Quick and lively aluminium road bike with a good ride quality and excellent Shimano Ultegra components

The Trek Émonda ALR 6 is a lively aluminium road bike with a good ride quality and a high spec for the money.

  • Pros: Lively ride, comfortable, very good Shimano Ultegra groupset
  • Cons: Some people are going to want carbon no matter what

The Émonda ALR proves that there's still plenty of life left in aluminium, if that was ever in doubt. Many people seem to think that carbon fibre bikes are inherently better than aluminium bikes, but that really isn't the case. Carbon fibre isn't an end in itself, it's a means to an end. It's a material that can be built into lightweight, stiff and sometimes aerodynamically efficient bikes, and aluminium can be made into great bikes too, as the Émonda ALR shows.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Trek's Émonda lineup is interesting this year in that the carbon-framed Émonda SL 4 (£1,400, Shimano Tiagra groupset) and Émonda SL 5 (£1,800, Shimano 105 groupset) are both cheaper than the aluminium-framed Émonda ALR 6 (£2,000, Shimano Ultegra groupset). Essentially, you can choose between an aluminium frame and a higher level groupset, and a carbon frame and a lower level groupset. This is the highest specced aluminium model in the Émonda range. 

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - top tube detail.jpg

The Émonda SL 6, with a carbon frame and a Shimano Ultegra groupset, is £2,250.

> Check out our review of the Émonda SL 5 here

The ALR 6 rides really well, providing snappy acceleration through its taut frame. Weighing in at 8.1kg (17.9lb), our review bike is quick off the mark. It's actually Trek's lightest ever aluminium road bike. Sure, there are plenty of lighter bikes out there, but this is a good weight and, equally important, the frame is stiff enough to hold firm when you put the power down.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - riding 2.jpg

Trek uses its premium 300 Series Alpha Aluminum for the three aluminium Émondas rather than the 100 Series it uses for the Domane AL models or the 200 Series it uses for the Domane ALR , and this higher grade material is hydroformed (high pressure fluid is used to shape the metal) into size-specific tubes. In other words, the tubes are made differently so that each size of frame performs the same.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - head tube badge.jpg

Although it houses a standard 24mm (rather than an oversized 30mm) axle, the 86.5mm wide bottom bracket holds everything firmly through the centre of the bike, providing a solid platform from which you can lay down your power.

Well equipped

The Émonda ALR 6 has good climbing skills, transferring your effort efficiently into forward movement. The decent weight helps here, as does the fact that it's equipped with a new Shimano Ultegra 8000 groupset (we'll be reviewing it separately) that includes a compact chainset (with 50-tooth and 34-tooth chainrings) and an 11-28-tooth cassette.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - drivetrain.jpg

This provides you with lower gear ratios than you get with a standard chainset, so getting up steep hills becomes easier – and even the pros sometimes use compacts for the big mountains. You might yearn for a larger inner sprocket, I guess. If so, the short cage version of the Shimano Ultegra R8000 rear derailleur will take a maximum 30-tooth.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - rear mech.jpg

The compact chainset does mean you have to do without the biggest gears you get with a standard chainset, so you'll spin out sooner on fast descents. That said, you're still likely to be able to pedal at over 35mph with the setup you get here (100rpm gets you 35.7mph, 120rpm gets you 42.8mph).

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - riding 4.jpg

Speaking of descending, the Émonda ALR 6 provides you with plenty of assurance on the way down. The E2 tapered head tube, with a 1 1/2in lower bearing, provides a high level of stiffness at the front end, and that becomes more noticeable the harder you slam the bike into corners. Rather than wavering about, it takes you exactly where you want to go and that gives you the confidence to keep pushing the speed up.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - head tube.jpg

When required, the Shimano Ultegra brakes bite the Émonda's alloy rims hard to provide strong and predictable power whether you just need to shave off a bit of speed or come to a complete standstill. With all that muscle at my disposal, I felt I could rag it down sketchy descents without things feeling at all hazardous.

Comfortable ride

The aluminium Émondas are built to what Trek calls its H2 geometry. Essentially, this is a performance-orientated geometry but it's a little more relaxed than a Trek H1 setup; the head tube is a little taller and the top tube is a little shorter, giving you a slightly more upright riding position. The idea, of course, is to provide more comfort and confidence.

