First Look: New Trek Checkout | Wait – Dropbars on a Mountain Bike?
Say hello to the Checkout, Trek’s all-new full-suspension, dropbar gravel bike…
Wait, what, – dropbars on a mountain bike? Yeah, I had the same reaction. When I first came across this trend, I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. The idea of bolting dropbars onto a full-suspension mountain bike seemed, frankly, a little absurd. Why fix what isn’t broken? If you want to ride a mountain bike, just ride a mountain bike – right? But the more time I’ve spent on gravel bikes, the more that line of thinking started to shift. Lately, I’ve found myself seriously considering the benefits of “dropbarring” a full-suspension MTB. And honestly? There’s a case to be made.
In a lot of gravel scenarios, having full suspension and a dropper post could offer real advantages – more comfort, more control, and more speed. It’s not just about performance; it’s about versatility and safety, too. The typical flat-bar mountain bike cockpit, while great on trails, isn’t exactly ideal for long-haul or high-speed gravel riding. It’s less aerodynamic, and the single hand position can lead to increased fatigue in your hands, wrists and shoulders.
And so to the new Checkout dropbar gravel bike. It’s a completely new frame, engineered specifically for gravel. It has 55mm of rear travel, paired with a 60mm fork. The brand’s new dropbar, the GR Checkout bar, has an extra wide flare with more backsweep. Tyre clearance is a massive 56mm (or 2.2″).
The carbon chassis also has what is dubbed Trek’s Gravel Adventure Geometry which has many small changes but quite a bit more reach and stack numbers to boost stability and comfort. The Checkout has 18 frame mounts, an all-new integrated rear rack that works with the bike’s suspension and dropper post, and adjustable multi-mounts.
What we can tell you is there will be two models available in the local market; the SL7 AXS will retail at R165k and the SL5 for R115k. You can head to trekbikes now for more details on sizes, complete weights and so on. //
