Trek has introduced the arrival of an all-new gravel race bike referred to as the Checkmate SLR alongside an replace to the prevailing Checkpoint SL.
The Checkmate SLR sports activities plenty of design cues from the model’s aero street bike the Madone with the identical Full System Foil strategy in addition to borrowing the Madone’s aero cockpit.
Meanwhile, its launch as a gravel race bike has allowed the Checkpoint SL to move in direction of the extra adventurous finish of the gravel spectrum. It encompasses a new extra relaxed geometry together with a bunch of mounting factors and room for 50mm tyres, all of which level to the gravel endurance intentions of the up to date mannequin.
Both the Checkmate SLR and Checkpoint SL enlist Trek’s IsoSpeed expertise to assist scale back the influence of high-frequency vibrations on a trip. Along with the brand new bikes, Trek has additionally launched a set of bikepacking baggage which can be appropriate with each the Checkmate SLR and the Checkpoint SL. The vary consists of a high tube bag, body bag and an aero triangle bag that sits simply behind the headtube.
Updates to the Checkpoint SL
The Checkpoint, now in its third era, has all the time been Trek’s do-it-all resolution in the case of gravel using, however with the Checkmate taking over racing duties, the Checkpoint SL receives a brand new geometry that Trek says is, “extra comfy and succesful for all-day gravel rides.”
This has been achieved by lowering the attain and growing the stack of the entrance finish, placing riders in a extra upright place.
The Checkpoint SL collection makes use of the model’s OCLV 500 collection carbon fibre, the choice to stay with 500 collection carbon reasonably than utilizing the model’s extra premium 600 or 800 collection was made to scale back prices and maintain the general pricing of the bike aggressive within the gravel market.
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Trek has additionally given it new tube profiles to permit taller bottles to be housed contained in the entrance triangle. This once more reveals the transfer to an endurance-focused mile-munching bike aimed toward journey reasonably than flat-out racing.
It isn’t just the frameset that’s new, Trek has additionally launched a set of bikepacking baggage designed particularly for the Checkpoint and Checkmate bikes. This paired with the Checkpoint’s new inside body storage contained in the downtube, much like that discovered on the Domane SLR 9 we reviewed final 12 months, means that you can transfer all your spares, repairs and snacks onto the bike preserving you free and lightweight to maneuver round on the bike much less restricted.
The Checkpoint sees its most tyre width enhance from 45mm on the 2nd gen mannequin as much as 50mm on this new third era. This opens up the just about complete spectrum of gravel tyres in the marketplace, permitting riders to run decrease stress, greater quantity tyres for rides the place consolation is a precedence of the place the terrain goes to be on the more difficult facet.
In the hunt for elevated consolation, Trek has created two new cockpits for the Checkpoint SL. The SL5 and SL6 come fitted with the GR Elite bar whereas the range-topping SL7 receives a carbon GR professional bar. Both the Elite and Pro bars characteristic the identical profile that has a brand new form with an elevated flare between the hoods and drops, now sitting at 6cm. This goals to present the rider a extra secure using place when on the drops growing management in addition to consolation. For sizes small and upwards the brand new Checkpoint SL is appropriate with each a dropper publish and suspension forks with as much as 40mm of journey.
Checkpoint SL fashions and pricing
There are three fashions throughout the Checkpoint SL vary, beginning with the SL5 and topping out with the SL7. All the bikes characteristic the identical 500 collection OCLV carbon fibre body with the SL5 and SL6 utilizing an aluminium bar to scale back price while the SL7 receives a carbon bar.
Checkpoint SL5
- SRAM Apex1 XPLR AXS 1×12 groupset
- Bontrager Girona RSL 42mm tyres
- Bontrager Elite Gravel bar 40cm width
- £3,700 / €4,059 / $3,199.99
Checkpoint SL6
- SRAM Rival XPLR AXS 1×12 groupset
- Bontrager Girona RSL 42mm tyres
- Bontrager Elite Gravel bar 40cm width
- £4,500 / €4,659 / $3,999.99
Checkpoint SL7
- SRAM Force XPLR AXS 1×12
- Bontrager Girona RSL 42mm tyres
- Bontrager Pro Gravel carbon bar 46cm width
- £6,350 / €6,559 / $5,699
The all-new Checkmate SLR
Earning the model’s accolade as its lightest gravel bike ever, the gravel race bike intentions of the Checkmate are clear from the off with the Checkmate SLR shedding one pound (445 grams) of weight from the outgoing Checkpoint SLR. This has been partly achieved via using the model’s premium OCLV 800 Series carbon fibre.
It isn’t just weight that has been a focus of the Checkmate. Aerodynamics have additionally been the centre of consideration. Upon inspection, it turns into clear simply how a lot the Checkmate has borrowed from its road-going cousin, the Madone SLR. The Checkmate makes use of Trek’s Full System Foil Technology which we first noticed debuted on the Gen 8 Madone that got here out forward of this 12 months’s Tour de France. This idea appears to be like at creating an aerodynamic bundle together with the rider and gear akin to bottles reasonably than wanting on the bike in isolation.
When this new aero-optimised frameset is partnered with the bike’s ‘Gravel Race’ geometry that places the rider in a ‘extra aggressive and environment friendly using place’, the overall system is considerably extra aerodynamic than the Checkpoint SLR it replaces.
Based on Trek’s testing, the Checkmate SLR ridden at 200 watts at Unbound 200 would full the course 5 minutes and 54 seconds sooner. Of course, as velocity or energy will increase above this take a look at wattage, the profit would develop.
As a part of bettering the bike’s aerodynamics Trek has enlisted the identical aero cockpit that’s discovered on the brand new Gen 8 Madone SLR. These characteristic a three-centimetre flare from the hoods to the drops to assist with management and luxury, and are narrower than the bars discovered on the Checkpoint SL which targets consolation as its main goal.
The tyre clearance of the Checkmate SLR is a bit more modest than discovered on the Checkpoint SL. Coming fitted with 38mm tyres as commonplace, it could actually accommodate as much as a 45mm tyre.
The Checkmate SLR can be accessible via the model’s Project One service the place the bike’s spec and paint scheme may be customised to your exacting necessities.
Checkmate SLR fashions and pricing
The Checkpoint SLR is at present accessible in two builds the SLR 7 and SLR 9. As you may count on from an SLR-level bike, the Checkmate comes with a premium price ticket beginning at £8,500 / €8,990 / $8299.99.
Trek Checkmate SLR 7
- SRAM Force AXS 1×12 Groupset
- Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V wheelset with 25mm inside rim width
- Bontrager GR1 Team Issue 40mm tyres
- 8.10kg (Size: Medium)
- £8,500 / €8,990 / $8299.99