Domane SLR opinions
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Domane SLR opinions
Anyone have any real world long term reviews of a Domane SLR? I have all the bits and pieces to build up a endurance bike and so far I like what I have seen and read on the Domane SLR. I can find lots of first ride reviews online but no real long term reviews. Some things I am looking for is just how well the front ISO speed isolates front vibrations. Does the bike feel overly dead and muted or is it a good balance between vibration isolation and decent road feel....etc... I am looking to build up the non disc version and I plan to run a 28c tire max.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
Last edited by garysol1; 01-29-17 at 12:11 PM.
#2
Full Member
I love mine...I've had it since September but only rode it through early November until the snow pushed me back into the basement.
I was coming from a Domane 4.5 (Caliper). My opinion is as follows:
The front Isospeed on its own provides a modest (possibly underwhelming) improvement in vibration attenuation. Likewise, the effect of the Isocore bar is again, subtle. This is relative to the existing isolation provided by the seat-tube Isospeed which anyone whose ridden any Domane has experienced.
The most dominant improvement I enjoyed in moving to the SLR was as a result of choosing the disc version - I am able to run very wide tires (32C) at lower pressures - by far the most dramatic improvement front and rear.
The cumulative effect of all of those technologies come together to create an extremely comfortable and stable road bike for long hauls. I look forward to riding it on the GFNY in a few months with my new Enve 4.5 AR Discs.
I was coming from a Domane 4.5 (Caliper). My opinion is as follows:
The front Isospeed on its own provides a modest (possibly underwhelming) improvement in vibration attenuation. Likewise, the effect of the Isocore bar is again, subtle. This is relative to the existing isolation provided by the seat-tube Isospeed which anyone whose ridden any Domane has experienced.
The most dominant improvement I enjoyed in moving to the SLR was as a result of choosing the disc version - I am able to run very wide tires (32C) at lower pressures - by far the most dramatic improvement front and rear.
The cumulative effect of all of those technologies come together to create an extremely comfortable and stable road bike for long hauls. I look forward to riding it on the GFNY in a few months with my new Enve 4.5 AR Discs.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Beautiful Bike!!!! I do prefer disc for endurance bikes for the reasons that you gave plus the obvious BUT I have all of the parts to build up a caliper version so I am kind of stuck going that route. Using the Bontager Speed Stop brakes I will probably be limited to a big 28c tire so I will mostly be relying on the ISO speed systems to deliver the ride compliance and not the tires as much. Currently I ride a Emonda SLR and I am really trying to figure out how much of a smoother ride I should expect changing nothing but the frame.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
#4
Full Member
Beautiful Bike!!!! I do prefer disc for endurance bikes for the reasons that you gave plus the obvious BUT I have all of the parts to build up a caliper version so I am kind of stuck going that route. Using the Bontager Speed Stop brakes I will probably be limited to a big 28c tire so I will mostly be relying on the ISO speed systems to deliver the ride compliance and not the tires as much. Currently I ride a Emonda SLR and I am really trying to figure out how much of a smoother ride I should expect changing nothing but the frame.
Between the Emonda and the Domane, the more pronounced difference on long rides is from the increased wheelbase of the Domane...it requires fewer fine adjustments to maintain your track, whereas the Emonda is more of a full-time job to keep tracking straight over bumping asphalt (my experience anyway)...I have found the Emonda relatively more fatiguing as a result.
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Between the Emonda and the Domane, the more pronounced difference on long rides is from the increased wheelbase of the Domane...it requires fewer fine adjustments to maintain your track, whereas the Emonda is more of a full-time job to keep tracking straight over bumping asphalt (my experience anyway)...I have found the Emonda relatively more fatiguing as a result.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
#6
Full Member
I put 9,500km on a Domane in 2016...It's a beautiful package in all trim levels.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
#8
will stop for donuts
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Maine
Posts: 214
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have similar feelings as "SimilarOne" above. The adjustable rear decoupler is fantastic, but the front decoupler and isocore bar have noticeably less damping - which is good IMO, it still gives good feedback and road feel, without being harsh. Overall I think one of the biggest differences in ride quality is being able to run high-quality, wide tires (32's, also on the disc model. You can fit Schwalbe S-One 30's set up tubeless in the caliper brake model though) at a reasonably low pressure.
Overall, fantastic riding bike, and very comfortable
Overall, fantastic riding bike, and very comfortable
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Wichita, KS.
Posts: 861
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 167 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
5 Posts
I love mine...I've had it since September but only rode it through early November until the snow pushed me back into the basement.
