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The Trek Checkmate SLR 9 AXS combines the speed of a race bike with the comfort needed to last ten hours in the saddle: IsoSpeed, 42 mm tyres and frame bag mounts on OCLV 800 Series carbon. Fitted with RED XPLR AXS and Aeolus RSL 37V wheels, it weighs 7.55 kg in size ML. The Olive Drab/Glowstick finish contrasts khaki olive green with bright fluorescent green touches, combining an adventurous spirit with visibility.
| Frame | OCLV 800 Series carbon, IsoSpeed, Full System aero tubes, hidden mudguard and frame bag mounts, threaded T47 bottom bracket, UDH hanger |
| Fork | Checkmate SLR full carbon, tapered steerer, mudguard mounts, Flat Mount, 12x100 mm thru-axle |
| Drivetrain | Wireless SRAM RED XPLR eTap AXS 1x13, 42-tooth power meter chainset, XG-1391 10-46 cassette |
| Brakes | Flat Mount hydraulic disc brakes, SRAM Paceline X 160 mm Centerlock rotors |
| Wheels / tyres | Bontrager Aeolus RSL 37V carbon / Bontrager Girona RSL GR 700x42 mm Tubeless Ready, 220 tpi |
| Cockpit | Trek Aero RSL Road one-piece carbon bar-stem, Race Fit profile |
| Saddle / seatpost | Aeolus RSL AirLoom 145 mm, carbon rails / KVF aero carbon seatpost, 5 mm offset |
| Weight | 7.55 kg in size ML (Trek figure) |
| Frame and fork | 1,146 g (painted frame, ML) + 415 g for the fork |
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At a glance
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For the ultra-distance gravel racer or the cyclist preparing for a full-day self-supported event, with a frame bag and a few essentials. It will suit those who want a fast bike that is still comfortable enough for the end of the race, when fatigue sets in.
OCLV carbon, Trek's signature. The OCLV process, used by Trek since 1992, presses the fibre sheets under heat and pressure to eliminate micro-voids. On the Checkmate SLR, Trek uses the 800 Series: an optimised lay-up that produces a painted frame of 1,146 g in ML, stiff enough to handle out-of-the-saddle efforts on a broken track. Like all OCLV frames, it benefits from Trek's lifetime warranty.
| OCLV 800 (Checkmate SLR) | OCLV 500 (Checkpoint SL) | OCLV 900 (Madone / Domane SLR) | |
| Level | Trek's top-tier gravel | Entry-level carbon | Trek's most refined carbon |
| Construction | Optimised lay-up, little superfluous material | Same process, more generous lay-up | 3D moulding, fewer overlaps |
| Reference bike | Checkmate SLR 9 AXS: 7.55 kg (ML) | Checkpoint SL 7 AXS: 9.33 kg (ML) | Reserved for SLR road bikes |
| What it means | Frame + fork 1,561 g, race geometry | Frame + fork 1,921 g, adventure mounts | Up to 20% stronger than OCLV 800 |
In short: the SLR 9 AXS frame is the same as on every Checkmate SLR, and it is the spec that makes the difference. The RED XPLR, the RSL wheels and the AirLoom saddle account for most of the 920 g gap with the SLR 7 AXS; as for OCLV 900, Trek keeps it for its road bikes.
IsoSpeed decouples the seat tube from the rest of the frame so that it flexes over impacts: over hours of rough tracks, that means far fewer vibrations in your back and shoulders. With the 42 mm tyres set up tubeless at low pressure, the Checkmate stays comfortable on the most punishing rocky sections of the garrigue.
The built-in frame bag mounts let you carry tools, an inner tube and food without hurting the aerodynamics, and the hidden mudguard mounts come in handy on rainy days. For real bikepacking with a rack and large bags, however, the Checkpoint SL remains better suited.
| Model | Carbon | Drivetrain | Wheels | Weight (size) |
| Checkpoint SL 7 AXS | OCLV 500 | SRAM Force XPLR AXS 1x13 | Carbon Aeolus Elite 35V | 9.33 kg (ML) |
| Checkmate SLR 7 AXS | OCLV 800 | SRAM Force XPLR AXS 1x13 + power meter | Carbon Aeolus Pro 3V | 8.47 kg (ML) |
| Checkmate SLR 9 AXS | OCLV 800 | SRAM RED XPLR AXS 1x13 + power meter | Carbon Aeolus RSL 37V | 7.55 kg (ML) |
| Boone 5 (cyclocross) | OCLV 600 | SRAM Apex 1x12 | Bontrager Paradigm Comp 25 | 8.50 kg (56) |
Our take: in ultra-distance, the 920 g saved over the SLR 7 AXS matters less than comfort and reliability; the Checkpoint SL 7 AXS, 1.78 kg heavier, can on the other hand take a much bigger load.
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LVR sizing advice Race geometry: if you are between two sizes, the smaller one gives a livelier bike in tight corners, the larger one more stability on fast descents. The one-piece bar-stem cannot be adjusted for length, which is why a bike fit before purchase is worthwhile.
Source: Trek size guide. Bike fitting available in our Béziers shop. |
| Suitable for bikepacking? | For light bikepacking with a frame bag, yes; for a heavy load, a Checkpoint is the better choice. |
| Comfortable over a whole day? | IsoSpeed and the tubeless 42 mm tyres make long hours bearable. |
| Can I fit mudguards? | Yes, hidden mounts on the frame and fork. |
| Is the fluorescent green visible? | The Glowstick touches improve visibility at dusk, but are no substitute for lights. |
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The LVR Cycles verdict The Checkmate best cut out for never-ending gravel races, fast at the start and still comfortable at the finish. Its olive green with fluorescent highlights sums up its character as an adventurer in a hurry.
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Why buy from LVR Cycles? As a Trek dealer in Béziers, we prepare your Checkmate for ultra-distance: tubeless set-up, a position suited to long hours, and a check of brakes and batteries before each event.
Please note that the specifications may be changed without prior notice by the manufacturer, based on the availability of components and other factors.
Data sheet
Specific References