Trek 2008 Madone 5.2 Road Bike Reviews

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at Sydney Trek Store

Favorite Ride:
2008 Madone 5.2

Bike Setup:
stock except for Fizik Arione, Zipp bars and stem, Look Keos

Summary:
I've always been an Italian prude when it comes to bikes but when I went looking for a new one last year I saw this and had a ride. Firstly It's beautiful. It feels as vertically fluid as a steel frame but much stiffer. It seems to have made me a little too fearless on the descents as it absorbs so much vibration (It's only a matter of time...). I would buy the same bike again. Being a Campag lover it pains me to says this, but I even love the shift feel of Ultegra - pretty much the same as DA but not as light - and I'm always overwhelmed with how powerful and progressive the brakes feel. I ride every day, and the bike is the main motivation.

Strengths:
Frame, compliance, looks, value

Weaknesses:
Wheels Standard race lite are neither "race" or "Lite" although they are still true and seem to be fairly strong.

Similar Products Used:
Cannondale (alu) with Campag
Italian steel

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at trek store

Model Year:
2007

Favorite Ride:
Sunrise highway or down the beach

Bike Setup:
Factory stock.

Summary:
I picked up a 5.2 compact yesterday from the Trek store. I got to ride it around the bay today, I am very impressed with how smooth and quiet this thing rides. It climbs hills pretty fast. I use to own a giant TCR 3 c3 and the 5.2 was easier to climb with.

Strengths:
Light frame. Good Climber. Price.

Weaknesses:
Crappy wheel set.

Similar Products Used:
I have only rode a Giant TCR3 and the Madone 5.2 compact.

Comments

luscious9lips (11/20/2009)

Hey I was wondering if you could take off your seatpost and beat me mercilessly with it? Beat me silly until I turn purple and blue. I want you to put on your cycling shoes and kick my freakin' butt all over the place and step on me real hard with your cleats. OOOOOOOOOOOOO I like it :)

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Price Paid:  $4000.00 at Ultraviolet

Favorite Ride:
Trek Madone 5.2

Bike Setup:
Madone 5.2 performance fit, ultegra SL 53/39, Selle Italia slr gel flow, Fulcrum racing 3 wheels.

Summary:
This is the best bike I've owned yet. light, stiff, comfortable, fast and great in descent. It's helping me be a better rider. I'm 6'1", 205 lbs, so RL wheels are not solid enough for me(6 tunings in 1500km), I swicthed to Fulcrum Racing 3 and now I'm really happy. It's a realy good mix. the performance fit is aggressive enough for me but I chose 53/39 chainrings instead of the compact crank. Project one is great and delivery if fast.

Strengths:
Frame, integrated seat post,

Weaknesses:
wheels,saddle

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Tarmac Expert,

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
well i bought my Trek madone 5.2 2008 frame in good faith from my local Trek dealer in October 2008 I had my first race last weekend 84 miles on the sunday ,the day before on the saturday i was on the Turbo trainerfor a while no problems , on monday i did about 60 milesthen monday night i put it on my turbo trainer and noticed the crankset was banging and clankin from side to side every two or three revolutions,the crankset had play from side to side, i took it to my local trek dealer on tuesday morning to have the bottom bracket bearing races replaced ,they were replaced but the play ws still there ,turns out the frame on the non drive side has worn and the bearing race moves about and is not a snug fit in the frame , so far Trek are refusing to replace the frame under warranty saying they can fit a shim to the worn frame, i'm not happy with this and ive been without a bike for a week now while trek play the waiting game i won't know the outcome till the future but so far i'm not impressed, the frame was great to ride but just not durable enough , the lifetime warranty i don't know what this means i seem to be getting the runaround so far i'd say it was crap but i'm just a sucker who believed all the hype and the warranty .

Comments

luscious9lips (11/20/2009)

something ain't stirring the cool aid, man.

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Price Paid:  $2600.00

Bike Setup:
Stock with the exception of Ksyrium ES wheels

Summary:
Outstanding overall bike! Great handling, smooth yet responsive ride and great components. I like it better than my titanium bikes. The Ultegra SL seams to work at a similar level to my Dura Ace bike.

Strengths:
The frame is the focal point of the bike. Great handling and yet comfortable for very long rides

Weaknesses:
The black color show dirt very quickly.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5000 w/Ultegra
Litespeed Vortex w/Dura Ace
Merlin Cyrene w/Campy Chorus