Dirt Farmer

I am very interested in this bike. Right now I'm looking at the Domane S5.


I understand many people here will have the higher end SLR or SL versions, but this will be my first real road (and carbon) bike, as I come from the mountain biking world. I figure I'd "dip my toes" in for now and stay around $2000. I can live with rim brakes.


I've read lots of great things about the Domane series, but I'd like to hear the other side. What don't you like about yours? Have you experienced any problems component-wise? Do you have any regrets?


Thanks

DomaneS5

Sorry. I can't think of anything I don't like about the Domane S5. More color options would have been nice... but the black looks good to me.

Carbon frame... nice
105 components... nice
Ride quality... nice
Major overall upgrade from my Trek 1.1... yes

speshelite

Go on some test rides and you tell us what YOU like and dislike about the bike.

Dirt Farmer

No dislikes yet on the short ride, hence the question

Gladius

The only issues I had with my Domane 5.9 was the bottom bracket creaking a lot. But I don't think that has anything to do with the Domane frame design.
I did have to tighten the isolink seatpost pivot a couple of times but I wouldn't describe that as a problem. Just something to watch out for on maintenance.

My new bike is a Domane SLR, so totally different design.

speshelite

Excellent. What type of riding do you want to do? Long rides? Racing? Gravel?

What other brands have you tried?

What type of geometry do you want? Roubaix 17/18 has steeper angles/quicker steering whereas Domane has endurance geometry.

I would try other brands aside from Trek as comparison.

Dirt Farmer

Thanks for the input!

Dean V

No problems with my SL6.
As for endurance geometry I had no trouble setting it up with my usual 11cm saddle/bar drop and I have no problem getting it to go around corners.

RShantz

I put about 7k miles on a Domane & then got an Emonda. I really liked the Domane, but it just felt a little slower handling and accelerating as compared to the Emonda - just one person's experience. Depending on your type of riding you may like the characteristics of the Domane better.

Dirt Farmer

Thanks! I've also thought of the Emonda, but the endurance geometry is calling my name. I'm not much of an "accelerator", lol.

Seattle Forrest

The handcuffs she uses.

Dirt Farmer

I see what you did there!

SkepticalOne

Love my SLR6 Disc. Only complaint would be the relatively poor saddle that came with it. I've since changed to a Specialized Power Pro.

enzo thecat

Absolutely love my Domane SLR7. I can't think of a single thing I dont like about it. Besides being comfortable and fast and smooth, it looks stunningly beautiful and aggressive. Pictures do do it justice. There are angles and widths to the frame you can only see in person. I think its one of the best looking bikes even made, even more so than the Madone. The rim brakes are excellent and also look great the way they are tucked into the forks.

Slowstarter

I've built up a Domane SLR 7 and Service manual state says: "Make sure the plastic tails of the guide line up with the grooves of the frame"( page 15). Sure I did, but after a few rides my rear and front gears didn't work as smoothly as I expected. Examining the poor plastic and bare(!) wiring suggested by Trek it's obvious that it's a magnetic area for mud and dirt ( down under the bottom bracket shell). I'm looking for solutions better than Trek's Service Manual says. Someone got an idea?

Stormsedge

The S5 is a nice bike...I test road one before pulling the trigger on my SL6 Disc. I have over 1125 miles on it as of today with no complaints. I did change the seat, but I expected to do that.

rubiksoval

It's the Trek frame design. BB90. It's awful and is the one single reason why I won't buy a Trek, even with the Madone and Emonda being two of my "otherwise-dream bikes".

Over time it can eat away at the frame and then you have really big issues.

SkepticalOne

I have two. Domane 4.5 and a Domane SLR6 Disc. Love love love them both! Only complaint is the saddle (as stated above) and the price of the SLR.

bbattle

I am the master of my Domane.




No complaints with my 2014 5.2. No creaking BB, saddle I swapped out(who rides stock saddles?) I ride on all road surfaces and even paths if the mood strikes. Love the bike.

Dean V

I have an SL6 and have no complaints. They are not a light bike but neither are most comparable disc brake bikes.
If for some reason you drop a chain on the inside and it gets past the chaincatcher it can be quite hard to get out. Clearances there are tight due to the large down tube. Not that this is anything that would effect my decision making on purchasing one.

wthensler 

My older 6.2 P1 with Di2 has over 10k miles, and has been trouble free and a real joy to ride. Best bike for the long distance type of riding I do. I did recently replace the BB and Iso, but honestly they weren't in that bad of shape considering how hard I ride.

Dirt Farmer

BTW, I ended up with a Jamis Quest Elite, and I could not be happier! I knew down deep inside that steel was real, lol.

Dean V

Where was the "What don't you like about your Jamis Quest Elite" thread?

Dirt Farmer

Mar-a Lago??

FBinNY 

I never thought I'd see the day where spending $2,000 on a bike would be considered "dipping toes".