Did Trek screw up the Madone?? My review of the Trek Madone SLR 2023

Is it a meme? Is it a machine? The great guys at Trek have loaned me the brand new 2023 Trek Madone to try out. I have to say the design of it is defintely devisive. But does it actually work or is it just a gimmick which will go out of fashion?
In this video I go through some of the history of the Trek Madone, the design philosophy and my review of the brand new Trek Madone. After riding the previous generation for 25,000km I was really surprised! Also this is the first time I've used the Shimano Ultegra 12 speed Di2 which has a mini review in this video.
Watch the full video to see my thoughts.
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[@michaelmcdermott6066]

I have this bike in baby blue, have really enjoyed it over the last 2 months. My biggest complaint is the other riders saying “you have a hole in your bike”

[@joshkwan]

Hahaha! Glad you’re enjoying it. Found any uses for that hole, maybe carrying a bread roll?

[@andystone5487]

You clearly don't ride in the wet...... where everything that sprays from the rear wheel goes all over the water bottles 😂😂😂😂

[@Ghostina1]

And there complain should be when does there new bike come

[@topfitnessssss]

@@joshkwanWhy criticising ? That hole as you calling it is part of the drag efficiency/aero engineering ⬅️

[@joshkwan]

@@topfitnessssss haha something can meet the design specification and still look bad 🤣

[@Mizko]

The Onigiri holder is the main selling point for me

[@joshkwan]

Hahaha could quickly become an onigiri blender if you hit a bump in the road 😂

[@BillSnow72]

I too am rolling this in North Carolina blue upgraded to 28's and it is so smooth and fast, upgraded from 2017 Madone. This is better!

[@bonesx165]

Lol. The dogs putting you in your place. “You’re on the floor dad!!”😋😂

[@joshkwan]

They rule the roost haha

[@benpit2762]

It’s an amazing bike! Vibrated quite a bit then removed 5psi from each wheels which now brings a much better riding experience!

[@wescheslak9408]

I too have this in Baby Blue. Love it. I run a 32 mm tubeless set up. I cannot think of anything I would change.

[@joshkwan]

I’ve seen the baby blue in the store, looks epic. 32mm tubeless must ride really comfortably. How’s the tire clearance? If I was going to nit pick about anything, I wish the handlebar depth was a bit wider so I can rest my hands on the top easier, but they’re still quite nice.

[@wescheslak9408]

@@joshkwan the clearance is perfect. It could even take up to 35 mm. I put a 38 mm just to see and it actually accommodates a 38mm. I wouldn’t do a 38mm. The handlebars can be ordered in several different widths.

[@BladeBarn]

its amazing, ive had a ton of other current bikes and 2 madones. now on the slr 9 with custom made wheels. things awesome in every regard. only thing is wish the front center was another 10mm so there is no toe overlap.

[@joshkwan]

Glad to hear you’re loving the bike. Hard for them to make the wheelbase longer without changing the bikes feel and handling dramatically

[@slowcyclist4324]

Heys , would you mind sharing what that Garmin mount that you’re using is? Most stem mount have a curve to fit the traditional stem, which is a pain for modern day flat top stem shape.

[@joshkwan]

I think its just the stock Garmin one which comes with most headunits. Sometimes they come with a rubber spacer beneath them so they can 'mold' to any surface shape.

[@benearl4695]

I can't say enough about Trek's lifetime warranty for their frames. I bought a Madone 5.2 in 2009. After multiple failures of the seat mast cap bolts over the course of 6 or 7 years, they warrantied the frame, replacing it with a 5.9 frame from 2009 design. Fast forward to November of 2023 and I spotted a hairline crack in the paint on the downtube that appeared to be in line with a bond joint. Took the bike back to the shop I bought it from, and they got in touch with Trek. Long-story-short: Trek is standing behind their warranty and is replacing it again! This time they are crediting me the cash equivalent of the frame in today's dollars toward the purchase of a new bike. A brand new SL7 will be heading my way!

[@joshkwan]

Yea my experience with Treks warranty has been fantastic. Glad to hear you’ve been taken care of

[@UltimateTuner10]

I've had great experiences with TREK warranties. They replaced my P1 FUEL EX when I noticed some paint cracks around the seat tube and top tube junction, during the pandemic had me a new frame and shock in a month, and just replaced one of my MTB wheels which I cracked over some roots.

[@joshkwan]

Shame to hear that you had some issues, but glad to hear Trek treated you well

[@JitinMisra]

What caused the crack? Are you a heavy rider? I just got my first carbon bike .. I love it, hope it lasts without problems

[@marcbryant8482]

Hey Josh, just catching up on your earlier vids and recently bought this exact bike. I now know you went with the Emonda and I'm curious how you feel about that choice? If you were getting the same bikes today would you go the same way?

[@joshkwan]

Hey mate, very hard choice I will admit. Main reasons for picking the Emonda: 1. I am more of a climbing orientated rider, so preferred a climbing bike 2. Prefer the more classic appearance of the Emonda Don’t regret the decision, if I could own both I wouldn’t mind though ;)

[@marcbryant8482]

@@joshkwan thanks, what I figured. Emonda has lovely lines but I balked at the seatpost actually, plus I wanted the raw speed to keep up with my fast bunchies. Local Trek shop said the big announcement on the new bike is this Friday

[@riponpathwary8239]

Price broo

[@fucktheworld1207]

I ride a Kuota Aero road bike and a Cube road bike 🚴🚴.....and you can't go wrong with good old-fashioned mechanical 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻

[@joshkwan]

How do you decide which one to ride?

