Trek kills the Émonda with new “earth-shattering” all-rounder Madone

Trek has killed off the Émonda with the eighth-generation Madone, combining its lightweight climbing bike and dedicated aero platform to create what the brand claims is an “earth-shattering” do-it-all road race bike.

A “fusion of its fastest road race bikes”, the new Madone is claimed to be as aero as the outgoing seventh-generation Madone and as light as the Émonda.

Trek has introduced its new top-tier OCLV 900 layup with the new Madone. Making use of fresh manufacturing techniques, this is said to be up to 20 per cent stronger than the outgoing 800 series layup and lighter. This and a new one-piece fork saves a claimed 320g versus the seventh-generation Madone.

The Émonda name will live on as the Émonda ALR alloy race bike, but will no longer feature in Trek’s top-tier road bike line-up.

Foil System Foil is the future

Trek developed a suite of tube shapes for the new Madone, doing away with its long-standing Kammtail shapes in favour of what it calls Full System Foil.

Compared to the outgoing Madone, most of the tubes are broader and squatter. Trek says these are more structurally efficient (lighter) than Kammtail tubes.

Trek says the bike is designed to optimise airflow over the full bike and rider, rather than optimising individual areas of the bike. 

Size-XS and S bikes feature slimmer tubes than larger sizes. Trek says this reduces weight on smaller bikes and maintains consistent aero performance throughout the size range.

Trek has developed new aero bottles and matching cages for the Madone. 

Trek claims these save 3.7 watts at 45 km/h versus a standard round bottle of the same capacity, and are faster than running no bottles at all. The cages work with conventional round bottles.

The new bottles ship as stock with SLR-level bikes and are available aftermarket. 

Compared to a previous-generation Madone with round bottles and a largely comparable build, the new Madone with aero bottles is claimed to be 0.1 watts faster at 35.4km/h – or, in other words, about the same. 

As should be expected, the difference is more stark when comparing the new Madone to the Émonda, with a claimed 11.3-watt saving at the same speed. 

New layup reduces weight

Trek’s new 900 OCLV layup technology, as used on SLR-level bikes, uses an inflatable mandrel – the form around which the frame is laid up – during manufacturing. 

This improves compaction, pushing out excess resin and reducing wrinkles inside the tubes.

Using this new manufacturing technique, a painted SLR-level size M/L frame is claimed to weigh 796g and the fork 350g. 

This is a claimed 320g saving versus the seventh-generation Madone, but is a little heavier than a top-tier OCLV 800 Émonda SLR frame in the same size (698g claimed).

Comparing similar Red AXS-equipped complete builds, the new Madone SLR 9 AXS is claimed to weigh 7.00kg and the outgoing Émonda SLR 9 AXS 6.75kg.

The SL-level Madone uses Trek’s 500 OCLV layup. This is claimed to weigh 1,054g for the frame and 363g for the fork.

The top-spec SLR bikes also feature the new one-piece Aero RSL cockpit, whereas the SL has the conventional two-piece cockpit. 

The SL is also compatible with mechanical drivetrains. 

IsoFlow stays

Introduced on the seventh-generation Madone, Trek has retained its distinctive IsoFlow system for the bike.

This hole in the seat tube enables the seat mast to flex and is said to improve aero performance.

The second incarnation of IsoFlow has been slimmed down slightly and the aerodynamic shaping refined to reduce weight and improve performance. 

This, in combination with new layup techniques – which enabled Trek to remove the foam core used on the original incarnation of IsoFlow – is said to improve vertical compliance by 80 per cent. 

Reduced size range covers more riders 

The Madone size range has been slimmed from eight to six sizes. Trek says this new range covers a wider range of rider heights with less overlap between sizes.

Trek has also done away with numerical sizing in favour of T-shirt-style sizing.

Sizes 54 and 52cm have been combined into the new size-M bike. The previous 62cm bike is now covered by the size-XL bike, which features an extended seat mast. 

At the other end, increased seat mast adjustability broadens the size range to even shorter riders, according to Trek. 

Trek previously offered its bikes in H1 (pro/aggressive) and H2 (comfort/endurance) fit options. 

It did away with this split with the 2021 Trek Émonda, introducing its all-rounder H1.5 fit. 

With the new Madone, Trek has dropped its ‘H’ naming conventions altogether, now describing its all-rounder geometry as ‘Road Race’. 

The geometry of the seventh and eighth-generation Madone is similar – reach is slightly decreased across most sizes and stack increased, but only by a few millimetres in both instances.  

New Trek Madone geometry chart

A slower cockpit?

Trek says its updated RSL Aero cockpit is less aerodynamic than the outgoing seventh-generation Madone cockpit. However, how it interacts with the rider’s legs results in a more aero system overall.

Stock cockpits are 41cm wide at the hoods, flaring out to 44cm in the drops. 

Though it wouldn’t be drawn on the percentage of sales, Trek says the majority of Madone SLR orders are made through its Project One programme. 

This offers comprehensive customisation options, including paint, groupset choice and, critically, contact points.

Trek says this avoids the common pitfalls of one-piece cockpits, with the majority of consumers speccing theirs to suit.

UDH, universal headset parts and T47

Trek has introduced a new universal headset spacer and top cover system shared across the new Madone range and “future Trek road bikes”. Exactly which setup you opt for depends on your stem or one-piece cockpit:

• RCS Race: RSL Aero bar/stem (included with Madone SLR Gen 8)
• RCS Pro: RCS Pro Blendr stem (included with Madone SL Gen 8)
• RCS Universal: traditional round stems

The new Madone is also built around SRAM’s UDH system, opening compatibility to what looks to be a UDH-specific 1x version of the brand’s top-spec road bike groupset.

Finally, there’s no change from the T47 bottom bracket, as used for several generations of Trek’s road bikes.

2025 Trek Madone SL range in brief

The SLR and SL ranges comprise four bikes apiece, with framesets available at both levels.

Prices start at £4,250 / $3,499.99 / €3,499 / AU$4,499.99 for the 12-speed 105-mechanical equipped Madone SL 5, rising to £13,999 / $13,499.99 / €16,399/ AU$19,999.99 for the SRAM Red-AXS equipped Madone SLR 9 AXS.

Both SL and SLR bikes are available through Trek’s Project One customisation programme. 

Those with solar-system sized pockets can opt for the ‘Interstellar’ finish Project One bike at £14,700 / $16.999.99 / €16,399 / AU$ N/A. 

All bikes ship with 28mm-wide tyres and clearance for 32mm tyres. 

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