Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS

The "Checkpoint SL 7 AXS" model from the Trek brand from 2023 is a high-quality gravel bike that is characterised by its advanced technology and excellent equipment. With a price tag of EUR 6899, this bike offers an impressive combination of performance and versatility.

The frame of the Checkpoint SL 7 AXS is made from 500 Series OCLV Carbon and features IsoSpeed technology for increased compliance and comfort. The internal cable routing and down tube storage compartment contribute to a tidy appearance, while the 3S chain guide and T47 bottom bracket ensure reliable and efficient power transmission. The frame also has luggage rack and mudguard eyelets as well as integrated fastening elements for a frame bag, which increases the versatility of the bike. The flat mount disc brake mount and compatibility with a variable seat post round off the well thought-out design. The permissible total weight is 125 kg, while the bike itself weighs just 8 kg.

The brakes on the Checkpoint SL 7 AXS consist of hydraulic disc brakes from the SRAM Force AXS series, which are equipped with SRAM CenterLine X discs (160 mm) at both the front and rear. These brakes offer excellent braking performance and control in a variety of conditions. The shift lever is also a SRAM Force eTap AXS, which enables precise and wireless 12-speed shifting. The front derailleur is a SRAM Force eTap AXS in the wide braze-on version.

The fork is made of full carbon fibre and is equipped with a tapered carbon steerer and mounts for pannier racks and mudguards. The crankset is a SRAM Force with 43/30 teeth and a crank arm length of 172.5 mm. The sprocket is a SRAM XG-1270 with a gradation of 10-36 teeth, which offers a wide range of gears.

The bike's cockpit consists of a Bontrager Elite Gravel handlebar with a width of 42 cm and a Bontrager Pro stem, which is Blendr-compatible and has a length of 90 mm and an angle of 7 degrees. The tyres are Bontrager GR1 Team Issue in size 700 x 40 mm, which provide excellent grip and comfort. The wheelset consists of Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3V OCLV carbon rims, which are tubeless-ready and have an inner width of 25 mm.

The saddle is a Bontrager Verse Comp with steel stays and a width of 145 mm, mounted on a Bontrager carbon seatpost with a diameter of 27.2 mm and an offset of 8 mm. The packaging dimensions are 23 mm in width, 118 mm in height and 201 mm in length.

The geometry of the bike includes a reach of 41 mm, a stack of 59 mm, a seat tube length of 56 mm, a top tube length of 58 mm, a head tube angle of 72 degrees, a seat tube angle of 73 degrees, a head tube length of 14 mm, a chainstay length of 44 mm, a standover height of 81 mm and a wheelbase of 105 mm.

To summarise, the Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS offers first-class equipment and well thought-out details that make it an ideal companion for demanding gravel adventures.