With the launch of the new Trek Checkmate SLR, the Waterloo, Wisc., bike company has come out with a new top-end gravel racer. The move means the Checkmate will replace the second-generation Checkpoint SLR as Trek’s light, fast bike for big events like Unbound Gravel.

The release of a new bike marks another significant lineup change by Trek this year. In June, the company cut its lightweight road bike, the Émonda, when it released the Madone Gen 8. The aero bike, which had always carried more grams than the climber’s bike, had become light enough to put the Émonda out of a job, so to speak. On the gravel side, it seems that a bike that shares some of the new Madone’s qualities is worthy of a whole new name.

The Checkpoint, however, does live on. Trek has also launched the third-generation of Checkpoint SL. Both of the new bikes have specific strengths when it comes to the varied discipline of gravel.

The Trek Checkmate SLR frame: Madone-ification of a gravel bike

Trek built the Checkmate SLR frame with its 800 Series OCLV carbon-fibre formula. Before the June launch of the Madone—which is made with 900 Series carbon fibre—the 800 Series was Trek’s highest level of composite. Also remember, the company’s previous top gravel bike, the Checkpoint SLR, used 700 Series. Trek says the new Checkmate is about 450 g lighter than the old Checkpoint SLR.

The new Checkmate frame puts you in a more aggressive riding position. It’s quite road-bike-like. Another feature from the road is the one-piece bar/stem. The Trek Aero RSL Road integrated bar/stem is the same as that of the Madone Gen 8. The tops of the bar are thick enough to make them comfortable to hold. Their shape also conditions the air so that it’s moving well once it encounters your legs. The bar is narrower at the hoods compared with the hooks. There’s a difference of 3 cm. Below, in the section about my first impression of the Checkmate, I discuss how suited this integrated bar/stem setup is to gravel riding.

The Checkmate’s tube shapes also draw from the Madone Gen 8. Both bikes were designed with Trek’s full system foil approach to aerodynamics. Designers and engineers didn’t look at airflow around each section of the bike in isolation, but how air moved around the whole: wheels, sections of the frame and fork, and rider. They saw everything working together like one airfoil. The result of that process: not all tubes sport an obviously aero shape. For example, the down tube near the bottom bracket is quite blunt because the air that comes at it is already conditioned by the front wheel ahead of it. The fork and head tube, parts that hit the air head-on, are more streamlined. Trek says that the Checkmate’s aero gains make it five minutes and 54 seconds faster than the Checkpoint SLR. This figure is based on a comparison of the two frames on Unbound’s 200-mile course at 200 W.

Trek Checkmate SLR tire clearance

My early test bike is the Checkmate SLR 9 AXS. The official spec has 38-mm Bontrager Girona tires on its wheels. On my bike, the Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37V hoops sport 40-mm Bontrager GR1 Team Issue tires. That’s the rubber that belongs on the SLR 7 AXS. (The top-end wheels are correct.) The GR1s are slightly slower tires with more traction than the Gironas. On the SRL 9’s wheels, the GR1 Team Issues measure out to about 41 mm from outer side knob to outer side knob and 42 mm from sidewall to sidewall. The maximum tire clearance for the frame and fork is 45 mm, which is the same as the previous Checkpoint models. If you want room for more rubber, look to the new Checkpoint Gen 3. (More on the Checkpoint below.)

Trek Adventure bags and other storage options

With the launch of the new Checkmate and Checkpoint, Trek is also debuting some new bags: the Adventure top tube bag, Adventure frame bag and Adventure triangle bag. Since the new gravel bikes come with many mounting bolts, these bags, with bolt holes, can attach without the use of straps. That’s a fantastic feature because, frankly, straps aren’t great and can cause wear on a fancy painted carbon-fibre frame. If you like these bags and don’t have the necessary mounts on your frame, well, the bags do come with straps, too.

I also really dig how the frame and triangle bags have a tan fabric on the inside. Non-black colours should be essential on the inside of bags to make finding small black hex keys much, much easier. I also appreciate the added help Trek has provided for sizing bags: see the compatibility chart below. Also, if your gravel bike doesn’t have “Check” in the name, you can use printable sizing templates to see if a frame or triangle bag will work with your frame.

The new Checkpoint retains its internal storage compartment in the down tube. In fact, it’s bigger. There’s a large storage door and more space available within the down tube. The Checkmate doesn’t have this feature. Also, the Checkpoint can run a rear rack, while the performance-focused frame can’t.

Both frames are able to take fenders. I’m not surprised that the Checkpoint has that feature, but it’s curious that the Checkmate is ready for mud guards. Don’t get me wrong. I’m really into fenders and versatile frames in general. I’m just not sure how many Checkmate riders, those focused on speed, would opt for splatter protection.

Bag	Price
Trek Adventure frame bag	$175
Trek Adventure triangle bag	$115
Trek Adventure top tube bag	$70

The new Trek Checkpoint SL Gen 3

With the Checkmate SLR now replacing the Checkpoint SRL as the fast gravel racer, the Checkpoint SL finds itself with expanded features and duties. The Checkpoint SL is primarily for going anywhere you want to go with pretty much the setup of your choice. As I mentioned, you can load up the frame with bags and a rear rack. The new Checkpoint also has mounts on the fork for even more carrying capacity.

