Shortly after TQ unveiled its new HPR60 at Eurobike 2025, Trek released the first ebike equipped with this drive system. Now, the US manufacturer is once again relying on TQ’s most powerful mid-drive motor. The new Trek Checkpoint+ SL even marks a first – Trek’s first e-gravel bike.
1. A first with plenty of expertise
2. Trek Checkpoint+ SL – a full-suspension e-gravel bike?
3. Comfortable frame suitable for long tours
4. TQ HPR60 on the Trek Checkpoint+ SL: small battery, huge riding fun
5. Model range from elegant and monochrome to more affordable and colourful
1. A first with plenty of expertise
Initially, we were somewhat surprised and dug into the archives. Trek offers numerous e-mountain bikes, e-road bikes, trekking ebikes and urban ebikes. But until now, there was no e-gravel bike. And that’s from a brand that has significantly influenced the gravel segment in the non-motorised bicycle market with the Checkpoint, the Checkmate and the recently added Checkout.
Be that as it may, now the Trek Checkpoint+ SL is here. And let’s say this much up front – it cuts just as fine a figure as its motorless siblings. Unsurprisingly, Trek is building on the knowledge it has already gained with gravel bikes on the one hand and TQ drives on the other. The Checkpoint SL in particular serves as a template. In addition to its name, the Checkpoint+ SL also takes its basic orientation as a strongly off-road-oriented gravel bike and its frame geometry from it.
2. Trek Checkpoint+ SL – a full-suspension e-gravel bike?
Some e-gravel bikes attempt to strike a balance and aim to impress both on and off the road. This approach quickly ends up in a compromise that doesn’t really work well on either terrain. With the Trek Checkpoint+ SL, such questions don’t even arise. For example, the manufacturer has equipped its top model, the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 7 AXS, with a RockShox suspension fork with 40 millimetres of travel. This clearly points the way to tours on dirt roads, moderate forest trails, cobblestones and gravel roads. The other two models in the series, the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS and the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 5, feature a rigid fork. However, this can be replaced with the new RockShox Rudy XPLR on request.
With a suspension seat post, Trek’s newcomer could almost be described as a full-suspension ebike. However, only a conventional seat post is included in the equipment. At least the frame allows for the retrofitting of a suspension version.
Nevertheless, the designation as a full-suspension bike cannot be completely dismissed. After all, Trek has installed mini suspension in the transition from the top tube to the seat stays. The solution, called Isospeed, uses a joint to decouple the seat post from the rest of the frame. Freely mounted in this way, it gives way when subjected to vibrations and flexes vertically. As a result, only a small portion of the vibrations actually reach the rider. This protects the muscles and significantly delays fatigue. With a width of up to 50 millimetres, the tyres also effectively absorb some of the bumps during the ride.
3. Comfortable frame suitable for long tours
In keeping with its off-road orientation, the frame supports a slightly more upright riding position. As already mentioned, its geometry is derived from the Trek Checkpoint without a motor. The Trek Checkpoint and Trek Checkpoint+ SL are almost completely identical in this respect. Only the chainstay on the Trek Checkpoint+ SL is ten millimetres longer, which slightly increases the wheelbase and provides a little more stability at higher speeds.
For those who need a very small frame size, it should be noted that only the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS and Trek Checkpoint+ SL 5 are available in size XS. The Trek Checkpoint+ SL 7 AXS starts at size S. This is probably due to the integration of the suspension fork. As a result, the XS frame sizes of the two cheaper versions of the Trek Checkpoint+ SL are also excluded from the retrofitting of a suspension fork.
Also noticeable on the frame are the numerous mounting points for bottle cages, locks, bags and other accessories. There are six such mounts on the top of the down tube. This allows you to position the items you want to attach in a flexible manner. There are even some on the underside of the top tube for attaching a suitable Trek bag to the front frame triangle. As there are even some on the rigid fork in addition to the mounting points for mudguards and luggage racks, your bikepacking adventure will certainly not be thwarted by a lack of luggage space on this e-gravel bike. Since only about 14 kilograms of the maximum permitted total weight of 125 kilograms are accounted for by the ebike itself, you are also well set up for longer tours in this respect.
4. TQ HPR60 on the Trek Checkpoint+ SL: Small battery, big riding pleasure
If you are planning multi-day trips, you will still need to take the battery charger with you. With a capacity of just 360 watt hours, the built-in battery is one of the smaller ones of its kind. Trek estimates a range of around 80 kilometres in Eco mode. Experience shows that these figures are based on slightly lighter riders with little luggage and a route profile that does not feature one long climb after another. Those who want to go further could sacrifice one of the frame mounts to screw on a range extender. The additional 160 watt hours should add around 30 kilometres to the range.
In our opinion, the drive itself is a perfect fit for an ebike like this. With a maximum assistance of 200 per cent, a peak power output of 350 watts and a torque of up to 60 Newton metres, the TQ HPR60 generates enough momentum to provide you with powerful assistance when you need the electric drive. At the same time, it is discreet enough not to use up the entire battery on the first serious hill and always gives you the freedom to invest some of your own effort in moving forward if you wish. Its low system weight and virtually silent operation do the rest to make riding a real pleasure.
The operating concept is as unobtrusive as the motor itself. From the outside, all you can see is the display integrated into the top tube and the small buttons on the hoods. This means you can keep your hands on the handlebars at all times and comfortably switch between the three riding modes – Eco, Mid and High – as well as scroll back and forth between the screens on the display.
5. Model range from elegant and monochrome to affordable and colourful
With the three versions of the Checkpoint+ SL, Trek covers a price range between 4,999 euros and 7,499 euros. At the top of the range is the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 7 AXS. It stands out from the rest of the model series primarily due to its suspension fork and set of carbon wheels. It shares the electronic gear system with the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS. However, the mid-range model, priced at 5,999 euros, offers a slightly simpler version. For the entry-level Trek Checkpoint+ SL 5, the manufacturer has opted for a mechanical gear system from Shimano’s GRX series, which was developed for the gravel segment. The most affordable model has an advantage over the other two that may be decisive for some of you. It is available in two different paint finishes – Fjord Blue/Cobalt Blue and Matte Bronze Age/Dark Web. In contrast, the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 7 AXS is only available in Chameleon Green and the Trek Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS in Fjord Blue/Cobalt Blue.
Trek Checkpoint+ SL for the 2026 season at a glance
- Models: Trek Checkpoint+ SL 7 AXS, Trek Checkpoint+ SL 6 AXS, Trek Checkpoint+ SL 5
- Frame: Carbon
- Frame sizes: XS, S, M, ML, L, XL
- Suspension fork: RockShox Rudy XPLR, 40 mm
- Rigid fork: Checkpoint, carbon
- Motor: TQ HPR60
- Battery: TQ 360 Wh
- Display: TQ LED display
- Control units: TQ buttons
- Drivetrain: Sram X0 Eagle AXS, Sram GX Eagle AXS, Shimano GRX RX822
- Brakes: n/a
- Weight: approx. 13.7 kg with frame size ML
- Maximum permitted total weight: 125 kg
- Colours: Chameleon Green, Fjord Blue/Cobalt Blue, Matte Bronze Age/Dark Web
- Prices: from 4,999 euros
