Trek Road Bikes Guide: Domane vs. Émonda vs. Madone

Trek road bikes: Trek logo, and road bikes Domane, Emonda, Madone examples.

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Trek’s road bike lineup consists of Domane and Madone. Émonda was discontinued because Trek merged Madone and Émonda together in 2024. Below, I will explain their differences and advise you on which one to buy.

The short answer is as follows:

  • Domane has the most relaxed geometry. It’s a versatile endurance road bike for the masses, suitable for beginners and intermediate riders.
  • Madone is an aero/lightweight racing bike for demanding riders and racers.

Continue reading for more details, the differences between ALR, SL, and SLR, and much more.

Domane vs. Émonda vs. Madone

Here’s a closer look at these 3 models and their main features.

FamilyTypeIdeal forPrice RangeBrowse
DomaneEnduranceBeginners, less flexible, adventure, long-distance riders, people on tight budget$1,129.99 to $13,199.99Browse Domane
MadoneAll-rounder (Lightweight + Aero)Passionate roadies, racers, pros, sprinters$3,499.99 to $13,499.99Browse Madone
ÉmondaLightweightPassionate roadies, racers, pros, climbers$2,299.99 to $13,199.99Discontinued
Trek road bike families with the info about their type, ideal group of people, and price range.
Updated 13/08/2024

Trek Domane: All About Comfort

Trek Domane

Domane could be classified as an endurance road bike. This means a relaxed geometry that doesn’t push you into as aggressive a position as Émonda or Madone.

Domane sits somewhere between those two. It’s reasonably aero and lightweight but doesn’t excel in any of these categories.

On the other hand, it has a wide tire clearance, so you can equip it with wide tires (up to 38mm), which are more comfortable. This means we can also classify it as a gravel bike and compare it with Trek Checkpoint.

It features an IsoSpeed decoupler, which absorbs shock and vibrations, making the ride smoother and more comfortable.

You can see I mentioned comfort several times. That’s because Domane is all about comfort.

Price-wise, it is Trek’s most affordable road bike line.

