trek emonda sl5 2015 geometry

• off.road.cc
• Dealclincher
• Fantasy Cycling

Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

• Sportive and endurance bikes
• Gravel and adventure bikes
• Urban and hybrid bikes
• Touring bikes
• Cyclocross bikes
• Electric bikes
• Folding bikes
• Fixed & singlespeed bikes
• Children's bikes
• Time trial bikes
• Accessories - misc
• Computer mounts
• Bike bags & cases
• Bottle cages
• Child seats
• Lights - front
• Lights - rear
• Lights - sets
• Pumps & CO2 inflators
• Puncture kits
• Reflectives
• Smart watches
• Stands and racks
• Arm & leg warmers
• Base layers
• Gloves - full finger
• Gloves - mitts
• Jerseys - casual
• Jerseys - long sleeve
• Jerseys - short sleeve
• Shorts & 3/4s
• Tights & longs
• Bar tape & grips
• Bottom brackets
• Brake & gear cables
• Brake & STI levers
• Brake pads & spares
• Cassettes & freewheels
• Chainsets & chainrings
• Derailleurs - front
• Derailleurs - rear
• Gear levers & shifters
• Handlebars & extensions
• Inner tubes
• Quick releases & skewers
• Energy & recovery bars
• Energy & recovery drinks
• Energy & recovery gels
• Heart rate monitors
• Hydration products
• Hydration systems
• Indoor trainers
• Power measurement
• Skincare & embrocation
• Training - misc
• Cleaning products
• Lubrication
• Tools - multitools
• Tools - Portable
• Tools - workshop
• Books, Maps & DVDs
• Camping and outdoor equipment
• Gifts & misc

Trek Émonda SL 5 Disc

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

• Exceptional
• Not so good

Trek's Émonda SL 5 Disc is a solid all-round race bike offering great handling, a stiff platform for performance and a comfortable riding position, plus it's all wrapped up in a minimalistic, clean-looking package. This build isn't exactly lightweight though.

Trek launched this latest Émonda design last year, giving what has always been considered its lightweight climbing machine an aerodynamic makeover that takes it into what I consider quality all-rounder territory.

From a ride point of view, I can't fault it. It's firmer than a lot of carbon bikes on the market, and I kind of like that. Getting smashed about isn't fun, but neither is a bike that mutes all the signals from the road below. The Émonda balances this well.

> Buy Now: Trek Émonda SL 5 Disc from Trek

Stand hard on the pedals for a climb or sprint and the bike feels tight everywhere, although most notably around the bottom bracket area. There is no flex anywhere, and it just eggs you on to keep hammering away when your legs are screaming to ease up.

Chubby chaser

The only downside is that this SL 5 build's weight can just take the shine off. This 56cm model weighs in at 9.16kg, which is on the beefy side for a near three-grand bike.

The SL 6 Pro I rode last year came with an Ultegra mechanical groupset and 35mm deep Bontrager Aeolus Elite carbon wheels, and weighed 8.23kg. It felt much nippier than the SL 5 when it matters.

As an experiment I switched the SL 5's wheels for a pair of 1,400g Scribe Élan Wide+ 42-D wheels I had on test, and that unlocked the Émonda's potential. I'm not saying you should go out and blow £1,190 on newwheels, just that you shouldn't be put off by the standard weight of the SL 5. It can be tweaked without spending a fortune in the future.

On all but the steepest of climbs though, the Émonda doesn't feel as heavy as the road.cc scales would suggest. It still feels nippy as you accelerate out of corners or crest those short power climbs, and it always seems to have an eagerness to keep rolling.

Right angles

The geometry helps too. This is a proper race bike with a steepish 73.5° head angle for quick steering, plus a short 151mm head tube to allow a low front end and a short wheelbase. At just 983mm, this certainly gives it a nimble and flickable feeling in the bends.

On the downhills I found I could let the Émonda go even when the road surface was less than perfect. It just feels really planted, and coupled with that firm frame passing through loads of feedback from the tyres, I left me feeling perfectly in tune with it.

The steering is on the fun side of neutral, and allows you to just point the handlebar and aim for the apex. The Émonda is also very responsive to slight changes in body position if you need to tweak your line or get yourself out of trouble. I found this out when riding somewhere I had never ridden before – a descent which was easily 40mph+ in sections.

