Picked up this bike in matt black about a month ago. First dip into the dark side of dropped bars having ridden trail/enduro for 35yrs. Nice bike-rides fast, usual Shimano faultless shifting. Will consider swapping out the wheels for something lighter. Not disapointed...buy one, if you can find one!
Great review as usual. Nice to see the sub compact crankset. Some of us older folks appreciate gears that allow us to spin up hills instead of killing our knees.
Trek should be petitioned to continue offering their road, adventure & gravel bikes in the Purple Flip colour ad infinitum. The blue of this one does not come close to comparing to the delightful Purple Flip paintjob.
Just picked one up in the light blue. Love it! It could use some wider bars, though that may be me as I come from bmx and mtb bikes. Goes from trails to roads to trails seamlessly. :)
Great video thanks for it I just but one but is in back order and it would be the first time ever ride a road bike or “ gravel” bike I use to have a mountain bike , anyway very informative video thanks
Thanks James! Tires only get wider on size 54 and above 52 and smaller need to stay 40c. I believe my info is accurate on that. Keep up the great work!
Hi James, did you get a chance to test-ride this one? I'm still mulling over the various carbon or alu checkpoints and domanes. Just wondering if I'd notice the Isospeed on the carbon models since I'll be upgrading from my current alu road bike's 25mm tyres as well, so perhaps just the >35mm rubber will be enough of a change? (not to mention switching from rim brakes to hydraulic disc!) ETA is coming in as Mar 2023 from my local dealer...
James great review, nice bike. After closer inspection my derailer is rival, but crankset is S series. The 10mm cap nut is not self extracting, nor does it have an inner 8mm release. i can't find a vid with my cranks in them. The 10mm arm nut came off easy, though it will not budge. So i am at a loss as to how to move forward. I bought the park tool ccp-22, thinking it to be what i need. " What am i missing? "
nice review. I have a Domane SL5 road bike and I wanted a gravel bike to keep from torturing my carbon bike thus I just purchased a new 2019 Checkpoint (left over inventory) gray/red. due to COVID it was hard to find a new 2021 54cm bike!!! I do not think there are a lot of differences in the 2019/2021? gear sets I guess. I did swap the tires for GK SK tan walls 38cc. they have tubes but are tubeless ready and will probably switch them if too stiff.I will be riding mostly old railroad beds. cannot wait for the weather to break so I can try it out.
How do you like your domane SL5 compared to the TreK Checkpoint AL? I'm torn between what to get. For some reason aluminum gravel bikes have been getting my attention, but I I wonder if I would miss the next step up to carbon frame and iso speed or even two iso speeds as in the domane SL5. Also GRX vs 105 components. Thx
@@Professor5180 they are similar in frame shape/ergonomics but if i had to choose i guess it depends on what type of riding you will be doing. for road riding the Domane is a dream, very light, fast, comfortable, truly my favorite of the two. now if you plan on doing some gravel riding the Domane could do that with some tire swapping but i am lazy and that is why i got a gravel bike specific. honestly though i did ride my Checkpoint many more miles last year than my road bike. it is heavier, not as fast and not as comfortable of a ride due to no ISO speed. both bikes i love, but the Domane as far as overall riding experience is the best. if you wanted to use it for both road and gravel, it is done you just need to swap the tires out. hope this helps a little?? LOL
What exactly do you like about the specialized vs this ALR 5, especially the 2022 model? it seems like this checkpoint has better specs (e.g complete tubeless setup). Thank you.
Hi. You compared both...if you have to choose between: trek checkpoint ALR 5 and specialized diverge comp E5. Utilisation: more tarmac and bike packing...for eventually start trail and off road. I looking for a new bike, and I have difficulties to choose between both. thanks
Love my checkpoint. But those little rubber caps for the gear holes always fall off and get lost. Anybody have an alternative that doesn't fall off and keeps water out?
@Jamesthebikeguy you said the bike comes with TBL wheels and all one has to do is to get some tubeless tires, valves and sealant? So no rim tape needed? (i got the 2021 ALR4 model)
Yes likely so. I failed to think of that during the video but these likely need their pastic strip too. (Higher end models are usually pre installed but I bet this has cloth strips) Incase you don't know about Bontrager's plastic rim strips here is my video on them: ruclips.net/video/C8OjQKJVd5o/видео.html
275lb load capacity is nothing to rave about at all. The average æmæricæn male alone weighs just about that amount. Anything less than 350lb load limit is quite limiting, indeed.
