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NOTE: Trek Émonda bikes were discontinued in 2024.
I’ll help you navigate the Trek Émonda aero road bikes in this article by comparing the Émonda SL 6 to the SLR 9.
You will also learn:
- Who are they best suited for?
- Why I think you shouldn’t buy Trek Émonda with SRAM groupset.
- And which model gives you the best value for your money?
KEY TAKEAWAY
Trek Émonda bikes are ideal for climbing and hilly terrain. They are the lightest bike family of all Trek road bikes. The models differ in components (e.g., electronic shifting) and frames. The more expensive ones are usually lighter and have a higher-grade carbon frame, but but usually see diminishing returns..
Let’s dive deeper to help make your decision easier.
This article compares Trek Émonda Gen 6 and 7. The main difference between Émonda Gen 6 and Gen 7 is that Gen 6 has IsoSpeed decoupler, while Gen 7 has IsoFlow.
Trek Émonda ALR 5 to SLR 9
The following table summarizes the main differences between all Émonda road bikes.
| Feature | Émonda ALR 5 | Émonda SL 5 | Émonda SL 6 Pro Émonda SL 6 AXS | Émonda SL 7 Émonda SL 7 AXS | Émonda SLR 6 Émonda SLR 6 AXS | Émonda SLR 7 Émonda SLR 7 AXS | Émonda SLR 9 Émonda SLR 9 AXS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,299.99 | $3,349.99 | $4,999.99 $5,299.99 (AXS) | $6,199.99 $6,699.99 (AXS) | $7,699.99 $7,999.99 (AXS) | $8,999.99 $9,499.99 (AXS) | $12,549.99 $12,999.99 (AXS) |
| Frame | Aluminum | Carbon (500-series OCLV) | Carbon (500-series OCLV) | Carbon (500-series OCLV) | Carbon (800-series OCLV) | Carbon (800-series OCLV) | Carbon (800-series OCLV) |
| Fork | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
| Available sizes | 47-56 | 47-62 | 47-62 | 50-62 | 47-62 | 47-62 | 47-62 |
| Wheels | Bontrager Paradigm tubeless-ready | Bontrager Paradigm SL tubeless-ready | Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35 tubeless-ready | Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 tubeless-ready | Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 tubeless-ready | Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 tubeless-ready | Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 tubeless-ready |
| Wheel size | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
| Tires | Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite (28mm) | Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite (28mm) | Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite (28mm) | Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite (25mm) | Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (25mm) | Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (25mm) | Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (25mm) |
| Max tire size | 28mm | 28mm | 28mm | 28mm | 28mm | 28mm | 28mm |
| Drivetrain | Shimano 105 2×11spd | Shimano 105 2×11spd | Shimano 105 Di2 or SRAM Rival eTap AXS 2×12spd | Shimano Ultegra Di2 or SRAM Force eTap AXS 2×12spd | Shimano 105 Di2 or SRAM Rival eTap AXS 2×12spd | Shimano Ultegra Di2 or SRAM Force eTap AXS 2×12spd | Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM RED eTap AXS 2×12spd |
| Pedals | not included | not included | not included | not included | not included | not included | not included |
| Saddle | Bontrager Verse Short Comp | Bontrager Verse Short Comp | Bontrager Aeolus Comp | Bontrager Aeolus Comp | Bontrager Aeolus P2 Comp | Bontrager Aeolus P2 Elite | Bontrager Aeolus P2 Pro |
| Brakes | Shimano 105 hydraulic disc | Shimano 105 hydraulic disc | Shimano 105 SRAM Rival hydraulic disc | Shimano Ultegra SRAM Force hydraulic disc | Shimano 105 SRAM Rival hydraulic disc | Shimano Ultegra SRAM Force (with power meter) hydraulic disc | Shimano Dura-Ace SRAM RED hydraulic disc |
| Weight | 9.00 kg / 19.85 lbs | 8.87 kg / 19.55 lbs | 8.25 kg / 18.19 lbs 8.69 kg / 19.16 lbs | 7.80 kg / 17.2 lbs 7.97 kg / 17.56 lbs | 7.35 kg / 16.21 lbs 7.48 kg / 16.5 lbs | 7.10 kg / 15.66 lbs 7.37 kg / 16.25 lbs | 6.60 kg / 14.56 lbs 6.75 kg / 14.89 lbs |
| Buy | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued | Discontinued |
Specifications source: trekbikes.com, updated on October 25, 2025
Émonda Pros & Cons Summary
Here are the pros and cons of the Émonda series.
