Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 first ride review

As gravel cycling and racing matures so does Trek’s gravel bike range with the addition of the Checkmate – its dedicated gravel race bike. With this new bike, Trek’s longstanding Checkpoint moves towards the adventure end of gravel riding.

Revamped endurance geometry, an optimised frame for increased storage and tyre clearance states the Checkpoint’s intentions.

While it might move away from an all-out racing brief, the Checkpoint still feels eager to eat up mile after mile and responds well to bursts of speed.

I tested the SRAM Force AXS-equipped Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3, which comes in at £6,350 / $5,699.99 / €6,499 (AU pricing N/A).

Given the geometry has been optimised for longer distances, a full review wouldn’t be complete without an epic multi-day gravel ride. For now though, here are my initial impressions.

Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 first impressions

The new Trek Checkpoint is visually quite different to the outgoing model.

That’s mostly because the IsoSpeed decoupler is now proudly visible around the seat clamp area (it was hidden on the old model). 

While it’s essentially the same bump-taming system as before, the new layout looks neater and more intentional, with a touch of mountain bike design about it, with its large counter-sunk bolt. This is not a gravel bike disguised as a road bike.

As you’d expect of an adventure bike, the Checkpoint is replete with mounts, including several inside the front triangle for neat frame bag mounting. 

Despite this being a carbon-framed performance gravel bike, it retains rear rack mounts. 

This is worth celebrating because it opens opportunities for longer touring adventures with pannier bags.

While subjective, I didn’t instantly fall in love with the paint design – I actually thought it had already been ridden in mud when I saw it from afar, but it’s grown on me

This is the SL 7 AXS model, which is equipped with a SRAM Force XPLR groupset. This is a wireless electronic, gravel-specific groupset, which helps to create a clean cable-free front end.

The handlebar is new too. It’s the GR Pro model, which is only found on this top-spec SL 7 bike. 

It’s a nicely finished, carbon gravel handlebar with 15 degrees of flare giving an extra 6cm of width on the drops. It’s a comfortable bar, though I’d prefer if the end of drops were a little flatter.

The Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35V carbon wheels certainly make the bike look fast with the slightly deeper 35mm rim depth.

While they might not be truly necessary for an adventure-focused gravel bike, they look premium and finish off the bike nicely. 

Trek Checkpoint first ride impressions

My first proper gravel ride on the bike was the Bristol Green Belt 360 – a tough 100km loop around BikeRadar’s home in Bristol. While short compared to some gravel epics, its distance isn’t a true reflection of its difficulty.

With the new internal down tube storage packed with tools and an artisan cheese sandwich in the top tube bag, I joined the loop along the River Avon. 

I didn’t intend to set records but wanted a clean run with minimal stops to try and get a feel for how this bike could handle bigger rides.

The combination of the taller front end and shorter reach, in addition to the ample rear-end compliance, left me feeling comfortable and relatively fresh after several hours of riding. 

That said, while the IsoSpeed-equipped rear end does improve comfort, don’t expect it to be noticeable from the moment you jump on the bike. 

I wasn’t constantly reminded by its capability each time I rolled over a bump, but it helps calm the bike down over bigger hits.

It’s worth noting the bike I rode came fitted with 40mm Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H tyres set up tubeless. These are not standard – complete bikes will ship with 42mm wide Bontrager Girona Pro tyres, which have a comparable tread to the Pirelli tyres. 

The most challenging off-road climb on the route is near Queen Charlton. It’s a 1.7km, rock-strewn technical trail which averages 3.2 per cent, meaning it’s relatively fast-paced providing you keep your wits about you. 

Here, the drawbacks of shorter frame reach were revealed when I smashed my knee into the stem. This only happened once, and I was pushing hard on the pedals out of the saddle, but I’ve never experienced this before during a ride. 

Of course, those with a less bandy pedalling style or shorter legs may not experience this, but it bears mentioning. 

The integrated frame storage is genuinely useful. I packed a small multitool, CO2, tubeless repair plugs, a spare TPU inner tube and tyre levers. The lever, which opens the storage compartment provides quick and easy access. 

Trek claims the bike now accommodates larger bottles too. This is a welcome change, particularly on smaller frames where a frame bag can limit bottle size.

The wheels are impressive with fast-engaging freehubs and mid-depth rims that make the bike look and feel fast.

Trek Checkpoint SL 7 AXS Gen 3 bottom line

The 2025 Trek Checkpoint SL 7 is still an incredibly versatile gravel bike. 

Its many accessory mounting options rivals similarly adventure-focused gravel bikes, as does its on-trend tyre clearance and in-frame storage. 

The increased bottle capacity might be a happy side effect of the updated geometry, but it's a nice detail that will appeal to experienced bikepackers.

My initial ride didn't make full use of those practical features but, clearly, the potential is there. 

Despite its admirable practicality, the Checkpoint is no slouch, even though it lacks the longer, lower position of gravel race bikes. 

It’s fun, efficient and comfortable, and early impressions suggest it should be on your shortlist if you’re after a go-fast do-it-all gravel platform.