The title of the lightest production road bike in the world is not one to be taken lightly. So when Trek announced that they were introducing a new bike that would take the crown we were intrigued. Trek has certainly offered some light bikes over the years, but the lightest production bike in the world? That, we were excited to see.
Introducing the all new Trek Émonda, a new line of ultra light weight road bikes out of Wisconsin. While the name carries the same letters as Madone and Domane, Émonda is an all new frame that will sit along side of the current bikes. The name itself is derived from the French verb émonder – to prune or cut away. A fitting name for a bicycle where every bit of unnecessary weight has been trimmed away.
The end result is a new frame with enhanced integration, size specific performance, and the lightest production complete weight – provided you can afford it…
Last year when we took a tour of Trek’s Waterloo head quarters there were a number of Trek Factory Racing frames hanging in the rear of the Advanced Composites Room. From a distance the frames looked similar to Madones, but with a number of small changes. Given the fact that Trek has been working on the Émonda for three years now, the secrecy surrounding the frames on the wall now makes sense.
Trek has always touted the benefits of their OCLV (Optimum Compaction Low Void) carbon fiber, but light weight has always been a back story to ride quality and strength. In order to get the weight down as low as possible while still being repeatable, Trek started what they are calling their “most stringent and sophisticated frame tube optimization project” in their history. Using size specific carbon layups and a new ultralight Ride Tuned Seat mast on the top tier bike, Trek whittled the frame weight down to an incredible 690g. Not quite the 667g Cervelo RCA, but pretty close. Trek is still quick to point out that while the Émonda frame is extremely light weight, they claim it is the best riding road bike Trek has offered.
Built with Ultralight 700 series OCLV carbon for the SLR level frames, Émonda continues with a number of specifications like the E2 tapered head tube (1.5″-1.125″) with asymmetric steerer, BB90 bottom bracket with bearings pressed directly into the carbon, internal cable routing, and integrated 3S chain keeper, and the new DuoTrap S. As the second generation of their Speed Trap integrated computer sensors, DuoTrap S is now compatible with both Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity and uses a new mounting system for improved looks.
SLR Émondas will also be equipped with the new Bontrager Speed Stop brakes which are a dual post design similar to the Dura Ace integrated stoppers. Compared to Ultegra brakes, Bontrager claims a 50g per caliper weight savings. Speed Stop brakes also offer an adjustable leverage ratio, two position quick release, and a wide set design to work with the widest rims and bigger tires.
As a complete bike the flagship Émonda SLR 10 comes in at an incredible 10.25 lb (4.6kg) and will retail for an equally staggering $15,749.99. In order to get the weight down to that level Trek is equipping the bike with Tune Skyline tubular wheels, and a Tune Komm-Vorr Plus saddle in addition to the SRAM Red drivetrain and Bontrager parts.
Coming standard on the new SLR 10 is the new Bontrager XXX bar/stem combo which provides a 75g savings over the same XXX bar and stem combination used separately. The bar/stem combo features a 129mm drop, 93mm reach, and is compatible with Trek’s new accessory integration system, Blendr. Eventually to be found across their entire line, Blendr allows accessories like lights, computers, and even cell phones to be attached to the stem with out zip ties or additional mounts.
Émondas will be offered in a number of builds with three different frame levels. The S series Émondas use Ultralight 300 Series OCLV (1220g painted 56cm frame), a BB86.5 bottom bracket, a standard seat post, and are DuoTrap instead of DuoTrap S compatible. Jumping up to the SL level will gain you 500 series OCLV carbon (1050g painted 56cm frame), BB90 bottom bracket, DuoTrap S compatibility, internally routed cables, and the Ride Tuned seatmast. At the high end, SLR frames carry all of the bells and whistles using 700 series OCLV carbon for the 690g painted 56cm frame. Both the SL and SLR models will be sold as framesets for $1429.99 and $4199.99 respectively. The forks differ between the three models as well with a 518g painted fork for the S, 358g painted fork for the SL, and 280g painted fork for the SLR each with around 235mm of steerer tube.
Complete bikes will be offered in both men’s and Women’s WSD models as well as H1 and H2 geometries depending on the model. If nearly 16k is a little too steep, Émondas start out at just $1649.99 for the S 4. The full line starts at the S 4 and then proceeds with the S 5, S 5 WSD, S 6, SL Frameset, SL 5, SL 5 WSD, SL 6, SL 6 WSD, SL 8, SL 8 Red, SL 8 WSD, SLR Frameset, SLR 6 (H1, H2), SLR 8 (H1, H2), SLR 9 (H1, H2, WSD), and the top dog SLR 10 (H1).
