Trek Madone SL 5 8e gen White

The Trek Madone SL 5 Gen 8 makes many of the technologies developed by Trek for its highest-performing competition bikes accessible. Fast on the flat, light enough to climb efficiently, and comfortable for racking up the miles, it's a particularly versatile bike for the cyclist who prioritises road performance above all else.

A carbon frame designed for speed

The Madone SL 5 is based on a 500 Series OCLV Carbon frame using Trek's Full System Foil aerodynamic tube shapes. The goal is to reduce air resistance while maintaining the level of stiffness needed to efficiently transfer power during accelerations and surges.

The Madone Gen 8 full carbon fork also contributes to the bike's precise handling and overall aerodynamic integration.

IsoFlow technology: aerodynamics and comfort

Recognisable by the opening at the seat tube, the IsoFlow technology is one of the Madone's signatures. It contributes to the frame's aerodynamic performance while providing more vertical compliance.

The result is a race bike that maintains a particularly dynamic feel while improving comfort as the miles add up or the road surface becomes less regular.

A race bike geometry

The Madone SL 5 Gen 8 adopts a resolutely sporty geometry, designed to achieve an efficient and aerodynamic position without being exclusively for competitors.

It is therefore just as suitable for fast rides and sportives as it is for regular training, long distances, or your first competitions. It's also an excellent base for cyclists wishing to progressively upgrade their bike with a higher-performance carbon wheelset.

Shimano 105 mechanical 12-speed drivetrain

The Madone SL 5 is equipped with a Shimano 105 mechanical 2x12-speed drivetrain, renowned for its reliability and precise shifting.

The 50/34-tooth compact crankset, paired with an 11-34-tooth cassette, offers a particularly versatile gear range. The bike thus retains gears suitable for fast sections while allowing you to tackle climbs effectively.

Braking is handled by Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brakes, which offer power, progressiveness, and consistency, especially in the rain or on long descents.

Bontrager wheels and 28mm tyres

The original build features Bontrager Paradigm SL Tubeless Ready aluminium wheels. Reliable and versatile, they also make it easy to consider a future upgrade to aero-profile carbon wheels to further exploit the frame's potential.

The Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite 700x28mm tyres offer a suitable compromise for sporty road use.

A practical and upgradeable cockpit

Unlike more exclusive one-piece setups, the Madone SL 5 uses a Bontrager Comp aluminium handlebar paired with a Trek RCS Pro stem.

This configuration makes position adjustments and component replacement easier while maintaining a particularly neat integration. The RCS system notably allows for concealed cable routing.

The Bontrager Aeolus Comp saddle completes a performance-oriented build.

An accessible and upgrade-ready Madone

The Madone SL 5 Gen 8 is particularly interesting for the cyclist who wants to prioritise investing in a high-performance aerodynamic carbon frame, while keeping reliable and rational components.

The mechanical Shimano 105 groupset limits the cost without sacrificing the essential qualities of a sporty drivetrain, while the aluminium wheels can be kept for training and later replaced with a carbon wheelset.

In its Era white colourway, the Madone SL 5 finally adopts a particularly understated black finish that highlights the characteristic aerodynamic shapes of this eighth generation.

Technical specifications

• Frame: 500 Series OCLV Carbon

• Frame technology: Full System Foil, IsoFlow

• Fork: Madone Gen 8 full carbon

• Drivetrain: Shimano 105 mechanical, 2x12-speed

• Shifters: Shimano 105 R7120

• Front derailleur: Shimano 105 R7100

• Rear derailleur: Shimano 105 R7100

• Crankset: Shimano 105 R7100, 50/34-tooth

• Cassette: Shimano 105 7101, 11-34-tooth, 12-speed

• Chain: Shimano SLX M7100, 12-speed

• Brakes: Shimano 105 hydraulic disc

• Wheels: Bontrager Paradigm SL, Tubeless Ready

• Tyres: Bontrager R1 Hard-Case Lite, 700x28mm

• Handlebar: Bontrager Comp aluminium

• Stem: Trek RCS Pro

• Seatpost: Madone Aero carbon

• Saddle: Bontrager Aeolus Comp

• Axles: 12x100mm front / 12x142mm rear

• Colour: Gloss Dark Star / Matte Deep Smoke

• Sizes: XS, S, M, ML, L and XL

• Claimed weight: 8.70 kg in size ML

• Maximum total weight limit: 125 kg, including bike, rider, and equipment

Size guide

The values in the size guide are indicative. Inseam length, body shape, flexibility, and desired position may lead to choosing a different size, especially when the rider is between two sizes.