The Trek just nailed it, even though I didn't know what was around the next corner. With less caution than I probably should use, I could throw the Émonda through the bends while constantly making little tweaks to my position to line it up for the next one.

The SL 5 is also a quality mile muncher. The firm ride didn't seem to fatigue my joints any sooner than normal, and although the position is racy, it isn't extreme either. I could ride on the hoods for hours without discomfort and made good use of the shallow drops too.

Frame and fork

As I mentioned earlier, the Émonda focuses more on aerodynamics now than ever before, but that doesn't mean it has become a rocket ship on the road. The Émonda is a climbing bike after all, so Trek's engineers have honed in on 'unsteady aerodynamics,' which they say give larger effects at lower speeds when ascending, rather than on curves for cutting through at high speeds in straight lines.

For starters the front end has been made as smooth as possible, with all cables and hoses directed through the head tube into the frame and fork, giving a very clean look. The head, down and top tube junction is large and beautifully sculpted for airflow too. As a whole the Trek has been optimised for 25mm tyres, although it will swallow 28mm with 6mm of space around the tyre.

The integrated spacer is designed to line up perfectly with the frame when the handlebar is pointed straight ahead, although it does limit how far the bar will turn in each direction. It can feel a bit daunting at first – I kept worrying I might not have enough lock to negotiate a tight turn at low speed.

It proved an unfounded worry though, and the only time I reached the turning limit was when trackstanding at the lights.

The top-end Émonda SLRs use a carbon fibre all-in-one handlebar and stem to take things even further, but there isn't the budget for that here.

As for the seatpost, Trek has decided to do things a little differently. The seat tube extends high, up past the top tube by some way. An external seat mast slides over the top and clamps into position, and the seat tube inside the mast allows a bit of flex, which aids comfort.

The top tube flares out at the seat tube junction, which I find I often rub my thighs against. I got around it by running the saddle 5mm further forward, but it's worth bearing in mind if you have large legs.

The frame and fork are created using Trek's 500 Series OCLV carbon fibre. It's a bit heavier than the new 800 Series found on the more expensive SLR range, but still gives a reasonable claimed weight of 1,142g for the frame and 380g for the fork. There are a massive eight sizes available, too, ranging from 47cm up to 62cm.

The Émonda range is now disc brake only, which means you're getting 12mm thru-axles and flat mounts for the disc calipers.

Trek has gone down the T47 bottom bracket route. Standard threaded bottom brackets have the bearing cups sitting outside the frame, which limits the width the bottom bracket shell can be without pushing the Q-factor (the distance between the pedals) too wide.

To allow a wider shell, which in turn lets the down tube, seat tube and chainstays all have larger joins for increased stiffness at this crucial point, many brands use press-fit cups. These sit inside the frame, allowing a wider shell while keeping the Q-factor the same. In the past there have been creaking and wear issues due to slack tolerances between the cups and the frame, though, so some people have fallen out of love with them.

The T47 is kind of the best of both worlds, as the bearings sit inside the frame but they are threaded into place rather than pressed. That gives a better (and easier) fit, but still allows for that wide bottom bracket shell.

To finish everything off, the SL 5 is available in two colours: this Quicksilver/Brushed Chrome, or Carbon Blue Smoke/Metallic Blue, which I reckon looks even better.

Finishing kit

The SL 5 is adorned with a Shimano 105 R7000 11 speed groupset, which cannot really be faulted, either from my own experience of riding it for thousands of miles on test bikes, or from Dave's in-depth review from a couple of years ago.

The gear shifting is precise and works well even under load – especially at the chainset – and the feel at the lever is practically the same as Ultegra R8000.

Trek has paired a 50/34t chainset with an 11-30t cassette, which gives a decent spread of gears for a bike with racing intentions. Crank length is determined by frame size, ranging from 165mm to 175mm.

Alongside the flat mount 105 calipers the SL 5 uses 160mm SM-RT70 rotors front and rear.

Stopping power is great, as is the modulation and control.

