Trek Madone Gen 8 SL 7 | Fast Enough at Half the Price?

[@intheknowcycling]

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[@cyclingfan7303]

10:26 I would like to know your thoughts between the tarmac sl8 and the venge you own. Keep up the great work guys, I love the detailed and honest reviews from your website!

[@intheknowcycling]

Thanks for your question and feedback. We're trying to get a hold of the Tarmac for long-term testing. Will post a review if/when we do. Cheers.

[@pierrex3226]

Wheels, tubes and tyres make such a difference, if you're making a review based on how the bike compares to what you're riding usually, I'm not even sure I'd bother using the supplied tubes and tyres. My own bike, with the same wheels, whether I'm running 28C or 32C feels like an entirely different bike, so ride feel and stiffness mean virtually nothing unless you're using a given set of tyres, tubes and pressure. And for almost anyone buying any bike that's not high end ever, I'd probably always budget 120$ extra to put on gp5000 and TPU tubes. I wouldn't even ride the stock tyres so I can sell them as new on ebay.

[@intheknowcycling]

We reviewed the stock bike in comparison to other stock bikes (Nate's Specialized Venge) and with stock wheels and tires we know from riding other bikes (we've previously ridden and reviewed the stock Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 wheels and Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tires on several other bikes that our our daily drivers). To review the frame, we compared the effect of other wheels and tires we've also tested on other bikes (the Reserve and Black Inc wheels and the GP5000 S TR and Trek Aeolus RSL tires) and the groupsets we've tested on other bikes (the Ultegra 8100 that comes stock and the Sram Red AXS and Force AXS). It's not an exact science, but if you test enough of the components on different bikes, you can make a fair assessment of their individual and collective contribution to the performance of this bike. Hope that helps!

[@johnnyjensen8805]

They put the top models at astronomical amounts because they know the market isn't there, so they make it look like you are getting the lower models very cheap but as we all know they are not! Smart marketing.

[@zodgzod]

It IS a pure aero bike. You’re imagining that your Venge is more aero. It just looks it.

[@codewithkolhar3131]

Zone2 starts @4.20

[@conradopetrov8137]

hi. Great review. I own a Prince 2019 Disk with mechanical Ultegra and factory wheels (fulcrum wheels); I used to live in Miami when I bought this bike and it was great for flats - but now I live in a hilly region and am struggling to keep up with others going on steep climbs. (gear ratio is 50:34, 11:28); I'm now considering selling my Prince and upgrading to the new Madone SL7 Gen 8. nicer wheels, DI2 and better gear ratio (50;34, 11;34). let me know your thoughts?

[@intheknowcycling]

That'd be a nice upgrade, but the Madone isn't a particularly light bike. Depending on how "hilly" it is where you live now, if you still like your Prince, you might try training a bit for the hills, getting some lighter wheels, and getting a long cage derailleur and 11/34 cassette (in that order) before buying a new bike.

[@conradopetrov8137]

@ thank you! Yes I have considered that - but it will probably cost me as much as a new bike no? If I trade in the Pinarello I mean. I was also considering the Aethos, which is about 1 lbs lighter than the Madone and same price. But the Madone looks nicer and I was able to test ride it from the local Trek shop

[@intheknowcycling]

@@conradopetrov8137 Sounds like you want a new bike. That's cool. The Aethos is a lot more versatile than the Madone, but there are a lot of good choices out there depending on the kind of rider you are, where you ride, your budget, and a ton of other things. Figuring all of that out is part of the fun!

[@conradopetrov8137]

@@intheknowcycling you got it. Yes I want a new bike. The Pinarello geometry and fit just doesn’t feel right for me and my riding style right now. I used to have a Cervelo RS before the Pinarello that I loved. I also test rode the Roubaix and the Madone Gen 8 and loved both but probably the Madone a bit more.

[@conradopetrov8137]

@@intheknowcycling I’m watching your climbing wheels video and tempted to try your suggestion. Do I need a new derailleur for the bigger cassete ?

[@freebird61885]

Great stuff as always. Would’ve liked to have seen you be able to have a bit more stack, though! No wonder it was a bit uncomfortable. I can’t help but think this bike is held back by its heavy and slow tires and Trek’s ridiculous use of the rim strips instead of tape.

[@NerminAsan-v4r]

Not full cable ingreation ?

[@intheknowcycling]

Not on this model. Need to go up to the more expensive SLR models for that.

[@NerminAsan-v4r]

@intheknowcycling yikes extra 2000

[@Nat-DAVID]

Seems very interesting especially pricewise trek seems to understand that not a lot of people can afford a bike over 10000$. But why 50/34??? should be 52/36

[@gaborozorai3714]

The average rider is much more likely to sometimes need a very easy gear than they are to spin out at 50/11. Especially the "recreational rider" that this 3rd tier model is aimed at. And yes, it did hurt to call a $6000+ bike 3rd tier...

[@karolskrzydlo115]

I haven’t seen this color way in uk

[@intheknowcycling]

Yes, Trek only sells the SL 7 in "matte lunar silver" in the UK market, which I also think is quite attractive and very similar to the color of Nate's Venge. The color of the Madone we tested is called "dark star." Someone was clearly working late into the night when they named those colorways.

[@aoganlynch]

Why is the Trek lettering so small? That doesn't look like any "trek" logo I've ever seen

[@intheknowcycling]

@@aoganlynch Yes, quite understated compared to what Trek usually does. I prefer it. You?

[@ozgurinsan]

Come on mannnnn , buttons need more effort , its just a switch. Dont ride bikes if you do not efforts.