Bike Weights (KG: LBS):
| Émonda S 4 | 8.74 | 19.27 | |
| Émonda S 6 | 8.38 | 18.47 | |
| Émonda SL 6 | 7.39 | 16.29 | |
| Émonda SL 6 WSD | 7.46 | 16.45 | |
| Émonda SL 8 | 7.06 | 15.56 | |
| Émonda SL 8 RED | 6.81 | 15.01 | |
| Émonda SL 8 WSD | 7.00 | 15.43 | |
| Émonda SLR 6 | 6.60 | 14.55 | |
| Émonda SLR 8 | 6.15 | 13.56 | |
| Émonda SLR 9 | 6.10 | 13.45 | |
| Émonda SLR 9 WSD | 6.09 | 13.43 | |
| Émonda SLR 10 | 4.65 | 10.25 | |
Additional details/specs here as well: http://www.probikeswap.com/2015-trek-emonda-slr/
This should be really great for getting more people into cycling.
Me gusto muscho L’Emonda!
690g is pretty impressive when you consider that it has a seat mast cap. That RCa (and just about every other bike) runs a standard seatpost
@Vectorbug Dude, the S 5 retails for just over two thousand. For that you get a full carbon frame, FULL 105 11-speed, and tubeless ready wheels. If someone wants to get into cycling without feeling like they’re already behind the “curve,” this range is a pretty good option.
Justifying the jump from the SL frame at $1430 to the SLR frame at $4200 seems like a tough one
Looks like … every other bike in the showroom. (But because it’s Trek the glue and carbon yarn were put into the muffin tin to bake by skilled craftsmen.) Yawn.
Did everyone forget about cannondale EVO black inc frame at 655g? Those have been out for years….
A Ducati with a real motor same price point. My net worth logic and my tech logic says,
“Don’t compute.” $15,749.99 WTH ; p
Thats all well and good for making the lightest production bike. Lets see how they hold up to a years worth of heavy riding without frame failures. No thanks!
I have a 6 yr old Litespeed Archon Ti, that is worry and CREAK free!
690g which frame sise?
Does that weight include FD hanger? RD hanger & bolts? Water bottle bolts x 4pcs? Seat collar and bolts? Cable stops?
What about fork 300mm steerer?
Just trying to compare to other ultra light weight which in the market already.
FastWayne- exactly what i was thinking. “mass production” bicycle, albeit the flagship model, is now over $15,000. I’ll take a Panigale.
@Edison
Someone posted this on weightweenies: http://i.imgur.com/t3wsP4c.png
Frame weight is without hardware.
Where do you attach the 2 kg lead weights you need in order to be allowed to race this thing?
Pretty neat
Funny how your mind can play tricks on you: here I was, thinking $16k for a bike?!? Woah! And then I looked up the price for the Emonda SLR 9, right around $8k, and for some fool reason thought, “OK, now that’s more reasonable…. Wait, no it isn’t!” Painful watching other companies do lightweight bikes and Trek seeming to not be playing that game.
say what you will about the $16K wunderbike, but the lower end models are very well priced, especially if all the frames have the ride quality TREK is promising. Correct me if I’m wrong, but with the current Madone 3.1 retailing for $1,979, that would make the Emonda S4 the cheapest carbon road bike TREK’s ever released, right? (I realize there’s a groupset difference)
Trek weighed a 56cm painted frame. Also, when you by a Trek frame, all the unique parts (seat cap, bb, hs…) are included.
Tune and THM deserve more of the credit for any of these superlight bikes. The H1 geo version of the frame looks pretty good aside from that weird seatpost deal they keep using. I wish companies would get rid of ISP and the Trek version is even worse aesthetically.
How about a rider weight limit? Me thinks the doctors and lawyers who pony up this kind of coin on bikes might be a bit large for the 10.
OK guys, here’s the deal:
Only the top end bike is the “lightest” production bike, and even that has a generous rider weight limit of 200lbs (due to the wheels) the rest of the line (with the top models sharing the same frame) have the standard 275lbs limit!
If you’re a Clydesdale, ride gravel grinders, tour the world with all your belongings, commute daily, or just don’t like it, then guess what? Don’t buy it.
