„How now – another Madone review?“, some readers may be asking themselves right now. Indeed. Less than two weeks after NoPain's First Ride, we are now delighting you with a long-term test of the Trek Madone.
However, we did not stop time in Haushofer's manner and as the only people in motion behind an invisible wall quickly racked up the necessary kilometers. The solution to the riddle lies rather in the detail:
The brand new, more cost-effective SL version was only briefly visiting our editorial office recently. On the other hand, two examples of the Madone SLR presented last July have been in the (private) hands of our esteemed authors Julia and Hannes Lederer for over three months. And it's about their experiences with the aerodynamically and comfort-optimized race bike for World Tour pros, BB testers, and other luxury creatures that we want to talk about here.
Well then!
The spaceship has landed
Polarizing optics, impressive metrics – now we want to share our practical impressionsThis is Julia speaking
This year it was time to get myself a new bike. Not because my Scott Foil had served its time, but because the Madone caught my eye. When the new Trek Madone was presented (by the way, here's the corresponding BB-review with all technical details), it was clear to me from the start: I simply have to have it!
Not everyone will like the special look, but that's exactly what I like about it.
Technical Specifications
Frame | 800 Series OCLV Carbon, KVF tube shapes, IsoFlow seat tube, 142x12 mm thru axle, H 1.5 Race fit | Crank | Shimano Ultegra R8100 52/36 T., 172.5 mm |
Sizes | 47/50/52/54/56/58/60/62 cm | Cassette | Shimano Ultegra R8101, 11-30 T., 12-spd |
Fork | Madone KVF full carbon, tapered, FlatMount, 12x100 mm thru axle | Chain | Shimano Ultegra/XT R8100 12-spd |
Handlebar Tape | Bontrager Supertack Perf. | Brake | Shimano Ultegra BR-R8170 FlatMount |
Handlebar/Stem | Integr. Madone unit, OCLV Carbon, 420 mm, 100 mm | Brake Disc | Shimano MT800 CL, 160/160 mm |
Seatpost | Madone Carbon seatmast with integrated rear light mount, long length | Bottom Bracket | Praxis T47 |
Saddle | Bontrager Aeolus Elite, austenite rails, 145 mm | Wheels | Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51, OCLV Carbon, TLR, 100x12/142x12 mm |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano Ultegra R8150 Di2 | Tires | Bontrager R3 Hard Case Elite, 120 TPI, 700x25 mm |
Front Derailleur | Shimano Ultegra R8150 Di2 | Weight | 7.62 kg (BB measurement) |
Shift/Brake Levers | Shimano Ultegra R8170 Di2 12-spd | Price | € 10,999,- (RRP) |
Not tech-savvy and with only a few points of comparison in terms of the handling of a road bike, I had no expectations for the new Madone. After all, I was switching from one top road bike to another.
Admittedly, there was a bit of nostalgia. My Scott Foil was my first carbon racer. It was pretty and rode great. So what could possibly be better with a new bike?
But the first impression was simply "wow!". The Madone is expansive, it's striking, it's A LOT and above all else: It's awesome.
During the first ride, my enthusiasm quadrupled. Thanks to a RetĂĽl fitting, the right riding position was found very quickly.
Unfortunately, you don't get to appreciate the look of the bike much when you're sitting on it. But this handlebar-stem unit, I've honestly fallen for it. I feel like Maverick in his Super Hornet.
The cockpit doesn't just look damn fast, it also feels very comfortable in the hands, is very stiff yet still comfortable. At the top, my handlebar measures 37 cm, widening to 41 cm in the drops. This is how you ride a road bike in the year 2023: aerodynamically, with a lot of comfort and safety on the descents.
Geometry
 | 47 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 62 |
Seat tube (mm) | 424 | 453 | 483 | 496 | 525 | 553 | 573 | 593 |
Seat angle | 74,6° | 74,6° | 74,2° | 73,7° | 73,3° | 73,0° | 72,8° | 72,5° |
Head angle | 72,1° | 72,1° | 72,8° | 73,0° | 73,5° | 73,8° | 73,9° | 73,9° |
Top tube (mm) | 512 | 521 | 534 | 543 | 559 | 574 | 586 | 598 |
Head tube (mm) | 100 | 111 | 121 | 131 | 151 | 171 | 191 | 211 |
Bottom bracket drop (mm) | 72 | 72 | 72 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 68 | 68 |
Chainstay (mm) | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 410 | 411 | 411 | 412 |
Wheelbase (mm) | 972 | 974 | 977 | 981 | 983 | 992 | 1001 | 1010 |
Standover height (mm) | 692 | 711 | 732 | 744 | 768 | 793 | 811 | 829 |
Stack (mm) | 507 | 521 | 533 | 541 | 563 | 581 | 601 | 620 |
Reach (mm) | 373 | 378 | 383 | 386 | 391 | 396 | 399 | 403 |
The handling is even more agile than I was used to before. Razor-sharp in the corners, and on the straight it feels significantly faster – as if the afterburner would be engaged.
