The name Émonda is used by the US manufacturer Trek for what it describes as its "lightest road bike model series" - and with the carbon racer Émonda SLR 10 (see TOUR 3/2015), Trek has hammered in a proper stake: The bike weighs just 4.8 kilos, making it the lightest production bike in the world tested by TOUR to date (but also costs 12,999 euros). For the eponymous, but decidedly less expensive series with an aluminium frame, Trek is nevertheless sticking to its motto: the ALR 6, the highest quality of the three Émonda aluminium bikes on offer, weighs in at 7.4 kilograms - a good pound less than comparably priced bikes with carbon frames currently weigh. The frameset weighs just under 1,700 grams - in the heyday of aluminium frame construction, this was considered high-end.
Versatile geometry
The dark grey painted frame, which is very neatly crafted, also matches the high standards; a sensor is integrated into the left chainstay, which can transmit speed, distance or cadence to a handlebar computer or smartphone with a corresponding app via Bluetooth or ANT+. The slim carbon seatpost (with a diameter of 27.2 millimetres), which protrudes relatively high from the heavily sloped frame, makes the bike ride pleasantly cushioned. However - one annoying detail: the seat tube gap to the seatpost clamp was not properly deburred, which immediately left an ugly scratch on the seatpost the first time you took it off.
Trek only offers the Émonda aluminium frame in the slightly more comfortable H2 geometry. For most amateur athletes, this is probably the right geometry because it is the most versatile: The bike is suitable for epic tours, but also feels nice and direct and sporty during hearty lower link attacks, without clamping the rider overly race-like between the comfortable Bontrager saddle and the oversized handlebars. The handlebars are also slightly padded in front of the brake levers - a useful detail that comfortably supports the ball of the thumb in this position.
The fully assembled Shimano-Ultegra groupset matches the frame perfectly, the gears work smoothly and precisely as usual, and the brakes grip the aluminium rims of the Bontrager wheels vehemently. The wheels are "tubeless ready", meaning they can also be ridden with tubeless tyres; a small hole in the brake track of the rims shows their wear - good evidence that Trek also attaches importance to useful details.
Complete wheel 1,899 Euro | Weight 7.4 kilos
Frame set 899 Euro
Info www.trekbikes.com
Weight frame/fork/steering bearing** 1,231/386/63 grammes
Frame sizes*** 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64 cm
Seat/steering angle 73°/73,5°
Seat/upper head tube 530/570/191 mm plus 16 mm headset cap
Wheelbase/caster 992/56 mm
Stack/Reach/STR**** 596/386 mm/1.54
EQUIPMENT
Steering bearing FSA, top 1-1/8 inch, bottom 1-1/2 inch
Brakes Shimano Ultegra
Circuit Shimano Ultegra (50/34 t.)
Wheels/Tyres***** Bontrager Race/Bontrager R2 23c
Handlebar/stem Bontrager Race VR-C/Bontrager Elite
Saddle/post Bontrager Paradigm Race/Carbon
*The frame set accounts for 40 per cent and the equipment for 60 per cent of the overall grade. The grades are calculated with all decimal places up to the final grade; however, for the sake of clarity, all grades are given with rounded decimal places.
**Weighed weights.
***Manufacturer's specification, test size bold.
****Stack/Reach projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (Stack to Reach) 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 an upright riding position.