Domane AL 2 Gen 4Domane AL 4 Gen 4Domane AL 5 Gen 4Domane SL 5 Gen 4Domane SL 6 Gen 4
Domane SL 6 AXS Gen 4
Domane SL 7 Gen 4Domane SLR 6 Gen 4Domane SLR 7 Gen 4
Domane SLR 7 AXS Gen 4
Domane SLR 9 Gen 4
Domane SLR 9 AXS Gen 4
Price$1,199.99$1,799.99$2,099.99$3,499.99$4,699.99
$5,299.99 (AXS)
$6,829.99$7,999.99$8,549.99
$9,699.99 (AXS)
$12,749.99
$13,199.99 (AXS)
FrameAluminumAluminumAluminumCarbon (500-series OCLV)Carbon (500-series OCLV)Carbon (500-series OCLV)Carbon (800-series OCLV)Carbon (800-series OCLV)Carbon (800-series OCLV)
ForkCarbonCarbonCarbonCarbonCarbonCarbonCarbonCarbonCarbon
Available sizes49-6144-6149-6144-6247-6247-6247-6247-6247-62
WheelsBontrager Paradigm SL
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Paradigm SL
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Paradigm SL
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Paradigm SL
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Paradigm Comp 25
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 size700c700c700c700c700c700c700c700c700c
TiresBontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite
32mm
Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite
32mm
Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite (32mm)Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (32mm)
tubeless-ready
Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (32mm)
tubeless-ready
Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (32mm)
tubeless-ready
Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (32mm)
tubeless-ready
Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (32mm)
tubeless-ready
Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (32mm)
tubeless-ready
Max tire size35mm without fenders
32mm with fenders
35mm without fenders
32mm with fenders
35mm without fenders
32mm with fenders
38mm without fenders
35mm with fenders
38mm without fenders
35mm with fenders
38mm without fenders
35mm with fenders
38mm without fenders
35mm with fenders
38mm without fenders
35mm with fenders
38mm without fenders
35mm with fenders
DrivetrainShimano Claris
2×8spd
Shimano Tiagra
2×10spd
Shimano 105
2×11spd
Shimano 105
2×11spd
Shimano 105 Di2 or SRAM Rival eTap AXS
2×12spd
Shimano Ultegra Di2
2×12spd
Shimano 105 Di2
2×12spd
Shimano Ultegra Di2 or SRAM Force eTap AXS
2×12spd
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM RED eTap AXS
2×12spd
Pedalsnot includednot includednot includednot includednot includednot includednot includednot includednot included
SaddleBontrager Verse CompBontrager Verse CompBontrager Verse CompBontrager Verse Short CompBontrager Verse Short CompBontrager Verse Short CompBontrager Verse Short EliteBontrager Verse Short EliteBontrager Verse Short Pro
BrakesTektro C550
mechanical disc
Shimano Tiagra
hydraulic disc
Shimano 105
hydraulic disc
Shimano 105
hydraulic disc
Shimano 105 or SRAM Rival
hydraulic disc brakes
Shimano UltegraShimano 105
hydraulic disc
Shimano Ultegra or SRAM Force eTap AXS
hydraulic disc
Shimano Dura-Ace or SRAM RED eTap AXS
hydraulic disc
Weight10.55 kg / 23.26 lbs10.45 kg / 23.04 lbs9.85 kg / 21.72 lbs9.02 kg / 19.89 lbs8.90 kg / 19.63 lbs
8.89 kg / 19.61 lbs (AXS)
8.26 kg / 18.22 lbs8.25 kg / 18.19 lbs7.89 kg / 17.41 lbs
8.38 kg / 18.48 lbs (AXS)
7.25 kg / 15.99 lbs
7.80 kg / 17.2 lbs (AXS)
BuyBuy Domane AL 2 DiscBuy Domane AL 4 DiscBuy Domane AL 5 DiscBuy Domane SL 5Buy Domane SL 6
Buy Domane SL 6 AXS
Buy Domane SL 7Buy Domane SLR 6Buy Domane SLR 7
Buy Domane SLR 7 AXS
Buy Domane SLR 9
Buy Domane SLR 9 AXS
This table compares the features of Trek Domane bikes.
Specifications source: trekbikes.com, updated on March 27, 2025

Trek Madone (Gen 8): The Blend of Aero and Lightweight

Trek Madone SLR9 Gen 8 (Project One)
Trek Madone SLR9 Gen 8

Madone was a pure-blood aero road bike until 2024. Since Jun 2024, Trek merged Madone and Émonda into one, making an aero and lightweight bike. They did the same as Specialized did with Venge and Tarmac.

The main changes include lower weight, thinner tubes, and new aero bottles, which help the bike make more aero than the previous 7th generation. However, without those bottles, Madone Gen 7 is still more aero.

