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Trek Domane SL Disc frameset

8
£2,200.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Smooth-riding endurance bike with loads of tyre space and masses of versatility
Smooth ride
Space for big tyres
Internal storage
Not especially light
Weight: 
1,365g
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This product has been selected to feature in road.cc recommends. That means it's not just scored well, but we think it stands out as special. Go to road.cc recommends

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The Trek Domane SL is a smooth-riding road bike – even an all-road bike – courtesy of IsoSpeed tech both front and rear, which helps it damp down small vibrations and bigger hits. It's not the lightest bike out there, but if ride quality is your main concern, it's a real contender.

First of all, a quick explanation of the bike we're reviewing. The Domane SL frameset arrived at road.cc built up with the new SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupset so that we could review those components too. It's not a standard build, but we've not reviewed the Domane SL before and thought we'd take the opportunity.

> Buy now: Trek Domane SL Disc frameset from Trek for £2200.00

Our 58cm bike, complete with Zipp 303S wheels set up tubeless with WTB Exposure 700 x 30mm tyres, weighs 8.82kg (19.4lb).

Trek does offer the Domane SL 6 eTap with a SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupset for £4,200, although this model is fitted with Bontrager Paradigm Comp 25 wheels.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - riding 4.jpg

Okay, on with the show...

IsoSpeed is the headline news here, so let's kick off with what it actually is. You can scroll down a few paragraphs if this is old news for you.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - top tube detail.jpg

Trek first introduced IsoSpeed in 2012, although it has evolved since then. Rear IsoSpeed came first, decoupling the top of the seat tube from the rest of the frame. The aim is to take the edge off big hits and smooth out smaller vibrations by allowing a small amount of movement at the saddle, thereby keeping you feeling fresher for longer. That's the plan.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - seta tube detail.jpg

How does it do it? Although the seat tube is fixed to the bottom bracket area in the normal way, it isn't moulded to the top tube or seatstays. Instead the tubes are joined by a pivot, allowing the seat tube to flex more than would otherwise be possible.

Front IsoSpeed is a more recent introduction, the idea being greater compliance at the handlebar. Front IsoSpeed comes in the form of a rocker cup at the top of the headset that allows the fork's carbon steerer to flex backwards/forwards, but not from side to side.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - stem.jpg

Put another way, the upper section of the headset can tilt to take advantage of the inherent flex in the steerer, meaning the stem and handlebar can move slightly in response to rough roads. See? It's simpler than it sounds.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - fork.jpg

Best of three

The Domane frameset comes in three different flavours. At the entry level there's the Domane AL, with an aluminium frame. This one doesn't feature front or rear IsoSpeed although, a little confusingly, Trek does describe the carbon fork as IsoSpeed on the basis that the legs are designed to absorb vibration. Complete bike prices start at £695, although the cheapest disc brake model is £895.

At the top of the range there's the posh Domane SLR, which comes with front and (adjustable) rear IsoSpeed. Bikes are priced from £6,600.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - riding 5.jpg

In the middle you get the Domane SL bikes, which are made from a lower grade of carbon than the SLRs – Trek's 500 Series OCLV, rather than lighter and stiffer 700 Series OCLV. You get both front and rear IsoSpeed, neither of which is adjustable. That means you can't alter the setup according to the terrain but, on the other hand, it's simpler.

> road.cc Frameset of the Year 2020/21

The most accessible 2022 complete SL currently available is the Domane SL 6 eTap mentioned above, although the 2021 Domane SL4, with a mostly Shimano Tiagra groupset, is £2,325.

On the road

So the big question is: how much difference does the IsoSpeed technology make? Don't think that all this tech means the Domane SL feels unlike any other road bike you've ever ridden.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - riding 6.jpg

First of all, if you've ridden mountain bikes with loads of travel, IsoSpeed is nothing like that. Not even on the same page. Cast all thoughts of mountain bike suspension from your mind.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - fork detail 2.jpg

When you're riding on level, well-surfaced tarmac, IsoSpeed doesn't feel unusual at all, and even over rough roads it's subtle. In some ways it feels like running wide tyres at fairly low pressures... though in other ways it doesn't feel at all like that (I'll explain in a mo).

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - seat tube junction 2.jpg

You get just a bit of movement to insulate you from what's going on beneath your wheels, and it's more noticeable at the saddle than the handlebar. Crack into a steep-edged pothole at warp speed and you still feel it – just slightly less than you otherwise would.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - drop bar.jpg

The main feature, though, isn't the protection from the big hits, it's the smoothing you get from the smaller stuff: little holes, manhole covers, drains, frost damage, badly patched tarmac, kerbs on and off the cycle path... you know, all those things you constantly encounter on a typical ride.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - bars 2.jpg

It would come in handy over cobbles too, although chances are you don't have too many of those around your way.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - rear hub.jpg

Again, IsoSpeed doesn't eliminate bumps and vibrations from any of this stuff, it just turns it all down a few notches. It's forgiving. The rougher the surface, the bigger the difference IsoSpeed makes. It's great on old, scuffed up tarmac and it's also pretty active on gravel roads although, naturally, the tyres make a big difference here.

> 19 of the best 2021 gravel bikes & adventure road bikes

The Domane takes a maximum size of 700 x 38mm. It isn't designed as a gravel bike – and most people would prefer something a bit wider for full-on gravel – but it's brilliant for short cuts to link up two sections of tarmac, for instance, and if you fancy riding gravel on 38mm tyres, well, you can fill yer boots.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - seat stays.jpg

I said above that IsoSpeed can feel like you have large, low pressure tyres – but not entirely. The big difference is that a big tyre can feel squishy and mushy when you put the power down, and that can be annoying on the road.

IsoSpeed doesn't feel like that at all. There's no extra bounce when you're out of the saddle, and no additional lateral movement. The front end tracks and steers well, with no nasty surprises when you bang it hard into a fast, downhill bend.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - front hub.jpg

Speaking of surprises, the frame-integrated storage compartment is a natty addition. You flick a lever on the down tube – where the bottle cage attaches – to release a plate and access the space inside.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - down tube.jpg

The cover has a multi-tool slot on the back, and Trek also offers a tool roll specifically designed to fit. It takes stuff like a CO2 canister and chuck, tyre levers, a spare tube, an emergency Snickers bar... you do carry an emergency Snickers bar, don't you?

Specialized does something similar on its Diverge gravel bikes, and while packing things in these cubbyholes is a bit of an art, it's a really handy addition for emergency essentials.

Geometry

The Domane SL is relaxed by road bike standards. Trek calls it an endurance fit. I've been riding the 58cm model with a 54.8cm seat tube, a 56.7cm effective top tube, and a 19.5cm head tube. It's a tall bike with a 61.1cm stack height, while the reach is short at 38.0cm. That puts the stack/reach at 1.61 for this size.

Some people are going love how the ride position is more upright than a more speed-orientated bike's, such as Trek's Madone or Emonda, for instance, while others won't be down with it at all. It depends what you're after.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - riding 2.jpg

Trek says the current generation Domane is much more aero than previously – courtesy of truncated airfoil tube profiles – but there's only so far you can tweak your position, and that's always going to be more significant when it comes to drag. Personally, I can't see typical Domane SL buyers being over-concerned with aerodynamics, although I guess it all helps.

The brake hoses are exposed only between the ends of the handlebar tape and the front end of the top tube, just behind the stem, where they duck inside via a removable plate. This ensures a clean look and keeps them out of the wind.

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - cable routing.jpg

As mentioned, the bike I've been riding has a SRAM Rival eTap AXS groupset so there are no shift cables/wires to worry about anyway, but if there were any, this is the only place you'll see those too.

Other features you need to know about include the adjustable seat mast that's particular to the Domane – held by an internal clamp accessed via a slot in the extended seatpost – and the T47 bottom bracket. Hooray for threaded BBs!

2021 Trek Domane SL Disc frameset - bottom bracket 2.jpg

Mudguards? You can fit 'em easily enough. You get threaded holes on the fork legs (filled with itty bitty grub screws when not required) and another beneath the fork crown. You get more at the bottom of the seatstays, and fairly discreet mountings for a chainstay/mudguard bridge towards the top.

The only real downside to the Domane SL is that it's not particularly light. Trek claims a frame weight of 1,365g while, as mentioned, this complete bike came in at 8.82kg (19.4lb). Okay, the SRAM Rival eTap AXS isn't a lightweight groupset, but then a few hundred grams on the frame doesn't affect the ride as much as some people would have you believe.

The money bit

There aren't many road bikes designed to smooth the ride quite like the Domane. The most obvious rival is the Specialized Roubaix, which has Future Shock front suspension – a spring in a cartridge above the head tube that allows movement of the stem and handlebar.

The top-end Specialized S-Works Roubaix Team frameset is £3,700, but comparing prices with the second-tier Domane SL is unfair. Trek's flagship Domane SLR frameset is £3,500, so there's not a great deal in it.

Overall

The Domane SL keeps you comfortable thanks to relaxed geometry, front and rear IsoSpeed tech, and the ability to take tyres up to a whopping (by road bike standards) 38mm wide. It's as versatile as it is smooth, and if you want to mix up the surfaces you ride on while retaining plenty of speed, the Domane SL is a strong option.

Verdict

Smooth endurance bike with loads of tyre space and masses of versatility

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Domane SL Disc frameset

Size tested: 58cm

Frameset

Tell us what the frameset is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about the bike?

Trek says, "The lightweight Domane SL Disc Frame Set is built with 500 Series OCLV Carbon and includes road-smoothing Front and Rear IsoSpeed, so you can stay stronger for longer. This carbon endurance road frame is designed for flat-mount disc brakes, has a built-in storage compartment, and includes a headset and a Domane Disc full carbon fork."

Trek tells you everything you need to know about IsoSpeed over here: www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/inside_trek/isospeed

Trek says, "IsoSpeed challenges the traditional design of a bicycle frame. Devoid of the more favoured approaches to the compliance quandary (such as suspension systems, elastomers or a vibration damper), IsoSpeed maintains the diamond-shaped frameset geometry but 'decouples" the seat tube from the top tube, allowing the seat tube to flex with the forces of the road. The result is a bike that moves with the road while maintaining the feel and efficiency of the traditional race bike design.