[@fucktheworld1207]

@@joshkwan I mainly ride the Kuota, the Cube hasn't been rode in over 2-years.

[@outdoortherapy6596]

About to get back into cycling a:)fter many years off, would buying a Madone SLR7 be overkill :)

[@joshkwan]

Hope you enjoy! It’s a good ride for sure :)

[@logojones96]

keen to see the new emonda build lol

[@joshkwan]

🤫🤫🤫

[@kidsafe]

Aw, was hoping it would be a Domane RSL.

[@veryboringname.]

So much cred now... Trek even lends you $13k bikes! It looks amazing, I can only imagine how well it rides! Can't wait to see your .. um... Emonda....?

[@joshkwan]

Yea it rides super well, power transfer, cuts through the air; just feels great. Haha couple more weeks before the frame arrives ;)

[@ericandeddy]

Is that Madone a 50cm frame? Another great video!

[@joshkwan]

Yep

[@cmarnold78]

@@joshkwan I am looking at getting one but not sure about the size either a 52 or the 50. How tall / inseam are you. Did it seem like a good fit? Am currently on a 52 Domane but wondering whether to go for the 50 in the Madone.

[@joshkwan]

170cm tall 77cm inseam. Size 50 fits me well but I like to run slightly smaller frames. Allegedly the geometry is the same as previous gen madone and emonda.@@cmarnold78

[@cmarnold78]

@@joshkwan Awesome thanks! The 50 feels like it will make more sense for me. Also it will be the SL7 so a bit easier to adjust without the integrated headset. Even at the Trek store here in US they don't have them in my size so hard to make a decision on ordering without going for test ride on both.

[@joshkwan]

Have you compared the bikes on Geometry Geeks?@@cmarnold78

[@rperez0714fitedu]

I have this bike on a size 56 and for me the bike is really not working out. I'm coming from a Cervelo S3 and a Tarmac sl6. This bike has a really compact geometry and , it's really hard to actually get on an aero position. With such a compact reach. I'm not saying this is the case for everyone but for me sadly I can ride longer and faster on my Tarmac.

[@joshkwan]

That’s fair enough. It’s hard to really tweak the setup as well when the handlebars are all one piece.

[@dafsd4831]

I have the same size in silver and it's a great fit for my aero position. As you mentioned, it differs from person to person but I find it much better fit than the scott addict in L, which was my previous ride. Btw, it climbs well too!

[@typhoid77]

I will only buy a Trek after watching this video 📸

[@joshkwan]

Hahaha great!

[@Ghost12561]

that unslam stem screwed up that look of the nice bike. Newbie mistake on buying earobike!

[@joshkwan]

Can't slam a loan bike mate

[@christophershi5605]

It’s both, a meme machine

[@joshkwan]

Dream bike

[@christophershi5605]

@@joshkwan switch to the madone you wouldn’t xD

[@tomrodriguez9052]

I guess time will tell but that seat post is just bad design. I predict cracks and breakage, I'm already starting to see posts about it.

[@joshkwan]

I agree, but I guess we shall see in a year or two.

[@davidpalk5010]

Trek made a sub weight-limit bike for less than £2K when the first Emonda was released. Was that 2015? Bikes have since got far heavier, way more expensive and really, really complicated with all the internal routing. It's the entire industry, not just Trek. Thankfully, we now seem to be regressing back to BSA BBs. How long before external cables, rim brakes and 27.2mm round seat posts make a welcome return and we can have lighter, cheaper, simpler bikes again? So much BS in the cycle industry right now. Arms race and marketing-driven innovation gone mad. I'd never buy any recently made bike.

[@joshkwan]

Fair points which I agree with. Sadly all those features taken away from us will be marketed back with some $$$ attached. Just look at the Aethos.

[@davidpalk5010]

@@joshkwan MTB wheel sizes. That was the initial warning of what was to come from an industry working against its customers.

[@kabobsyea9985]

RICH

[@rogerhonacki5610]

They screwed up for me when they mandated di2 and disc brakes. I live in SoCal so I don’t need discs. Disc brakes add weight and cost, and di2 adds cost for zero benefit.

[@bubby372]

Chris Miller is so anti Trek. He takes jabs at Trek bikes every chance he gets. Just one of the biggest bike snobs on KZbin.

[@grahamgadd2528]

It's crap . they don't understand what airo is .they talk a load of rubbish.and you believe it . listen to this guy and you can tell he has never raced.i have.pure bullshit . scary

[@draggerlane04090]

Madone has been a joke since they went with the Aero design since 2016

[@Sign_Hero]

Which model are you getting? @joshkwan

[@joshkwan]

You’ll find out very soon ;)

[@Sign_Hero]

@joshkwan I think I know if its not the Madone.. Can only be one other😄🙃😁✌️

[@joshkwan]

Shhh 😉😉😉

[@Sign_Hero]

@@joshkwan 🤐

[@nickdalamagas3540]

I’m predicting Cannondale Lab71 with all the bells & whistles

[@timothyscott3116]

No way in hell would i pay $13,000 for a bicycle.. or even half that... NOBODY can explain why they cost so much bc there is NO legit reason.

[@joshkwan]

So they can make more money 🥴

[@alexwberg]

Love my new Madone. Swapped out for 28s to smooth out the ride.