Summary: Nice bike, confortable and reactive as soon as you have change the bontrager wheels (race lite) and the bontrager crankset.
Wheels were loosing spokes, spokes were breaking. Looks good that's it but I bought a bike to ride it.
Crankset : i cahnge a bearing after 3 months, 3 months later it was again to change. I move to an ultegra one and now I enjoy shimano reliability.
I also change the bontrager handlebar for a more ergonomic one 3T and the bontrager saddle for a arione one. So as sson as you remove all Bontrager stuff, this bike is a great one.
Strengths: design and reactivity
Weaknesses: Bontrager components
Similar Products Used: look 386
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Bike Setup: 5.5 Performance fit with Full Ultegra SL, Fizik Airione, Ora Gold Carbon Ergo Handleba, Dura Ace Tubeless Wheelset with Hutchinson FusionII Tubeless tires.
Summary: Brand new in May 5.5 Performance fit, probably 7500 kilometers so far. It's like my trusty old Trek 5200 only a decade later and better. The frame has all the features many of the new for 2009 bikes are getting such as the 1 3/8" -- 1 1/2" steerer tube and seat masts. Treks no cut system is oh so very clever and adds to the overall compliance of the frame. The GIGANTIC BB gives the bike the feeling of being strong as a tank yet my 58cm w/pedals was just over 17lbs. Bearings right in the carbon seems good so far and is so simple it's genius.
The Ultegra SL is true Shimano...brakes are EXCELLENT, shifting is sometimes perfect sometimes just awful so it averages out to good.
The Tubeless Dura Ace wheels area a dream come true. They are the future and the future is now. Try a set, you'll see.
Overall an excellent bike at a great price, big bang for the bucks.
Strengths: Ride quality, braking, climbing and those wheels.
Weaknesses: Sometimes maddening rear derailleur.
Similar Products Used: Trek 5200
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Bike Setup: stock, 58cm,performance fit ,compact crank,speedplayx2 pedals cat eye strada
Summary: After testing the 2008 4.5, 5.1,and 5.2 I went with a 2008 5.5.There were some initial issues with poor shifting,the chain came off at 50 miles and the drive train felt rough with chain noise,much moreso than with my trek 1500 with ultegra .All these problems were quickly adressed by my LBS by my mechanic who made several adjustments to the drivetrain while I pedaled on the trainer.The bike is now truly silky smooth in shifting with a markedly quieter drivetrain.This bike is better in all regards to my 1500;especially noteworthy in it's superior handling,cornering, and non fatiguing ride quality.
Strengths: great price,LBS support,superior ride and comfort
Weaknesses: none yet
Similar Products Used: fuji trek 1500 madone 4.5,5.1, 5.2
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Bike Setup: neuvation c38 tubulars, tufo hi-tpi's, selle italia slr kit carbino, zero gravity 0g-ti, zipp sl bars, ritchey 4-axis stem, sram red cassette and chain, bontrager xxx lite cage.
Summary: Great bike. Have put many miles on it in 6 months. very fast and stiff. great for an everyday racer. could have used a dura ace crank.
Strengths: lightweight. fast. stiff.
Weaknesses: bontrager wheels and crank.
Similar Products Used: older madone, litespeed ghisallo.
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Bike Setup: 2008 Trek Madone 5.5 Pro Sram Force groupset except for the Bontrager Cranks. Bontrager bars and stem, Fizik Yellow Handlebar tape Fizik Arione seat and Mavic SL3 wheels with Michelin Pro 2 Race tires, until I wear them out and put the Pro 3 race on
Summary: I have the 2008 5.5 Pro. I just love this bike It really gets up to speed fast and has a good feel to it. I probably ordered the pro fit because I like the yellow color I did try the perfomance to but could not tell much difference. It seems to be comfortable on long rides It climbs faster than my old Windsor Falkirk. This bike seems to hanldle great at speed I have only had it up to 45mph so far, yes that was downhill but I have had it to 37 on flat ground I am very happy with the Sram Force It shifts great and quick the brakes work really good. I did not like the bontrager wheels at all and only put about 200 miles on them before I put my Mavic SL3's on, and the bontrager seat had to go. I replaced that with a Fizik Arione After over 1000 miles so far I like this bike a lot
Strengths: Frameset, Sram Force group set, bontrager crank is ok
Weaknesses: Bontrager wheelset, seat, Paint job is far from flawless
Similar Products Used: Felt F2, Specialized Tarmac and Roubaix
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