I don’t have all those prices on tap. But quick searches shows electronic groups on the ones I saw starting around $5500-6000 USD.
The hard with lots of these high end frames it seems reviews are almost always based on them and not the lower end more affordable version of the bike. (Though wouldn’t call a $5000 madone sl6 low end cause thats still a high price bike)
Would love to know how much of a difference there is between the high end frame and the lower end frame when they seemed to be shaped the same.
Negligible…some weight savings, that is it (which means very little in terms of performance). You will see a bigger difference in the bikes based on the other specs, specifically the cockpit, than from the frames.
By list price on Trek’s web site the cheapest Madone with electric shifting is last years SL7 at $6500 and a SLR6 mechanical Ultegra at $6,899.99.
Be nice if they could come without the wheels if you already have wheels that are good enough. The Bontrager Aeolus Pro 5 they comes with cost 1300 so could drop the price of the bike a good amount if you don’t really need new wheels. (Say you’re old bike will be used for trainer use)
2 Likes
I mean things like comfort, longevity, and other aspect that a different material in the frame can mean outside of the obvious weight change.
The Madone SL6 to SLR6 is $2200 extra.
Still negligible, IMO…changing your tire pressure (or tire selection) will have a great impact on comfort than the difference in frame material. Sure, manufacturers will amke some claims about XX% stiffer or YY% more compliant, but when you break those numbers down, the real world difference is unnoticeable.
All these frames will last longer than any of us will want to ride them, etc.
it really only comes down to weight if the frame designs are exactly the same.
3 Likes
Part of that is the 500 > 800 carbon, and the wheel upgrade Comp > Pro, and the handle bar stem Regular > Aero. So it’s a mix, but I’d guess the material is at around half the price difference. All that is a 0.4kg, 0.8lb difference in weight.
I can’t help with the ride characteristic differences, but the reviews I read made no major mentions of deficiencies in the SL version.
1 Like
I’m assuming the same is true for other bikes too like the Tarmac
1 Like
A bike manufacturer promoting a lighter bike… that’s a new one!
A nice looking upgrade 
It’s really hard to resist, the colors are awesome. I have to talk to my wife, but it"s getting hard 
Pretty sure you can do this via Project One
I’ve just looked at the price here in the uk. £12.5k for the eTap 
Think I’ll go back to looking at the SLR7 … still £8.5k tho
What do people do for a job who afford these sort of bikes? I’ve never spent close to that on a car. I’d be definitely heading for divorce if I spent that unless we win big on the euro millions.
1 Like
Sure, they are pretty expensive.
But I save a lot of money in other topics, like an expensive car (really old fashioned Ford).
On the other hand, my job is not paid so bad 
1 Like
Well, they promoted a heavier one just last month, by adding a fair bit of weight to the Emonda in the name of aero. Welcome to modern manufacturing, marketing and capitalism. 
1 Like
These are all welcome updates, not that my budget puts me in danger of buying an SLR anything in the near future. Honestly I’ve been obsessed with the Madone ever since 2016 when the 9 series came out, I was sure that was the bike I wanted. Fast forward to the new Emonda and that’s the bike I would rather have at this point. I don’t ride enough flats, mostly rolling hills and climbs, my typical rides being 1000ft per 20mi. Madone is probably still faster in that scenario, but the Emonda is still lighter and more compliant. If I could have both I would have both, but if I had to choose only one to own and ride everything on, I would 100% get the Emonda instead.
Emonda is more compliant?
2 Likes
Agreed on this confusion. Hard to picture the new Emonda as a softer ride than the Madone with Isospeed.
My first and second gen Emonda are smooth for what they are, but they are not Isospeed smooth. Most reviews I saw said the third gen Emonda may well be stiffer. So the Madone should still be the smoother option.
1 Like
Smaller size tubes generally have more compliance. Compare the fork on the Emonda and Madone. Yes the Madone has iso speed, but the Emonda also has the seatmast which I find on mine adds a good bit of comfort. And again, thinner tube shapes at the back (seatstays) and all around have more flex for comfort and transmit less buzz.
And I put in my project one order last month… I can still hope that I’ll get the new frame right?!