Trek Madone 5.2? Advice needed

Jayoxf
Jayoxf Posts: 16
edited May 2010 in Road buying advice
I am after some advice guys. I have the opportunity to spend a considerable amount of money on a new bike, around £2500-3000. I already have a Trek 2.5 which is great but the chance to upgrade to a full carbon machine is too tempting to miss!
I have had a longing for the Trek Madone 5.2 but have not seen a review of it anywhere since it was launched. Does anyone on here have anything to share about this bike, or any other recommedations? What bike gets the best ratings for performance/value/spec at that level of investment?
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    I've never really been interested in Treks but was checking out a 5 and 6 series Madone at the weekend and have to say I was impressed. That said I wasn't overly convinced by the 5 series, aero seatpost and thick seat stays didn't scream comfort to me (didn't test ride it though). The 6 series was very impressive though (and very light) so if you can stretch to on of those I'd say it's worth the extra. If not then maybe wait until the 2011 bikes come out in the autumn and hope the 6 series design trickles down...

    Playing around with a Project One build myself, I just wish the Green Fire paint option did cost £1200 extra :p
  • relanium
    relanium Posts: 487
    If your after a Trek, you can always spec a Madone 6 series up through project one on the Trek website for around £2900 which has Sram Rival groupset.
    I have the New 2010 trek 5.9 and it rides beautiful, I upgraded the stock wheels to Dura Ace carbon laminates.... Just upgrading a few other little bits too, got the weight now to 14.9lbs for a 58cm trek.
    I think most people on here would suggest you either buy a Cannondale, Specialized or boardman with that kind of money.....
  • spanielsson
    spanielsson Posts: 776
    The pic here is pap, but my 5.2 is awesome.

    DSC_0002-11.jpg

    All day comfort, super stiff, climbs and descends perfectly! My bike as you see it there (without saddle bag) weighs in at 6.82 kg. If you are spending that kind of cash go for a project one 6 series with Rival and save up for a nice set of wheels, when I bought mine I couldn't do that.

    Many people bash Trek, but how many of them have actually used one?
  • relanium
    relanium Posts: 487
    Wow thats a nice weight spanielsson, what size frame is it?

    Alternatively "Jayoxf" if your spending that kind of money you could build a bike up yourself, buy a nice light frameset, then SRAM Red Groupset, maybe some DA 7850 wheels and whatever finishing kit..... then at least the bike is how you want it to be.
  • relanium
    relanium Posts: 487
    This is a nice 5.2 Build :)

    4579171965_fec6cbcfa4.jpg
  • spanielsson
    spanielsson Posts: 776
    relanium wrote:
    Wow thats a nice weight spanielsson, what size frame is it?

    My frame is a 54 cm. It's the performance model, if I were doing it all over again I'd buy the Pro version with a shorter head tube.

    I recently built a Planet X SL Carbon with an older Rival groupset and the same Race X Lite wheels (http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12694377), that bike weighs in at 7.15kg which shocked me! The frame (M) is only 1060g.

    The great thing about the Trek is the lifetime warranty, but if you are not fussed about that a real value for money build the new P-X Nanolight frameset, 2010 SRAM Force groupset, Dura Ace 7850 CL wheels and finishing kit of your choice. I think the weight would be similar to my Trek and would come in around £2300.
  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    Best move I made was buying my Trek although my budget meant I had to go for a second hand bike. Found a barely used 5.9 which had been built up last November by the owner with brand new Race Lite Wheels and Ultegra SL groupset (6700 carbon levers). He had bought the frame new in 2007 and left it hanging on the garage wall. Got round to building it up with the intention of using it as a training bike but then decided to sell it as he bought a new 6 series with Di2.

    Weighs 7.8kg with my lardy selle italia gel flite saddle fitted.

    The ride is sublime. Rolls really smooth and when you kick down you feel the power go straight through onto the road as the bike reacts and picks up immediately. I tend to be a little anti-USA generally and was looking for a Pinarello or Bianchi for that Italian heritage thing however had a ride on a friends Madone 4.7 and was hooked. Took two months of searching the Classifieds and Ebay but eventually found this

    Trek-1.jpg

    The bikes are so well put together and feel quality. Go for what you can afford but if you can stretch the budget the latest 6 series looks awesome - had a look at it in JE James Sheffield and Cycle Works York. Lovely.

    So far covered around 400 miles on the Madone and every time I get on the bike it just gets better and better.[/img]
    Trek Madone 5.9
    Kinesis Crosslight T4
  • Down the Road
    Down the Road Posts: 949
    5.2 Frame to Contador to victory in the TDF in 2007.

    There's your best review.
    Racing is life - everything else is just waiting
  • relanium
    relanium Posts: 487
    Here's a pic of my Trek 5.9 Madone, Gorgeous to ride, climbs excellent with the DA wheels & accelerates perfectly. Weight at the moment is 14.9lbs, still a few things to change so hopefully it will get lighter.


    4581071064_0990c50687_b.jpg
  • sherer
    sherer Posts: 2,460
    IIRC the 5 series is basically last years 6 series so the only real decision to make it if you want to buy it stock or go down the project one route.

    I ride a 4.7 which is a great bike and looking to upgrade to a 5 or 6 series after my lottery win

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