Trek Emonda ALR 6.jpg

We have the 58cm model here on test and it comes with a 19cm head tube. That's fairly lofty for a race bike but it's not up there with that of some endurance road bikes – not even close. With a stack height of 596mm and a reach of 391mm, the Émonda ALR 6 still has half an eye on an efficient aero position.

Trek has specced a compact handlebar so your riding position isn't too extreme when you rest your hands down on the drops. The Bontrager Race VR-C has a drop (the vertical distance from the centre of the bar at the stem clamp point to the centre of the bar at the ends) of 125mm so when you make the switch from the hoods you certainly feel like you're moving into an 'attack' position, but it's not crazy-deep. 

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - bars.jpg

Aluminium bikes are often characterised as harsh but that's largely unfair, the Émonda ALR 6 providing at least an average amount of give. It's certainly a long, long way from jangling. The skinny seatstays doubtless contribute to that, as does the lengthy amount of carbon fibre seatpost that you're almost certain to have extending out of the frame thanks to the sloping top tube. That seatpost is a slim 27.2mm in diameter and it flexes enough to help polish over bumps and dents in the road surface.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - seat tube junction.jpg

Bontrager's Montrose Comp cutout saddle has loads of flex in its shell along with quite deep cushioning – a little too deep for my taste, if truth be told, but we're all different. If you feel the need for more comfort you could simply swap the 25mm Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite tyres for something in a 28mm width. The frame and fork have enough clearance and so do the Shimano Ultegra R8000 dual-pivot brakes, so there's nothing stopping you. The other option would be to run tubeless tyres (the ones fitted aren't tubeless compatible) at lower pressures on the Bontrager Aeolus Comp 5 Tubeless Ready wheels. 

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - rear brake 2.jpg

The rims of those wheels are aluminium, a carbon fairing on the spoke-side taking the total depth to 50mm without the addition of a whole lot of weight. The idea, of course, it to improve the aero efficiency. One drawback to this design is that you can't get to the spoke nipples externally; they're hidden away inside the fairing. This means you need to take off the tyre, inner tube (if you're using one) and rim tape for adjustments if the wheel goes out of true. That's a pain, especially if you're using a tubeless system with sealant in there. That said, both wheels have run straight and true throughout testing so it's a non-issue so far. 

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - rim and tyre.jpg

The rest of the spec is very impressive, particularly the new Shimano Ultegra 8000 groupset – and that's a full groupset right down to the chain, rather than a mix of eye-catching components and downgrades.

> Check out the Shimano Ultegra 8000 groupset here

You probably already know that Ultegra is Shimano's second tier road groupset, and we have only good things to say about it. The bottom line is that Ultegra provides great shifting and braking to keep you fully in control. It's excellent stuff! As mentioned above, we'll run a full review on it separately.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - front mech.jpg

The obvious difficulty the Émonda ALR 6 has is that at £2,000 it's up against a lot of carbon bikes, and there's definitely a perception that carbon is simply better than aluminium... and that's not necessarily the case. Yes, carbon has some big advantages when it comes to making stiff and lightweight bikes, but it's not the be-all and end-all. Certainly don't write off a bike because it's not carbon, that's madness. 

> Buyer's Guide: 13 of the best aluminium road bikes

Which would I choose if I were buying, the £2,000 Émonda ALR 6 or the £1,800 SL 5? Well, that depends. I'd personally prefer the direct mount brakes and internal cable routing you get with the SL 5, but if you're not bothered by those things you get more for your money with the ALR 6.

Trek Emonda ALR 6 - cable route.jpg

Shimano 105 makes up the biggest share of groupsets on £2,000 road bikes, so the Ultegra specced on the Émonda ALR 6 is a bonus. There are plenty of exceptions, though. Giant's TCR Advanced 1, for example, with a carbon composite frame and a Shimano Ultegra groupset, is only £1,799, and Merida's Scultura 5000, priced £2,000, has a carbon frame and fork and an Ultegra groupset. This means the Émonda ALR 6 is up against some stiff opposition on value. I'd say it offers a very good deal, but it's not out on its own.

