TREK ÉMONDA TEAM SLR9 DISC PROJECT 1 £10,160 › One of the lightest disc framesets ever made is set to make its Tour debut
With the original Émonda, Trek set out to upset the apple cart by making a full production bike that could beat the most exclusive niche brands at their own lightweight game – the resulting frame weighing 690g. The original was a fine lightweight bike, but its ride was harder than the plush Domane and Trek’s IsoSpeedequipped aero Madone.
This new generation bike sees improved compliance in the frame and it’s lighter still at just 665g for this disc brake version. When you add in a new disc fork at 350g, the SLR9 Disc is one svelte chassis.
Every size and every configuration of the SLR will be available in both H1 and H2 fit for both disc and rim brake frames. If you favour a longer, lower position go for the H1, while if you’re looking for a more endurancefocued ride you can opt for the H2 model, which is what we went for in this Project 1 build.
It is constructed from Trek’s 700 series premium-grade OCLV carbon – but this isn’t the same 700 series as before. Trek has altered the grade of the carbon and fibres, changed the lamination and refined production methods.
To get this Project 1 bike as close to that which Trek-Segafredo will be using we chose the latest Bontrager Aeolus XXX2 wheels, but in a more practical tubeless-compatible clincher rather than tubular, and these flyweights really add something to the Trek’s excellent ride quality.
At just 1380g a pair (630g front and 750g rear) these are seriously light, and it’s a lightness you can feel on the climbs. They are also a very welcome 21mm wide internally, which allows you to exploit the lower rolling resistance and extra comfort and cushioning afforded by the 28mm Bontrager tyres, although we would have liked the bike to come set up tubeless.
The instant pick-up from the Émonda is addictive, and we quickly found ourselves getting out of the saddle and attacking any slope or gradient, such is the wonderfully responsive ride the SLR provides. Thankfully it’s no slouch when the road heads down either, with the unmoving quality of the front end allowing for proper point-and-shoot descending where you can rely on the brakes and the large diameter 160mm noise-free rotors.
To be honest there is very little to fault on the SLR – the ride quality is brilliant, it’s as light as you’d ever need and it’s as agile as a gymnast. It never failed to put a smile on our face or make us want to be a better rider – it’s very much a bike you want to live up to and not the sort we’d feel comfortable taking out for a lazy Sunday cruise.
The only issue we do have is the price. At £10,160 it’s breathtakingly expensive, even taking into account the fact that this follows three years of carbon fibre development from Trek’s technical team and the excellent Project 1 customer service, which offers you advice, fitting and custom options. It is still £910 more than the similarly sublime S-Works Tarmac, and that has a power meter thrown in.
The SLR9 is very much like the 2018 BMC Team Machine SLR01 Disc we tested back in issue 334 (December 2017). It is without a doubt a five-star performing bike, but it’s tough to give full marks to a bike that’s just so very expensive.