Madone SL 5 Gen 8Madone SL 6 Di2 Gen 8
Madone SL 6 AXS Gen 8
Madone SL 7 Di2 Gen 8Madone SLR 7 AXS Gen 8Madone SLR 8 Di2 Gen 8Madone SLR 9 Di2 Gen 8
Madone SLR 9 AXS Gen 8
Price$3,499.99$5,499.99 (Di2)
$5,999.99 (AXS)
$6,499.99$9,499.99$8,999.99$12,999.99 (Di2)
$13,499.99 (AXS)
FrameCarbon (500-series OCLV)Carbon (500-series OCLV)Carbon (500-series OCLV)Carbon (900-series OCLV)Carbon (900-series OCLV)Carbon (900-series OCLV)
Available sizesXS-XLXS-XLXS-XLXS-XLXS-XLXS-XL
WheelsBontrager Paradigm SL
tubeless ready
Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51
tubeless-ready
Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51
tubeless-ready
Wheel size700c700c700c700c700c700c
TiresBontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite (28mm)Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (28mm)Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite (28mm)Pirelli P Zero Race (28mm)Pirelli P Zero Race (28mm)Pirelli P Zero Race (28mm)
Max tire size32mm32mm32mm32mm32mm32mm
DrivetrainShimano 105 2×12spdShimano Ultegra Di2 2×12spd
SRAM Force AXS 2×12spd
Shimano Ultegra Di2
2×12spd
SRAM Force eTap AXS
2×12spd
Shimano Ultegra Di2
2×12spd
Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 or SRAM RED eTap AXS
2×12spd
Pedalsnot includednot includednot includednot includednot includednot included
SaddleBontrager Aeolus CompBontrager Aeolus CompBontrager Aeolus EliteBontrager Aeolus P2 ProBontrager Aeolus P2 ProBontrager Aeolus P2 Pro
BrakesShimano 105
hydraulic disc
Shimano Ultegra
SRAM Force
hydraulic disc
Shimano Ultegra
hydraulic disc
SRAM Force
hydraulic disc
Shimano Ultegra
SRAM Force (AXS)
hydraulic disc
Shimano Dura-Ace
SRAM RED (AXS)
hydraulic disc
Weight8.70 kg / 19.19 lbs8.16 kg / 17.99 lbs
8.43 kg / 18.59 lbs
7.88 kg / 17.38 lbs7.43 kg / 16.39 lbsn/a7.05 kg / 15.55 lbs
7.00 kg / 15.44 lbs
BuyBuy Madone SL 5Buy Madone SL 6 Di2
Buy Madone SL 6 AXS
Buy Madone SL 7 Di2Buy Madone SLR 7 AXSBuy Madone SLR 7 Di2Buy Madone SLR 9 Di2
Buy Madone SLR 9 AXS
This table compares the features of the Trek Madone road bikes.
Specifications source: trekbikes.com
Updated on March 27, 2025

Trek Émonda (Discontinued): Lightweight Yet Aero Racing Bike

Trek Émonda

Émonda were lightweight road bikes designed for racing. They had more performance geometry than Domane. They were less aero than Madone, but more aero than Domane. They were ideal for climbing and riders who wanted an agile bike.

Since the 2024 merge of Émonda and Madone, the Émonda was discontinued.

Trek Road Bikes Range Explained

You already know the differences between Domane and Madone. But what do the abbreviations and numbers in their names mean (e.g., Trek Madone SLR 7)?

The abbreviation refers to the frame material. The key is as follows:

  • 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).

And the numbers mean the groupset:

  • Models ending with 2 use Shimano Claris (R2000) groupset.
  • Models ending with 3 use Shimano Sora (R3000) groupset.
  • Models ending with 4 use Shimano Tiagra (R4700) groupset.
  • Models ending with 5 use Shimano 105 (R7000) groupset.
  • Models ending with 6 use Shimano 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.

Conclusion

When comparing Trek road bike models and their specs, I found that bikes with SRAM are heavier and more expensive than those with Shimano groupsets, even though SRAM groupsets are usually cheaper than Shimano on their own.

So, I recommend buying a Trek road bike with a Shimano groupset unless you want to try SRAM or prefer it.

The AL models are aluminum and good for beginners because they are affordable. The SL models are made of 500 OCLV carbon and are suitable for most people, while the SLR models, made of 800 OCLV carbon, are perfect for more demanding riders.

The Domane AL line is versatile and comfortable, thanks to wider tires and relaxed geometry. In my opinion, the AL 4 with the Tiagra groupset (2x10spd) offers the best value.

Finally, Madone is for those who want a performance-oriented bike, which is lightweight and aero. The 2024 generation offers thinner tubes than the 7th generation and is lighter. It also stands out thanks to the IsoFlow. The 6th generation was pretty heavy and “old school.” Choose a model that fits your budget. I suggest the Madone SL 7 with Shimano Ultegra Di2 because of its hidden buttons.

Trek Road Bikes FAQ

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