The Trek bike battle! Grail vs Road! Which bike is best? We are going to compare these two bikes side by side and see what the difference is between each.
Both bikes offer many different build options that we just do not have the capacity to compare one on one.
But we will take a fairly similar bike build option from each model (close to the medium range and compare for your reference)
Right off the bat, these bikes differ with the Checkpoint being the ultimate do it all bike. A gravel bike made for adventure, whether you’re racing Unbound Gravel, bikepacking on a remote logging road, or cruising down the bike path.
While the Domane is a performance road bike that delivers incredible endurance and comfort without sacrificing speed. Built for all-day road rides.
But let’s still introduce these bikes in more detail and compare them when it comes to geometry, specs, and other characteristics, giving you a grand view of these bikes’ differences.
In the world of cycling, both the Trek Checkpoint and Trek Domane stand out as leading choices for riders with specific needs.
The Checkpoint series excels on gravel and off-road trails, while the Domane is built for smooth and efficient road cycling. Below, we compare several models from both series to help you find the perfect ride.
| Specification | Checkpoint SLR 9 AXS (2024) | Domane SLR 9 AXS Gen 4 (2024) | Checkpoint SL 7 AXS (2024) | Domane SL 7 Gen 4 (2024) | Checkpoint ALR 5 AXS (2024) | Domane SL 5 Gen 4 (2024) | Checkpoint ALR 4 (2024) | Domane AL 2 Rim (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $12,249 | $13,199 | $6,889 | $6,829 | $2,899 | $3,285 | $1,799 | $999 |
| Category | Progressive Gravel | Endurance Road | Progressive Gravel | Endurance Road | Progressive Gravel | Endurance Road | Progressive Gravel | Endurance Road |
| Weight (lbs/kg) | 17.9 lbs (8.12 kg) | 17.2 lbs (7.80 kg) | 20.0 lbs (9.07 kg) | 18.2 lbs (8.25 kg) | 21.5 lbs (9.75 kg) | 19.7 lbs (8.93 kg) | 21.6 lbs (9.80 kg) | 21.1 lbs (9.57 kg) |
| Frame Material | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Aluminum | Carbon | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Fork Material | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon |
| Wheels | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Carbon | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Wheel Size | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c | 700c |
| Clearance | 45c | 38c | 45c | 38c | 45c | 38c | 45c | 28c |
| Brakes | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Hydraulic Disc | Mechanical Disc | Rim |
| Groupset | RED XPLR eTap, RED AXS | RED AXS | Force XPLR eTap, Force eTap | Ultegra Di2 | Apex XPLR AXS, Apex AXS | 105 | Apex | Claris |
| Drivetrain | 1 × 12 Electronic | 2 × 12 Electronic | 1 × 12 Electronic | 2 × 12 Electronic | 1 × 12 Electronic | 2 × 12 | 1 × 11 | 2 × 8 |
| Power Meter | Red AXS | Red AXS | None | None | None | None | None | None |
| Seatpost | Rigid | Rigid | Rigid | Rigid | Dropper | Rigid | Rigid | Rigid |
Introducing the Trek Checkpoint
The Trek Checkpoint seems to be one of the most popular gravel bikes on the market.
So that means they are a great gravel bike option, right?
The main feature of the Checkpoint is the lightweight OCLV Carbon frame with IsoSpeed, a decoupler at the top tube/seat tube junction that provides additional compliance over rough terrain so you can stay stronger for longer.
A carbon gravel bike made for epic all-road adventures.
The Checkpoint is still fast, but more importantly comfortable and smooth, and its versatile design ensures that you’ll reach all the places you dream of exploring on two wheels.
Introducing the Trek Domane
The Domane is a performance road bike that delivers incredible endurance and comfort without sacrificing speed. Wherever you ride it – tarmac roads, hard-packed gravel, or the cobblestones of the world’s greatest one-day races – the Domane family is smooth, fast, and fun
It is a road bike that is capable of venturing from tarmac to light gravel. Technically a light gravel bike. Also thanks to its long-haul geometry you can expect bike comfort when riding long days in the saddle.
