Price Paid:  $1100.00 at Used

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Old Mission Peninsula

Bike Setup:
Stock except replaced the 130 long Bontrager stem with a carbon 100 long.

Summary:
I just stepped way up from my 30 year old Schwinn touring bike to the Madone with the lucky find of a good deal on a used model. After about 150 miles I am ecstatic. While I am still finding my groove and making adjustments I can confidently say that this unit is great. Road surface variation is soaked up by the carbon frame. The very light weight is a huge adjustment for me, but I love the acceleration and hill climbing feel. The Ultegra shifting and brakes are working great. This bike has the two chain rings in front, not three, but the derailleur indexes to all three positions, so I have to click thru the middle position depending on which rear wheel I am on. The bike came with the stock saddle, which is too squishy and has not center channel, so I intend to replace it. I am a short torsoed 6'-3", 165 pound guy, and bought the 62 cm frame. The frame is the right size with my 36.5" inseam, but I had to go to a shorter stem.

Strengths:
Light weight. Smoothness of road feel and balance. Shifting and brakes.

Weaknesses:
Price of new model. I will revise my review if troubles show up, but so far so excellent.

Similar Products Used:
None really

Price Paid:  $2300.00 at Lakeland Trek

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Suncoast

Bike Setup:
60cm
Ritchey WCS stem (100)
Bontrager XXX lite Seatpost (330)
Keo Carbon Pedals
Selle San Marco Era Luxe Saddle
Cat-Eye Strada Cadence Computer

Summary:
I personally feel the the Madone SL 5.2 is the best bargain for the active cyclist. It has a full ultegra build kit, which has all the performance of dura-ace, but is much more reliable to cheaper to maintain.

The frame if excellent. It is stiff without being overly stiff, so it absorbs road vibrations well. It is light and excellent quality

The wheelset is a great training and everday use set. Not the lightest but very strong. For racedays a better wheelset would be a good idea.

The stem and seatpost are a bit on the chunky side and could use and upgrade. I am all legs and no upperbody, so I switched out my 250 Race X lite seatpost with a 330 Race XXX Lite. I also replaced the stock 120 Race Lite stem with a 100 Ritchey WCS. I loved the VR bend of the stock bars for I kept them.

As on all nearly all trek bikes the stock bontrager seat is aweful. I replaced it with a Selle San Marco Era Luxe, which works very well for me.

Overall this bike is everything 99% of riders will ever need, and comes nearly perfect from Trek.

Strengths:
- Light
- Stiff
- Excellent components overall
- Absorbs vibrations
- Good geometry
- Quality

Weaknesses:
- Horrible saddle
- Stem and Seatpost could use an upgrade

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5400
Trek 2300

Price Paid:  $3100.00 at Danny's Cycles, Scar

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Gypsy Trail

Bike Setup:
Kysyrium ES wheelset
Deda 140mm stem
Deda Supernatural bars
Selle Italia Flite Gel Flow saddle
Speedplay stainless Frogs

Summary:
I like it more with every ride.

Logged 3,500 miles this season, 1,00 miles at the end of last season on this bike, in every type of terrain, from the mountains of Georgia to the flats of New York City's West Side bike path, this bike seems to do everything well - climbing, cornering, descending, you name it. The drivetrain is brilliantly quiet, and the shifting is fast and flawless.

I've never had a bike that I wasn't griping about or looking to upgrade after a few months or a year. Not this time. The bike only grows on me.

In short, it was worth every penny.

Strengths:
Light
Stiff
Carbon fiber claims for comfort prove to be true.

Weaknesses:
Stock wheelset
Disco graphics

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1500
Scott CR1
Cannondale Six13

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at The Bicycle Planet N

Model Year:
2005

Favorite Ride:
Seagull Century MD

Bike Setup:
Easton Orion II wheelset
Conti Grand Prix 4000 tires
Carbon Look pedals
Carbon seat Alias 143 ergo design

Summary:
I have had my SL5.2 for 2 years and can say that this bike is awesome! I kept my old Cannondale for recreational rides with the kids but use the Trek for century training and competitive rides with friends. This bike has made me a better rider because I like it so much I
ride a lot more. This year was my best century ever (been riding centuries for 10 years)
I agree with other reviews and have needed to change my wheels and seat. The stock wheels feel heavy. They needed to be trued 2 months after I bought the bike. My new E Orions are incredible.
I am 6' and 170 lbs - not a heavy rider. The stock seat was too narrow and uncomfortable during long rides.
The Ultegra components are smooth and shifting is effortless.
This bike does not have an eye catching look like others but then again I didn't purchase it to show off but to enjoy a fast bike.
Buy this bike if it is in your price range!

Strengths:
Light bike
Great handling (tire change also helped)
Good deal for the money

Weaknesses:
Wheels and seat
Subtle appearance

Price Paid:  $2000.00 at LBS

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
My next ride

Bike Setup:
All stock

Summary:
LBS was moving these out to make way for the new Madone. Absolutely can not believe I got so much bike for so little $.

Strengths:
Very smooth, responsive, light. Nice wheels

Weaknesses:
None that I have found yet

Similar Products Used:
Trek 1000, Trek 1500