Trek Emonda SL 5 Disc
£2,700 A race bike for the mountains
Weight 8.89kg (L/56cm) Frame Trek Emonda Ultralight 500 Series OCLV Carbon Fork Émonda SL full carbon Gears Shimano 105 R7000 11-speed (50/34, 11-30) Wheels Bontrager Paradigm SL Brakes Shimano 105 hydraulic disc Finishing kit Bontrager Comp VR-C aluminium bar, Elite aluminium stem, P3 Verse Comp saddle, seat mast cap aluminium seatpost, Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite tyres TREK’S EMONDA IS THE AMERICAN
brand’s lightweight race bike that’s perfect for climbing. Like the latest Madone SLR, it uses Trek’s H1.5 geometry (H1 is its most aggressive), but features less aero efficiency in its stiff, competent carbon frameset. It uses Trek’s 500 Series OCLV carbon, Trek’s second-tier carbon, and all in, an Emonda SL frame tips the scales at a claimed 1,142g, while the fork weighs 380g.
The frame has had an aero overhaul, however. There’s a deep and aero-optimised head-tube, along with broad tube profiling at the down-tube and in the swooping toptube. The squared-off backsides to the tubes indicate a bias towards easy handling and aero efficiency at lower speeds and, sure enough, the bike feels efficient on the flat and stable in crosswinds.
Neat looks
The frame features fully internal cable routing, and the brakeside chainstay incorporates a mounting point for Trek’s DuoTrap module (not included), which transmits wheel speed and cadence data. The Emonda’s geometry is race-orientated, but what strikes home immediately is its relatively short reach for what is ostensibly a race bike. In a size 56cm, the frame’s reach measures 391mm, which is more like an endurance bike. A short, 100mm-length stem magnifies the stubby feel. Then there’s quite a low-slung 563mm stack height, a steep 73.5° head-tube angle, and a compact 983mm wheelbase. All this means the Emonda handles sharply, with direct steering and efficient power delivery.
The stiff carbon layup combined with the compact geometry produces a frame that’s impressively rigid. The downside to such a stiff frameset, in this case, is a lack of overall compliance. The ride borders on harsh here, although the seatmast design (a mast topper overlaps an extended seat-tube) offers some ride-smoothing properties. The bike feels light though – lighter than its 8.89kg total weight – and when descending, turns are initiated with resolute ease.
The alloy Bontrager Paradigm SL wheels and R1 clincher tyres don’t offer bags of feel and are a weak point; the cheaper Addict 30 and Endurace AL 7 in this test both outstrip this spec. However, I never lacked confidence in the handling of the Emonda.
The finishing kit is from Trek’s in-house brand, Bontrager. The cockpit is a twopiece affair, with a Bontrager Comp VR-C bar married to a Bontrager Elite stem. Both are alloy, and offer a comfortable range of positions for your hands to rest, although I’d spec a 10mm longer stem to push out the reach a little. I found the feel a little noodle-like and the bar didn’t feel quite broad enough in my large hands. The alloy seatmast cap, with 10mm of setback, fits on an extended carbon seat-tube. On top sits a Bontrager P3 Verse Comp saddle. I enjoyed the shorter nose design, and many will appreciate the plentiful padding and pressure-relieving cutout, but the rubberised material ‘grabbed’ my bib shorts.
Full fat spec
A full Shimano 105 R7020 groupset adorns the Emonda SL 5 Disc, and Trek has specced a racy, narrow-ranging 11-30t cassette. The compact (50/34 tooth) chainset will help get you up those hills, but stronger riders may find the 50x11t combination a little limiting on descents. The tubeless-ready Bontrager Paradigm SL wheels feature a shallow alloy rim with a 21mm internal width. Unless you want something that’ll support broader tyre widths, they’ll do the job as a competent three-season wheelset.
The 28c Bontrager R1 tyres provide middling grip and the tyres inflate to their claimed width, but there’s ample space in the frame for 30c rubber, 32c at a squeeze, and wider tyres would add some comfort to the ride.
The Emonda SL’s frameset is incredibly capable but it’s dressed in a solid-butunspectacular build. It will suit keen sportive riders and even road racers, but you may need to upgrade some fundamental components to get the most out of it. Be aware that in 2023 this model will be named simply the Trek Emonda SL 5, and have a price hike of £550.
“The bike feels light though – lighter than its 8.89kg total weight – and when descending, turns are initiated with ease”