2023 Domane Impressions. The 4th Generation of this Trek endurance road bike is much lighter! I talk about what I love and don't love about the new Domane in this installment!
I had already put down a deposit for a Domone SL5 gen 3 when I was told, about two weeks ago, that I'd have to take a gen 4 with the same ETA (Jan/Feb), if I still wanted it. Now that the Trek has announced the changes for Gen 4, I'm generally happy that they have reduced the number of proprietary components especially with the number of complaints I've read about (creaking, post slippage ...). All products with "special" features have issues to various degrees but not all have been experienced by all owners, no different than for phones and the like. This bike is not only my first drop bar bike but also the first that comes tubeless ready. Your comments about the drawbacks of going tubeless for the everyday rider resonates with me. I'd love to do a test ride with the exact same bike&tyres in a tubed and for in a tubeless configuration, so I could really feel the difference. That would make it much easier to evaluate if the extra tubeless maintenance would be worth it over the simplicity of changing a tube flat. After talking to my LBS, about my concerns with tubeless and to confirm that the tyres would not already be set up tubeless from the factory, they agreed that I should start off in a tube configuration. In fact they're throwing the tubes in at no additional cost. P.S. Your video on how to fix the Gen 3 front Isospeed creak was a value to me when I was researching my bike purchase. Thanks.
I lucked into a SLR 7 eTap about a week ago and I find the Gen 4 a lot better riding than the Gen 3, which I had. The Gen 3 with the front IsoSpeed just had some a dead feeling ride, the Gen 4 is such a better ride giving you some feeling of the road, I am really glad I decided to pull the trigger and buy it. Cost increases are covering the shipping price increases from Asia, inflation, supply chain price increases, and if you are looking at a powermeter, those are 800 to 1200 alone. I also never touched the IsoSpeed once I set it up, so to me, non adjustable is find. Also the cables are not integrated into the handlebars, they are just tucked up under the stem and you can remove the stem or fork quite easily
That’s what I really liked about the Gen 3. There is integration but it’s practical and you can easily remove your headset. The Gen 4 definitely pulls harder like you said, very stiff and efficient feeling. Gen 3 was an all day comfort bike which is great sometimes but it depends what you want. Congrats on your SLR 7! I hope you have many happy miles!
... they have made the new Domane's too heavy and they only come w/ a "Compact Double" ... I love my 2013 Red & White Domane 5.2 w/ a Ultegra 3X10 ... that currently weighs in a 16 lbs 4 ozs ... very light and fast ...
Tough to go wrong with most brands out there, similar quality for sure. Probably even the same factories. I do like Trek’s geometry though. Much of it comes down to personal preference
I like the fact that it's lighter. Also I wasn't a fan of the front ISO speed. It was heavy and noisy. I was constantly taking the bike back to the shop trying to resolve the creaking in the front of the bike . Looking at the RSL . I think I like the 1.5 geometry with the suspension of the Domane is my sweet spot.
Reggie I am experiencing the same problem with my Domane. I bought my bike back in March, and I have brought in 3 times to get the front iso speed to get serviced. It started making noise again a few days ago. This is crazy! I paid 5k for my bike, this is really not cool!
@@salsalawyer no way? Im sorry to hear about your experience. How old is your bike? I called Trek's warranty earlier today. I told them I need a different bike. I purchased my SL6 back in March. 2 weeks later I'm bringing my bike in for noise in the front isospeed. Nope.. not going to deal with that. They r trying to figure out what to do. I did emailed them back in May and told them that if this was going to b a recurring problem, I need another bike. So I have that paper trail going for me I suppose.
I love my SL7 but I’m concerned about resale with the Gen 4 being out. I love trying out new models but I want to be able to do it in the best way possible financially. No fault of the bike!
Hi there, great vid. Is the geometry actually the same for the sl vs slr? In some videos the domane seems like a race bike, while on other it seems like a womens bike for sunday afternoon lazy riding with the kids…
@@swanauto47 thanks! I know, but I also have that idea when looking at some vids on the slr and sl versions.... weird. in some vids the saddle is higher, the spacers in front are removed, and it looks so much better then, you know what I mean?
I flat all the time with r 3s. Roads are BAD where I live. Went to gator skins and they are slow!!!! They are better after they are broke in. Takes 100 miles to break em. No choice. Flatting where I live especially at night is very dangerous. Oh well 🤔
I’m sorry to hear that, that was the story with the Bontrager R1 for me, hated those tires. Gatorskins are definitely the best but I know what you mean by having to break them in. They just feel better after that
I've been riding the Pirelli p Zero Race TLR's on 2 different bikes for a few years now, and 4K miles on 1, 3.5K mile on the other, with no flats and still have good amount of rubber on them. Worth a look.
@@universe-juice Crappy roads is all in your perspective. They could be smooth-ish and have all sorts of debris and that could be crappy, or they could be chip seal which could be deemed crappy by others standards. Would I ride gravel in them, depends, probably would be ok in some types, hard packed, no sand or soft turf, but for my purposes, most of the roads I ride are asphalt in the south, so they take a beating with the heat and rain. I find the debris to be a the bigger issue on my local roads at the moment as the county repaved most road over the last 12 years after a voter approved temp tax to pay for it.
I had already put down a deposit for a Domone SL5 gen 3 when I was told, about two weeks ago, that I'd have to take a gen 4 with the same ETA (Jan/Feb), if I still wanted it. Now that the Trek has announced the changes for Gen 4, I'm generally happy that they have reduced the number of proprietary components especially with the number of complaints I've read about (creaking, post slippage ...). All products with "special" features have issues to various degrees but not all have been experienced by all owners, no different than for phones and the like.
