txgolfer56

To make a long story short, I crashed my bike in a triathlon a couple weekends ago. Frame is now out of spec so Trek is offering a discount on a new bike. I'm considering a Trek Madone 4.5 or 5.2. My current bike is a Madone 2.1. It appears the 5.2 has more technical features than the 4.5 and a few better components and a better frame. I'm hoping to test ride both this weekend.

Any experiences with either model? I'm looking at buying a 2013 model.

Porter20

I don't have any experience with either bicycle - nor is there a lot of information provided about how much you ride; what kind of riding you do etc. I think you are doing the smart thing by test riding both.

Here is my opinion (and I will probably get ripped to shreds for it) but I believe - if you love riding a bike & you put signicant miles on your bike; then you should buy the high end bike of your budget (since I am assuming you already have the other essentials - helmet, shoes, shorts, etc.). In this case, the 5.2 - it will be better frame (lighter) and better components. I believe your last bike was Aluminum so the Carbon Fiber of both the 4.5 & 5.2 will feel a little different.

The opportunity to get a new bike does not come along that often. In my experience with myself and my friends, we buy our first new bike with the hopes of upgrading it in 2 or 3 years. The problem is a new bike is a lot of money and often we don't upgrade as soon as we had hoped and instead just wish we had done it the first time around. I am not saying you need to spend $12K on bike (nor am I saying someone wouldn't get everything they need to out of a 2.1 if that is what their budget dicitated) - but if you are already investing a signicant amount of $$ into a bicycle - have it be one that will work for you 2 years down the road as well as right now. Once again - just my opinion.

crash14me

I have the 2012 4.5 and I love it so far but if I had the funds and already had the other necessaries I would go for the 5.2 Madone.

Jason300

I have a 2013 Madone 4.5 I bought new in April with put 1,000 miles on it and I love it. I decided to get it over the 5.2 even with the $500 discount they were advertising at the time for the green/white model. With that discount it would have made the 5.2 only about $500 more than the 4.5. I did not see $500 worth of upgrades that I found useful.

The notable upgrades of the 5.2 over the 4.5 are

Internal cable routing - Looks cool but as a non racer this is of little benefit to me.

500 series frame - Looks a bit cooler and is lighter. It is also the same frame as the high end Madone line.

Ultegra Crank - I believe there is a weight savings but again I do not race so it was a non issue

Bontrager integrated brakes - Head lots of horror stories from frustrated owners 1st hand especially when changing a rear flat.

If I had the money I would upgrade to the 5.9 which has Di2 but that is about double what I paid for my 4.5.

mprelaw

I have the 5.2 with the integrated brakes. There's no issue whatsoever with changing a rear flat. I don't understand why the others are relating problems, unless they're running wider tires than 23 mm. I've changed 3 flats so far, since I got the bike in late March. One bad tube, two road punctures. I've also pulled the wheel a couple of times to clean the cassette. I was a little concerned about road grit, but I've found that they actually stay cleaner than traditional brakes.

Everyone has to decide for themselves whether the lighter, KVF frame and the crank are worth the extra $$$, but there shouldn't be any worries over the brakes.

RobertL

I went from a 2011 4.5 Madone to a 2012 5.2 Madone.

While the 4.5 was a very nice bike, the 5.2 Madone is a little better in every regard. I'm glad to have made the move to the 5.2 Madone.

cthenn

A Trek thread...this oughta be good.

txgolfer56

Since my damaged bike was a Trek, Trek is offering a 20% discount on a replacement. So, yes, a Trek bike!

himespau 

Are your parts salvageable, and can you reuse them and just get the discount on a new frame? Sure it's always cheaper to buy a whole bike than build up from parts, but if you wanted to keep all your components and reuse them on a new frame, would that work for you?

