Trek Madone 5.2. Anything that competes?

cpm3011

Hello. I am looking at getting a new bike around the £2000-2400 mark. At this point the Trek Madone 5.2 which has been offered to me for £2400 appears to be the best bike. It is fitted with a full Ultegra groupset. Anyone know any bike which is as good/better than this bike?

softlad

at that price point, it's not about what's better - it's about what you prefer....

Wheelspinner

Been quite a few posts on here of late about current series Madones having serious frame problems, BB cups coming loose in the frame, and other cracking with seat masts etc. Do a search and you'll find them.

Should be loads of bikes in that price range. Cannondale, Wilier, Pinarello etc. Canyon seem to be pretty competitive in that bracket too in your market I gather.

sundog

Also the 2011 bikes are starting to appear

thel33ter

You can, for example get a custom Comtat with Ultegra and Fulcrum Racing Zero's for £2440, or with Racing 1's and a Sram Red or Dura Ace group for the same price pretty much.

http://www.comtat.co.uk/bike-builder.asp

So I would have a play with a few custom bike builders online for that money.

I also found a size 54 Madone 5.2 for £2k here http://www.eaststcycles.com/products.ph ... 2573&rs=gb

tigerben

I have a 5.2 - have put 2k of miles on it so far and have had zero problems. Absolutely love the bike - feels light and stiff on the climb and reliable on the descents. Apart from short test rides I have not really ridden anything comparable so cannot really say how it compares - but I can confirm that it works for me!

The 2011 5 series are to be made from lower grade carbon in the far east - although they will feature more trickle down tech from the current 6 series. Not sure how this will impact on the ride/quality of the bike relative to the 2010 version.

porker33

2011 5 series has less spec for the same £££.

I have done about 100 miles on my 2010 5.2. So far it seems to be a good bike, but depends what you are used to.

Having owned a Trek 1.9 before, there is not that much difference, other than ever so slightly smoother and a touch stiffer/lighter on the hills or when you kick the pedals, the hidden cable Ultegra gearshift is not as smooth in operation as the Ultegra on my old bike.

So all in all marginal improvement and subtle differences, the point being these differences do not add up when you consider the incremental cost.

At this price point, you have to be happy with what you buy, the Madone was the bike I wanted and now have, so there is a certain peace of mind, that it is now up to me, I have the equipment and now just have to get on with the cycling.

brit66

Test ride as many as you can, even if that means an hour long round trip to a bike shop somewhere.

It's tempting (because it's easy) to just buy a bike you like the look of but you need to make the right choice if you're laying out that kind of money.

Of course, you might be doing this anyway?

carrock

cpm3011 wrote:

Hello. I am looking at getting a new bike around the £2000-2400 mark. At this point the Trek Madone 5.2 which has been offered to me for £2400 appears to be the best bike. It is fitted with a full Ultegra groupset. Anyone know any bike which is as good/better than this bike?

Roubaix/tarmac expert- also Ultegra .

edhornby

see if you can get hold of the cycling plus from april or round then - they did a bike of the year test and £2500 was the upper limit, there was all sorts in there... the Felt F3, the Storck 1.1, bianchi something (not the superlegerra), the cannondale six and many others were highly rated - the cube agree gtc, the giant tcr, the wilier izoard, the time speeder S, the Basso astra and others all rated highly.

bendertherobot

Saw a Madone this morning in my LBS. 5.2 priced at £2800. Which was a lot I thought.

I have to say there are plenty of other stuff I'd consider like: (Epic cycles are great for showing you what stuff REALLY looks like).

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/Sco ... 0-1000.jpg

CR1 Pro Custom

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/orb ... c-1000.jpg

Damn good value Orbea Classic!

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/kuo ... 00asst.jpg

Kuota Kebel, if that fits tell me you just wouldn't stare all day at it.

EKIMIKE

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=1923

Pretty much the best value you're going to get off the peg. But for £2,500 i'd be looking at a custom build.

paul64

Bianchi Infinito, Look 566, Viner Magnifica, Eddy Merckx, Wilier, Pinarello, Colnago, Brian Rourke, Chas Roberts, Litespeed. Choice will be determined by how much homework, travelling, test riding and working out you are prepared to do. There is a lot more out there beyond Trek and Spec.

FWIW I drew up a spreadsheet of contenders, geometry, pros and cons based on comments out there and used it to narrow down along the way. I found this helped immensely but then I was wanting to choose something which I would be happy with for 10 to 15 years without wondering what another choice would have been like.

giant_man

paul64 wrote:

Bianchi Infinito, Look 566, Viner Magnifica, Eddy Merckx, Wilier, Pinarello, Colnago, Brian Rourke, Chas Roberts, Litespeed. Choice will be determined by how much homework, travelling, test riding and working out you are prepared to do. There is a lot more out there beyond Trek and Spec.

FWIW I drew up a spreadsheet of contenders, geometry, pros and cons based on comments out there and used it to narrow down along the way. I found this helped immensely but then I was wanting to choose something which I would be happy with for 10 to 15 years without wondering what another choice would have been like.

Exactly, i wish more people would realise this.

porker33

I don't know what CPM the original poster is making of the responses?

But having recently purchased my 2010 5.2, there hasn't been a bike mentioned yet that I would prefer over the Madone at this price point.

Surely all these bikes will be competent, do the usual and ride the geometry to make sure it doesn't actually cause discomfort and then buy the bike you heart tells you to.

mudshark

I have a 2009 5.2 which I really like; I did have a problem though - a bold snapped on the seat mast cap which was impossible to remove. The bolt looked defective as only part of the break was shiny implying that the dull part had broken before - not fitted by me BTW. Was sorted under warranty.

Lillywhite

mudshark wrote:

I have a 2009 5.2 .

The heart of the Trek carbon bikes is the frame. My son has a 2003 model USPS series 5 OCLV frame which he still rides fitted with 9 speed Dura-Race and upgraded with Ritchey carbon bars, stem and seat post and carbon wheels. He refuses to consider buying a newer frame.

I have a 2005 series 5 OCLV frame which is a superb ride and I would have no hesitation in buying one of the USA made Trek carbon frames.

The earlier link to a 2009 Madone 5.2 for £2000 represents a good buy.

spanielsson

I have a 2008 Trek Madone 5.2, I've always loved it and thought it was fantastic. The problems you hear about seat mast and BB breakages can be avoided with the correct tools and care in most cases.

I don't think the current model offers good value for money at all. I briefly owned a Planet X SL Pro carbon that handled as well, was as light and cost 1/3 of the price.

I recently bought a used Colnago CX1 frame and built it into a complete bike for a similar cost to your budget. For as much as I'd enjoyed riding the Trek the Colnago is in a different league in terms of comfort, handling and stiffness.

Personally, I'd have a look at the Planet X Nanolight with SRAM Red and a pair of Dura Ace 7850 carbon laminate clinchers. It would give you a well equipped bike and some change.

bendertherobot

spanielsson wrote:

I have a 2008 Trek Madone 5.2, I've always loved it and thought it was fantastic. The problems you hear about seat mast and BB breakages can be avoided with the correct tools and care in most cases.

I don't think the current model offers good value for money at all. I briefly owned a Planet X SL Pro carbon that handled as well, was as light and cost 1/3 of the price.

I recently bought a used Colnago CX1 frame and built it into a complete bike for a similar cost to your budget. For as much as I'd enjoyed riding the Trek the Colnago is in a different league in terms of comfort, handling and stiffness.

Personally, I'd have a look at the Planet X Nanolight with SRAM Red and a pair of Dura Ace 7850 carbon laminate clinchers. It would give you a well equipped bike and some change.

I think that's right. I mean, the Trek 5.2 I saw yesterday was £2800. That's nuts. Mind you my LBS, on setting up my Lemond's gears said, "Nice bike yours, that's about equivalent to a Trek 5.2" now. Which is nice I guess.

mudshark

I got my 2009 Madone 5.2 for £2k which is less than the CX1 frame so happy that it's not as good. The RRP then was £2.5k and the 2010 is £400 more which is a big increase though it has a bit better spec - the main problem is the weak pound I think.

paggnr

Cervelo S2

Lillywhite

mudshark wrote:

I got my 2009 Madone 5.2 for £2k which is less than the CX1 frame so happy that it's not as good.

So you're not comparing like with like.

Aren't Colnagos overpriced in any event?

mudshark

Yeah but spanielsson said the CX1 is better than the Madone - so it should be.

BTW, he also recommended the Planet X SL Pro which some say is too flexy but I'd say still good value.

Lillywhite

mudshark wrote:

.... said the CX1 is better than the Madone - so it should be.

In what respect is that then or just a perception that it rides better because it cost more money?
A bit like saying a BMW is better than a Vauxhall.

mudshark

Dunno - ask spanielsson

redddraggon

Lillywhite wrote:

mudshark wrote:

.... said the CX1 is better than the Madone - so it should be.

In what respect is that then or just a perception that it rides better because it cost more money?
A bit like saying a BMW is better than a Vauxhall.

Spanielsson has them both, so I think he'd know which was better.

spanielsson

Lillywhite wrote:

In what respect is that then or just a perception that it rides better because it cost more money?
A bit like saying a BMW is better than a Vauxhall.

To quote myself in response to your question:

spanielsson wrote:

I recently bought a used Colnago CX1 frame and built it into a complete bike for a similar cost to your budget. For as much as I've enjoyed riding the Trek the Colnago is in a different league in terms of comfort, handling and stiffness.

spanielsson

mudshark wrote:

BTW, he also recommended the Planet X SL Pro which some say is too flexy but I'd say still good value.

With a decent set of wheels in a P-X SL Pro, I think you would have to be 90kg's and above, or be sprinting with a serious power output to make it flex as some people claim it does. I was blown away with the ride and handling quality of the frame & forks. The finish quality wasn't the best, but it does the job nicely for a decent price.

cpm3011

thanks for your help guys. i have been illuminated to the world beyond specialised and trek...not to say i won't get one but nice to know there's more out there. I like the comtat custom bikes and the canyon also looks like great value but i will explore the various alternatives and try and get on some bikes to give them a go. what do people make of buying a frame and building it up myself?

carrock

The point is though that virtually no-one makes bikes- they simply bolt a generic collection of parts onto a frame which may or may not also be made in a generic factory in Taiwan, or very occasionally made in house

What you are feeling as different is each manufactureres preferred geometry, or simply a different mix of generic parts.

Logically, a spesh or trek or boardman benefits from economy of scale, and thus may have a slightly better generic groupset/wheels when compared to a basso, for example, in the same price bracket

This doesnt carry through to the top end though, where Madone 6.9s and Spesh S Works are not great value IMHO

Probably better to pick which bike feels nicest to ride rather than focusing on whose name is on the frame.

spanielsson

cpm3011 wrote:

what do people make of buying a frame and building it up myself?

Economically it may not be the best route to go down, unless you can really shop around for your frameset and components. You could find a good deal on a used frame and then buy a groupset, wheels and finishing kit from somewhere like Merlin. Then the spec is exact to what you want.

I enjoy building bikes, there is a sense of achievement once your bike is finished!