Trek's new Emonda SLR is the lightest road frame the company has offered to date. Claimed frame weight is just 690g for an unpainted 56cm sample - James Huang / Future Publishing
Our Trek Emonda SLR 8 test sample comes in at 6.19kg (13.65lb, without pedals), built with a Shimano Dura-Ace mechanical group and Bontrager tubeless aluminium clincher wheels - James Huang / Future Publishing
Trek's Madone, Domane, and now Emonda bike names are all anagrams of each other. Surely this calls into question what the company will do next… - James Huang / Future Publishing
Cable routing is tidy up front with all of the lines hugging the head tube tightly - James Huang / Future Publishing
Whereas the Trek Madone is built with aerodynamics in mind, the new Emonda focuses only on stiffness and weight - James Huang / Future Publishing
The rear of the top tube is extremely wide in an effort to boost front triangle torsional stiffness - James Huang / Future Publishing
The chain stays aren't extraordinarily tall but they're quite wide - James Huang / Future Publishing
Trek is certainly proud of this statement - James Huang / Future Publishing
Direct-mount brakes are used front and rear. Before you cast off the idea as "yet another standard", the concept is extremely sound as there's less potential for flex (thus robbing power, control, and lever feel) as compared to a traditional centre mount - James Huang / Future Publishing
Another benefit of the direct-mount brake callipers is very impressive tyre clearance at both ends. There's plenty of space around these proper 25mm Bontrager tyres to go up in size - James Huang / Future Publishing
The puffed-up head tube houses a 1 1/8 to 1 1/2in tapered steerer - James Huang / Future Publishing
The tidy cable routing keeps things looking neat but vinyl frame protectors are a must, especially on the non-driveside where the barrel adjuster has already started eating into the paint - on ride number one - James Huang / Future Publishing
The comfy and supportive Bontrager Paradigm RXL saddle is mounted to Trek's carbon fibre no-cut seatmast head - James Huang / Future Publishing
Bontrager's 'VR' bar has long been one of our favourites - James Huang / Future Publishing
The revamped DuoTrap S sensor mount is sleeker than before - James Huang / Future Publishing
The Trek Emonda SLR 8 comes with mid-compact 52/36-tooth chainrings for just a bit of help on steep climbs without overly sacrificing top-end speed - James Huang / Future Publishing
Shimano's Dura-Ace mechanical group is used all around - James Huang / Future Publishing
"Designed in ____" is usually another way of saying "Not actually made in ____" but in this case, Trek is adamant that the Emonda SLR frame is moulded in its Wisconsin factory - James Huang / Future Publishing
Routing is convertible for electronic or mechanical drivetrains - James Huang / Future Publishing
The direct-mount Shimano Dura-Ace brakes are impressively powerful with excellent control and lever feel given the compact, flex-resistant layout - James Huang / Future Publishing
The 90mm-wide bottom bracket shell features direct press-fit bearing cartridge seats, an integrated chain catcher, and what is assuredly one of the most minimalist cable guides we've ever seen - James Huang / Future Publishing
The asymmetrical chain stays finish at carbon fibre dropouts - James Huang / Future Publishing
From previous experience, the Bontrager RXL TL tubeless aluminium clincher wheelset should be an outstanding partner for all-around riding with excellent stiffness and a good ride quality - James Huang / Future Publishing
Just how big is that down tube, you ask? For reference, the bottom bracket is 90mm wide and those are large-sized hands - James Huang / Future Publishing
Trek recently stunned the cycling market with its 4.65kg (10.2lb) Emonda SLR 10 road bike. Only a lucky handful can afford this incredible US$15,749 / £11,000 bike, but thankfully, there are other models that use the same ultralight sub-700g carbon frame and are somewhat more attainable thanks to more sensible build kits.
We just took delivery of the Shimano Dura-Ace equipped Emonda SLR 8, which is still expensive at US$7,449.99 / £5,800 but nevertheless nearly 50 percent cheaper.
Our trek emonda slr 8 test sample comes in at 6.19kg (13.65lb, without pedals), built with a shimano dura-ace mechanical group and bontrager tubeless aluminum clincher wheels: our trek emonda slr 8 test sample comes in at 6.19kg (13.65lb, without pedals), built with a shimano dura-ace mechanical group and bontrager tubeless aluminum clincher wheels
For the price of one Trek Emonda SLR 10, you can buy nearly two of these
As with the flagship Emonda SLR 10, the SLR 8's frame casts aside any notions of aerodynamic gains in favour of structural efficiency. Save for the rather slim seat stays, all of the tubes are hugely oversized for stiffness with roundish profiles used throughout along with smooth, organic-looking transitions that make the most of every bit of material.
Nearly everything is carbon fibre including the rear dropouts and fork tips, of course, plus there are virtually no redundant structures at the interfaces: headset bearings drop directly into moulded-in seats, for example, and the bottom bracket bearings press directly into the carbon fibre shell. The internal cable routing is convertible for mechanical or electronic systems and even the lower cable guide is shockingly minimal.
Just how big is that down tube, you ask? for reference, the bottom bracket is 90mm wide and those are large-sized hands: just how big is that down tube, you ask? for reference, the bottom bracket is 90mm wide and those are large-sized hands
How big are the tubes? This big
Despite costing roughly half that of the Emonda SLR 10, the Emonda SLR 8 still comes with a fantastic spec that includes Shimano's outstanding Dura-Ace mechanical group, excellent Bontrager RXL TL shallow-profile tubeless aluminium clincher wheels, and a Bontrager finishing kit that comprises a carbon RXXXL handlebar, RXL forged aluminium stem, and a carbon railed Paradigm RXL saddle that's lightweight yet comfortable and supportive.
Actual weight for our 52cm sample is 6.19kg (13.65lb) without pedals – an ultralight figure by nearly anyone's standards.
Shimano's dura-ace mechanical group is used all around: shimano's dura-ace mechanical group is used all around
Few will complain about finding a mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace group here
One might rightfully assume that such a low weight would make the Emonda SLR 8 little more than a dedicated climbing machine and while our initial impressions suggest that it will certainly excel in that department, we detect a hint of surprising versatility too.
Thanks to fairly generous frame clearances – not to mention the extra room provided by the Shimano direct-mount front and rear brake callipers – there's easily room for 27mm-wide tyres in here.
Another benefit of the direct-mount brake calipers is very impressive tire clearance at both ends. there's plenty of space around these proper 25mm bontrager tires to go up in size: another benefit of the direct-mount brake calipers is very impressive tire clearance at both ends. there's plenty of space around these proper 25mm bontrager tires to go up in size
The bike comes stock with 25mm-wide tyres but there's clearly room for more
We've got some big rides planned for this one so stay tuned for an in-depth, long-term review in the coming months.
James Huang is BikeRadar's former technical editor. After leaving BikeRadar in 2016, he worked at CyclingTips and Escape Collective. He now runs the Substack cycling publication N-1 Bikes.
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