Trek has revamped its Checkpoint line-up, with the updated gravel bike coming in not one but three different flavours, catering for the needs of go-fast racers, rough-and-ready adventurers and riders looking for a versatile N 1.
The range starts off with the carbon fibre Checkpoint SLR. It’s designed to be light and fast, with aero-influenced tube profiles inspired by the latest Trek Emonda and is geared towards the newest niche of gravel bike racing.
There’s then the carbon Checkpoint SL, which is pitched at the long-distance gravel rider covering technical terrain, although still with an eye on racing.
The Checkpoint SLR features Trek's latest top tube IsoSpeed, while the second-tier Checkpoint SL uses the well-proven seat tube IsoSpeed.
Finally, there’s also the aluminium Checkpoint ALR, aiming to be an off-road all-rounder that can also work as a commuting bike.
In all, there are eight Checkpoint models at launch, plus two frameset-only options.
Progressive gravel geometry
Trek has also updated the geometry of the new Checkpoint.
As with modern mountain bikes, gravel bikes are getting longer and slacker to improve control. Increasing the frame's reach while shortening the stem can improve control on steep terrain, as you are less pitched over the front wheel. Slackening out the front-end can also improve stability at high speeds.
With this in mind, the Checkpoint now has a 20mm longer front-centre than the outgoing bike. The bikes are also now specced with shorter stems across the board.
On top of that, chainstay length has been increased to 435mm across all sizes, increasing the bike's wheelbase, which can also improve stability.
| | 49cm | 52cm | 54cm | 56cm | 58cm | 61cm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reach | 393 | 399 | 403 | 407 | 411 | 417 |
| Stack | 538 | 553 | 571 | 592 | 609 | 639 |
| Head angle | 71.2 | 71.6 | 71.8 | 72.2 | 72.3 | 72.6 |
| Seat angle | 74.1 | 73.7 | 73.2 | 72.8 | 72.5 | 72.1 |
| BB drop | 7.8 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.4 | 7.4 |
| Chainstays | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 | 435 |
| Wheelbase | 1,025 | 1,033 | 1,041 | 1,048 | 1,058 | 1,070 |
| Trail | 74 | 71 | 70 | 67 | 66 | 65 |
Wide tyres and all the storage
The new Checkpoint has clearance for 45mm tyres on 700c wheels or 2.1in tyres on 650b wheels.
All the bikes use Trek's T47 threaded bottom bracket standard for ease of use and compatibility.
As you’d expect for a gravel bike, there are tons of mounting points, including scope for four bottle cages on the larger-sized frames: two on the top of the down tube, one on the underside of the down tube, and one on the seat tube.
Trek has also launched a complete set of bikepacking bags to go with the new range.
The carbon fibre Checkpoint SLR and SL frames also feature integrated storage in the down tube.
Trek Checkpoint SLR
The Checkpoint SLR frameset is made of 700 Series OCLV carbon and comes with a seatmast rather than a conventional seatpost. This does mean you can’t fit a dropper post – you'll need to move down to the second-tier SL if you want the option to add a dropper.
The frame features Trek's top tube IsoSpeed to improve comfort, as found on the Domane SLR and Madone SLR. In this design, the L-shaped seatmast is braced by the top tube, with an elastomer to add damping.
However, unlike the Domane and Madone, the new Checkpoint SLR's top tube IsoSpeed isn't adjustable – instead, the amount of flex is fixed and scaled by frame size.
The Checkpoint SLR is available at four spec levels, topping out with the £11,000 ($12,000 / €12,000 / AU$16,500) Checkpoint SLR 9 eTap, decked out in SRAM’s top-spec wireless Red/XPLR groupset and Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 carbon wheels. Claimed weight is 8.1kg.
Below the SLR 9 eTap, there’s the SLR 7 eTap (£7,800) which comes with a SRAM Force eTap AXS 1x12-speed groupset, the SLR 7 (£7,650) with Shimano GRX RX815 2x11-speed Di2 and the SLR 6 eTap (£6,450) with 1x12-speed SRAM Rival eTap AXS.
All the Checkpoint SLR models below the Checkpoint SLR 9 eTap come with 25mm internal width Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V carbon wheels.
