Trek Checkpoint SL 7 gravel bike review: Too specific or just right?

Trek’s third generation Checkpoint represents a bifurcation of Trek’s gravel line: the Checkmate is the race bike, and the Checkpoint is now the adventure/all-around gravel bike.

Is that too fine of a divide?

After months of testing, I tell you what I appreciate, what’s not a great fit for me, and how it compares to other gravel bikes out there.

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Gear I use for shooting (not sponsored!):

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The Ride is supported in 2025 by:

[rug]

Really starting to like this bike.
Happy to see you back out riding. Hoping for your full recovery soon!

[DJLaFontsee]

Road bikes have been split into race bikes and endurance bikes for decades to cater to different customers. Don’t see why gravel bikes shouldn’t be the same! More bikes for more bodies is always a good thing

[njlillegard]

I've got the previous gen SL7 and share the same positive vibes on these features. Downtube storage = never leaving the house without the minimum tools for a flat. Integrated bag = storage for heavy-duty rain gear or dry gloves, hats, etc. in the winter (I'm in Oregon). All the mounts make this a great winter/commuter bike and an awesome gravel/bikepacker in the summer/fall.
I crashed, broke a rib, tore a rotator cuff 12/1 and have been humbled by the recovery process also. Thanks Ben for keeping the inspiration flowing.

[davidray]

Thanks Ben! You are one of my favorite reviewers on YT. I appreciate all that you do on your channel.

[sascha]

Happy New Year Ben! Echoing others here in wishing you a speedy and full recovery. I dislocated my right shoulder in June last year during a minor bike accident. After some rest, a few weeks of physio and slowly progressing through some light weight gym work over several months, my should has now recovered about 95% of its full movement/range. Takes time but you will get there. All the best and looking forward to following you in 2025.

[ewanmackenzie]

Awesome video Ben, Thanks for putting that together, also checked out the gear calculator, that is fantastic, thanks for sharing. Quit procrastinating on the shoulder rehab, the longer you leave it, the longer and harder the it takes to mend (been there done that!). Keep up the great work. wishing you all the very best for 2025.

[richb]

Those drop bar Bar Mits are a game changer! Now I just need some for my feet

[Charliedid]

Nice write up as usual Ben, mine will be here around March. I didn't read all the comments but flip that internal storage bag and push it up into the frame with the tab end down. Mucho easier. Ride on...

[chrisjong]

Great new concept of the video, and great to see you have a new sponsor

[WeberWoodworking]

Happy New Year, and welcome back! I've had my Checkpoint SL6 for about 6 weeks / 400 miles. I really enjoy the bike as a gravel/winter/travel bike. I did swap out to a smaller Force power crankset, some Hunt Gravel 35 carbon wheels, Pirelli Cinturato Gravel M 45mm tires, 10mm longer stem, and a SLR saddle. Bike rides great, tires and wheels added some zip and handle my terrain better. Gearing works for me, but I'm in flat Indiana. Love the Blendr system for mounts, and internal storage is better than my Domane. As you noted the handlebar is nice, I had expected to upgrade, but ended up keeping it. Also currently running full fenders for the winter. The Checkpoints seem to run a little big, so I did size down from a 60 to a 58 (Large). I think Trek really checked all the boxes, it's a great bike with tons of flexibility and features, at a somewhat reasonable price point.

[frazergoodwin]

I ride a gen2 Trek Checkpoint - built a SL frameset up with Pro discover carbon bars and a GRX Di2 two by 11 speed group set - that does give me the gear range needed. Father Christmas also dropped off some DT Swiss GRC 1400 50mm deep carbon wheels for it too (running Pathfinder 42mm tires on them). I would like the small changes of the Gen 3 compared to mine, but I am so happy with it that I'll stick with my Gen2. And having done 12000+km on it bikepacking Denmark, the Baltic, across Sweden and the Netherlands (twice) I have definitely used it as a bikepacking rig!

[whichwayiszigzag]

Nice to see you back on the bike and fully recovered (maybe that already happened, but I just noticed)!

[bradleytillotson]

Dude! Your poor shoulder. I hope it gets better soon. Great review. I really want to get a gravel bike this year. many options.

[danielwardAUS]

Great review Ben, the storage bags have been improved now, I am surprised yours didn't have the new ones. They are now split in to two, one for a tube, one for all your tools. They work a lot better and are easier to get in & out

[jmdrstv]

There is likely Velcro on the seat tube portion of the bag so the lug insert doesn’t interfere with seat post insertion. My custom Ti bike has a stud there for this reason. Salsa has had those thumb screws for years and they are a sweet option. Hard to effectively wrench inside a bag.

Great content as always!

[dheerajnair]

Picked up the frame only option the day it released and fitted it with 2x GRX, redshift stem and 9velo gravel wheels. Love it so far with no complaints! Happy to hear in your video that it can support 2.2 tires. Curious to try Race Kings on it.

[shaldivad]

If it's cold enough, I'll be rocking the bar mitts for Old Man Winter this year! Better to look dorky than to feel frozen.

[fraji]

Thanks for the review Ben. I hope the shoulder problem is better. I bought this bike, same color. I have a 52 Eagle transmission in the back Whiskey carbon handlebar, 47 Pathfinders, and swapped the carbon wheels for the Bontrager Aeolus Pro 3v’s. Where is my bike? At the bike shop for more than a month. Why? It’s been too cold out to ride, today it’s 27. Also if my wife sees it, I’m 100 % done for sure. Trying to secure a storage location (garage) near a trail LOL! Once I sell two of my bikes I can bring her home. She is beautiful. The color is much nicer in person. I’m indoors now and have a Niner I can jump on in the interim. Be safe out there Ben. 2025 is gonna be sweet.

[flamencoguru]

Thanks for the honest review. I'm not a fan of downtube storage in general... I'm not into the wrestling matches with the downtube. All in all, pretty sweet looking machine.

[BeardedLerWD]

Looking to buy the SL5 in a couple months, thanks for the timely review. As someone who lives in the foothills of the coast range here in Oregon gear-range is my biggest "concern".