Overall, the Émonda ALR 6 is a very strong offering. Do yourself a favour and take aluminium seriously. This is a quick and taut bike that provides plenty of comfort, and the Shimano Ultegra components are superb. 




road.cc test report

Make and model: Trek Émonda ALR 6

Size tested: 58cm

About the bike



Fork Émonda carbon, carbon E2 steerer

Wheels Bontrager Aeolus Comp 5 Tubeless Ready

Tyres Bontrager R2 Hard-Case Lite, 700x25c

Shifters Shimano Ultegra, 11-speed

Front derailleur Shimano Ultegra, braze-on

Rear derailleur Shimano Ultegra

Crank Shimano Ultegra, 50/34 (compact)

Bottom bracket Press Fit BB86.5

Cassette Shimano Ultegra, 11-28, 11-speed

Chain Shimano Ultegra

Saddle Bontrager Montrose Comp, chromoly rails

Seatpost Bontrager carbon, 2-bolt head, 27.2 mm, 8 mm offset

Handlebar Bontrager Race VR-C, 31.8 mm

Handlebar tape Bontrager


Headset Integrated, cartridge bearing, sealed, 1-1/8in upper, 1.5in lower

Brakeset Shimano Ultegra


Trek says, "Émonda ALR 6 is the highest-end aluminium road bike in the Émonda line-up. It's light, fast, responsive and engineered to hold its own in every way against far more expensive carbon models. A performance Shimano Ultegra drivetrain, aero wheels and lightweight aluminium frame make it an ideal choice for crit racers, club riders, climbers and anyone who wants the fastest aluminium road bike that we make."

It lists these attributes:

​• This is a top-of-the-line aluminium racing bike that lives for speed.


• No one likes ugly welds: Invisible Weld Technology for seamless looks and lighter weight.


Frame and fork

Overall rating for frame and fork


The build quality is very high.

The smooth welds and very good finish mean that you can barely see the joints between the tubes.

Treks says it has used Invisible Weld Technology here. What's that?

"Revolutionary welding technology creates a better connection with each tube junction, increasing strength while using less material," says Trek. 

Well, they certainly look neat! If you want to see the welds you have to look closely. Really closely!

Unlike on the carbon Émondas, the cabling is fully external.

The frame is compatible with a DuoTrap S sensor. This is a Bluetooth/ANT+ sensor that sits in a hollow on the non-driveside chainstay to measure speed, distance and cadence on a bike computer or smartphone.

Tell us about the materials used in the frame and fork?

Trek says that the 300 Series Alpha Aluminum is an upgrade over its 200 Series. It is hydroformed into size-specific tubes.

The fork legs and steerer are carbon..

Tell us about the geometry of the frame and fork?

The Émonda ALR 6 is built to Trek's H2 fit, as is the ALR 5.

H2 is slightly more relaxed than Trek's H1 fit but it is still a race-orientated geometry.


We had the 58cm model with a 573mm effective top tube, a 553mm seat tube and a 190mm head tube. The stack height (vertical distance from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the top tube) is 596mm and the reach (the horizontal distance between those two points) is 391mm.

It puts you into a fairly aggressive riding position, but it's not as full-on as Trek's H1 fit.

Riding the bike


Yes, it is a comfortable bike. Don't believe all that stuff about aluminium being harsh.


Yes, it's stiff through the bottom bracket and the head tube. There was less steerer tube flex when I moved the stem right down.

How did the bike transfer power? Did it feel efficient?

Yes, it's stiff through the bottom bracket.


A little but I don't find it a problem.



I always have loads of seatpost extending out of the frame, and that certainly helps with comfort, especially if it's a slim 27.2mm diameter post like the one here.


Everything feels pretty efficient to me.

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The drivetrain

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Wheels and tyres

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The wheels are decent enough, but they're not stunning.


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Your summary

Did you enjoy riding the bike? Yes

Would you consider buying the bike? Yes, for a bike at this price it would be on the shortlist.

Would you recommend the bike to a friend? Yes

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Use this box to explain your score

Some people will doubtless be put off by the fact that this bike is aluminium and they could get a carbon-framed bike for this kind of money. My argument would be that a carbon bike isn't always better than an aluminium bike. You get a bike that performs very well here, complete with an extremely good groupset. It's definitely one to consider if you're in the market for a performance-minded bike at this price.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 47  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg



