Emonda_SLR_10_H1The new Trek Emonda SLR 10 has a claimed weight of 10.25 pounds.

After weeks of speculation, Trek has officially released the Émonda, which it claims is the world's lightest line or production road bikes. That line includes the 10.25-pound Émonda SLR 10, claimed to be the lightest production road bike. It comes with an equally stunning $15,750 price tag.

Originating from the French verb émonder meaning "to prune or trim away", the Émonda project was three years in the making. Trek says it started with the most stringent frame tube optimization program it's ever used. The Émonda project focused solely on assuring that every strand of carbon served a purpose.

"We have the resources to build a complete bike system. Let's use that advantage to look at every aspect of the bicycle and how each component interacts with all the others," said Trek road product manager Ben Coates. "Once we covered the basic bike functions, we focused on every minute detail. Every decision was based on what was the overall lightest option for the system."

Trek Emonda Trek Emonda SLR10 CockpitThe extended development and testing process (left) resulted in new parts such as the Bontrager XXX bar/stem combination.

That minimalist approach is seen most clearly in the Émonda SLR 10, which is built at Trek headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin. But simply being the lightest was not enough, and Trek claims the Émonda's ride quality surpasses previous bikes its built. To make this happen, Trek says it threw every piece of technology at the process: Finite Element Analysis, strain gauge instrumentation, and a custom-designed cornering computer model.

But there's only so much you can do in a lab, so for over a year, Trek Factory Racing athletes and other pro riders performed iteration after iteration of ride testing to determine the right carbon layup and ride characteristics for each Émonda frame size.

When parts could not be found to meet development goals, Trek built its own. That resulted in the new Bontrager XXX bar/stem combination found on the Émonda SLR 10. This Trek/ Bontrager design saves a claimed 75 grams over a comparable bar and stem combination.

Bontrager's brake team also got in the act, developing the new Speed Stop brake with mounts that connect directly to the frame via two bolts to reduce component parts. This, says Trek, saves up to 35 grams per caliper. An adjustable leverage ratio, a two position quick release, and a wide stance add to Speed Stop's versatility. This Trek/Bontrager collaboration also increases tire clearance so that running larger tire sizes is possible. On the record Coates would say he can only recommend 25s. But the eyeball test says it would be no problem to slide in a pair of 28s and maybe even 30s.

Trek Emonda SLR 9 WSDThe new line includes numerous women's specific offerings, including the SLR 9 WSD with Shimano Dura Ace Di2.

Coates was also quick to point out that the entire Émonda line is backed be a lifetime manufacturer's warranty, something that Trek hopes will reassure rider's leery of the "world's lightest" claims.

Claimed frame weight of the Émonda SLR 10 is 690 grams. The rest of the bike breaks down like this:
  • Émonda SLR fork (280g), frame hardware (30.5g)
  • Bontrager XXX Integrated bar/stem (216g)
  • Bontrager SLR Ride Tuned Carbon seatmast cap and ears (119g)
  • Cane Creek AER upper headset assembly (18g)
  • FSA Super Light headset lower bearing (17.8g)
  • Bontrager Speed Stop brakes (232g)
  • Stock SRAM RED 22 drivetrain (1455g)
  • Bontrager ceramic BB bearings (62g)
  • Tune headset spacer (1.2g), Tune Komm-Vor Plus saddle (83g)
  • Tune wheelset (MIG45 front hub, MAG150 rear hub, Skyline carbon tubular rims, Sapim CX Ray Spokes (886g)
  • Tune Skyline U20 skewers (27g)
  • Tune Gum Gum expander plug and headset top cap (15g)
  • Vittoria Crono CS tubulars (360g)
  • Bontrager lightweight grip tape with bar end plugs (34g)
  • Jagwire Road Elite Link cables and housing (125g)

Continue to Page 2 for more on the new Trek Émonda and full photo gallery »



Trek Emonda in Action

Riders on the Trek Factory Racing pro team were integral in the development process.

All Émonda models are organized by frame level and drivetrain build. And these are not broken groupsets. Each model comes with matching chain, cassette, shifters, derailleurs, crank, and brakes. The only exceptions are the brakes on the SLR 6 and SLR 10, which come with Bontrager Speed Stop direct-mount calipers. Trek says these new brakes offer top-tier performance and tunable stopping power, while dropping nearly 100 grams from direct-mount Ultegra calipers and 60 grams from Dura-Ace models.

The frame levels are S, SL, and SLR. The number that follows the frame designation represents the drivetrain spec. So for example, on the Émonda SL 6, the SL designates the SL frame and fork, while the 6 designates the complete Ultegra drivetrain. So…

  • 4 = Shimano Tiagra
  • 5 = Shimano 105 5800
  • 6 = Shimano Ultegra 6800
  • 8 = Shimano Dura-Ace 9000 mechanical
  • 9 = Shimano Dura-Ace 9070 Di2
  • 10 = SRAM Red 22

Emonda Weight Chart

Trek's making some bold claims in relation to the competition.

The difference between the three frame designs breaks down like this:

Émonda SLR

  • 690g frame (painted, 56cm)
  • 280g fork (painted, ~235mm steerer tube)
  • 700 Series OCLV
  • Direct-mount brakes
  • Ride Tuned seatmast
  • Internally routed cables
  • BB90
  • DuoTrap S
  • E2 tapered fork w/ asymmetric steerer
  • 3S chain keeper

Émonda SL

  • 1050g (painted, 56cm)
  • 358g fork (painted, 240mm steerer tube)
  • 500 Series OCLV
  • Standard caliper brakes
  • Ride Tuned seatmast
  • Internally routed cables
  • BB90
  • DuoTrap S
  • E2 tapered fork w/ carbon steerer
  • 3S chain keeper

Émonda S

  • 1220g frame (painted, 56cm)
  • 518g fork (painted, ~235mm steerer, w/ star nut)
  • 300 Series OCLV
  • Standard caliper brakes
  • 27.2mm seatpost
  • Externally routed cables
  • BB86 press-fit
  • DuoTrap
  • E2 tapered fork
  • 3S chain keeper

Trek Emonda in Action

Claimed full bike weights and prices are as follows:

Émonda S 4 = 19.27 pounds, $1650
Émonda S 5 = not available, $2090
Émonda S 5 WSD = not available, $2090
Émonda S 6 = 18.47, $2630
Émonda SL 5 = not available, $2630
Émonda SL 5 WSD = not available, $2630
Émonda SL 6 = 16.29, $2150
Émonda SL 6 WSD = 16.45, $3150
Émonda SL 8 = 15.56, $4520
Émonda SL 8 RED = 15.01, $4520
Émonda SL 8 WSD = 15.43, $4520
Émonda SLR 6 = 14.55, $5250
Émonda SLR 8 = 13.56, $7450
Émonda SLR 9 = 13.45, $12,080
Émonda SLR 9 WSD = 13.43, $12,080
Émonda SLR 10 = 10.25, $15,750

And in case you were wondering, DuoTrap S is the second generation of Trek's speed and cadence sensor that is integrated directly into the chainstay, which improves aesthetics and aerodynamics, and lowers weight. It also means no zip ties rubbing your frame, no sensors moving around and losing contact with the magnet, and nothing to fall off mid-ride. The DuoTrap S differs from our DuoTrap sensor by offering both Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, along with a different mounting system that makes for better aesthetics.

Trek Emonda SLR10

New DuoTrap S saves weight and is more aero than standard DuoTrap.

We're getting the chance to ride the new bike this week and will report back first impressions soon. In the meantime, check out the promo video and extensive photo gallery below.