Tech Gallery: Trek’s new Domane 6.9 Disc

Thru-axles, hydraulic disc brakes, and tons of tire clearance highlight Trek's new endurance frame

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Trek’s new Domane 6.9 Disc retains the popular features of the regular Domane road frames but adds Shimano’s excellent hydraulic disc brakes. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The ISO speed decoupler, which allows the seat tube to flex independently of the top tube and seat stays, improves comfort. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Except for the disc brakes, the Domane 6.9 Disc looks pretty like its rim-brake siblings. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Where’s the brake? Not on the seat stays. That means more tire clearance. More tire clearance means more fun. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Compact gearing for the steep stuff. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Shimano’s R785 hydraulic disc levers feature Di2 electronic shifting. They aren’t too much bigger than a standard Di2 hood. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Plenty of tire clearance at the fork as well. Photo: Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The seat topper used on both the Domane and Madone seems to work well, and is usually short enough that packing and travelling with the bike is not a problem. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Like most of Trek’s bikes these days, the 6.9 Disc is Duo Trap ready, providing ANT+ speed and cadence. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Trek is starting off with just two disc models, one Four-series, and one Six-series. The price gap between the two is more than $5,000. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Bontrager’s new Paradigm SL saddle is light, and seems to flex in all the right places. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The 15mm thru-axle up front will stiffen the fork and prevent any wheel shift, which will help keep the disc brakes quiet. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Trek has gone with a clever dropout system it calls Closed Convert. The bike comes stock with a 15mm front thru-axle and 142×12 rear thru-axle, the preferred setup, but can also be swapped to a quick release format for use with aftermarket wheels. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The 6.9 Disc comes stock with 160mm rotors, though Shimano claims that most riders should only need 140s. We prefer the feel of 140s, and would likely remove the 160mm adapters and swap to 140mm rotors if this was a personal bike. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The Closed Convert dropouts are a collaboration with DT Swiss. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Electronic cable and hyrdaulic line routing is clean. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The Domane has a clever built-in chain keeper. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Trek making the leap to thru axles on its road bikes is a great sign. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Don’t mind the Zipp stem — the stock Bontrager stem was a bit short for our tester and the Zipp was a handy swap. Shimano’s R785 levers feel the same as a Di2 lever, and match up well with modern compact-drop bars. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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Plastic cages: good enough for Cancellara at Roubaix, good enough for us. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The Bontrager Affinity rims could be wider, as could the 25mm R3 tires. This bike is begging for some wider rubber, and there’s plenty of tire clearance. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com
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The Domane Disc wants dirt. It wants lots of dirt. Photo:Brad Kaminski | VeloNews.com

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