Have you decided on Trek for your next road bike but not sure which one to get? This article can help. There are 3 categories of road bikes that Trek makes: the Emonda, the Madone, and the Domane. The difference between these three bikes is in their geometry, tube profiles, and weight. You might be wondering why this matters so much – it’s because a bike will feel and perform very differently differently depending on those three things. So if you want to know which one is right for you then keep reading!
The short answer
– The Emonda is a lightweight race bike for cyclists who like to go fast and ride aggressively. The lightness of Emonda is perfect for climbing because lighter bikes require less effort to get your bike up hills.
– The Madone is a bit heavier than the Emonda but has an aerodynamic design which makes this bike great for flat terrains. The IsoSpeed Decoupler on the Madone absorbs shocks which make this bike more comfortable than the Emonda and other aero bikes.
– The Domane’s geometry is more upright than Emonda and Madone, making it a great touring bike for long distances. The Domane can fit wider tires and has the IsoSpeed Decoupler on the seat post and steerer, making it perfect if you plan on doing a lot of off-road riding or going over rough terrain.
Domane is also the only road bike in Trek’s range available at a sub $2000 price point, which makes it the best option for beginners.
Okay, so maybe that was too quick. Let’s talk about each Trek road bike in more detail.
Emonda: The Lightweight, Semi-Aero Race Bike
This is Trek’s lightest bike and it is meant for cyclists who like to go fast. The 2021 and later model has a semi-aero design which means that the tubing of this bike has been shaped in order to decrease its aerodynamic drag, making you faster on flat terrain (and on the climb too, if you’re fast enough).
Emonda is great for climbing because it is lightweight so it requires less effort to get your bike up hills.
Why you should choose the Emonda:
– If you like to go fast and ride aggressively, the Emonda is a great choice for you.
– The light weight of this bike will make climbing easier. If you live in an area with lots of hills and long climbs, the Emonda will be perfect for you.
– You want an agile bike with quick handling that makes you feel fast
Why you should not choose the Emonda:
– If comfort is what matters most to you then this bike might not be your first choice. The Emonda’s lightweight carbon layup is so harsh that you will feel every road imperfection. That said, the harshness is not always a bad thing for experienced riders. Plus, you can use 28mm tires or tubeless setup to make it more comfortable.
– The semi-aero design means that while it is lighter, it’s not as fast compared to other aero bikes, including the Madone in flat road. So if you live in a very flat area or hate climbing, you might want to choose the Madone instead because the weight penalty won’t matter to you.
– You are looking for a bike that can handle rough terrain since the Emonda is not built for this. Go for Domane or Trek’s gravel bike, Checkpoint.
Madone: The Comfortable, Aerodynamic Race Bike
The Madone is Trek’s most popular road bike model and it has an aerodynamic design which makes this bike great for flat terrains. It comes with Bontrager’s IsoSpeed Decoupler which helps absorbs shocks and make this bike more comfortable than other aero bikes.
The geometry of the Madone the exact same as the Emonda. This bike has a bit more weight but this will be unnoticeable when you’re not going uphill, making this bike great if speed matters to you and you live in an area with lots of flats.
Why you should choose the Madone:
– You ride in flat or rolling terrains and want a fast bike that is comfortable
– You are looking for an aerodynamic advantage, especially on flat roads
– You are looking for stiff bike for sprints
Why you should not choose the Madone:
– If you ride long climbs. Yes, descending with a Madone is a blast because of the aero benefits and stability when slicing through the wind, but the climb won’t be as much fun compared to an Emonda. (Not that it’s not doable.)
– You’re looking for an all-around bike that is quick on the climb and still relatively fast on the flat. The Emonda with its semi-aero profile is built exactly for this. Road Bike.
– You want a bike that can handle rough terrain, then the Madone might not be right for you because even with the IsoSpeed it is still a stiff bike. The Domane is for you.
Domane: The Long Distance Endurance Bike That Can Handle Rough Terrain
The Domane’s geometry is more upright than the Emonda and Madone making this bike perfect if you want to ride long distances. Unlike Emonda and Madone, the geometry of Domane focuses on stability.
The IsoSpeed Decoupler combined with large tire clearances mean that you can even use Domane as a gravel bike if you want.
Why you should choose the Domane:
– You ride long distance. Though, keep in mind that you can still use Emonda and Madone for long distance rides as most people do. Domane is just on a different level in terms of comfort.
– You want a bike that is comfortable and can handle rough terrain like gravel roads or even trails.
– You are looking for an upright geometry which will make your back less tired after many hours of riding.
– You want bikes with an integrated storage compartment. Useful for mini-tools, tubes, and snacks for long rides.
Why you should not choose the Domane:
– If speed is what matters most to you, then this bike might slow you down compared to Emonda and Madone. That said, it might be worth sacrificing a bit in terms of pure speed because the advantages are much more noticeable on long rides.
– You want light bikes. Domane is rather heavy, even heavier than the Madone.
– You want an agile bike. As an endurance bike, Domane’s geometry makes it a stable bike, but stability and agility is on the opposite side of the scale. It’s great for long-distance riding, but not what people prefer in racing bikes.
What kind of rider are you?
If you’re a beginner and not sure yet, I suggest that you choose the Emonda because it’s more versatile and offers better overall performance. The lightweight and agility of Emonda can be very addictive. Madone is a fast bike, but you probably won’t be able to appreciate its aero benefits just yet because most beginners ride at the speed where air resistance is not the significant force.
If you’re an experienced rider and is trying to get into the top 10 or even “KOM” on Strava flat segments, maybe Madone is for you.
Normally, the comfort of stiff bikes is another factor for people when choosing between lightweight or aero bike. But Madone can be made very stiff or very comfortable thanks to its IsoSpeed so Madone is actually more comfortable than the Emonda.
Finally, choose Domane if you want an all-terrain bike or if your back really can’t handle the more aggressive Emonda and Madone.
this is great information! Unfortunately, about a year late, however ha ha. I bought my Emonda about a year ago and finding that perhaps a domane would be better suited for my taste and physical preference (50+ :-). I have a question, however… Is it possible to make the Emonda more “upright“ to favor the domane upright position? Perhaps with a different stem?
The Domane has about 10-20 mm shorter reach and 30-40 mm higher stack than an Emonda, maybe more in some different sizes. You can use a 20 mm shorter stem and flip it to a positive degree angle to get about the same stack and reach as the Domane. If you already use a short stem (90 mm or shorter), try changing the handlebar to one that has a shorter reach like the Zipp Service Course 70 with has a 70 mm reach compared to the Bontrager handlebars that your Emonda might come equipped with, which has a 100 mm reach.
Thanks for very helpful article – I am just in the middle of exactly this decision. I am leaning towards the Émonda as my new road bike. I have a slight hesitation on the comfort side. I ride mostly between 60 and 120 km, but will sometimes be doing longer rides up to 200 km. I am 55 years old but very active. I have a lot of hills around me and want to get better uphill so that’s a big attraction, and I am also pushed to keep up with the club I ride with. Do you think those kinds of distances would be ok. For info I have previously been riding a Lapierre Sensium, so the wider tyre on the sensium will certainly help to some degree. Also, I have a checkpoint as well which I love and would continue for gravel and bike packing etc.