Trek Checkout | Dropbars And Suspension

Some might think of Trek being rather conservative when it comes to pushing bike design, but historically, it’s quite the opposite. Let’s not forget that Gary Fisher, a member of the Trek team, introduced the first 29er bike to the mass market in 1999. The launch of the Trek CheckOUT SL might just be the boldest move we have seen from Trek this decade, and it’s sure to spark some debate online and in bike shops worldwide.

We don’t have one in our hot little hands just yet, and the FlowHQ office is divided on its use case, but let’s dive into the details and explore what the CheckOut SL is all about.

What on earth is the Trek CheckOUT SL?

Simply put, it’s a drop-bar, full suspension, adventure-ready gravel bike.

Trek says it’s faster on-road than an XC bike, but more capable on singletrack and rough gravel roads than a gravel bike. Think bikepacking missions, multi-day all-terrain adventure rides, or week-long bikepacking races like the Hunt 1000, the Tassie Gift, or the Tour Divide. Maybe even something like the Leadville 100. 

Frame Features

Up front, the CheckOUT SL sports the brand new Rockshox Rudy XL, which delivers 60mm of travel and should delete trail chatter in the process. While it looks rather similar to the older Rudy XPLR fork first released in 2021, it bumps the travel up from 30-40mm to 50-60mm, improves tyre clearance to a beefy 2.2in, and is paired with a Charger Race Day 2 damper.

To match the suspension up front, the CheckOUT SL has 55mm of rear wheel travel out back. This is made possible by a linkage-driven single-pivot flex-stay suspension design paired with a RockShox SIDLuxe 170×27.5mm rear shock. Of course, Trek isn’t the first brand to dabble in full suspension gravel bikes. Niner launched the MCR (Magic Carpet Ride) in 2019, with a traditional linkage and airshock, and there have also been bikes like the Specialized Diverge STR that utilised a dual seatube that is designed to be VERY flexy and a damper to control said flex.

The frame is only available in the brand’s 500 series OCLV carbon fibre, which has been put through the wringer and tested to MTB standards. There is plenty of tyre clearance, with up to 56mm (2.2in) compatibility. This will suit riders chasing that extra bit of compliance which high-volume tyres at lower pressures can provide. There’s plenty of guarding on the downtube to protect it from rocks and trail debris, along with generous chainstay protection to quiet any chain slap.

Routing is completely internal, although Trek says it can be run externally in a pinch. The ‘Multi-Mount’ plate (more on that in a minute) doubles as an external routing clamp, but cables would need to be zip-tied to the chainstay. Realistically, all internally routed frames could be run externally if there was no other option, with some ingenuity, zip-ties, and sticky tape. But kudos to Trek for highlighting this in the first place.

Gear Storage

Taking inspiration from traditional bikepacking rigs, the CheckOUT SL sports a myriad of gear storage options that truly distinguish it from gravel and XC bikes.

Trek has engineered a rear rack specifically for the CheckOUT SL, with an in-built linkage to allow for suspension movement. It mounts directly to the rear swingarm near the dropout, and to the seat tube near the shock mount — no loose clamps or wiggly bags over here. Trek has even lowered the rack as far as practical to drop the centre of mass, improve bike handling, and prevent bag movement. Even better, it works with a dropper post, making it easy to get that seat out of the way for when things get rowdy.

On the downtube, there’s a new ‘Multi-Mount’, allowing riders to strap their own bags and position gear within the front triangle to suit their needs. Or suppose riders prefer a more sleek approach. In that case, Trek has collaborated with bag manufacturer Topo Designs to develop a custom, high-end frame bag, with both the fit and aesthetic that perfectly match the CheckOUT SL.

There’s no shortage of mounts across the CheckOUT SL frame, too. Here is a quickfire list:

• Two on top of the toptube
• Seven on top of the downtube
• Three on the seattube
• Three on the underside of the downtube (Sizes ML and up)

Who is the Trek CheckOUT SL for?

It’s certainly not for everyone, but for a niche group of riders, this might be the perfect tool for the job.

We can see this being an attractive choice for riders who want one bike that’s fast, versatile, adventure-ready, stable off-road, and can carry loads of gear.

“Just buy an XC bike” — says everybody on the internet. While we partly agree, this amalgamation of the humble gravel bike with the zippy dual-suspension XC whip does pose some key differences that may be attractive to some.

Compared to Trek’s own Checkpoint SL, the CheckOUT SL aims to be:

• More capable and confident in rough terrain
• More comfortable
• Features greater tyre clearance for higher volume rubber
• An abundance of gear storage options, all of which work with a dropper post
• The upright geometry will be more comfortable on longer days

Or compared to the XC-oriented Trek Procaliber or Supercaliber, the CheckOUT SL aims to be:

• Faster and more efficient on paved and gravel roads
• Features integrated storage capabilities, designed to work with dropper posts
• Larger front triangle for increased frame-bag storage
• It is compatible with both road and MTB wheels, increasing its overall versatility

Geometry & Sizing

While the CheckOUT SL appears to be a 50/50 blend of a gravel bike and XC whip, the geometry remains heavily biased towards the gravel side. That being said, some differences tailor the CheckOUT SL to its intended use.

Compared to Checkpoint SL, CheckOUT SL features a longer reach and higher stack, which improve stability and overall comfort. That doesn’t quite land it in XC geometry territory, though, as it sports a more upright and rearward body position to save your back on longer rides.

As for sizing, there are five sizes in the lineup, ranging from the typical small to extra-large, with the addition of a ‘medium-large’ squeezed in the middle.

Models & Pricing

At the time of launch, two models will be available in Australia. Both models share the same 500 series OCLV carbon frame, Rockshox Rudy XL fork, and features throughout.

Pricing starts at $6,999.99 AUD for the CheckOUT SL 5 model, which is fitted with a Shimano GRX 1×12 drivetrain, a TransX dropper post, and the brand’s in-house Bontrager Paradigm Comp 25 aluminium wheels.

The CheckOUT SL 7 AXS gets the fully wireless treatment, with a SRAM Force ‘mullet’ drivetrain, consisting of SRAM Force shifters, brakes, and crank, paired with an SRAM X0 Transmission derailleur and 10-52t cassette.

It’s finished off with a wireless Rockshox Reverb AXS dropper post, and the same Bontrager Paradigm Comp 25 aluminium wheels, and will punch a $10,999.99 AUD-sized hole in your wallet.