Trek Checkpoint SL
The Checkpoint SL frame is made from 500 Series OCLV carbon and has a conventional seatpost rather than the seatmast of the SLR, meaning it is compatible with a dropper post. Trek's seat tube IsoSpeed is deployed on the Checkpoint SL. Here, a decoupler isolates the seat tube from the top tube, allowing it to flex independently.
The Checkpoint SL comes in three specs. Top dog is the Checkpoint SL 7 eTap, priced at £5,750 ($6,300 / €6,000 / AU$8,000). It’s kitted out with a SRAM Force eTap AXS Wide 2x12-speed groupset and Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V carbon wheels. Claimed weight is 8.9kg.
Below the SL7 eTap comes the SL 6 eTap with a SRAM Rival eTap AXS 1x12-speed groupset (£3,750) and finally the SL 5 with Shimano GRX 2x11-speed mechanical groupset (£3,200). Both of these specs drop to alloy wheels.
There’s also the option to buy the SL frameset.
Trek Checkpoint ALR
Finally, the alloy Checkpoint ALR comes in just one spec, the ALR 5, priced at £2,250 ($2,400 / €2,399 / AU$3,200). There’s a frameset-only option, too.
The ALR frame is made from 300 Series Alpha aluminum, while the fork has an alloy steerer, rather than the all-carbon number of the higher-spec bikes.
The Checkpoint ALR comes with a 2x11-speed Shimano GRX mechanical groupset with RX600 shifters operating RX810-series derailleurs. A 46/30t chainset is paired with an 11-34t cassette, for plenty of low range grunt. Trek claims a weight of 9.75kg.
Availability of the new Checkpoint is immediate, both online and via retailers.
2022 Trek Checkpoint – selected specs and prices
Trek Checkpoint SLR 9 eTap
- Frame: 700 Series OCLV Carbon IsoSpeed
- Fork: Checkpoint carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Red eTap AXS 1x12-speed/ SRAM Red XPLR rear derailleur
- Gearing: 40t, 10-44t
- Brakes: SRAM Red eTap AXS HRD
- Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37 carbon
- Tyres: Bontrager GR1 Team Issue, 40mm
- Bar: Bontrager Pro IsoCore VR-SF
- Stem: Bontrager RSL carbon
- Saddle: Bontrager P3 Verse Pro, carbon rail
- Seatpost: Bontrager carbon seatmast cap, 5mm offset
- Sizes: 49cm, 52 cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm
- Claimed weight: 8.1kg
- Price: £11,000 / $12,000 / €12,000 / AU$16,500
Trek Checkpoint SL 7 eTap
- Frame: 500 Series OCLV Carbon IsoSpeed
- Fork: Checkpoint carbon
- Groupset: SRAM Force eTap AXS Wide 2x12-speed
- Gearing: 43/30t, 10-36t
- Brakes: SRAM Force eTap AXS HRD
- Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V carbon
- Tyres: Bontrager GR1 Team Issue, 40mm
- Bar: Bontrager Elite Gravel
- Stem: Bontrager Pro
- Saddle: Bontrager P3 Verse Comp, steel rail
- Seatpost: Bontrager carbon, 8mm offset
- Sizes: 49cm, 52 cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm
- Claimed weight: 8.9kg
- Price: £5,750 / $6,300 / €6,000 / AU$8,000
Trek Checkpoint ALR 5
- Frame: 300 Series Alpha Aluminum
- Fork: Checkpoint carbon legs/alloy steerer
- Groupset: Shimano GRX 2x11-speed, RX600 levers/ RX810 derailleurs
- Gearing: 46/30t, 11-34t
- Brakes: Shimano GRX hydraulic disc
- Wheels: Bontrager alloy
- Tyres: Bontrager GR1 Team Issue, 40mm
- Bar: Bontrager Elite Gravel
- Stem: Bontrager Elite
- Saddle: Bontrager P3 Verse Comp, steel rail
- Seatpost: Bontrager alloy, 12mm offset
- Sizes: 49cm, 52 cm, 54cm, 56cm, 58cm, 61cm
- Claimed weight: 9.75kg
- Price: £2,250 / $2,400 / €2,399 / AUD 3,200