Average American male weighs 197 lbs according to healthline.com That means you have 78lbs of cargo, seems like plenty for this type of bike. If someone carries more than 20lbs with them on the bike that would be suprising
![ARGENTINA vs. CHILE [3-0] | RESUMEN | ELIMINATORIAS SUDAMERICANAS | FECHA 7](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/De3AWmXzhuA/mqdefault.jpg)
Picked up this bike in matt black about a month ago. First dip into the dark side of dropped bars having ridden trail/enduro for 35yrs. Nice bike-rides fast, usual Shimano faultless shifting. Will consider swapping out the wheels for something lighter. Not disapointed...buy one, if you can find one!
Great review as usual. Nice to see the sub compact crankset. Some of us older folks appreciate gears that allow us to spin up hills instead of killing our knees.
Yeah the subcompact is a good thing!
Trek should be petitioned to continue offering their road, adventure & gravel bikes in the Purple Flip colour ad infinitum. The blue of this one does not come close to comparing to the delightful Purple Flip paintjob.
Agreed, the Purple Flip color is hot!
Great review, in the process of buying a 54 in teal colour
Been a road rider all my life, going to give gravel a go
Have fun!
Damn I've wanted this exact bike for months, Trek says the earliest I can get it is OCTOBER
Look around, the due dates vary based on the dealer and their backorders
Keep checking bike shops. I was able to find one in my size by looking around using Trek's shop finder.
I put in an order saying December 2021! Just got a call saying it just came in. Definitely check again!
Pandemics suck.
I bought this bike, I'm picking up next Thursday
I just got a 2022 ALR 5... and it rocks
Hello James!
Finally I got Checkpoint ALR5 in a teal color.
Unfortunately we have only teal color in Japan.
But 100% satisfied with this gravel bike.
Congrats! Have fun on your Checkpoint
The teal is pretty!
Just picked one up in the light blue. Love it! It could use some wider bars, though that may be me as I come from bmx and mtb bikes. Goes from trails to roads to trails seamlessly. :)
Did Matty Cramner convert you?
@@theresajv5055 haha no. Does he do gravel now? cool!
Great video thanks for it I just but one but is in back order and it would be the first time ever ride a road bike or “ gravel” bike I use to have a mountain bike , anyway very informative video thanks
Right on!
Thanks James! Tires only get wider on size 54 and above 52 and smaller need to stay 40c. I believe my info is accurate on that. Keep up the great work!
Interesting info. I hadn't run into that yet but good tip!
Excellent review. Really nice bike, I have serious considerations of buying it...
Go for it!
The rear thru axle has a manufactuers defect. It is almost impossible to put the rear rim back on once you take it off.
I bought the SLR5 and I love it
*Easy to setup and maintain.*
‘22 is tubeless, at least as delivered in Colorado
Nice bike! I didn't think I'd like that color after seeing it on the Trek site but looks much better on your video review.
The color is darn good in my opinion. I really like it
Yeah. Its nice. I went with matte black. But I rode the test rode purple.
Hi James, did you get a chance to test-ride this one? I'm still mulling over the various carbon or alu checkpoints and domanes. Just wondering if I'd notice the Isospeed on the carbon models since I'll be upgrading from my current alu road bike's 25mm tyres as well, so perhaps just the >35mm rubber will be enough of a change? (not to mention switching from rim brakes to hydraulic disc!)
ETA is coming in as Mar 2023 from my local dealer...
James great review, nice bike. After closer inspection my derailer is rival, but crankset is S series. The 10mm cap nut is not self extracting, nor does it have an inner 8mm release. i can't find a vid with my cranks in them. The 10mm arm nut came off easy, though it will not budge. So i am at a loss as to how to move forward. I bought the park tool ccp-22, thinking it to be what i need. " What am i missing? "
I’m considering this bike. I want a bike that I can do century rides on road but explore offroad trails
This is what I want
Me too
Looks like it would be good for bike packing
I think it would
nice review. I have a Domane SL5 road bike and I wanted a gravel bike to keep from torturing my carbon bike thus I just purchased a new 2019 Checkpoint (left over inventory) gray/red. due to COVID it was hard to find a new 2021 54cm bike!!! I do not think there are a lot of differences in the 2019/2021? gear sets I guess. I did swap the tires for GK SK tan walls 38cc. they have tubes but are tubeless ready and will probably switch them if too stiff.I will be riding mostly old railroad beds. cannot wait for the weather to break so I can try it out.
Those tan walls are going to look so good on your bike!
