The new 8th generation Madone SLR is – rightly – presented as a winning machine by its manufacturer. A hell of a racing bike, available in more affordable and less elitist SL versions.
In short :
- The Madone SLR 8th Gen combines the speed of the Madone and the lightness of the Emonda, with improved carbon and work on the tubes, aerodynamics and frame flex.
- Its frameset thus loses 320 g and allows it to gain 77 seconds per hour compared to the Emonda.
- The Madone SL 8th Gen starts at €3,559, compared to €9,499 for the SLR 8th Gen.
The racing bike is not exactly the primary DNA of Transition Vélo, rather focused on all everyday bikes, for ordinary people. However, we have no trouble defining ourselves as “cycling geeks” and are the first to rave about exceptional bikes, including those that allow champions to cross the limits of the possible on all terrains. .
On the road, the 8th generation Madone just presented by the American brand Trek has what it takes to establish itself as one of the most high-performance bikes available.
Winning the seconds that win the races
To design it, Trek rationalized its efforts and decided to merge two of its flagship bikes so that this new Madone adopts a fast geometry of which the Madone line is depositary, associating it with the lightness of its Emonda SLR. Designed with sound team of professional riders, this bike sees its frame kit lose 320 g to reach the featherweight of the Emonda.
To achieve this, the profile of the carbon tubes has been reworked and the material used (900 Series OCLV) offers an exceptional weight/rigidity ratio. The molding of this material is also more efficient thanks to the use of 20% stronger fibers which result in the use of less material.
Note that this material is only used on the Madone 8 SLR. The Madone 8 SL is made from OCLV 500 carbon.
Like all manufacturers that cultivate performance, Trek worked on its new model in the wind tunnel to optimize its aerodynamics. The fully integrated carbon cockpit particularly benefited from this.
But that’s not all, the manufacturer has also been keen to improve the comfort of the bike via a technology called IsoFlow which provides 80% more vertical flexibility. With specific work on the junction of the seat stays with the seat tube and the top tube, Trek is indeed looking to bring more flexibility to its frame so that it better filters the roughness of the road. Comfort being a factor of performance, especially on the longest and most difficult events, it is anything but a detail.
Many versions
Of course, as always, the Madone SLR and SL come in different component builds, with list prices ranging from €3,559 (SL 5) to €16,399 (the best-equipped SLR 9 AXS), with plenty of bikes in between.
The first – and the most accessible – weighs 8.7 kg and is fitted with Shimano 105 12 speeds (11-34 cassette), offered in twin chainrings (50-34 teeth). A development more suited to informed amateurs. It is equipped with Bontrager Paradigm SL wheels shod with Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite tires in 700-28. The bike accepts tires up to 32 mm in section. It has a classic alloy handlebar and stem, same on the saddle and seat post side.
The Madone SLR 9 at €13,499 weighs 7.08 kg. Its Bontrager Aeolus RSL 51 tubeless-ready carbon wheels are equipped with your choice of Bontrager Aeolus RSL RD or Pirelli P Zero Race tires, always in 28 mm. The transmission switches to the Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 12-speed, electronic group offered in two-chainrings 52-36 teeth chainrings with a 12-speed 11-30 cassette. Everything is made of carbon, right down to the integrated handlebar/stem combo and the saddle rails which are also made of carbon. Yes, it’s good to dream a little sometimes…
In the Paris suburbs, this forty-something father of 2 children rides a bike every day in a (fairly) sporty way, on and off the road. Wants to go on long hikes to discover new landscapes.
