Description rek's Madone 6.5 is an extraordinarily high-tech machine boasting almost endless innovation. Trek's top-of-the-line OCLV Red carbon ensures a feathery weight and podium-topping acceleration and climbi...
Bike Setup: Trek Red Carbon, Dura-ace, Bontrager RaceXlite wheels.
Summary: 2009 Madone 6.5. I bought it during the end of the year sale. I was looking at a Madone 5.5, but the deal on the 6.5 was just too good to pass up. Everything is top notch on the bike and Larry at Trek La Mesa's fitting is amazing. I call him Mr. Millimeter.
Strengths: UBERLIGHT & SMOOOOOTH! Acceleration is possible at any speed. Friends are complaining about not being able to keep up when I put on the gas. I have to work on sprints because I literally was pulling the bike off the ground. I was looking for a SRAM bike in the beginning, but Dura-ace is fantastic.
Weaknesses: I a reasonably fit, but I wanted a compact crank because I am 50 and run about 200lbs. When on the flats there is a distinct jump going between front chainrings. In my old Ultegra I would need to do a one gear adjustment to be in a like ratio. On the compact I have to do three. It can be a problem when driving into the wind at speed....sort of like hitting the brakes. Trek recommended I have the stock cassette and a flat ride cassette.
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Bike Setup: 56cm, Dura Ace 7900 compact crank 50/34 front and 11-28 rear. Bontrager xxx lite carbon fork, x lite carbon bars, xxx lite carbon stem. Bontrager x Lite aluminum wheels with Vittoria CS tires.
Summary: 2009 Trek Madone 6.5. This is a superb bike. I have ridden a Trek 2002 model 5500 for 7 years. This new Madone is a totally different bike. It is much stiffer, lighter, and more stable, but yet the ride is smoother. Due to the stability of the front end, no doubt due to the new head set design, I find my self going faster downhill than before. I was a pretty good judge of speed with my 5500, but now find myself going quicker on the Madone with the same level of energy output.
I was concerned about the compact crank, as I live in a very hilly area. However, I have been pleasantly surprised and it is not an issue at all. I am convinced the lower weight and stiffness of the frame make up for the longer low gear. By my calculations, my low gear is now one gear longer than what I had before with a triple crank setup.
There is a noticable difference in accleration with this frame compared to older designs. It is much quicker for equivalent effort.
Strengths: Stiff frame, but very nice ride. Very light - 15.9 lbs complete for a 56 frame, with pedals , water bottle cages and computer mounts.
This bike forces you to ride better, it is like a race car - it wants to be ridden fast.
Weaknesses: The stability of this bike is causing me to go quicker downhill than I would like - yes not a big complaint - but the design of this frame is such that downhill speed is very very deceptively fast.
Similar Products Used: Trek 2002 5500
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Favorite Ride: Letchworth park loop, anywhere in western NY
Bike Setup: Stock with exchanged crank to SRAM Red, Bonty RL 146 saddle, Ultegra pedals, spare wheels- Mavic CXP 21 with 10spd cassette and 700x28 Bonty Select tires
Summary: Its a '08 6.5 performance model with upgraded crank- to SRAM Red. Bought this from the mechanic at my LBS. Used for 1.5k by him then he upgraded to a 2009...my gain! Thanks Dukie"
Amazingly light, stiff and responsive. Smooth, yet not "dead" feeling.
I'm 207 lbs and have never been a climber, this bike enables me to keep with the pack and not get dropped as much. My wife says I'm obsessed since buying this ride, I'm out every available time I can. This bike is more than I deserve but forces me to ride more and push myself harder than I've ever done in the past. I'm in the best shape of the last 10 years thanks to the desire this bike gives me.
Strengths: light
stiff
responsive
FAST!
comfortable for centuries or spirited group rides
Weaknesses: Decals are a bit blah and would be nice if they were reflective...is this a weakness? Depends on the beholder I guess...
Similar Products Used: 1984 Trek 660 with 600EX
2002 Leader 715 with DA
2003 Surly Pacer with DA/Ultegra mix
2002 Surly Cross Check with 105/LX mix
Would you like to Comment? Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.
Bike Setup: I now use this bike for all my road riding - I just have three sets of wheels to use depending on what the day entails. A training set, a race clincher set (the stock wheelset) and a set of carbon tubs.
I've got a 0 deg 110mm Thompson stem, a concor lite saddle. I've put only one 5mm spacer between the head stock and the stem.
Summary: Dam - Trek has nailed this one! It is superb. If money is not tight this bike is bloody marvellous. I was given an 08 5.5 to try for 6 months and really loved the frameset, but didn't rate the compact Bonty cranks, or the race lite wheels or the bars/stem combo that it came with, when it was time to give it back I was keen to get my hands on treks high range version.
It's an absolute dream to own - a pleasure to do high k's on, and equally as good when it comes to sprinting. SO GOOD!!! Well done TREK, and cannot rate this frame highly enough.
Strengths: It has it all, it's rigid where it counts, but is super comfortable on the longer rides. The bars are the bonty RaceXlite carbon winged ones, with the flat 'flats'. I thought they was a croc until I used them - they are really comfortable. The full DA group - great. The Race X Lite wheels are a vast improvement over the Race Lites, and are a little lighter than the last version of Race X Lite. It's also light - with some Reynolds DV-ULs it's only 6.8 kgs with pedals, bottle cages computer etc. Size 58. Lifetime warranty - hooray! AND trek are one of the best when it comes to legit claims. It steers just perfectly, little or no front end instability like other light carbon frames and the power delivery feels direct and purposeful.
Weaknesses: I've ditched the Race XXX lite stem for a Thompson one, just personal, as I have with the Race X lite saddle.
5 of 5
5 of 5
4 of 5
View Comments (1)