"One of the consistent pieces of feedback from riders that have enjoyed rear IsoSpeed was that even though they could plough unfazed through rougher roads than ever before, they could still feel the road shock through their arms from the front wheel. Our solution was to take everything that works from IsoSpeed and move it up the bike. The same technology that provides great compliance at the saddle now delivers compliance at the front end. Front IsoSpeed, located at the top of the headset, is captured in a rocker cup similar to rear IsoSpeed. This allows the steerer tube to flex, providing additional compliance at the front of the bike. The rocker cup of the upper steerer has zero lateral movement, allowing the bike to steer and handle with precision."

State the frame and fork material and method of construction

Frame: 500 Series OCLV Carbon, front and rear IsoSpeed, internal storage, tapered head tube, internal cable routing, 3S chain keeper, DuoTrap S-compatible, mudguard mounts, flat-mount disc, 142x12 mm thru-axle

Fork: Domane SL carbon, tapered carbon steerer, internal brake routing, mudguard mounts, flat-mount disc, 12x100 mm thru axle

Overall rating for frameset
 
8/10

Tell us about the build quality and finish of the frame and fork?

It's built to a very high standard.

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

Trek calls it an 'endurance fit,' and it's pretty relaxed by road bike standards. I've been riding the 58cm model with a 54.8cm seat tube, a 56.7cm effective top tube, and a 19.5cm head tube. It's a tall bike with a 61.1cm stack height, while the reach is short at 38.0cm. That puts the stack/reach at 1.61 for this size.

How was the bike in terms of height and reach? How did it compare to other bikes of the same stated size?

It's taller and shorter than an equivalent Madone or Emonda, say, putting you in a considerably more upright position.

Riding the bike

Was the bike comfortable to ride? Tell us how you felt about the ride quality.

Yeah, this is what the Domane is all about. It feels very comfortable courtesy of the front and rear IsoSpeed, and the ability to fit tyres up to 38mm wide. The relaxed geometry takes the strain off your back and neck, too.

Did the bike feel stiff in the right places? Did any part of the bike feel too stiff or too flexible?

The IsoSpeed tech allows up/down movement, but doesn't affect the lateral stiffness of the bike.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

It feels pretty efficient, yes.

Was there any toe-clip overlap with the front wheel? If so was it a problem?

My shoe just missed 30mm tyres; there's a small amount of overlap with larger tyres.

How would you describe the steering? Was it lively neutral or unresponsive? It's pretty neutral

Tell us some more about the handling. How did the bike feel overall? Did it do particular things well or badly?

This is a bike that's more about stability and ride quality than sharp handling.

Rate the bike for efficiency of power transfer:
 
7/10
Rate the bike for acceleration:
 
5/10

This isn't especially focused on accelerating or sprinting.

Rate the bike for sprinting:
 
6/10
Rate the bike for high speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cruising speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for low speed stability:
 
9/10
Rate the bike for cornering on descents:
 
8/10
Rate the bike for climbing:
 
6/10

Your summary

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The most obvious comparison is with the Specialized Roubaix, which has Future Shock front suspension – a spring in a cartridge above the head tube that allows movement of the stem and handlebar.

The top-end Specialized S-Works Roubaix Team frameset is £3,700, but comparing prices with the second-tier Domane SL is unfair. Trek's flagship Domane SLR frameset is £3,500, so there's not a great deal in it.

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? If ride quality was my highest priority, definitely

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

Rate the bike overall for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the bike overall for value:
 
8/10

Use this box to explain your overall score

The performance is very good. Although the price is higher than many other road bikes, it's very good when you consider the tech that features here.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 48  Height: 190cm  Weight: 80kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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6 comments

Avatar
mrml | 2 years ago
0 likes

£2200 for the frameset, or £2325 for a full Tiagra build? 

Avatar
Velophaart_95 replied to mrml | 2 years ago
1 like

£2,325 for a Tiagra equipped bike is having a laugh......

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 2 years ago
1 like

It's horses for courses. I had an SL5 disc with Vison 40mm carbon rims and 105 as standard a few years ago and tbh, it's a nice enough bike but I found it dull as dishwater...as did a couple of people I know who bought better and lesser versions of the same model year.

The person I sold mine to loved it however and boasted of smashing PB's. If you can I'd advise a test ride

Avatar
SaintClarence27 | 2 years ago
0 likes

How upright are we talking? Can you still stretch yourself out riding the drops?

Avatar
Simon E replied to SaintClarence27 | 2 years ago
1 like
SaintClarence27 wrote:

How upright are we talking? Can you still stretch yourself out riding the drops?

More than likely, provided you get the correct size.

The only way to answer that is to sit on one. A decent substitute is to compare the geometry to a model you're familiar with.

Avatar
PistolPete replied to SaintClarence27 | 2 years ago
0 likes

It's certainly taller, but not that much shorter than an Emonda say.

I have both and they're setup within a couple of mm of each other

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