Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Domane SLR opinions

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Domane SLR opinions

Old 01-29-17, 12:02 PM
  #1  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
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

Last edited by garysol1; 01-29-17 at 12:11 PM.
garysol1 is offline  
Old 01-29-17, 03:44 PM
  #2  
SkepticalOne
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 375

Bikes: 2021 Trek Emonda SL7, 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR4, 2020 Trek P1 Domane SLR7

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 43 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.


SkepticalOne is offline  
Old 01-29-17, 04:28 PM
  #3  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
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.
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
garysol1 is offline  
Old 01-29-17, 04:50 PM
  #4  
SkepticalOne
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 375

Bikes: 2021 Trek Emonda SL7, 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR4, 2020 Trek P1 Domane SLR7

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by garysol1
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.
SkepticalOne is offline  
Old 01-29-17, 04:58 PM
  #5  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
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.
I should have also noted that I had a Specialized Roubaix Expert SL4 before the Emonda. If the Domane does at least as good of a job as the Roubaix did then I will be happy.
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
garysol1 is offline  
Old 01-29-17, 05:02 PM
  #6  
SkepticalOne
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 375

Bikes: 2021 Trek Emonda SL7, 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR4, 2020 Trek P1 Domane SLR7

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by garysol1
I should have also noted that I had a Specialized Roubaix Expert SL4 before the Emonda. If the Domane does at least as good of a job as the Roubaix did then I will be happy.
Good luck on the build

I put 9,500km on a Domane in 2016...It's a beautiful package in all trim levels.
SkepticalOne is offline  
Old 01-29-17, 05:12 PM
  #7  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
Good luck on the build

I put 9,500km on a Domane in 2016...It's a beautiful package in all trim levels.
Thanks. I hope it comes out as nice as yours!
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
garysol1 is offline  
Old 01-30-17, 05:31 PM
  #8  
BenPS
will stop for donuts
 
BenPS's Avatar
 
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
BenPS is offline  
Old 01-30-17, 07:20 PM
  #9  
Planemaker
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
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
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.


That is a beautiful bike. I've been wanting move my etap from my Domane 4.5 to this frame. Now I just can't wait. Of course, I'm going to have to save up for the wheels.
Planemaker is offline  
Old 01-31-17, 10:29 PM
  #10  
uscdigital
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
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
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.


uscdigital is offline  
Old 02-01-17, 04:34 AM
  #11  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
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
garysol1 is offline  
Old 02-01-17, 05:38 AM
  #12  
SkepticalOne
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 375

Bikes: 2021 Trek Emonda SL7, 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR4, 2020 Trek P1 Domane SLR7

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by garysol1
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.

Wonderful choice. You will love it! I really like the red accent on the frameset-only.
SkepticalOne is offline  
Old 02-02-17, 07:17 PM
  #13  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
Wonderful choice. You will love it! I really like the red accent on the frameset-only.
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
garysol1 is offline  
Old 02-02-17, 08:08 PM
  #14  
vinuneuro
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NW Chicagoland
Posts: 784

Bikes: 2016 Diverge Expert

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 8 Posts
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?
vinuneuro is offline  
Old 02-02-17, 08:12 PM
  #15  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by vinuneuro
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?
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
garysol1 is offline  
Old 02-02-17, 08:13 PM
  #16  
vinuneuro
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NW Chicagoland
Posts: 784

Bikes: 2016 Diverge Expert

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 390 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 8 Posts
Originally Posted by garysol1
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.
That's a great reason
vinuneuro is offline  
Old 02-03-17, 08:03 AM
  #17  
SkepticalOne
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 375

Bikes: 2021 Trek Emonda SL7, 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR4, 2020 Trek P1 Domane SLR7

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by garysol1
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!
SkepticalOne is offline  
Old 02-03-17, 08:44 AM
  #18  
sh00k
Senior Member
 
sh00k's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 947

Bikes: 2011 Trek FX 7.3 | 2015 Trek FX 7.4 | Lotus Classique

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times in 16 Posts
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
sh00k is offline  
Old 02-03-17, 11:06 AM
  #19  
SkepticalOne
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 375

Bikes: 2021 Trek Emonda SL7, 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR4, 2020 Trek P1 Domane SLR7

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by sh00k
[img]https://cdn.meme.am/cache/instances/folder584/400x/31929584.jpg[img]
Lots of room for fatter tires



SkepticalOne is offline  
Old 02-03-17, 01:48 PM
  #20  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
And the build begins.......



__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake

Last edited by garysol1; 02-08-17 at 03:00 PM.
garysol1 is offline  
Old 02-06-17, 09:45 AM
  #21  
FMB51
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.
FMB51 is offline  
Old 02-06-17, 11:25 AM
  #22  
Munk69
Senior Member
 
Munk69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Western Michigan
Posts: 601

Bikes: Ridley Helium

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
Both great looking bikes. Can't wait to see it all built up and a ride report
Munk69 is offline  
Old 02-08-17, 03:02 PM
  #23  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
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
garysol1 is offline  
Old 02-08-17, 03:40 PM
  #24  
SkepticalOne
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Canada
Posts: 375

Bikes: 2021 Trek Emonda SL7, 2019 Trek Checkpoint ALR4, 2020 Trek P1 Domane SLR7

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 165 Post(s)
Liked 80 Times in 43 Posts
Originally Posted by garysol1
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.
Nice! Just need to update your signature
SkepticalOne is offline  
Old 02-08-17, 03:50 PM
  #25  
garysol1 
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
garysol1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Traverse City Michigan
Posts: 10,244
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 78 Post(s)
Liked 17 Times in 11 Posts
Originally Posted by SkepticalOne
Nice! Just need to update your signature
Done and Thanks!
__________________
BMC Roadmachine
Kona Jake the Snake
garysol1 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.