The frame is made with 500 Series OCLV Carbon, which allows designers to keep the bike’s cost a bit lower, but makes it a bit heavier. Its new geometry, called Gravel Endurance, puts you in a position that will let you stay comfortable throughout long rides. The Checkpoint can take a dropper post, as well as a suspension fork with 40 mm of travel. (Sorry size XS riders, your frame can’t accommodate the suspension.) There’s clearance for tires as wide as 50 mm.

The Checkpoint SL 5 AXS and 6 AXS have the alloy GR Elite handlebar, while the SL 7 AXS runs the carbon GR Pro handlebar. With 15 degrees of flare, both bars are 6 cm wider at the drops than the hoods, giving you excellent control, especially on descents.

Canadian pricing of the Trek Checkmate SLR and Trek Checkpoint SL

Model of gravel bike	Key spec	Price
Trek Checkmate SLR 9 AXS	SRAM Red XPLR with power meter, Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37V wheels	$17,000
Trek Checkmate SLR 7 AXS	SRAM Force AXS with power meter, Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37V wheels	$11,400
Trek Checkmate SLR frameset	n/a	$5,500
Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3	SRAM Force AXS, Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35V wheels	$8,000
Trek Checkpoint SL 6 AXS Gen 3	SRAM Rival AXS, Bontrager Paradigm Comp 25 wheels	$5,200
Trek Checkpoint SL 5 AXS Gen 3	SRAM Apex AXS, Bontrager Paradigm SL wheels	$4,300
Trek Checkpoint SL Gen 3 frameset	n/a	$2,400

First ride impressions of the Trek Checkmate SLR 9 AXS

Since Trek has moved to T-shirt sizing for its bikes (XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL) I’m still finding my way somewhat when it comes to choosing a frame. Traditionally, I’m a size 54. When I reviewed Trek’s new Madone, I went with size M/L (stack: 562 mm; reach: 389 mm; stem: 100 mm). The geometry of M/L Madone was just right for me; it got me low, aero in a setup that worked throughout long distances. According to the Checkmate’s pre-launch geometry charts, the size M/L gravel bike has a 584-mm stack and a 399-mm reach. With the M/L Checkmate numbers a bit larger, I thought I’d be too stretched out on the gravel bike. For riding rougher terrain, I don’t mind being a little more compact, so I went for the size M Checkmate—stack: 560 mm; reach: 392 mm. (I’m 176-cm tall, if you want to compare fits.) For that frame, I needed the longer seatpost so I could get my saddle height to the 75-to-76-cm range. Whew. In the end I feel I made the right choice. Still, if a M/L Checkmate ever crosses my path, I’d want to check it out, mate. (I made this far without a play on the name. You’ll notice that my gambit was to avoid chess puns.)

Trek’s new gravel bike is fast. From the first few pedal strokes, I felt how stiff the frame was, channelling my power forward. The steering is agile, but I’m not yet convinced this bike would excel on twisty, technical stuff. You see, my test bike, the Trek Checkmate SLR 9 AXS, comes with the same bar/stem combo I rode on the Madone I tested. It has a width of 39 cm from hood to hood and 42 cm from hook to hook. That setup is great for charging ahead on the flat sideroads and concessions in my area. When I’m truly in the woods, on trails, a bit more width in the bars would offer better control. If I’m not mistaken, the official spec indicates that the Checkmate should come with wider bars, which would improve the handling on the twisty stuff. I’m going to keep testing the bike on roads and trails to see if the behaviour of the narrower bars becomes something I get used to, or if I’ll continue to want a bit more width.

While the bike is race-rigid, its IsoSpeed technology—the vibration dampening feature that holds the seatpost—does a good job of keeping me comfortable over persistent surface chatter. Unlike the IsoSpeed on the second-generation Checkpoint, the latest tech, on both the Checkmate and new Checkpoint, is slightly more exposed. IsoSpeed is not something you’d perform regular maintenance on, but if it needs an overhaul, it seems much easier to get at it than on the previous models of Trek’s gravel bikes.

Trek’s posted weight for an M/L Trek Checkmate SLR 9 AXS is 7.55 kg. My medium model, one that runs slightly wider tires, weighed in at 7.67 kg. That’s still wicked light for a gravel bike. The Madone I tested was 7.62 kg. The new SRAM Red XPLR groupset doesn’t add much weight. The hoods on its levers are quite long, so I have another reason for going with the size M frame to get into the position I prefer for riding gravel. The bike has a 42-tooth chainring and a 13-cog cassette that runs from 10 to 46 tooth. That’s a great range that allows me to move at a good clip on the flats and spin up all but the craziest inclines.

With the release of the Checkmate, Trek has upped its game with this new high-performance gravel bike. It’s designed to be at the front of races. While I haven’t had a chance to race it (yet), it’s fun taking advantage of its speed on all kinds of surfaces.