It’s been an open secret for what seems like forever, but today, 145 days after it was ridden to Paris-Roubaix victory by Elisa Longo Borghini in April, the covers are finally being lifted off the all-new 2023 Trek Domane.
It marks Trek’s second major road bike launch in the space of three months, and it includes the mid-tier Domane SL, the top-tier Domane SLR, as well as the return of the race-ready limited edition Domane RSL (Race Shop Limited).
Unlike Trek’s other recent launch, which saw the all-aero Madone given some frankly wild design ideas (it had a hole in the seat tube), the new Domane appears to have gone in the opposite direction, favouring simplicity and weight savings instead of its usual tact of ride-smoothing technology.
Domane’s new direction
Ever since its inception, the Trek Domane has used IsoSpeed decouplers to smooth out the road and boost compliance. The original Domane, launched in 2013, introduced the technology and had an IsoSpeed decoupler integrated into the seatpost cluster, allowing the seatpost to flex independently from the frame.
Each iteration since has expanded upon this technology. The second generation, launched in 2017, made it adjustable while adding a second IsoSpeed to the front. In 2020 for the third generation, the technology was refined and remained a core part of the bike’s identity.
Fast forward to today’s launch of the fourth generation, and it appears that Trek has taken an altogether different approach. The front IsoSpeed decoupler has been removed entirely, and while it does remain at the rear, the newly refined iteration is much simpler, and no longer adjustable.
Thanks to this, as well as an upgrade to Trek’s latest 800 Series OCLV carbon, the new Domane is said to be the lightest ever, more than 300g lighter than its predecessor.
The 800 Series OCLV carbon fibre layup was first introduced in 2020 with the Emonda SLR and recently applied to the Madone. It will feature on the Domane SLR – an improvement from the 700 Series found on the current model – as well as the RSL. The Domane SL will retain the 500 Series carbon that features on the current model.
The new approach from Trek continues through the development of the frame’s tube shapes, which have been given an aerodynamic overhaul as the Domane gets racier than ever. Updated kammtail tubing has been applied throughout the frame, and a more…
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