So whats the difference between the two?
Price – Checkpoint vs Domane
When it comes to price the Checkpoint ranges from $3,499 to $12,249 while the Doman has a plethora of options ranging from $1,129 to $13,199. But what really is the difference and which one is best for you and your riding goals?
There are so many different models to choose from for each bike. For this article, we have taken their mid-range (best bang for buck option as a main comparison. Instead of comparing all models together.)
Weight – Checkpoint vs Domane
All different build options and models weigh differently. But from the numbers above we can see the Domane is more suited to riding fast and performance-based riding, thanks to its lightweight construction.
Weighing only 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) is the 2024 Domane SLR 9 AXS Gen 4 which is Treks top of the line model priced at $13,199.
While the Trek Checkpoints top of the line model weighs in at 17.9 lbs (8.12 kg) the Checkpoint SLR 9 priced at $12,249
While both mid-range SL5 models weigh 19.7 lbs / 8.94 kg (Domane) vs 21.4 lbs / 9.71 kg (Checkpoint)
You can see around an 800-gram difference in the mid-models, while the Domane’s higher-end model is 300 grams lighter than the Checkpoint’s higher-end bike. This is where we saw a big difference in the bikes.
Meaning the Domane is definitely more suited for fast-paced riding on roads compared to the Checkpoint. However, the Checkpoint is rather light for a gravel bike.
Tire Clearance – Checkpoint vs Domane
When it comes to tire clearance the Checkpoint can fit up to 45 mm x 700c while the Domane fits 35mm x 700c. As the Grail has wider clearance, it lends itself to be the superior bike when it comes to all-around adventure and riding gravel more so than the Endurace
Geometry: Trek Checkpoint ALR 5 vs. Trek Domane SL 5 (2023 Models)
Want to learn more about understanding bike geometry? Read this article which goes through all the jargon and what it means for a comfortable ride!
| Geometry Specification | Checkpoint ALR 5 (mm or deg) | Domane SL 5 (mm or deg) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stack | 592 | 591 | -1 |
| Reach | 407 | 377 | -30 |
| Stack to Reach Ratio | 1.45:1 | 1.57:1 | |
| Seat Tube Length, C-T | 560 | – | |
| Seat Tube Length, C-TTT | – | 525 | |
| Top Tube Length, Effective | 584 | 554 | -30 |
| Top Tube Slope | 5.7° | 7.4° | +1.7° |
| Head Tube Angle | 72.2° | 71.9° | -0.3° |
| Seat Tube Angle | 72.8° | 73.3° | +0.5° |
| Head Tube Length | 145 | 175 | +30 |
| Bottom Bracket Drop | 76 | 78 | +2 |
| Bottom Bracket Height | 275 | 265 | -10 |
| Chainstay Length | 435 | 420 | -15 |
| Chainstay Length Horizontal | 428.3 | 412.7 | -15.6 |
| Front-Center | 624.3 | 600.4 | -23.9 |
| Front-Center Horizontal | 619.7 | 595.3 | -24.4 |
| Wheelbase | 1048 | 1008 | -40 |
| Fork Offset/Rake | 45 | 48 | +3 |
| Trail | 65.4 (high) | 61.6 (mid/neutral) | -3.8 |
| Mechanical Trail | 62.3 | 58.6 | -3.7 |
| Wheel Flop | 19 | 18.2 | -0.8 |
| Standover Height | 809 | 776 | -33 |
| Tire to Pedal Spindle | 100.8 (172.5 mm cranks) | 84.9 (172.5 mm cranks) | -15.9 |
| Pedal Spindle to Ground Clearance | 102.5 (172.5 mm cranks) | 92.5 (172.5 mm cranks) | -10 |
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