Vaio_s

I used to work at a Trek shop, and I would cringe every time I saw somebody riding a 4.5 decked out with really nice parts. I realize there's a significant price difference between the 4.5 and the 5.2, but in my opinion, its well worth the jump to getting the upgraded frame. This is especially true if you're talking about the 2013 models (identified by the Kammtail shaping on the 5, 6, and 7 series). Trek left the 3 and 4 series unchanged for 2013 but completely revamped the 5 series and above. The geometry is sharpened up (if that's to your liking) and the 5.2 does give a smoother ride (seatmast cap, etc). It's not just about saving a few grams over the 4.5.

I know I sound like a total Trek shill especially considering the bike I ride, haha. But that's my honest opinion. If it helps any, I've logged 4000+ miles on my 2013 5.2 since September and some of those miles include collegiate racing. People poke fun about the rear brake a lot but it's honestly not that different.

Also in response to himespau, OP is much better off buying a complete bike from Trek and selling parts if he chooses. The pricing on the framesets are (probably intentionally) ridiculous.

txgolfer56

I rode the Trek Madone 3.1 and 5.2 today. The 5.2 was clearly a better bike. The shop didn't have a 4.5 in my frame size to try. Will go back tomorrow and likely buy the 5.2.

Bah Humbug

Dare I ask how you crashed in a triathlon?

txgolfer56

A truck entered the race course at a controlled traffic intersection. The truck driver ignored police commands to stop and continued into the intersection i was coming up on. Only choice was to try to stop.

Dan333SP

Yikes! I wonder if the truck driver's insurance should be paying for this replacement? Clearly he was at fault and having cops as witnesses can't hurt. I've got a 2013 3.1, I'm honestly glad I've never ridden the 5 series or above because the 3.1 feels great to me and I actually like the silver/white/black colors.

Bah Humbug

Ok, I'll avoid the triathletes on bikes comments. That's a solid reason. Though it sucks mightily. Hope the driver got a ticket.

I did see a few tumbling for no reason this morning. Not even just at the start. Boggled my mind, especially since I'm not exactly a great bike handler.

Bah Humbug

Also this.

txgolfer56

I will be pursuing a claim against the city. It was a city truck that drove into the course.

Dan333SP

I know you lost your bike, but you're very lucky because A) you are uninjured as far as I know, and B) it was a city truck, and not some uninsured or under insured random person. It is all the more unfathomable that a city employee would blatantly ignore police traffic controls. Good luck with the replacement!

thechemist

With kamfoil technology starting at 5series I see no reason to get a new trek that is anything but 5 or better.

volosong

I have a 2010 Madone 4.5 bike that I've "upgrade" to full Ultegra. At that time, the major difference between the 4 and 5 series was external or internal cable routing, (other stuff too, like grade of carbon and components). If I were to purchase a new Trek today, it would be a Domane...absolutely. But then again, i don't race.

Bah Humbug

Come to think of it, for a triathlete, the aero frame on the 5 should be the deciding factor.

txgolfer56

I suffered a significant edema to my butt muscles and lower back area. Swelled up pretty well. I was on strong pain meds for 3 days and then continued with ibuprofen after that. Currently, I'm still black and blue and seeing a chiropractor to get adjustments. I'm back in the weight room and will start cardio up again this week. Hoping to pick up my new bike today or tomorrow.

Bah Humbug

Good luck with the healing. Pics (of the bike, not you!) are demanded, of course.

cerealkilla

I went to my LBS with the intensions of buying either a Trek Domane 4.5 or a Scott addict R2 (2011 model). The Domane felt a little too sort of lazy/tourer feeling. Then hopped onto a Madone 5.2 which immediately felt like a proper bike again, Felt like it means to move rather than bounce about. jumped on the Addict, again felt improvements but this time in the gears, smoothness and speed in changing up/down. Salesman then said they had a heavily discounted FOIL 15 in with Di2... Put basically; if you're sticking with Trek the Madone is a better bike (love the underslung break clipper on the 2013 frames) Is better constructed and spec'd IMHO. The Domane also has a tendency to creak from the ISOspeed joint, which I think I'd hate if it started.

txgolfer56

Going to pick up the Trek Madone 5.2 today. Needless to say, I'm very excited to get back riding again!