Trek Checkpoint SL 6 ETAP – 2023 – Crimson / Carbon Red Smoke

The name Checkpoint has become synonymous with gravel riding, and the SL 6 ETAP brings electronic shifting to an attainable price point on a highly capable platform, that’s ready for adventures, small and large.

The SL models are built on a 500 Series OCLV Carbon frame with Rear IsoSpeed for comfort in the saddle and carbon armour protecting the downtube from rock strikes. The progressive geometry is stable at speed, and efficient when you’re grinding up a climb. There’s storage inside the downtube for puncture repair essentials and all cables are routed through the headtube, so they won’t interfere with your bikepacking bags. There are a plethora of mounting points for all kinds of accessories. For commuters and tourers, there are pannier-rack and mudguard mounts. If you’re going lightweight, then use the bolts on the underside of the toptube to fit the Bontrager integrated frame bag. There are plenty of bottle holder mounts in/under the front triangle, plus triple fork bolts for even more bottles or gear cages.

The carbon fork dampens down trail buzz, to reduce hand fatigue, and provides stiff, precise steering. The 1×12 SRAM drivetrain has wireless electronic shifting powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery on the derailleur. The Rival eTap groupset uses the same motors and firmware as the top-shelf Red groupset, so you get exceptionally crisp shifting performance and great reliability. The 10-42 tooth cassette paired with a 40t chainring gives a balanced gear range that can winch up steep climbs and power down fast descents. The hydraulic disc brakes provide plenty of stopping power in all conditions so you can stay in control while bombing it down forest tracks.

Light, fast and comfortable. The Checkpoint SL 6 gives you the unmatched ride quality of an OCLV Carbon frame with IsoSpeed and gravel-specific geometry. Top that off with internal storage and a high-performance electronic drivetrain and you have a machine that’s ready to take on big adventures and tough race courses alike.