side_FX

Ok, so I get that a Madone is more performance and the Domane is more endurance, but I still don't get the Emonda fit? All I keep reading about is that it is the lightest bike, but I don't understand if the geometry is leaning towards the Madone vs. Domane? If it's designed to be the lightest, is that to also imply is more fragile than a similarly priced Madone? Should Clyde's not apply for this model?

timmbo

Domane: Endurance, H3 fit, very popular
Emonda: most popular, light frame, great all around bike especially in H2 fit. Aggressive H1 is more for racers. Emonda is what the Madone used to be in terms of weight and frame shape (2012 and older)
Madone: Aluminum frame for budget (2 series), 7 Series for serious racers that prefer an aerodynamic frame. Heavier than the Emonda and the older Madones.

Me, I prefer the older Madone, or the Emonda. That is what most people will prefer, but all of the bikes have a place. The Domane is a hot bike as well. I ride a Madone 4.6 with H2 fit. I love the feel of the bike.

If I were you, you are probably looking for a close out Madone (probably 4 or 5 series), or a Domane (again, 4 or 5 series). If carbon is out of budget, look at the 2 series Madone or the 2 series Domane, but again, make sure you look for close-outs, those are HUGE savings!

gc3

Trek = too complicated for my simple mind. I'd be looking for another brand.

fstshrk

Get a Domane and be done. Not too complicated.

Domane now comes in an endurance fit and a race fit (Domane Classics edition). So really only two to choose from.

After riding a Domane for the last two weeks, I am seriously considering selling my Roubaix SL2.

macjager

buy a Domane carbon and then put on a campy groupo...and Bianchi celeste bar tape and celeste water bottles...
and make sure the Domane is black......

chaadster

Buy whichever one you want...and just anagram the name of the one you want. Madone, Domane, Emonda...same damn six letters, just rearranged. I think Trek is f***ing with us.

trekmogul 

I was looking at a Domaine also and decided on the Emonda plus i like red..

NormanF

Most bike brands today offer endurance geometry on entry level road bikes.

If you want traditional racing geometry, you'll have to upgrade.

BenPS

domane - endurance bike (or people who like the more upright comfortable ride)
madone - racers/sprinters/aero bike
emonda - climbers/classic road bike

easy. and yes, they were made anagrams on purpose. domane is a play on domani (italian for tomorrow), and emonda is a play on emonder (french, to cut or trim (as in trimming weight))

get it? got it? good.

WalksOn2Wheels

How is having a traditional (Emonda), aero (Madone), and endurance (Domane) bike that complicated? Look at BMC, Specialized, Cervelo, Giant, etc. Same thing.

gc3

I meant the whole business of using the same letters as an anagram for the model's names....too cute by half....just call them Winken, Blinken and Nod fer crissakes....

SundayNiagara

The Emonda's have 2 different fits, H1 and H2, whatever that means.

timmbo

Height of the head tube, H2 is more relaxed, H1 is more relaxed. A Domane is H3

fstshrk

Unless it is a Domane Classics Edition. Which I think is somewhere between an H1 and an H2.

Jaeger99

If that is overly confusing to you, it may be that you are overthinking things just a touch. The three models have different names. If the fact that they use a different mix of the same letters makes your brain hurt, the problem isn't with Trek. But of course, spend your money as you see fit.

FWIW, I took an Emonda out for a test ride and came away very impressed. To the OP - I wouldn't worry too much about where the bike precisely slots within the Trek lineup or the greater bike universe for that matter. Try one out and see for yourself how it works for you in fit and feel.

CactoesGel

So after work today, I went to test ride an Emonda SL6. GRRR! I liked it! And, I thought I was completely sold on the Synapse. Now, I'm debating in my head. Yes, I'm probably overthinking this a little much like gc3. But unlike him, I actually think naming these bikes the way Trek does is pretty clever. For one, it has us talking about it.

WalksOn2Wheels

I thought pretty hard about the SL6, but was kind of already set on the Domane, and I might not be buying a nice bike for a long time after this next purchase so it has to be versatile.

How did you find the ride? What would you compare it to?

CactoesGel

I've only ridden 4 bikes, limited miles - Madone 4.3, Tarmac SL4, & the Carbon Synapse. I'm a beginner so my observations are not going to be very credible. I decided on the Synapse because it was stiff enough, but felt smoother than the other 2. The 2014 Synapse is out of stock. So I am waiting on the 2015s coming out on October 19th.

Then I saw the Emonda and figured why the heck not. The problem is, I like it, and it's $1,000 more ha ha ha! The Emonda feels lighter, or maybe it's just placebo, but it just feels better overall. I test rode it for about 5 miles. Now I'm deciding dropping 3K on this darn bike or wait till October and spend $700 less for the Synapse.

WrightVanCleve

I just wish the Emonda came with the cool flame paint job that you can get with the Madone.

Jaeger99

Of all the bikes I tested the Emonda (and the Cervelo R3) impressed as being very light and quick. I rode the Emonda back to back with the Giant Defy and the Emonda seemed to jump off the line quicker. I think Trek will sell a boatload of these bikes.

I liked the Synapse as well, but I liked the Emonda more.

And FWIW, I think that maybe the best value bike of all was the Felt Z5. Seriously nice ride for the money and definitely worth a look.

Oh, and I don't think overthinking your CHOICE is a bad idea - but spinning your mental wheels about the name and anagrams and whatnot seems like a waste of energy to me. I can't think of a less important factor in a bike purchase than the name (much less a decisive one) - but that's me.

Long Tom

Next up: the Daemon. You saw it here first!

Mike F

Trade mark the name before Sinyard does...

gc3

I'm not wasting mental energy, the names are just stupid IMO. The bottom line is that we're talking about Trek. Not interested. Period.

That's just me. Enjoy the ride.

EdgewaterDude

I'm bummed that you have to spend the big bucks to get the H1 fit (most aggressive.) I've got a Domane, which is awesome for longer rides, but I find myself wishing that I had a head tube that was 5 cm or so shorter. Even with my slammed stem, I've still only got 1cm of saddle-bar drop.

side_FX

I still see the Madone and Emonda as two sides of the same coin? Specialized has the Tarmac, Roubaix, and Secteur as three distinct types of ride. The Treks seem too close in comparison to each other, especially the Madone and Emonda.

nice bikes.....but too repetitive?