Upgrade. I’m about to get a new bike for me and these are my options. Santa Cruz Stigmata CC 2020 Trek Checkpoint SL5. Almost the same price. Which you choose and why?
by juan_pablito
Upgrade. I’m about to get a new bike for me and these are my options. Santa Cruz Stigmata CC 2020 Trek Checkpoint SL5. Almost the same price. Which you choose and why?
by juan_pablito
21 Comments
Santa Cruz because it looks just awesome
trek because it looks better.
You can get the eshift trek for almost the same price.
Ultrgra crankset ans GRX rear derailleur.
You got a road front derailleur?
Santa Cruz has a great warranty and I think it’s just a better looking bike personally. I would go test ride them both though.
Santa Cruz looks cooler
Santa Cruz for real. Santa Cruz is like jamming to Khruangbin. Trek is like rocking out to Coldplay or something.
I have the prior-generation Stigmata for CX and it’s an incredibly tough bike. Somehow, I’ve never broken it. I bet I’ve crashed it 100+ times.
Wait what year is the stigmata, if it’s newer, definitely the Stigmata. I base a lot of my bikes all on tire clearance alone.
Ride both if you can. Trek was my last choice for road bikes until I road 6 different bikes and somehow enjoyed the trek emonda over the others. Let the bike speak to you.
WIDEST TIRE CLEARANCE
Santa Cruz for sure.
It just looks better for a start. The colour, the ultegra crank
Wheels look like a Reynolds carbon wheelset of at least 35mm deep.
Trek checkpoints are everywhere.
Stigmata cause I’m a SC fanboy and have a ultegra/grx build on one of my gbikes
Santa Cruz cause of modern geometry and deeper rims
Can I ask what they are listed for? They both look great, I’d probably go Santa Cruz myself but they are awesome options
SCs hold their value really well if you plan on selling it eventually.
Depends what you’re looking for. Based on the geometry the Stiggy is going to feel more lively on slower technical stuff like twisty single track or a CX course and probably a little more snappy under acceleration. The Checkpoint will feel more stable and planted on fast gravel descents and riding through chunky stuff plus could be a little more comfy because it has built in micro-suspension. Pretty sure the tire clearance is similar on both.
I’d go with the Stigmata just cause I love cross.
Santa cruz because santa cruz looks cooler
Stigmata all the way
Santa Cruz every day. Here in Europe this brand is not as common as Trek which makes its look even better
I have both. My checkpoint is a first gen SL7 and I just bought a Stigmata 4th gen.
I would buy 5 more Stigmatas before I’d buy another Trek.
The trek has so many proprietary parts, and while the ISOSPEED stuff is cool, it’s just one more maintenance item. (FWIW – I have the stupid trek seatmast that is just annoyingly shitty, this has a standard post).
But – of course – ride both. Fit and enjoyment is much more important.