I was coming from a Domane 4.5 (Caliper). My opinion is as follows:
The front Isospeed on its own provides a modest (possibly underwhelming) improvement in vibration attenuation. Likewise, the effect of the Isocore bar is again, subtle. This is relative to the existing isolation provided by the seat-tube Isospeed which anyone whose ridden any Domane has experienced.
The most dominant improvement I enjoyed in moving to the SLR was as a result of choosing the disc version - I am able to run very wide tires (32C) at lower pressures - by far the most dramatic improvement front and rear.
The cumulative effect of all of those technologies come together to create an extremely comfortable and stable road bike for long hauls. I look forward to riding it on the GFNY in a few months with my new Enve 4.5 AR Discs.
I was coming from a Domane 4.5 (Caliper). My opinion is as follows:
The front Isospeed on its own provides a modest (possibly underwhelming) improvement in vibration attenuation. Likewise, the effect of the Isocore bar is again, subtle. This is relative to the existing isolation provided by the seat-tube Isospeed which anyone whose ridden any Domane has experienced.
The most dominant improvement I enjoyed in moving to the SLR was as a result of choosing the disc version - I am able to run very wide tires (32C) at lower pressures - by far the most dramatic improvement front and rear.
The cumulative effect of all of those technologies come together to create an extremely comfortable and stable road bike for long hauls. I look forward to riding it on the GFNY in a few months with my new Enve 4.5 AR Discs.
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 13 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I love mine...I've had it since September but only rode it through early November until the snow pushed me back into the basement.
I was coming from a Domane 4.5 (Caliper). My opinion is as follows:
The front Isospeed on its own provides a modest (possibly underwhelming) improvement in vibration attenuation. Likewise, the effect of the Isocore bar is again, subtle. This is relative to the existing isolation provided by the seat-tube Isospeed which anyone whose ridden any Domane has experienced.
The most dominant improvement I enjoyed in moving to the SLR was as a result of choosing the disc version - I am able to run very wide tires (32C) at lower pressures - by far the most dramatic improvement front and rear.
The cumulative effect of all of those technologies come together to create an extremely comfortable and stable road bike for long hauls. I look forward to riding it on the GFNY in a few months with my new Enve 4.5 AR Discs.
I was coming from a Domane 4.5 (Caliper). My opinion is as follows:
The front Isospeed on its own provides a modest (possibly underwhelming) improvement in vibration attenuation. Likewise, the effect of the Isocore bar is again, subtle. This is relative to the existing isolation provided by the seat-tube Isospeed which anyone whose ridden any Domane has experienced.
The most dominant improvement I enjoyed in moving to the SLR was as a result of choosing the disc version - I am able to run very wide tires (32C) at lower pressures - by far the most dramatic improvement front and rear.
The cumulative effect of all of those technologies come together to create an extremely comfortable and stable road bike for long hauls. I look forward to riding it on the GFNY in a few months with my new Enve 4.5 AR Discs.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I bit the bullet and ordered up the SLR frameset in the caliper brake version. As much as I wanted the disc version if I really feel the need to run bigger than a 28c I can just grab my cross bike. Hopefully built up I can get her just at 15lbs. Thats my goal at least.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
#12
Full Member
Wonderful choice. You will love it! I really like the red accent on the frameset-only.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ugh..... My new Domane arrived today only to have a cable stop screw cross threaded and sitting crooked. Back in the box it went. I expect its replacement should come tomorrow. Talk about a downer
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
#14
Senior Member
I have to ask.. at this point why would you not go for the disc frameset when you are spending so much and they are the same price?
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Easy answer.... I already have everything from the direct mount brakes, wheelset and D/A shifters to build up the rim brake bike. If I went disc I would have to spend another $1,500 just in components to build it up. If not for that I would have prefered a disc model for this bike.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
#16
Senior Member
That's a great reason
#17
Full Member
Easy answer.... I already have everything from the direct mount brakes, wheelset and D/A shifters to build up the rim brake bike. If I went disc I would have to spend another $1,500 just in components to build it up. If not for that I would have prefered a disc model for this bike.
Looking forward to the pics!
#19
Full Member
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
And the build begins.......
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
Last edited by garysol1; 02-08-17 at 03:00 PM.
#21
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 4
Bikes: Colnago C59 : Look 695 : Moots Routt 45
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Looks Great!!
My next build will be a disc endurance rig. Right now, I've narrowed my choices to Orbed Avant and the Domane SLR.
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
My build on my SLR is complete except for a black saddle and I overshot my projected weight by a tad. I was wanting 15lb anything ready to ride and I ended up with 16.01 with pedals, cages and Garmin mount with 28c tires. Still not bad for an endurance bike.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
#24
Full Member
Nice! Just need to update your signature
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter