If anyone has experience with either of these bikes your input would be really appreciated! Currently running a 2021 Diverge E5 and I’m looking to upgrade since I’ve finally come up on the money. The Crux is $4,000 (but I’ll likely buy wider tires) and the Checkpoint is $4,200, so the price will end up being roughly the same.
The area I ride in is mostly flat and I ride on the road or packed dirt trails with some finely crushed gravel sections. (About 50% road / 50% gravel). Most of my rides are short (<2 hours), but I go on a 6-8 hour ride every few weeks.
Which bike do you think would be more comfortable or fun given my situation? I know the Checkpoint has a more endurance geo, but I wonder if I’d even be bothered by the Crux’s geometry given the length of my rides. I also wonder if the SRAM XPLR AXS groupset on the Checkpoint is worth it over the GRX 820 on the Crux, seeing as I live in the flats and don’t need to change gears too often.
by Ok_String7565
12 Comments
Here’s the way I think of it…
Crux is a Aethos for Gravel. Aggressive, light, it’s a scalpel in the right hands, and will magnify every mistake you make.
Checkpoint is a Domane for chunkier gravel. Relaxed, slack, not a scalpel, but more forgiving.
If you’re looking to compete, I’d go Crux. If you’re just riding for enjoyment, I’d go Checkpoint.
Keep in mind that the Checkpoint can accommodate more cargo if you are ever thinking of bikepacking one day.
Crux is easily my favorite drop bar bike of all time. Trek uses a bunch of proprietary parts for their bikes that make finding replacement stuff kinda hard sometimes.
IMO the Checkpoint. It can run bigger tires and has some extra flex in the back. The Rival XPLR group is very well liked right now too.
Checkpoint all day. The specialized build is OLD and will likely all change later this year. If you’re paying $4K for a bike and not getting electronic shifting in 2026, you’re getting ripping off.
The first one looks sick asf. Just buy the one you like more. Marginal gains, just buy what you dig
I have 38mm on my Crux Comp and putting 45 on soon for loose gravel. I was surprised how much the Crux handles like a road bike. Do a YouTube search for Crux vs Checkpoint. there’s a vid out there that compares both. The checkpoint seemed like it had more of a relaxed geometry and could be taken bikepacking. I wouldn’t bikepack with my crux unless I could keep gear around 20lbs and sleep in motels.
I rode a checkpoint for a while. For me, I’m more comfortable and faster on a bike like the checkpoint, especially on rougher surfaces. I will probably end up with a checkpoint when I’m ready for a new bike again.
For the drivetrain, they’re both excellent. The way i read that, it sounds like you’re worried about battery life… my current bike has sram axs. The batteries last months with constant gear changes riding up and down the mountains where i live
I love my Crux. It’s super fun, but I recently added a Seigla to clear MTB tires. The latest gen Checkpoint can clear MTB tires. If you’re going to ride Cat 2 gravel, you want the Checkpoint. If you’re just riding road and Cat 1 gravel, the Crux is great.
I have a Crux and it’s my favorite bike ever, but I don’t bikepack and do race. I have 2 wheelsets, 1 for road and 1 for gravel and with the road wheels and tires it is easily as fast as my friends pure road bikes (our group rides are frequently over 20mph)
Good chance a new crux is coming in a few weeks at Unbound
I’d personally grab the crux and keep your diverge for bikepacking. Have one set up for 50/50 road/gravel and one for dedicated gravel with as big of tires that will fit.