How do you like your domane SL5 compared to the TreK Checkpoint AL? I'm torn between what to get. For some reason aluminum gravel bikes have been getting my attention, but I I wonder if I would miss the next step up to carbon frame and iso speed or even two iso speeds as in the domane SL5. Also GRX vs 105 components. Thx
@@Professor5180 they are similar in frame shape/ergonomics but if i had to choose i guess it depends on what type of riding you will be doing. for road riding the Domane is a dream, very light, fast, comfortable, truly my favorite of the two. now if you plan on doing some gravel riding the Domane could do that with some tire swapping but i am lazy and that is why i got a gravel bike specific. honestly though i did ride my Checkpoint many more miles last year than my road bike. it is heavier, not as fast and not as comfortable of a ride due to no ISO speed. both bikes i love, but the Domane as far as overall riding experience is the best. if you wanted to use it for both road and gravel, it is done you just need to swap the tires out. hope this helps a little?? LOL
Great video! Any news on the 2022 model? Thanks!
I like the bike stand holding the rear wheel. Please let me know where to purchase it. Thanks
Your local bike shop.
Amazon
How is it compared to rc520? Which is better value for money ?
What exactly do you like about the specialized vs this ALR 5, especially the 2022 model? it seems like this checkpoint has better specs (e.g complete tubeless setup). Thank you.
That’s nuts!
What is?
Thanks for the review, how do you find the frame size? I am 186cm (ape index >0) so trying to decide between 58 and 61?
Great video!! but could you also give the price of the bikes
I link the bikes in the description. Can't edit a video when a price changes, nor can I list every country/regions price.
lmao are you THAT inept? you have NO bike shops in your town? jeeeesus
Should I get this or the PRO caliber 9.5 for long range tarmac/off-road rides? 2-6 hours.
Hi. You compared both...if you have to choose between: trek checkpoint ALR 5 and specialized diverge comp E5. Utilisation: more tarmac and bike packing...for eventually start trail and off road. I looking for a new bike, and I have difficulties to choose between both. thanks
Tough call, but I would lean towards the Diverge.
Does it have isospeed for back and front? Hows the ride for high end aluminium?
No to isospeed on this bike
I’m looking at a 2019 version of this bike, but it has 105 components and I’m not sure if the RD has a clutch on it. Anyone know?
Love my checkpoint. But those little rubber caps for the gear holes always fall off and get lost. Anybody have an alternative that doesn't fall off and keeps water out?
I've used a bit of electrical tape over the holes :)
Can it be returned?
This or diverge e5?
giant revolt 0 ;)
@Jamesthebikeguy you said the bike comes with TBL wheels and all one has to do is to get some tubeless tires, valves and sealant? So no rim tape needed? (i got the 2021 ALR4 model)
Thanks to Trek's vague definition of Tubeless ready, there's a good chance you'll need rim strips as well.
Yes likely so. I failed to think of that during the video but these likely need their pastic strip too. (Higher end models are usually pre installed but I bet this has cloth strips) Incase you don't know about Bontrager's plastic rim strips here is my video on them: ruclips.net/video/C8OjQKJVd5o/видео.html
@@Jamesthebikeguy can confirm, took my tires off my 2021 ALR5 and it’s just the cloth strips inside the rim.
@@VanWo I'm new. Does that mean I need something else for tubeless
@@Fizyxx you’ll need rim strips, valve stems, sealant, and of course tubeless ready tires.
Hi, just to ask I’m 173CM in height should I be in the 54 or the 52?
52cm
How long is the ALR5 with front tire removed?
Shorter than with the front tire installed.
Interested in Cars, Racing, and R/C Vehicles? Check out my 2nd Channel Jrs Gasoline Alley here: ruclips.net/channel/UCpRReJABfwDGgsfSTYiItUg
When I clicked on the bike scale it showed only kitchen versions on Amazon, not bike scales.
Thats a auto added link for the scale I use in my parts videos.
275lb load capacity is nothing to rave about at all. The average æmæricæn male alone weighs just about that amount. Anything less than 350lb load limit is quite limiting, indeed.
Average American male weighs 197 lbs according to healthline.com That means you have 78lbs of cargo, seems like plenty for this type of bike. If someone carries more than 20lbs with them on the bike that would be suprising
And the average cyclist probably weighs 175 lbs.
ew road biking
ew youtube comments
lol worm
The rear thru axle has a manufactuers defect. It is almost impossible to put the rear rim back on once you take it off.