By the way, I find it odd that people trash Trek for making an expensive super-bike, but not Pinarello, BMC, etc… if there wasn’t someone buying these things, they wouldn’t build them. I can’t afford a Porsche, a Tesla, or even a Corvette but others can and I still appreciate the engineering.
Ok,I think we are pretty much ready to see the 2015 McLaren Tarmac priced at $15,759.99 now.
I can’t wait to warranty one of these!
@Bro, The goal was lightest total bike. Which trek Crushed. 10.25 for the Trek, compared to 11 for the Cannondale. It doesn’t matter if you have a super light frame and have to put extra shims and cups to attach the components to the bike.
Trek has cornered the market on bikes for orthopedic surgeons and professional athletes
can i get it without the red accents
Whoever is naming these bikes is really reaching. Just rolls of the tongue. Like fuemonda
I will take this beast instead if Trek.
http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3331
Hmmmm…. Those brakes look a bit familiar. Can anyone say EE Cycleworks?
Buy trek care with it and you a crash it and it doesn’t matter. No questions asked on any thing you damage or wear out. Pretty sweet.
Madone
Domane
Emonda
I like the anagram theme…
Should have called it Ona’med
How long until Trek’s other road bikes are updated for DuoTrap S?
I was pretty sure CANNONDALE’s evo NANO was lighter, stiffer and stronger than this bike…
Fun fact: here in the UK Trek are offering a lifetime frame and fork guarantee on all models, plus a very good crash replacement scheme.
At least with Trek there is some backup, unlike other brands who don’t want to know (cough..Cervelo..cough)
Skurce: i’m a Trek dealer (so might be somewhat biased!)
@ John smith, please show us the data comparing the two frames to validate your claims… didn’t think so.
@ Ghostt, lifetime warranties here in the US too. You can also purchase the Trek Care Plus, which cover ALL parts for replacement for ANY reason, for three years from purchase.
@chader
http://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/cannondale-supersix-evo-nano-now-even-lighter-3920.html
Now before you say this is based on a website, note bike rumour is also a website. How does a reader get actual data??? Can you show me by sending me the trek data?
I hope they’re paying Craig a licensing fee for his EE brake. http://www.eecycleworks.com/index.html
@John – the Cannondale Evo Nano weighed over 11 lbs. So no, it wasn’t lighter.
Ja, they look like (less refined) EE-brakes. Hope Trek/Shimano honoured Craig’s intelectual property, his patent was still pending as far as I know…
Trek’s next carbon bike will be a touring rig, called the NOMADE…
I’m waiting for that one.
http://cdn2.coresites.mpora.com/rcuk/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/LapierreXelius800SideProfile.jpg
bunch of aliases in this thread complaining about how much it cost, smh.
Patent pending typically means no patent has been filed, but we would if we could…
@John smith, weight is one variable & the Dale may well be lighter. Trek may well be wrong in their claims. I never made a claim one way or the other.
You made claims about stiffness & strength being better for the Dale. Neither of those is substantiated in the article you linked. It is merely a press release with some weight info and nothing about stiffness, strength or even ride quality.
I doubt that you know anything about those values for the Dale and nobody outside of Trek has stiffness and strength for the Emonda right now. VeloNews and others will probably get the data for both bikes, then we can have a meaningful comparison. Until then, anything else is useless speculation.
They are both probably great bikes and anyone is free to chose whatever they like. Stop acting like you know this stuff enough to make a claim that one is superior to another.
@Ilikeicedtea, Patent Pending means they have filed the paperwork with the USPTO, but the patent has not been issued or denied.
They often take several years from the point of filing before they get approved or denied. At the point of filing, their idea is protected based on that date assuming the patent is approved.
LOL at you guys comparing these brakes to EE brakes. Try WTB lever link, and the idea is probably older than that even.
Yeah. Pat. Pending means paperwork is filed, but it takes a while to go through the system.
So even if you know your design will not be judged patentable, it’s still worth filing the paperwork because you’ll have several years to sell and market you doodad with a nice little “pat. pending” text in the ad copy. And by the time your patent is rejected it won’t matter.
Did anyone notice that the translation of Emonda is prune. Yet another lack of creativity on Trek’s part…
Here, in the real world, “patent pending” is used all of the time when it shouldn’t be used “legally”.
In fantasy land, yeah, one needs to have filed a patent application.