This bike is not only my first drop bar bike but also the first that comes tubeless ready. Your comments about the drawbacks of going tubeless for the everyday rider resonates with me. I'd love to do a test ride with the exact same bike&tyres in a tubed and for in a tubeless configuration, so I could really feel the difference. That would make it much easier to evaluate if the extra tubeless maintenance would be worth it over the simplicity of changing a tube flat.
After talking to my LBS, about my concerns with tubeless and to confirm that the tyres would not already be set up tubeless from the factory, they agreed that I should start off in a tube configuration. In fact they're throwing the tubes in at no additional cost.
P.S. Your video on how to fix the Gen 3 front Isospeed creak was a value to me when I was researching my bike purchase. Thanks.
I lucked into a SLR 7 eTap about a week ago and I find the Gen 4 a lot better riding than the Gen 3, which I had. The Gen 3 with the front IsoSpeed just had some a dead feeling ride, the Gen 4 is such a better ride giving you some feeling of the road, I am really glad I decided to pull the trigger and buy it. Cost increases are covering the shipping price increases from Asia, inflation, supply chain price increases, and if you are looking at a powermeter, those are 800 to 1200 alone. I also never touched the IsoSpeed once I set it up, so to me, non adjustable is find. Also the cables are not integrated into the handlebars, they are just tucked up under the stem and you can remove the stem or fork quite easily
That’s what I really liked about the Gen 3. There is integration but it’s practical and you can easily remove your headset. The Gen 4 definitely pulls harder like you said, very stiff and efficient feeling. Gen 3 was an all day comfort bike which is great sometimes but it depends what you want. Congrats on your SLR 7! I hope you have many happy miles!
Nice video! Is this Domane SL Gen 4 or the Gen 3 2023 model? Looks sweet!!
Thank you! Mine was a Gen 3 but I will probably be getting a Gen 4.
... they have made the new Domane's too heavy and they only come w/ a "Compact Double" ... I love my 2013 Red & White Domane 5.2 w/ a Ultegra 3X10 ... that currently weighs in a 16 lbs 4 ozs ... very light and fast ...
Must be nice. My shop telling me 13+ months. Fuck that shit……guess I be getting Giant or Specialized
Tough to go wrong with most brands out there, similar quality for sure. Probably even the same factories. I do like Trek’s geometry though. Much of it comes down to personal preference
I like the fact that it's lighter. Also I wasn't a fan of the front ISO speed. It was heavy and noisy. I was constantly taking the bike back to the shop trying to resolve the creaking in the front of the bike . Looking at the RSL . I think I like the 1.5 geometry with the suspension of the Domane is my sweet spot.
Reggie I am experiencing the same problem with my Domane. I bought my bike back in March, and I have brought in 3 times to get the front iso speed to get serviced. It started making noise again a few days ago. This is crazy! I paid 5k for my bike, this is really not cool!
@@dennishaughton4554 Yes, and now the seatpost is slipping. I fixed it with a shim made out of an aluminum can
@@salsalawyer no way? Im sorry to hear about your experience. How old is your bike? I called Trek's warranty earlier today. I told them I need a different bike. I purchased my SL6 back in March. 2 weeks later I'm bringing my bike in for noise in the front isospeed. Nope.. not going to deal with that. They r trying to figure out what to do. I did emailed them back in May and told them that if this was going to b a recurring problem, I need another bike. So I have that paper trail going for me I suppose.
@@dennishaughton4554 it's a 2020 but I otherwise love the Domane. No issues since the shim.
Curious as to why you wouldn’t just upgrade your current SL7 vs buy a new one? They seems so similar at first blush.
I love my SL7 but I’m concerned about resale with the Gen 4 being out. I love trying out new models but I want to be able to do it in the best way possible financially. No fault of the bike!
Hi there, great vid. Is the geometry actually the same for the sl vs slr? In some videos the domane seems like a race bike, while on other it seems like a womens bike for sunday afternoon lazy riding with the kids…
There is an H1 frame which is a race geometry but it’s only available as a frame set. There are no completes. That’s the one the pros were riding
@@swanauto47 thanks! I know, but I also have that idea when looking at some vids on the slr and sl versions.... weird. in some vids the saddle is higher, the spacers in front are removed, and it looks so much better then, you know what I mean?
@@rafdegreve they probably put a fancy aspect ratio on everything. All these brands share some dishonesty with their movie magic after all 🎦
I flat all the time with r 3s. Roads are BAD where I live. Went to gator skins and they are slow!!!! They are better after they are broke in. Takes 100 miles to break em. No choice. Flatting where I live especially at night is very dangerous. Oh well 🤔
I’m sorry to hear that, that was the story with the Bontrager R1 for me, hated those tires. Gatorskins are definitely the best but I know what you mean by having to break them in. They just feel better after that
I've been riding the Pirelli p Zero Race TLR's on 2 different bikes for a few years now, and 4K miles on 1, 3.5K mile on the other, with no flats and still have good amount of rubber on them. Worth a look.
@@justsomedude7556 good for crap roads?
@@universe-juice Crappy roads is all in your perspective. They could be smooth-ish and have all sorts of debris and that could be crappy, or they could be chip seal which could be deemed crappy by others standards. Would I ride gravel in them, depends, probably would be ok in some types, hard packed, no sand or soft turf, but for my purposes, most of the roads I ride are asphalt in the south, so they take a beating with the heat and rain. I find the debris to be a the bigger issue on my local roads at the moment as the county repaved most road over the last 12 years after a voter approved temp tax to pay for it.