If you weren't aware, Trek's in-house kit and component brand is Bontrager, so it's no surprise to find this adorning the Émonda throughout. The Comp VR-C Road is a shallow drop bar with a compact design, making it usable for most riders regardless of flexibility.

There is nothing flash about it, but it is comfortable, has a decent length of central section for computer mounts or lights, and its aluminium construction is stiff enough for out-of-the-saddle efforts.

> road.cc Road Bike of the Year 2020/21

The Bontrager Elite Stem is another component that just gets on with its job. On the 56cm frame you get a 110mm, and it comes with Trek's Blendr compatibility.

This means you get a selection of mounts for various accessories, such as lights and computers, to sit out in front of the stem. On Trek's website it's £59.99 (£30 more than the handlebar), so it's certainly not a budget component.

The saddle is called the Verse Comp and it's a good 'un, at least for me. It's got a swoopy shape I found gave me plenty of different position options (I like to slide back to climb, for instance). It's 270mm long and 145mm wide (155mm on the smaller frames) with steel rails and a central cut-out. It's also compatible with Blendr accessories.

The frame itself is compatible with DuoTrap S, which is a Blutooth/ANT+ sensor which can send all sorts of data and works with Garmin, Bontrager, PowerTap and more, though the sensor is sold separately.

Wheels and tyres

As with the rest of the finishing kit, the wheels are Bontrager. Using their sealed alloy hubs mated to Paradigm SL rims, they have an internal width of 21mm and 24 spokes front and rear. As I mentioned earlier, they are a bit weighty, but they rode well enough throughout the test period, and I had no durability or trueness issues. They are tubeless ready for a bit of futureproofing.

> road.cc's Best Cycling Wheels of the Year 2020/21

I'm a fan of Bontrager's tyres. I've ridden a few, and was impressed when I tested the R3 Hard-Case Lite a couple of years back. The SL 5 uses the entry-level R1 Hard-Case Lite, and it's pretty good. With a 60tpi (threads per inch) casing it isn't the most supple, but it doesn't detract too much from the ride quality.

They roll pretty well too, and grip is more than adequate in both the wet and dry. More importantly though, considering the review period took in the end of winter, they seem robust and suffered no punctures.

Still, as with the wheels the SL 5 deserves better in the long term. If you want to keep things in the Bontrager family, those R3s mentioned retail for £42.99 now, or £52.99 if you want to go tubeless.

Bike prices are all over the place at the moment, and there have been some big jumps in Trek's line-up. That SL 6 Pro I reviewed was £3,350 in 2021, and it's now £3,900 with what looks to be the same build. The frameset has gone up from £2,200 to £2,700. Meanwhile this SL 5 has come through relatively unscathed at £2,750, up just £25 over last year's prices.

Around the time this Émonda was released, Specialized launched its new Tarmac SL 7 (I was lucky enough to review the S-Works model), and it's a similar sort of bike to the Trek. For 2022 Specialized has largely used SRAM components on its road bikes though, so there's no direct comparison with the SL 5.

However, the entry-level Tarmac SL 7 is the Comp model, which comes with a Rival eTap AXS electronic groupset and DT Swiss alloy shallow section wheels for £5,000, while Trek's SL 6 eTap comes with the same wireless groupset and the Bontrager 35mm deep carbon wheels for £4,300.

There is some tough opposition out there though, with Canyon's new Ultimate CF SL 7 Disc featuring a 105 groupset, a full aero carbon cockpit and a claimed weight of 8.2kg for just £2,149.

Giant's TCR Advanced Disc 2 doesn't quite have the aero attributes of the SL 5, but it is considered a very good lightweight all-round race bike. For £2,349 you are getting a 105 groupset, full carbon frameset and Giant's own alloy wheels.

> Buy Now: Trek Émonda SL 5 Disc from Trek

The Émonda SL 5 is a great bike to ride, and that's down to the top-notch frame and fork paired to good quality finishing kit. True, the wheels and tyres can take the shine off of the performance a touch, but that is true of many entry-point bikes. This is a bike that will tackle any kind of topography or race and excel at it. The frameset is great and it's ripe for upgrades over time too.

The Émonda is a classic all-rounder, fun, fast and stiff, although this model isn't the lightest

road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Émonda SL 5 Disc

Size tested: 56cm

About the bike

List the components used to build up the bike.