Regarding comfort, there is a noticeable difference from the Scott. Minor road irregularities, railroad crossings, or cobblestones: the Trek just judders less. IsoFlow seems to be working as promised.
Due to the wide construction, the Madone has good propulsion, which of course can become a bit tricky in strong, lateral winds. Wind gusts have more surface to attack, which, coupled with high-profile wheels like my Enve 65, leads to a rather unsettled ride.
Well steered is half the battle
The handlebars with flared drops not only look goodAnd now Hannes
Attentive observers will surely have noticed that I have made some modifications to my Madone SLR 7. The Ultegra Di2 had to give way to the also electronic Dura Ace, which I took from my old bike. The crankset was replaced with a Power2Max power meter with Rotor Aldhu Carbon arm, and the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 5 carbon wheels had to make room for my Zipp 404s.
Technically, switching from Ultegra to Dura Ace makes no sense, as both shift equally well. However, I was able to save quite a bit of weight.
Race-ready, my custom SLR now weighs exactly 7.4 kg. Certainly not a lightweight, but for a muscular bike like the Madone, it's a pretty decent value.
Modern racing bikes all look the same, don't they!?
Hate it or love it – for my part, I love the look of the new Madone!
And: It doesn't only look like a spaceship, it rides like one too. The bike has incredible propulsion, runs straight as an arrow, and is also very comfortable to ride.
Plus, it climbs quite decently. With my hill-climbing wheelset, the Zipp 303, the Madone becomes almost light-footed, although climbing is not really its specialty. For that, Trek has the Emonda in its range.
In gusty wind, due to the massive tubes, it's understandably a bit more nervous, and one should not hold the handlebar too loosely, especially with the Zipp 404. With the original Bontrager Aeolus Pro 5, it's a bit better, but it is what it is.
But once you reach a certain speed, the sailing effect kicks in and the bike seems to convert side wind into brutal propulsion. That's really fun and invites you to speed up.
The seat mast naturally allows for fewer seat height adjustments than a normal seatpost would. Trek offers two different lengths for this purpose. Up to frame size 54, the short one is installed as standard, from 56 the longer one is used.
Although with my height of 181 cm and an inseam of 86 cm according to Trek I would already need frame size 58, I consciously chose the 56er. For me the perfect choice: It fits like a glove and can be precisely adjusted to my needs.
Based on experience, when in doubt, I always have to take the smaller frame size with Trek.
As mentioned before, starting from this frame size, the long seat mast is already included, which just works out with a seat height of 75 cm. If I were to sit one centimeter lower, the mast would be too long - and that despite the smaller frame.
But I'm sure that the Trek dealer you trust will advise you correctly and find the perfect setup for you.
Unfortunately, you don't really get to see IsoFlow while riding. This sight is reserved for other cyclists. Whether the same is positive or negative for the individual, everyone must decide for themselves.
What you do constantly have in your field of vision while riding is the new cockpit. Less bulky than some of the aerocockpits of the competition, it feels fantastic in the hand and looks mega. At the hoods, in my case 39 cm wide, it becomes 42 cm wide in the drops. From gravel bikes, we are long used to handlebars with a significant flare. On the road bike, this was also new to me. But it makes quite a lot of sense.
If it's about every single watt, you'd best make yourself as small as possible with your hands on the hoods. For more control on descents, but also in sprints, the wider handlebar gives you more security and noticeably improves handling.
Regarding comfort, the Madone leaves no wishes unfulfilled for me. Even on cobblestones, it remains stoically unfazed. And forgives so many an inattentively overlooked pothole...
Although the Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite rides quite decently, there are better tires that offer more safety, especially in wet conditions. Unfortunately, it is also only 25 mm wide and comes factory-fitted with a butyl tube. In my opinion, it's always worth switching to 28 mm wide tires. They offer more comfort, better grip, and on modern wide rims, they hardly have an aerodynamic disadvantage anymore.
The bike has incredible propulsion and is also very comfortable to ride.
NoFlash is thrilledConclusion
Trek Madone SLR 7 | |
---|---|
Model Year: | 2023 |
Test Duration: | 3 months x 2 |
Price: | € 10.999,- RRP |
+ | distinctive design |
+ | brutal propulsion |
+ | excellent handling |
+ | very good comfort for a racing machine |
+ | everyday practical geometry |
o | proud price |
o | tires could be better |
- | susceptible to wind |
BB-Verdict: | Very nice, old chap! |
Julia: The Trek Madone was not only love at first sight, but also at second glance. Despite the best material: I will still always lose against Hannes. It's definitely not the bike's fault anymore, but rather the shape for sure.
Hannes: Hate it or love it! For me, the Trek Madone is not only technically but also visually a treat.
It offers unconditional propulsion, combined with good comfort, to shine even on the cobblestones of Paris–Roubaix. If you use a bit of trickery, it can even climb well, although the Madone itself does not claim to be born for the mountains.
If you want to break free from the everyday mush of racing bikes, this bike is exactly right.