Home > Bike Types > Road Bike

Trek Introduces Domane Koppenberg to Race Shop Limited Collection

Written by Zach Overholt
27 Comments
Support us! Bikerumor may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article. Learn More

Domane_Koppenberg_3_web

Storming up the cobbles of the Koppenberg it would be easy to mistake Trek’s latest creation as the Classics Edition Domane. The Domane technology we know and love is the same, but the geometry is what’s new, offering Emonda like handling with the Domane Ride. Already ridden to victory by Fabian Cancellara during the 2014 Ronde van Vlaanderen, the Domane Koppenberg has gone on to a number of additional wins under Trek Factory Racing team members. Koppenberg victories to date include the New Zealand National Championship (Hayden Roulston), Tour of Luxembourg prologue (Danny van Poppel), Stage 1 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen (Danny van Poppel), Stage 3 Tour de San Luis (Giacomo Nizzolo), and Stage 5 of the Österreich Rundfahrt (Jesse Sergent).

Called the “best bike I’ve ever ridden,” by Cancellara, the Domane Koppenberg will be added to the other limited offerings in the Trek Race Shop collection. Available as a frame only, the bike will be sold in extremely limited sizes with a single paint option. Details next…

Domane_Koppenberg_2_web

Looking nearly identical to the Domane Classics edition, the Koppenberg is essentially the same frame just with different geometry. Instead of the Pro Endurance geometry of the Classics edition, the Koppenberg uses Trek’s H1 fit and the same geometry of the Emonda SLR. Like the Classics Domane sizes will be limited to those that the team uses. In this case that means even fewer sizes with just 56, 58, 60, and 62cm frames available. The race oriented Koppenberg will be sold as a frame only in Trek Factory Racing livery with a non-replaceable steel derailleur hanger and no fender mounts.

The Koppenberg will join the Classics edition in Trek’s Race Shop Limited collection which is an assortment of bikes, frames, components, and accessories specifically designed for Trek’s race teams that are now available to the public. As the latest addition, the Koppenberg frameset will set you back $4,199.99.

trekbikes.com
Zach Overholt
5,720 articles

Zach Overholt is the Editor in Chief of Bikerumor. He has been writing about what’s new in the bicycle world for 12+ years. Prior to that, Zach spent many years in the back of a bicycle shop building and repairing nearly every type of bike, while figuring out how to (occasionally) ride them.

Based in Ohio, Zach is now slowly introducing a new generation to cycling and still trying to figure out how to fit the most rides into a busy schedule as a new dad.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

27 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mike
Mike
10 years ago

This just in: Trek recalls Domane Koppenbergs! That is all

0
Reply
G
G
10 years ago

Despite the price tag, I think this is a great concept. The larger companies use a more aggressive geo of their endurance frames when racing cobbles. These bikes are not available to consumers but I’m sure there’s a market out there. Not everyone wants/needs an endurance bike that has a 2ft tall headtube.

A Roubaix and Domane that wins these stages is not the same one you’ll find at your dealer.

0
Reply
Louis
Louis
10 years ago

I wish this was going to be available at lower price points. I like the idea of some comfort features built into a shorter head tube race geometry. It makes the bike more versatile for someone like myself who isn’t ready to give up fast group rides, but doesn’t want to ride long solo training days on a beach cruiser (regular Domane geometry).

0
Reply
Highpointer
Highpointer
10 years ago

@Mike I have never seen but one model Trek Frame recalled. That was the 220 kids bike (just checked the Trek Website). So I don’t believe this Domane will ever be recalled. Great bike Trek!!!

0
Reply
Compactflash
Compactflash
10 years ago

@Louis, Check out the Boone though a cross bike, it has killer geometry and endurance benefits!

0
Reply
brattercakes
brattercakes
10 years ago

Nice. Can someone lend me $4,199.99? Sheesh.

0
Reply
Remi
Remi
10 years ago

@Mike – you’re a bright one.

Super pumped that they changed the head tube cable routing!!

Great looking bike!

0
Reply
jimmy
jimmy
10 years ago

I also like this idea but would like to see it taken a step further. If I want a mid-range Domane or Madone (like, 5 series) in an Ultegra or 105, I can only see H2 fit with a compact crankset. My ideal affordable Trek would be the cheapest Domane frame with the seat mast in an H1 geometry with 5800 105. I don’t think you can get that. I’m sure there’s a few guys out there like myself who like to go fast and yet want a comfortable frame. If Cancellara can ride a Domane in the Olympic road race, it’s more than good enough for almost anyone else. As it stands, I’m more likely to look at something like a Ridley Fenix.

0
Reply
jimmy
jimmy
10 years ago

(adding to above, 5800 105 with the 53/39, 52/36 options available too)

0
Reply
Champs
Champs
10 years ago

G: don’t kid yourself.

Fun fact: “Koppenerg” is Flemish loanword in Marketingese. The plain English translation is “UCI Rules-Mandated Release”.

Trek gets a three-fer out of this. The team can’t race on bikes that aren’t sold at retail, and they aren’t racing more cobbles this season. Trek gets to save a few bucks per-unit, clear inventory, and sell the bikes for UCI compliance.

Bit of an aside, but whatever happened to Gary Fisher? I know they buried the brand, but that “collection” is in a sad state of affairs.

