Engineer Chris Pomering had this to say, “OCLV HexSL is really a game-changing material. Before this material’s culmination we had to use two, sometimes three different layers of carbon to get the same strength and performance that we get from just one layer of OCLV HexSL.”Like most Trek OCLV (Optimum Compaction Low Void), Trek claims that you won’t see many others using it due to the fact that the US Government declares it Defense grade material, and therefore it is prohibited to be shipped outside the NATO alliance. Believe what you will, but Trek puts it in a  good perspective by stating, “Our frames are imagined, tested, and perfected by our 37 carbon engineers, including 11 Composite Materials Engineering specialists and 9 bonafide rocket scientists. (Why rocket scientists? Because the aerospace industry is THE hotbed of carbon innovation.)”

While new to the public, the SSL has already been under Team Radio Shack’s Jani Brajkovic, propelling him to an overall win at the 2010 Tour of Dauphine in June, resulting in the Madone SSL’s first stage race win. Team Radio Shack’s entire 2010 Tour de France squad will be riding the Madone 6 Series SSL throughout July. As expected, the new SSL 6 series carries all the same technology as the current 6 series that has driven it’s success.

What may be unexpected however, is that the new 5 series Madone will also get most of the tech features that makes the 6 series so special. While the 2010 version of the 5 series carried the BB90 integrated bottom bracket, and E2 tapered head tube already, the new 5 series will get all the other features lacking from the 6 series such as the revised round seat mast, integrated cables with internal DI2 option, a zip tie-less ANT+ computer mounting system called Duotrap, and a weight shavings of more than 150 grams. In addition to shaving a significant amount of frame weight, the 5 Series will be stiffer and more vertically compliant for 2011. The Madone 5 Series will be available in 5 different models, including the 5.9, 5.5, 5.2, 5.5 WSD, and the 5.2 WSD.Perhaps even more impressive is that all this comes at a lower cost than last years 5 series, $3149 vs $3779 for a 5.2 Madone.

How is this possible? Well, the new 5 series Madones will be a TCT (Trek Carbon Technology) frame, meaning they will be manufactured over seas in Taiwan. While obviously not being OCLV bikes, the move makes sense as when offered the choice of the 5 vs. 6 series at similar prices customers overwhelmingly went with the 6 series. Also, this allows Trek to become more competitive in the Carbon road bike arena, and allows customers a clear difference between a 5 and a 6 series.

Obviously, this will eliminate 5 series bikes from Trek’s Project One – their full custom bike program. However, this is yet another reason for customers to upgrade to the six series or six series SSL and should allow shorter lead times for the Project One bikes in the future.

The other big news from Trek in their Madone line, is the creation of a third fit geometry. In 2010, there were two Madone geometries – Pro Fit and Performance fit. The Pro fit was just like it sounds, and the performance fit was the slightly more upright riding position with a longer head tube and higher bar position. In 2011, the fits will now be H1, H2, and H3 with H(headtube)1 being the old Pro fit and H2 being the old Performance fit. The new H3 fit, looks to be essentially the old Pilot geometry with an even taller headtube and slightly more stable handling. Now riders regardless of fit needs will be able to experience the performance of the Madone series.

Understandably proud of Trek’s new Madone line, company president John Burke remarked “This is an exciting time for Trek, our Retailers, and our customers. We’ve never been more invested in our product development, and those investments are yielding the most advanced products Trek has ever offered. The 2011 Madone product line represents the collective effort of many individuals. I’m very proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

For more information, and to check out all the new specs head over to Trek’s Madone site.

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor . He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

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I currently ride a Trek 5200 and was thinking about getting a european bike (LOOK, BH) for my next ride, but this is luring me back to another Trek

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• Madone SLR 9 Gen 6