People are also weighing complete bikes and the weights are not coming in as advertised. Someone on weight weenies weighed a Gen 7 and Gen 8 from their shop floor, SLR7 trims with cages on both and less than 100g difference
Paint maybe? Trek loves their thick glossy cool paint, but such a paint job can add hundreds of grams. Itās always funny to me when brands tout that an update saves like 100g from a complete frameset due to superior engineering etc. Just sell a naked carbon frame, same savings!
Trek the Madone 8 is better then the 7
Wouldnāt be the first time a trek team has lied to us
Right on Trekās website if you look at SLR7 gen7 vs gen8 there is only a 170g difference. If you look at frame sets and forks their claims add up but they are making it sound better than it is. They are adding weight somewhereā¦.maybe the new handlebar??
The Gen 7 didnāt test that great in the tour test compared to the top aero bikes. And was more in the sl8 territory. The Gen 8 would need to be there to actually make sense as a replacement for an aero bike. Honestly this is a pretty disappointing release I donāt see why you would get this over an sl8 or super six Evo 4 or an aeroadā¦
This bike looks aero
They claim the new bar is lighter but their claimed weight is the same as the real weight on my Gen 7 bar
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Out of curiosity. i checked to see what the new WB & cages would costā¦$99. EACH.
LOLā¦Iāll deal with the extra watts. They also really need a white bottle option. All the current color options are dark bottles, which get warm very quickly in the summer.
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Thatās $100 a watt
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If I could add 50 watts to my FTP for $5000 (legally), Iād find the $. Hell, I just spent more than that on a new XC race bike that probably wonāt be any faster than my old one. Or 100 watts for $10k, might be enough for that senior world tour contract Iāve been gunning for.
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Watching the Tourā¦to get the aero advantage of the Gen 8 they need to keep two bottles in the cages. During the climbs many times the bottles are shed to reduce weight. Itās not much but, I reckon the new Trek bottles are around 80g each. So they will either need to carry an extra 160g with the bottles or no bottles and lose the aero advantage of the fairing. So, really only 160g lighter than the Gen 7 (but less aero).
Meaning, the Gen 8 is not as aero or as light as they claim (they need to include the bottles in the weight or give aero data w/o bottles). Either way Trek is gaslighting the masses in a way. I like the bike. I like Trek and appreciate what they need to do business wise (reduce SKUās) to better turn a profit. But, this BS reminds me of the BS my own company spews to spin things as not as bad as they are when in reality the house is burning down.
In the end it really doesnāt matter. Itās only dorks like me who are conflicted about this. I bet the masses donāt care or donāt think about this stuff. Just on a group ride yesterday a couple riders asked if my Gen 7 was a Gen 8. They were all excited but, bummed when they found out it was a Gen 7. Asked my opinion. I said Trek should have adapted the Gen 7 with OCLV900, aero optimized bottles for the narrower down tube and optimized the bar and boom you have a better bike than the Gen 8ā¦as far as performance they fād up but, nobody listens to me 
JMO
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A good point was apparently raised by Ben Delaney in his review (I havenāt watched it yet, but a buddy did)ā¦the new aero bottles cannot stand up on their own. Kinda makes it a pain to fill bottles w/ mix or to just stage them prior to a ride. They will need to be lying down unless they are in the cage.
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No problem, youāll just have to buy a Trek Upright Bottle Holder Thing ā¦ oops thatās another sku
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I watched that video and it will definitely be a pain in the ass. I think you would have to mix in something else and then pour it into the bottles.
True, but I use a shaker bottle to mix my malto anyway. But youāre right, youād need to bodge something so they stand up before you put them in the cage. I was riding with a mate this morning with the new Madone, he was using a round bottle in the cage so Iād probably just save the aero bottles for race days if I had them.
Just in case anyone has a specific question about the bike and how it compares. I just got the new Gen8 Frame after my Gen6 IsoSpeed was warrantied and would be happy to answer any questions. Have about 300ish Kmās on the bike already.
Itās an interesting test because of course, I brought over my original wheels and drivetrain from my Gen6, so aside from the frame/cockpit nothing else has changed. Iāve also gotten to ride the 2022 Emonda SLR and Madone Gen7 SLR, so I have a few frames (hah) of reference.
So far no reviewer is giving this bike enough credit for how comfortable it is. Thatās not a āsexyā stat. But wow the compliance marketing speak is legit, it rips over rough roads. Over 35kph you can also āfeelā the aero advantage compared to the Emonda, however, thereās nothing in it compared to my Gen6 so far. Splitting hairs there, which we all kinda saw from their presentation anyway.
Overall I think itās a better bike for more people. I get why they went this direction. But miss the full-on aero bike look.
Old Gen6 and friendās Emonda that Iāve ridden a fair amount as well.
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Is the bike compatible with the Wahoo Kickr core?
I believe so, but you need the updated axle parts from Wahoo.
Iād assume they all ship with these now, but I had to ask for mine back when I got it. There are certain Trek bikes and maybe a couple of other brands as well that werenāt approved for use with the stock partsā¦ 
So, not quite as aero as the 207w of the bike it claimed to be as fast asā¦
For context some other bikes in that aero range
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And somehow with a rider on it. CyclingNews reported the Madone Gen8 as the 2nd fastest in their testing of a very similar group. Sure seems like the frames themselves are incredibly close, within the margin of error sometimes and it comes down to the finishing kit. Wheel/Tire combo, bar widthā¦ect
- Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL8 (~279W)
- Tek Madone SLR 7 Gen 8 (~279W)
- Factor Ostror VAM (~279W)
- Cervelo S5 (~280W)
- Canyon Aeroad CFR (~281W)
- Van Rysel RCR Pro (~282W)
- Giant Propel Advance SL 0 (~282W)
- Scott Foil RC Pro (~283W)
- Cannondale Supersix Evo 4 (~283W)
- Pinerallo Dogma F (~283W)
- Look Blade 795 RS (~286W)