Earlier this yr, we noticed some leaked photographs of what gave the impression to be a full-suspension Trek gravel bike. Or possibly it was a short-travel mountain bike with a drop bar. Because the hole between mountain bikes and gravel bikes continues to slender, it was actually kinda laborious to inform precisely what we had been taking a look at. However with right now’s launch of the All-new Trek CheckOUT, now we all know.
Trek’s new CheckOUT is a full suspension gravel bike with 55 mm of rear journey paired with the model new RockShox Rudy XL 60 mm fork. It’s acquired heaps of tire clearance, mountain bike-esque geometry, a great deal of body mounts, and even comes with an built-in rear rack. Frankly, it seems to be like a brilliant enjoyable bike and a killer possibility for journey using, bikepacking, or anybody whose “gravel” rides find yourself being extra like mountain bike rides. Can we simply begin calling it “grountain biking” but?
In accordance with Trek, “CheckOUT is a full suspension drop bar gravel bike like by no means earlier than. Designed to be quicker than a mountain bike on paved roads and extra succesful than a inflexible gravel bike on singletrack, that is the best rig for epic off-the-beaten path adventures, conquering the Tour Divide, and all the pieces in-between.” Let’s try the brand new CheckOUT.
Trek CheckOUT Particulars
The brand new CheckOUT body is made out of Trek’s OCLV 500 carbon fiber. It has 55 mm of rear suspension with a single pivot flex keep design. That’s being paired with RockShox’s model new- Rudy XL gravel fork with 60 mm of journey. Each the body and fork have clearance for contemporary gravel tires as much as 56 mm or 2.2 inches vast. The body has a UDH, 12 x 142 mm axle spacing, and a threaded T47 backside bracket.
Geometry
The brand new CheckOUT has a progressive gravel geometry that will make most mountain bikes from the mid-90s blush. It’s a bit longer and extra relaxed than Trek’s versatile Checkpoint SL gravel bike, which is smart given its full suspension and enhanced functionality that comes with it. It’s not absolutely pushing into the mountain bike realm, however it seems to be slightly nearer than most devoted gravel rigs.
The CheckOUT is available in 5 body sizes between Small and XL, together with Trek’s typical M/L. This measurement vary is claimed to suit riders between 5’2” and 6’8”. Head tube angles fluctuate barely, steepening by a tiny bit as you go up the scale run, however most land within the neighborhood of 69 levels. Likewise, the seat tube angles slacken as sizes improve, however hover within the 74-degree vary. The longer wheelbase, attain, and better stack all contribute to the aim of accelerating stability and luxury on lengthy hauls and tough surfaces.


All of the Mounts Plus a Rear Rack
There’s no denying the bikepacking and journey using focus of the brand new CheckOUT, and Trek decked it out with a complete of 18 body mounts (sizes M/L and up). A number of of those are within the recessed channel working down the downtube, and Trek consists of its new MultiMount brackets. There are extra mounts on the seat tube and the underside of the downtube, plus a set on the highest tube, so that you’ve acquired loads of choices for mounting bottles, brackets, luggage, or different equipment.


If that weren’t sufficient, the CheckOUT additionally comes with an built-in rear rack. This rack is meant to take bikepacking gear weight off of the saddle and/or seat tube, making for safer masses whereas permitting for using dropper posts. The detachable rack is hooked up to each the entrance and rear triangles, so it has its personal linkage to maneuver with the rear suspension because it goes by way of its journey. The rack itself has a wealth of extra gear mounts and lash factors.
With the Checkpoint and Checkmate gravel bikes, Trek began making its personal Journey body luggage. For the CheckOUT, the model partnered with Topo Designs to create a bike-specific body bag. This bag is offered individually and solely matches sizes M, M/L, and L, however it seems to fill the big, open entrance triangle of the bike completely.


Trek CheckOUT: Builds Choices
The brand new CheckOUT is presently being supplied in two full builds or as a body solely. All of those choices embrace the identical OCLV 500 Sequence Carbon body and include the identical RockShox SIDluxe Final 3-position shock. The whole builds include dropper posts and Trek’s personal vast, flared gravel handlebars and quick stems for assured dealing with.


CheckOUT SL Frameset: $3,700
The CheckOUT SL Frameset comes with the flashy Period White/Blue Sage paint job, however is in any other case a clean canvas to construct up your good journey bike. It weighs a claimed 5.3 kilos (2.4 kg) in measurement M/L


CheckOUT SL 5: $5,800
The SL 5 comes with the RockShox Rudy XL Final fork. The hybrid drivetrain is a mixture of Shimano GRX and Shimano XT M8200 12-speed. Bontrager’s alloy Paradigm Comp 25 wheels preserve issues rolling with Bontrager Betaaso RSL GX 700 x 50 mm tires. A 100 mm TranzX dropper submit retains the Bontrager Verse Quick Comp saddle the place you need it. The CheckOUT SL 5 is available in each a Darkish Star/Darkish Internet paint job or the Period White/Blue Sage shade and weighs in at a claimed 26.39 kilos (11.97 kg) in measurement M/L arrange tubeless and with out the rear rack.


CheckOUT SL 7 AXS: $9,000
The highest-of-the-line SL 7 AXS construct comes with the RockShox Rudy XL Final fork. The drivetrain is a mixture of SRAM Power AXS and SRAM XO AXS elements. It rolls on Bontrager Aeolus Professional Carbon wheels wrapped in Bontrager Betasso RSL GX 700 x 50 mm tires. The 100 mm RockShox Reverb AXS is topped with a Bontrager Verse Quick Elite saddle. It comes wi the Period White/Blue Sage colorway, and has a claimed weight of 24.87 kilos (11.28 kg) in measurement M/L arrange tubeless with out the rear rack.


Trek CheckOUT: Availability
The brand new CheckOUT is offered now. Head to the Trek web site or your native Trek seller to take a look at the CheckOUT or to buy one for your self.
trekbikes.com