Trek redesigned the Domane lineup last fall. With new colors, better build kits, and some updates to the frame, it stacks up to be one hell of a do-it road bike. The new Domane sports a more streamlined look, with some design details from the Emonda; a sleek top tube with chiseled edges and an aerodynamic-ish down tube to help slice through the wind. Trek decided to forgo the front iso speed on the new gen4. With the stock 32mm tires, IsoFlex bars, and decent bar tape, this bike feels plenty smooth. My current setup comes in at 21.7 lbs with 2 Bontrager elite cages, Time attack xc4s, spur bell, and 38mm tires all paired with the Shimano 105 Di2 group set. They do have builds as light at 16lbs but that’s an astonishing $13k bike… The SL6 slots in at $4,699. Not a bargain and could use a better set of wheels at this price but the quality, reliability, and shop support make up for that in the long run.

My road riding days were peak in 2018 before I became obsessed with mountain bikes. I’ve put most of my road miles in on rim brake 11-speed Etap on full carbon bikes to alloy frames with first-gen 105 hydro. It was all pretty solid stuff but nothing like this Shimano DI2. It is a huge step forward from those for sure.

The Shifting

Shimano’s 12-speed 105 Di2 is a half-wireless group set. The battery is connected to the derailleurs and the shifters are wireless. Since the bike came put together I just charged it and it was good to go. The shifts are easy, quick, and reliable. With a great hood size and an adjustable lever, it will fit most hands pretty comfortably. When shifting under load there is a good clunk coming from the gears, but no mis-shifts or Dura-Ace is very quiet and super smooth but not noticeably better with precision and speed. The biggest thing I hear people talk down is that the 105 doesn’t get the braking servos that are on the Ultegra and Dura-Ace. I haven’t had them so I probably don’t need them. You could even upgrade rotors and pads for improved power if needed.

I have about 500 miles in on this bike and haven’t had to charge it yet. To be honest I have no clue how long it’s going to last and I’ll just run it till it’s dead. My guess is 600-1,000 miles. I’ll find out soon. The charging port is located on the rear mech and clips onto it pretty well. Long cable to reach any outlet in the garage or gear room. I believe it only takes 90 minutes but I didn’t count. I’ll check it in the next cycle. The battery is in the down tube and can be accessed from the internal storage door if needed. One thing I have noticed is that the Di2 wire is pretty close to the rear wheel sometimes. It’s got some slack to it, probably making it harder to pull out, but I have had it buzz my tire twice after some rougher rides. As well, the integrated headset routing isn’t for me; but that’s for later.

• Trek Domane SL6 54cm 21.7lbs
• $4,699 USD
• Shimano 105 DI2 12 Speed
• 172.5mm Cranks and 50/34 Chainrings
• 11-34 Cassette
• 38mm Panaracer Gravel Kings w/tubes
• Spur Bell
• Time pedals

My Riding Experience

The Trek Domane is growing on me. Smooth, snappy, and capable of all-day riding. I would say 40% of my riding has been on gravel rail trails and it’s been efficient and effective. The tire clearance is plenty for what I want this bike to do, with 38mm being the max. I could have looked at a gravel bike like the Checkpoint, but I just wasn’t happy with the gearing they offered. Getting a more traditional road setup was just going to suit my riding style better.

At faster speeds this bike feels stable and sporty but in a more upright comfortable position. Smashing the pedals feels efficient. The threaded BB and Shimano crank have had no creaks, wobbles, or issues. I have been pleasantly surprised with how capable this bike is off-road. I thought it would feel fragile and unresponsive but it’s handled everything I’ve thrown at it. One of the downsides is that the rear mech and chain slap a lot. Not a strong clutch. I would probably replace it with a GRX 12s DI2 whenever they decide to make it a thing.

Some other great features are hidden fender mounts (35mm tire clearance). All Domanes also have top tube and down tube mounts for all sorts of things. I like this for storage: the Orucase Top Tube Bag. It’s big enough for a phone and plenty of snacks for long days. You could turn this bike into a light bike packing/multi-day adventure bike. Oh and let’s not forget about the down tube storage either. Great for a tube, lever, and tool. I usually bring a mini pump with me, not the biggest fan of co2, but that should fit in there as well.

The Not So Good

As much as I have loved the shifting, comfort, and capability of this bike, there are a few weak points.

First is the integrated headset cables. I know it’s a road bike and it makes it more aero, but adjusting the stem and spacers was quite annoying for me since I ended up doing it 4 to 5 times to dial everything in. That being said, once it’s set up, it completes the look.

Secondly is the bar tape. As pictured below this started to just separate on the bends on both sides at the same time. I usually have my hands on the hoods. On one ride it was mostly rough gravel and about halfway through it just started to peel and come apart. Maybe my hands were in the wrong spot but I feel like there wasn’t any pressure on them that day and could have just been a fluke.

Third would be the Bontrager Paradigm comp 25 wheels. I will say they are good but not great.. for the price of the bike I would like to see something a bit lighter than 1780g. The hub engagement is fine and I do like the 25mm internal width for running the wide tires. A similar spec Emonda is only $300 more and comes with carbon wheels that are over 100g lighter and more aero.

Lastly would be the seat post. Trek uses this D-shaped design and the bolt to tighten it is in the worst spot. It’s so bad they had to make this magnetic cover to keep it hidden.

The Domane SL6 has been one of the better all-around bikes I’ve owned so far. The bike that just does it all, can and will. Any Domane SL or SLR is seriously worth looking into if you want the snappy feel like a race bike but the extra tire clearance and comfort of a gravel bike. This bike won’t be winning any races with me riding it, but it’s going to help me crush my fitness goals, improve my riding habits, and give me more smiles per mile than any of my other recent road bikes.

Wanna see the bike in action? click here