Carbon aero road bike Trek Madone SL 6 AXS in size ML: Rival AXS, Aeolus Elite 50 wheels, 8.11 kg

Trek Madone SL 6 AXS in size ML: a first step into racing

This Trek Madone SL 6 AXS Gen 8 is available in size ML only, for riders from 1.73 to 1.79 m, and weighs 8.11 kg in this size with its OCLV Series 500 carbon frame and SRAM Rival AXS 2x12 groupset. This version gets Bontrager Aeolus Elite 50 carbon wheels, a slightly deeper profile than the 48 mm of the other colours. Its Gloss Crystal White/Matte Deep Smoke paintwork pairs a gloss white with a matte smoked grey, an elegant combination that plays on the contrast between finishes.

Technical specifications

Who is it for?

For the mid-height club racer preparing for their first regional races, for the sportive rider who wants a bike that is lively when accelerating, or for the cyclist replacing an old rim-brake bike with a modern aero frame with discs. Above all, for a build that matches size ML.

The LVR workshop view

OCLV carbon, Trek's signature. Since 1992, Trek has compacted its carbon plies under heat and pressure to drive out micro-voids, and the series number reflects the refinement of the layup. On this Madone SL, OCLV 500 gives a painted frame of 1,054 g in ML, plus a 363 g fork: around 270 g more than the SLR frameset, for a far more affordable bike. The frame is still covered by Trek's lifetime warranty.

Put simply: on the scales, the gap between OCLV 500 and OCLV 900 is roughly a full bottle. The SL 6 AXS keeps the Full System Foil silhouette, the IsoFlow and the tyre clearance of the SLR models; what an SLR adds is mainly a few grams saved and a one-piece bar and stem.

Having only one size available shouldn't push you into the wrong choice: a frame that is too big or too small cancels out part of the aero benefit. So we check your height, inseam and flexibility before confirming this bike; the separate RCS Pro stem then lets you adjust the reach by a few centimetres.

The 50 mm rims hold their speed when accelerating in races around Béziers and criteriums on the plain, and the hydraulic disc brakes let you brake later into corners. The UDH derailleur hanger, now a standard, is easy to replace after a crash in a race.

Which Madone should you choose?

Our take: this SL 6 AXS weighs 50 g less than the SL 6 with 105 Di2 and 240 g more than the SL 7. For a first racing season, the gap to the SL 7 is felt less than the gap in budget.

Your questions

Why buy from LVR Cycles? In our Béziers shop, we first confirm that size ML suits you, then adjust and prepare your Madone in our workshop before handing it over.

Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.