Hub front: Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, CenterLock disc, 100x12 mm thru axle

Hub rear: Bontrager alloy, sealed bearing, CenterLock disc, Shimano 11-speed freehub, 142x12 mm thru axle

Rim: Bontrager Paradigm SL, Tubeless Ready, 24-hole, 21 mm width, Presta valve

Spokes: 14 g stainless steel

Tyre: Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite, wire bead, 60 tpi, 700x28 c

Max tyre size: 30c

Shifter: Shimano 105 R7020, 11-speed

Front derailleur: Shimano 105 R7000, braze-on

Rear derailleur: Shimano 105 R7000, short cage, 30T max cog

Crank Size: Shimano 105 R7000, 50/34 (compact), 172.5 mm length

Bottom bracket: Praxis, T47 threaded, internal bearing

Cassette: Shimano 105 R7000, 11-30, 11-speed

Chain: Shimano 105 HG601, 11-speed

Max. chainring size: 1x: 50T, 2x: 53/39T

Saddle: Bontrager P3 Verse Comp, steel rails, 145 mm width

Seatpost: Bontrager alloy seat mast cap, 10 mm offset, tall length

Handlebar: Bontrager Comp VR-C, alloy, 31.8 mm, 100 mm reach, 124 mm drop, 42 cm width

Handlebar tape: Bontrager Supertack Perf tape

Stem: Bontrager Elite, 31.8 mm, Blendr-compatible, 7-degree, 100 mm length

Brake: Shimano 105 hydraulic disc

Brake rotor: Shimano SM-RT70, CenterLock, 160 mm

Tell us what the bike is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Trek says, "Émonda SL 5 Disc is a lightweight carbon road bike with a balanced ride quality, superior handling characteristics and the added benefit of free speed thanks to aero tube shaping. It's a great choice for century rides on hilly terrain, windy flats and speedy descents."

I think the SL 5 is a classic all rounder.

Where does this model sit in the range? Tell us briefly about the cheaper options and the more expensive options

This SL 5 model kicks off the SL range, sitting just £25 above the price of the frameset. Going up through the models you find the SL 6 and SL 6 Pro (£3,400 and £3,900 respectively), the SL 6 eTap (£4,300) and the Ultegra mechanical SL 7 (£5,350). Finally you get to the 12-speed Ultegra Di2 SL 7 (£5,600) and the SL 7 eTap, which uses SRAM Force for £6,100.

Above the SL range is the SLR line up, and below you'll find the aluminium alloy range, the ALR.

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

A high quality frame and fork. It feels great to ride and the paint finish is high end.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

Frame: Ultralight 500 Series OCLV Carbon, Ride Tuned performance tube optimisation, tapered head tube, internal routing, DuoTrap S-compatible, flat-mount disc, 142x12 mm thru axle

Fork: Émonda SL full carbon, tapered carbon steerer, internal brake routing, flat-mount disc, 12x100 mm thru axle

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

With its steepish angles and short wheelbase, this sits very much in the race bike camp.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

This 56cm model features a stack of 563mm and a reach of 391mm, which is fairly typical for a bike of this size with racing intentions.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

It has a firmer ride than a lot of carbon frames, but personally I like that. It feels like a purposeful and aggressive frame without ever feeling harsh and uncomfortable.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

Plenty of stiffness throughout, most notably at the bottom bracket junction.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

It does feel efficient, especially considering its weight.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? Responsive.

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

I found the handling quick with a degree of balance to it – it never feels twitchy.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's comfort? would you recommend any changes?

I liked the Bontrager saddle. I found it squidgy enough to absorb the bumps, without being so soft you find yourself bouncing around.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's stiffness? would you recommend any changes?

The stem and handlebar offer stiffness to match the frame, and there's no real sign of flex from the wheels either.

Which components had the most effect (good or bad) on the bike's efficiency? would you recommend any changes?

The wheels are a bit weighty, so if you can upgrade to something lighter you'll really unlock the performance of the Émonda.

The drivetrain

Tell us some more about the drivetrain. Anything you particularly did or didn't like? Any components which didn't work well together?

Performance-wise, 105 is probably all the groupset most of us will ever need from Shimano's catalogue. The shifting is great, as is braking power and modulation, and the value is good.

Tell us some more about the wheels.Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the wheels? If so what for?

The Bontrager wheels are decent enough. They blunt the SL 5's climbing and acceleration a touch due to their weight, but I can't fault their durability.

Tell us some more about the tyres. Did they work well in the conditions you encountered? Would you change the tyres? If so what for?

Bontrager tyres typically offer decent performance, and so it is with the R1s. Like the wheels though they are a touch heavy and not the most supple.

Tell us some more about the controls. Any particularly good or bad components? How would the controls work for larger or smaller riders?

Good quality in-house kit. Upgrade if you want some bling, but there's no real need.

Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

How does the price compare to that of similar bikes in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

This is well priced against a similar model in Specialized's Tarmac line-up, as mentioned in the review. There is tough opposition from the likes of Giant and Canyon, though.

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Émonda SL 5 is a very likeable bike; it has a solid dependable feel while still maintaining plenty of fun factor. There is some tough opposition out there price-wise, but would I feel shortchanged by the Trek? No. It has a quality ride feel and a quality build, and I enjoyed every mile I covered on it.

Overall rating: 8 /10

About the tester

Age: 42   Height: 180cm   Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike   My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years   I ride: Every day   I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

Help us to fund our site

We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99. 

If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.

Help us to bring you the best cycling content

If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

Latest comments.

Grew up riding MTB on hills/mountains, always outside, getting muddy in winter.... Moved from Bristol to Cambridge for work, no more MTB so took up...

<wince> Ooh, I wouldn't like a tear in the helmet.

with a bicycle for example

Not a cyclist, but an e-biker...

See lottery winners and bankrupcy....

Can't be over on the other thread, as there's a driver involved apparently....

Cows and calves were brought on a few weeks back, fiftyish last year, couple of bulls soon, saw the herd in the distance....

He did, however, call it a "collision" iirc....

I believe most schemes allow you to get another bike through the scheme after the initial 12 months regardless....

Related Reviews

Scott Addict RC 30 2024

Screaming out for some better wheels, but a brilliant frameset in terms of stiffness and ride quality

Sonder Prima Al 105 Di2

Fun, fast and great value, though not the most refined aluminium frame on the market

Orbea Orca Aero M10iLTD 2024

Stunningly fast without sacrificing versatility, handling or comfort

Boardman SLR 8.6

Comfortable, lively ride, an excellent gear range and well-chosen components – one of the best entry-level bikes you can buy

• MAGAZINE OFFERS
• BIKE INSURANCE
• Best Products
• Maintenance
• Accessories
• Long-Term Reviews
• BikeRadar Podcast
• First Look Friday
• Bike of the Week
• Tech Features
• Routes and Rides
• Bike Galleries
• BikeRadar Bargains
• Buyer's Guides
• Fitness & Training
• Sizing & Fit
• Mountain Biking UK
• Cycling Plus
• Bike of the Year 2024

Trek Emonda SL 5 Women's review

A carbon-framed race bike that will feel the benefit of future upgrades

Oliver Woodman / Immediate Media

Aoife Glass

Quality carbon frame, great performance for the money

Heavy wheels, lacking aero features compared with similar competitor bikes

The Émonda is the lightweight climbing bike in the Trek family and the SL 5 is its entry-level carbon framed version. The bike comes with good parts and spec for the price and an OCLV carbon frame that is ripe for a few upgrades down the line.

• Bike of the Year 2018
• Women's cycling news, reviews, interviews and more on BikeRadar Women
• Best women's road bikes of 2018: 9 of the best
• The Trek Émonda SL 5 Women's is one of our Bike of the Year bikes for 2018. To read reviews of the other contenders and the categories tested across road, mountain and women's bikes, visit our Bike of the Year hub .

Trek, a long time supporter of women’s cycling, has recently confirmed its stance on the subject of women’s specific geometry, coming down firmly on the side of unisex frame geometry with gender-specific contact points, with the addition of a smaller size (47cm) for shorter riders.

Trek Émonda SL 5 Women's frame

The main selling point of this bike is the frame, Trek says itself: “If you're going to put money into any part of a bike, invest in the frame.”

