Trek Domane SLR 7 eTap P1
£10,150 Does the 4th generation Domane hit the mark?
Weight 8.28kg (58cm) Frame 800 Series OCLV Carbon Fork Domane SLR carbon Gears SRAM Force AXS (46/33, 10-33) Brakes SRAM Force hydraulic disc Wheels Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37, 37mm deep Finishing kit Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tubeless ready 32mm tyres, Bontrager Pro IsoCore VR-SF carbon bar, Bontrager RCS Pro -7 degree stem, Bontrager P3 Comp short nose saddle, Domane carbon seatpost 20mm offset THE MARK 4 DOMANE HAS
shaken things up a bit. The original model was developed with input from Classics legend Fabián Cancellara and built to take on the spring cobbled classics in 2012. It also debuted the IsoSpeed system as a decoupler that separated the top-tube and seatstays from the seat-tube, allowing the seat-tube to flex and move independently. In 2016 Trek added a front IsoSpeed system to reduce front-end vibrations. The third-generation Domane then brought aerodynamic shapes to the frameset plus made room for a 38mmwide tyre. This fourth-generation bike has removed the front IsoSpeed system to reduce weight and simplify the design.
What’s new?
This latest bike comes with 32mm tubeless tyres wrapped around Bontrager’s Aeolus Pro 37 wheel with its broad 21mm internal width that shapes up the R3 tyres to 34mm wide – you can run tubeless tyres at lower pressures as there’s no risk of pinch punctures. This makes the bike run smoother without needing the front-end IsoSpeed system.
At the rear, the IsoSpeed has also had an overhaul. Where there was a separation between the seat-tube, top-tube and seatstays, it’s now one-piece, with the clamp system for the carbon seatpost suspended separately. This allows the seatpost to be light and stiff as you get compliance through the clamp system, which allows the post to move fore and aft a little while maintaining a constant saddle height.
The new Domane comes in three flavours: the base model SL, this SLR and an exclusive RSL version. The handling and versatility of the SLR makes it a bike that’s as good as the best endurance bikes and it can handle gravel too.
What do you get?
This SLR 7 P1 is pricey, especially as SRAM’s Force AXS is a second-tier groupset. However, the SLR 7 equipment is all excellent, including the 12-speed wireless Force AXS groupset with its slick, swift and accurate shifting, and the rear mech’s chain-bounce-eliminating clutch. You also get the premium crank-based, dual power meter.
The majority of the equipment comes from Trek’s component partner Bontrager. Up front, a tidy stem routes the brake hoses through a channel on its underside and down into the head-tube. Bontrager’s carbon IsoCore bar has a traditional height drop which, when combined with the endurance geometry of the SLR, means it’s comfortable to ride down in the drops for extended miles.
The excellent IsoCore bar also works with the bar tape and its gel inserts to counter road vibration. In fact, the combination of the bar and the tubeless tyres meant I was surprised to find I didn’t miss the front Isospeed.
The new short-nosed saddle from Bontrager combines a deep channel, firm yet forgiving padding and a shape that favours power pedalling. The R3 tyres don’t accelerate the fastest, but their semi-treaded texture offers impressive grip on fast tarmac descents or hardpacked, light-gravel roads.
This Domane has year-round versatility, with proper mudguard mounts front and rear, and room for a rear rack. Multiple bottle mounts, and even top-tube bento box mounts open the Domane up to (wealthy) commuters, winter training and potentially bikepacking/global touring.
The SLR still smooths the road but also drops weight and adds a sprightly feel. The ride position isn’t the most aggressive of endurance shapes, but that makes it more comfortable in the drops. The wheelbase is shorter than most, however, and it balances up the ride position with a quick, balanced steering response.
In short, the new Domane is close to the perfect sportive or Gran Fondo bike, plus it’s versatile enough to take on mixed-surface rides. It’s road-bike fast and allroad capable, and comes close to that one-bike-for-all holy grail.
“The IsoSpeed system at the rear is now onepiece and allows the stiff seatpost to move fore and aft a little”
Verdict True to the original racer, yet massively versatile, this could be all the bike you’ll ever need