Émonda Pros
- Lighter than Madone bikes
- Aluminum and carbon models are available
- Relaxed geometry
- Availability in multiple sizes and colors
- Integrated cable routing
- Simplicity
- Lifetime warranty
Émonda Cons
- Slower than Madone road bikes
- Narrow tire clearance (28mm)
Émonda Main Features
Here are the main features of Trek Émonda aero bikes.
Frame and Geometry
The Émonda bikes are part of Trek’s road bike lineup. They’re made of aluminum or carbon.
The abbreviations in the bike names indicate the frame material:
- ALR are aluminum frame bikes.
- SL are bikes with 500 series OCLV* carbon (mid-range).
- SLR are bikes with 800 series OCLV carbon (high-end).
*OCLV carbon is Trek’s patented carbon fiber process (learn more).
ALR Émondas are great entry-level road bikes, because they’re affordable. However, they’re still pricier than lesser-known brands.
SLs offer the best mid-range value. They are slightly heavier than SLRs but about 25% cheaper.
And SLRs are ideal for people who have more money to spend and don’t want to compromise.
Most Émondas are available in 47-62 sizes and multiple colors, giving you a wide range of options.
Their geometry is more relaxed than on other racing bikes, so you won’t experience as much strain on your lower back and neck. The following picture shows the comparison with Specialized Tarmac SL 7.
Weight & Aerodynamics
Trek Émonda frame weighs 760g in size 56. The highest-end Émonda even weighs below the UCI 6.8 kg limit. However, low weight is not everything. Stiffness and aerodynamics are also important.
Trek claims Émonda frames are also relatively stiff and aero (of course, less aero than Madone). They’re 18 seconds per hour faster on 8% climbs. (Source) However, Trek doesn’t provide detailed methodology.
Émondas are lightweight because they lack an IsoSpeed decoupler.
Wheels and Tires
Most Émonda bikes come with Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 wheels, though some models vary.
Entry-level models use cheaper aluminum wheels. Fortunately, all Émondas come with tubeless-ready wheels. But remember, the tires are clinchers. So, if you want tubeless tires, you have to buy them separately.
Interestingly, entry-level Émondas have 28mm tires, while higher-end models have only 25mm. Most modern road bikes have 28mm or 30mm tires, except for some aero models.
Unfortunately, Émondas only have tire clearance for 28mm tires.
Groupset
Unsurprisingly, the Émonda bikes have a 2X drivetrain, as is customary for road bikes.
Trek uses Shimano and SRAM groupsets; the number in the model name indicates which one.
- Models ending with 5 use Shimano 105 (R7000) groupset.
- Models ending with 6 use Shimano Ultegra, 105 Di2 (R7100) or SRAM Rival AXS groupsets.
- Models ending with 7 use Shimano Ultegra Di2 (R8100) or SRAM Force AXS groupsets.
- Models ending with 9 use Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (R9200) or SRAM Red AXS groupsets.
Interestingly, SRAM-equipped Émondas are heavier than their Shimano equivalents. And they’re cheaper too.
This is somewhat strange because Shimano retail prices are higher than SRAM’s. That’s why I recommend choosing Trek bikes with Shimano groupsets unless you prefer SRAM.
TIP: You might also be interested in this comparison of Shimano vs. SRAM.
My Verdict
So, which Trek Émonda bike is the best?
If you’re considering buying an Émonda, I suggest a model with a Shimano groupset. They are lighter and less expensive than the equivalent SRAM models.
For better value, consider the Émonda SL. It’s around 30% cheaper than the SLR but offers almost the same performance. From all models, I believe the Émonda SL 6 Pro with the Shimano 105 Di2 is the best deal.
However, if you don’t want to compromise, go for the SLR, which is more expensive but lighter.