In this case, the frame you’re investing in is constructed from 500 Series OCLV carbon. It’s not the same carbon as you’ll find in the top-of-the-range Émonda frames, so there is a slight weight penalty here.

Weighing in at 8.43kg for a 54 it sits comfortably around the midrange of bike weights in our test and is a comparable to other bikes in the same price bracket.

Interestingly, it’s also one of the few race-focused frames in our Bike of the Year test not to have aerodynamic elements incorporated into the frame design. Bikes such as the Canyon Ultimate, Specialized Tarmac and Liv Lagma all have features designed to reduce drag, and this is one area where the Émonda SL 5 loses out.

However, if you do want something that’s more aero-focused, Trek does produce a women’s version of the Madone, with unisex frame and women’s specific contact points.

For those riders who aren’t fans of flashy decals, loud logos or lairy colours, the stealthy satin black of the Émonda with subtle gold flashes here and there will be right up your street.

Trek Émonda SL 5 Women's gears, wheelset and finishing kit

The Shimano 105 groupset is a common sight at this price point and the Émonda SL 5 has the expected 50/34t compact crankset with an 11-28t cassette — a classic combo, which offers a good range of gears to cover all manner of terrain.

105 is good, and while it may not be as smooth shifting or light as the pricier Ultegra, it is reliable and durable.

The 105 rim brakes also work well and are reliable, but are noticeably less effective than Ultegra brakes, and in wet conditions or on steep descents I personally would prefer to have disc brakes.

The aluminium Bontrager Comp VR-S handlebars feature practical black tape with a little gold detailing peeking through the holes to match the subtle gold details on the frame, and while the tape does cushion the hands, the stiffness of the frame doesn’t do much to help mitigate road chatter and harsh bumps that transfer straight to hands, wrists, and arms.

It’s more noticeable at moderate speeds, get a good turn of speed and the Émonda flies over the surface, but for anyone planning on riding on rough roads, be aware that you’re going to get a bit knocked about.

However, at the other end of body and bike, the Bontrager Ride Tuned alloy seatmast topper — essentially, a cap on which the saddle is attached that slides over the top of the integrated seatpost — does do a good job of smoothing the road, so while you feel the jolts in your arms, your derrière is more cushioned.

The tubeless-ready alloy Bontrager wheels are noticeably heavy, especially when paired with the Bontrager R1 Hard-Case tyres.

While the added puncture resistance of the tyres is useful for commuting, training and clocking up those winter miles, in a race setting it’s worth switching over for something lighter.

If you want to up the zooms in the future, consider upgrading to a higher spec of alloy wheels or carbon if your budget can stretch to it.

Trek Émonda SL 5 Women's ride impressions

If you’re into fast-paced riding or racing and looking to make your first carbon road-bike purchase, or want a quality frame that’s perfectly placed for future upgrades, then the SL 5 is a good choice.

The spec is reasonable for the price, but it’s a bike that would benefit from a lighter wheelset and certainly some lighter tyres to really fulfil its potential.

It doesn’t have quite the instantaneous acceleration of some of its nearest competitors, such as the Liv Langma Disc, but it does have a noticeably stiffer frame, which comes into its own once you’ve got it up to speed or on longer climbs where the efficiency of its power transfer is a definite plus.

In the corners the Émonda feels stable, steady and fast — put down the power, lean in and feel the confidence this bike inspires.

Steering is responsive, light and agile but not twitchy, and while this is one of the least expensive bikes in our 2018 Bike of the Year test, it certainly holds its own with pricier options.