0
Reply
Andrew
Andrew
10 years ago

@ Jimmy, Yes there are loads of dudes who want to go fast and yet want a comfortable frame. Unfortunately the kind of flexibility which ‘regular’ dudes (we are the 99%) need in order to maximise an aggressive riding position takes many years and tens of thousands of kilometers to develop. Time to face the truth: If you really required an H1 fitting bike since you’d spent many years working your way up to a Cat 2 or higher level, you wouldn’t even consider speccing it with 105.

0
Reply
jimmy
jimmy
10 years ago

@andrew – my point is more that it would be nice to have options. Sure, H2 may be fine – but why not offer more options? Who’s to say that someone wouldn’t want a 53/39 on a 4 series Madone? I’m sure they have their reasons, but compare with, say, a Giant TCR SLR which has a sub-$2000 bike with a 53/39 option.

0
Reply
Michael
Michael
10 years ago

@champs, the bike isn’t even availible to dealers until mid-october. these are not left-overs but new frames. so no trek isn’t dumping race inventory. Lots of riders have been waiting for this bike to come out, the regular domane is still just too muted.

0
Reply
Michael
Michael
10 years ago

@jimmy, the real question is why are bikes still coming with 170mm-175mm crank arms? Those are far far too long for most riders, you’d actually make more power on a 165mm crank arm, could corner far more aggressively and would become more aero since your back would inevitably be raised higher.

0
Reply
Psi Squared
Psi Squared
10 years ago

@Michael: please show the evidence supporting that claim. I recently read a review where a rider measured his power with a wide range of crank lengths on rides over a route and found that there was no change in peak power, average power, or any power metric.

0
Reply
Bielas
Bielas
10 years ago

I agree with jimmy, but the real reason to offer a 105 equipped bike with H1 geo (for example a 4 series Madone) is that affordable racing bikes are needed. When you are 20 years old and have limited budget but you are into racing, this would be an option. To go racing doesn’t mean you have thousands of dollars to spend in carbon tubulars and electronic shifting. In fact, is often the other way around, with older, richer people buying hi-end race bikes they don’t fit in (just because they have money to spend).
A good example are cannondale and specialized offering race geo with affordable specs

0
Reply
pdxfixed
pdxfixed
10 years ago

Are you guys seriously getting up in arms about the difference between H1 and H2 geometry? A 3cm headtube difference and a .5cm top tube difference are things you make up for by slamming the stem. Slam it. That is all.

0
Reply
Greg
Greg
10 years ago

@pdxfixed
And that surprises you?

0
Reply
Dirty-d
Dirty-d
10 years ago

Is it campagnolo compatible with all shimano text on the seat tube/ chainstays? =]

0
Reply
jimmy
jimmy
10 years ago

@pdxfixed Up in arms? Not really. But hey guess what – they make both frame versions! It would be nice to have the option to mix and match based on bike fit, budget, etc. They have the Project One thing but it’s always top-down. It’s not offered on the lesser models. I agree with Bielas – young riders may want an H1 fit on a 105-equipped bike. I’m not of the opinion that 105 is not a perfectly fine race-worthy groupset.

0
Reply
anonymous
anonymous
10 years ago

The only reason I haven’t bought a new bike is because I don’t want to spend a ton of money on an aggressive geo bike which they don’t seem to make a lot of at the low mid end.

As far as slamming the stem, I run a slammed -17 stem on a frame with less than 500 stack.

0
Reply
MarkV
MarkV
10 years ago

If your going to release a cool bike like this, Trek, please do a size run from 50cm-60cm. Limited sizes makes no sense, though I do realize this is a Team Trek Frame that the UCI does require it to be sold at retail, but…..just step up!

0
Reply
Michael
Michael
10 years ago

@psi squared…….correct generally there is no discernible difference in power put out, however shorter cranks on majority of riders will provide a better hip angle, opening up the hip flexors and respiratory system, hence most riders who are not Elite pro’s or World Class level can make more power since they will be better fit. so far most university studies show no power difference due to crank length in particular, however a short crank generally results in more flexibility(no pun intended) allowing a rider to make more power, especially in an “aero” position. Also, much better on knees the shorter the crank is.

0
Reply
Chris W
Chris W
10 years ago

I’m so stoked they finally released this. I’ve been holding out.

@champs, this is definitely a strategic release. I’d say look out for higher quality carbon on domane, and possibly having the classics become a standard option. Trek is no dummy in this game.

@pdxfixed, The geometry on the frame itself makes a huge difference in the overall ride quality. A stem slammed on a bike that’s too tall is still too tall. An exaggerated stem compromises ride quality. Try to find a custom builder who will vouch for putting on a -17 slammed stem on a bike.

0
Reply
Champs
Champs
10 years ago

Guys, look at anything about GT racing and get back to me. Sweet machine, but you’ll want a sponsor and a support crew to do much more than collect it.

0
Reply
wako29
wako29
10 years ago

To all of you guys wanting a H1 bike with Shimano 105 – two words for you:
Project One
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/custom_project_one/models/

0
Reply
Tim
Tim
10 years ago

@wako29 I tried pricing out a Project One Madone and found that you were correct, its quite the steel at $4500!

I’m one of those people, I’m currently looking for a new bike in the 2-3 grand range and because of my body proportions and height (6’4), a more aggressive geometry just seems to fit me better and definitely looks more normal (have you ever seen a Domane in 62!). I don’t race or pretend like I do. It looks like I’ll be picking up yet another Cannondale.

0
Reply

Subscribe Now

Sign up to receive BikeRumor content direct to your inbox.