Just announced, the new Trek Checkpoint SL Gen 3 has been updated with more upright geometry, improved carrying capacity, and clearance for 700 x 50mm tires. Dig into all the details on that and Trek’s new Adventure Bag lineup here…

The Checkpoint is Trek’s flagship gravel bike, available with either an aluminum frame (Checkpoint ALR) or a lightweight carbon frame, but it has always tipped slightly toward the racier side of gravel riding. Announced today, Trek has expanded the Checkpoint lineup with the new Checkpoint SL Gen 3 series, which builds on the Gen 2 lineup and offers promising features that make it the most bikepacking-friendly Checkpoint yet.

So, what’s different? According to Trek, the Checkpoint SL Gen 3 is the most comfortable SL model yet. It features their new Gravel Endurance geometry, centered around a more upright riding position and shorter reach that should be better suited for long, multi-day rides. It has the most tire clearance we’ve seen from a Checkpoint to date, with room for 700 x 50mm tires. The internal downtube frame storage area has been enlarged, there are now mounts for both front and rear racks, and the frame has been optimized to fit bigger bottles and more gear. It’s also compatible with short-travel gravel suspension forks and has internal dropper post routing.

Checkpoint SL Gen 3

The Checkpoint SL Gen 3 still has three-pack fork mounts, Trek’s IsoSpeed vibration dampener at the top tube/seat tube junction, and comes equipped with a matching carbon fork. The frame and fork both feature thru-axles, the frame has a T47 threaded bottom bracket, and flat mount disc brakes are used front and back. The Checkpoint SL Gen 3 comes in three complete build options, each with two color options and six frame sizes, which you can check out below.

Trek Checkpoint SL Gen 3 Geometry

Frame Size 49/XS 52/S 54/M 56/ML 58/L 61/XL
Top tube (effective) 536 547 566 578 589 601
Seat tube 445 480 505 530 550 575
Seat tube angle 74 74 73.3 73.3 73.3 73.3
Head tube length 86 106 130 151 171 191
Head tube angle 71 71.4 71.6 72 72.1 72.4
BB drop 76 76 76 76 76 76
Chainstay 430 430 430 430 430 430
Wheelbase 1013 1022 1034 1042 1052 1062
Standover height 746 772 799 813 837 861
Stack 535 556 579 601 620 640
Reach 380 386 391 397 402 408

Checkpoint SL 5 Gen 3

The Checkpoint SL 5 Gen 3 is the most affordable in the lineup and comes equipped with a wireless 12-speed SRAM Apex XPLR AXS drivetrain, Bontrager Paradigm SL wheels, 700 x 42mm Bontrager Girona tires, and the size medium weighs 20.95 pounds (9.50 kilograms). The SL 5 Gen 3 costs $3,199.99 and comes in two color options: Trek Black/Matte Carbon Smoke and Lava/Black Olive.

  • Checkpoint SL Gen 3
  • Checkpoint SL Gen 3

Checkpoint SL 6 Gen 3

The mid-range SL 6 Gen 3 features a SRAM Rival AXS wireless 12-speed groupset, Bontrager Paradigm Comp wheels, 700 x 42mm Bontrager Girona tires, and an upgraded carbon seatpost. The size medium weighs 20.73 pounds (9.40 kilograms) and costs $3,999.99. It comes in two color options: Matte Hex Blue/Marianas Blue and White Prismatic.

  • Checkpoint SL Gen 3
  • Checkpoint SL Gen 3

Checkpoint SL 7 Gen 3

The top-end Checkpoint SL 7 Gen 3 features a SRAM Force AXS D2 drivetrain, carbon Bontrager Aeolus Elite 35V wheels, carbon seatpost, and Bontrager’s pro-level stem and handlebar. It’s the lightest build at 19.85 pounds (9.00 kilograms), costs $5,699.99, and comes in two color options: Bronze Age/Carbon Smoke Matte and Baja Yellow Matte/Drab Olive Matte.

  • Checkpoint SL Gen 3
  • Checkpoint SL Gen 3

Checkpoint SL Gen 3 Frameset

The Checkpoint SL Gen 3 is also available as a frameset only $2,399.99. The frame weighs 1,385 grams and the fork weighs 536 grams.

Checkpoint SL Gen 3

Learn more about the entire Checkpoint lineup at TrekBikes.com or head into your local dealer.

Trek Adventure Bags

Alongside the launch of the new Checkpoint SL Gen 3 is a small lineup of bike bags designed specifically to fit the Checkpoint. The collection includes a half frame bag, wedge-shaped frame bag, and a top tube bag. Both frame bags come in a variety of sizes and include Trek’s thumb screws for easy bolt-on attachment. All the bags are construction from an Ultragrid Ripstop material made from recycled pre-consumer nylon, and there are internal pockets and sleeves to organize their contents.

Trek Adventure Bags
  • Trek Adventure Bags
  • Trek Adventure Bags
  • Trek Adventure Bags

Prices range from $49 to $129 USD, and the bags can be found at TrekBikes.com.

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

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