Trek Émonda SL 5 Women’s specs

• Weight: 8.43kg (54 cm)
• Frame: Carbon
• Fork: Carbon
• Gears: Shimano 105, 50/34 (compact), 11-28
• Brakes: Shimano 105
• Wheels: Bontrager Tubeless Ready Alloy wheels
• Saddle: Bontrager Ajna Comp saddle
• Seatpost: Bontrager Ride Tuned alloy seatmast cap, 10mm offset seatpost
• Handlebar: Bontrager Comp VR-S handlebars
• Stem: Bontrager Elite stem, 31.8 mm, 7-degree, with computer and light mounts

Trek Émonda SL 5 Women’s price, sizes and availability

The Trek Émonda SL 5 Women’s retails at £1,800 / $2,000 / AU$2,499 and is available in sizes 47, 50, 52, 54, 56, which covers a rider height range of 152—180cm or 4ft11.8in–5ft10.9in

While the frame is unisex, the women’s version offers the additional size 47cm, while the men’s versions go up to a 60cm frame size. Women who are taller than the height range offered by the Women’s version can, of course, opt for a unisex bike, though may want to swap the saddle out depending on personal preference.

• BikeRadar would like to thank Life Cycle Adventures , Sanremo Bike Resort , MET Helmets , Le Col , Mercedes Benz and Brittany Ferries for their help and support during our Bike of the Year test.

Also consider...

If you're in the market for a bike and want to know what else is on offer, have a look at the following list of tried, tested and reviewed options.

• Trek Domane SL 6 Disc Women's
• Specialized Tarmac S-Works SL6 Women's
• Endurace WMN CF SL Disc 8.0 SL
• Liv Langma Pro Disc
• Liv Avail Advanced 1
• Specialized Ruby Elite

Want more? BikeRadar Women has loads of women's cycling news, reviews, interviews and advice and more.

Share this article

Digital Strategist, BBC Wildlife Magazine

• Terms & Conditions
• Subscribe to our magazines
• Manage preferences

• Rider Notes

2018 Trek Émonda SL 5

A carbon frame race bike with upper mid-range components and rim brakes.

Manufacturer Price

For This Bike

View more similar bikes →

Based on frame geometry and build specs.

A bike with lower gearing will be easier to ride up steep hills, while a higher top end means it will pedal faster down hills.

Émonda SL 5

Similar Bikes

(descending)

Add custom gearing

Dec 2018 · Philippe Tremblay

A stunning sparkling purple paint job on an alloy frame with s Shimano Ultegra disc brake build and Bontrager carbon hoops

Read Review

Oct 2018 · Warren Rossiter

Wonderful in every respect and the price ensures exclusivity. Buy if you want the lightest disc chassis around and you’ve got deep pockets or a lottery win

Beautifully balanced handling, low, low weight

A technical marvel

It’s hard to wrap your head around a 10-grand-plus price tag

A smooth and stylee aluminum road bike that hauls ass at a great price

Aug 2018 · Benjamin Topf

The Trek Émonda ALR 6 is the highest-quality aluminium racer in Trek’s portfolio, but can the performance keep up with the superb looks?

May 2018 · Matt Wikstrom

Trek recently updated its lightweight racing chassis, the Émonda, with a variety of refinements for 2018, including the addition of a disc-brake version. We had a look at the Émonda SLR Disc when it was launched last year, so for this review, we follow that up with a closer look at the more affordable mid-range […]

Feb 2018 · Mat Brett

Quick and lively aluminium road bike with a good ride quality and excellent Shimano Ultegra components

Trek pares down its Émonda SLR race bike, resulting in a super-light frame that still handles wonderfully. Plus, it now is available with disc brakes.

May 2017 · William Tracy

The aggressive and versatile Émonda SL 6 combines the stiffness you’d expect from a top-of-the-line race bike, with big tire clearance and moderate race

Last updated February 15 Not listed for 2,312 days

Like most sites, this site uses cookies to make it work. By continuing to use the site you accept our cookie policy . You won’t be shown this message again :)

You are using a browser that does not support javascript. Some aspects of this site may not work as intended.

We've got 11,000+ bikes in the comparison database. Find another?

Trek Emonda SL 2017

Prove Humanity: Please click here to start .

Measurements are in millimeters and degrees.

• Bike name and year
• Geometry table
• Add an image

Problem?  Flag for Review or

If you like the site, can we ask a favour?

Click now, buy soon, and we'll get a few pennies.

Chain Reaction Cycles - Wiggle - Rose

Thank you! Bob & Dave

Also!   Search by Stack and Reach

You can now search the database by numbers .

Find bikes that match your geometry criteria.

© 2024 · Data protection policy · Terms of use · Credits/Sources · Contact

• Émonda SL 5