Trek Checkpoint & SRAM RED 13-Speed Tested
The Trek Checkpoint SL has long been a favourite among riders chasing comfort, capability, and versatility across varied terrain. For 2025, the third-generation platform quietly steps up again – more mounts, more storage, more refinement – and, in the case of our test bike, more gears.
Finished in bright white, this Checkpoint SL6 is equipped with SRAM’s new 13-speed RED XPLR AXS groupset. It’s a wireless, single-chainring setup designed specifically for gravel, and it’s loaded with clever upgrades. There’s a 10 – 46T cassette out back, paired here with a 40T up front for a huge 460% gear range. That means plenty of low-end for steep gravel climbs, and enough high-end to keep you spinning on faster, sealed stretches.
Shifting is impressively slick. The new SRAM RED derailleur features a cleaner, more compact profile, with the battery neatly tucked safely forward rather than hanging off the back. The shifters have been reshaped too, with subtle blip buttons and a more ergonomic feel. On-road or off, this setup just works – seamless and quiet under load, with a remarkably straight chain line for a wide-ranging 1x system.
Wheels on the test bike were the latest Zipp 303 Firecrest XPLR, another high-end inclusion. These are deep, ultra wide, and purpose-built for gravel. They’re 54mm deep, 32mm internal, and a whopping 40mm external.
Wrapped in 42mm rubber, they rolled fast and floated through the rougher patches. Worthy of 1000 words for themselves, these are next-level wheels and I’d keep them forever if I could … they’re simply phenomenal. Tyre-wise, the frame will accept up to 45mm, but for mixed conditions and general riding, 40mm feels like the sweet spot and sits nice and flat-sided with the wider wheels.
Framewise, the Checkpoint SL has evolved gracefully, logically and naturally. Made with Trek’s 500 Series OCLV Carbon, it retains the IsoSpeed decoupler and comes across as a smoother, more sculpted and slicker look.
Geometry has shifted slightly, with a shorter reach and taller stack that creates a more upright, all-day-comfort riding position. This is a bike purpose- designed for gravel, rail trails, touring, or just long days in the saddle.
Like most gravel frames these days, there’s a trapdoor-style storage compartment under the downtube bottle cage – a handy place for tools, snacks, or a lightweight layer. Frame mounts abound: top tube, fork, under the down tube, and front/rear rack options. It’s clearly been designed with utility in mind. Add Trek’s aero Adventure Bags (which sit neatly inside the main triangle) and the Checkpoint becomes a capable multi-day rig.
Compared to the Checkmate – Trek’s recently released race-focused gravel platform – the Checkpoint is built for versatility and comfort rather than pure speed. That said, it doesn’t feel sluggish. On an 80km loop around the roads and trails near home, it was light, lively, and confident. From paved cycleways to loose fire trail and twisty gravel, it handled everything with ease. And like a lot of later model gravel bikes, it rode surprisingly well on the smooth bitumen as well.
So far as the SRAM RED gravel-specific groupset goes, the company’s move to 13-speed might seem like a small step, but it brings real-world benefits: better gear spacing, smoother transitions, and fewer mechanical complications compared to 2x systems. And the fact that SRAM has managed to shave weight while adding a gear while also improving most aspects of the groupset is quite impressive.
Negatives – with the top-level SRAM RED this is an expensive build at up to $17,999 for the top model in custom ‘Project One’ colours. But the range is surprisingly expansive, with an alloy-framed Checkpoint available for $2,699 and the first carbon-framed model starting at $3,999.
For riders who want a one-bike solution with comfort, capability, and modern features – and who value precision and performance in their drivetrain – the new generation 3 Checkpoint range is well worth a look.
Having ridden a number of different Checkpoints over the years, the model has morphed from a pure gravel machine through to a genuine all-rounder. While the SRAM RED XPLR model with the ultra-wide Zipp 303’s AXS is pure luxury and a total dream machine, I can guarantee you’ll still have a ton of fun on one of the lesser-level models.
