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2016 Giant Propel SLR alloy aero road bike slips into reality

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2016 Giant Propel SLR 1 alloy aero road bike first look

Giant’s Propel launched in 2013 as the aero road bike category was becoming a full fledged segment, but only in carbon fiber as part of their Advanced line.

Now, it looks like the sleek form factor will make its way to lower price points with and all-new SLR alloy frame that does remarkable justice to the original shapes but with traditional road brake calipers rather than aero linear pull stoppers.

As listed, there’ll be two models sharing the same frame and a new carbon Advanced SL Overdrive 2 fork (1.25 to 1.5 taper), and a standard handlebar and stem combo rather than the one-piece aero unit on the carbon bikes. Specs and more pics below…

2016 Giant Propel SLR 1 alloy aero road bike first look

The top model is the Propel SLR 1, decked out with Shimano Ultegra 11-speed (36/52, 11-28) running a KMC chain. The Giant SL1 Aero wheels also look like a new item, offering a mid-priced deep section wheelset. We don’t have actual width, but they appear to have a deeper rim than anything that’s spec’d on current Propel carbon bikes at any price range. Stated retail for the SLR 1 is NT 62,800, which translates to $2,039 USD as of May 7, 2015. Spec and pricing for markets outside of Asia may vary.

The frame runs all cables internally, and our guess is full length housing for everything. The rear brake runs inside the top tube and pops out on its underside before wrapping around the seat tube to the brake. That may be done for aerodynamics, but it’s also likely to reduce thigh rub on the housing, which is a big plus. It’s entry point at the front is along the side of the top tube to avoid drastic angles (and the resulting cable friction), but shift cables drop straight down behind the steerer tube and into the downtube.

The teardrop shaped seat tube is matched with the seatpost. The downtube also gets aero shaping with a cut out to direct air around the water bottle in an impressive feat of metal shaping…but it pales in comparison to the headtube junction:

2016 Giant Propel SLR 1 alloy aero road bike first look

This is one of the most extensively shaped alloy forms we’ve seen, combining the top- and head tubes into a single piece. Gorgeous.

2016 Giant Propel SLR 2 alloy aero road bike first look

The 2016 Giant Propel SLR 2 drops down to a still fantastic Shimano 105 group and uses their existing PA-2 wheels. Retail is NT 46,800 ($1,520 USD as of May 7, 2015).

Thanks to Metar for the tip!

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43 Comments
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MBro
MBro
9 years ago

That cable routing at the stem is horrible.

Tomi
Tomi
9 years ago

Looks like a lot of bike for the buck, especially for people racing crit, tri or ride in not too hilly areas. Curious about the weight.

Grammarnazi
Grammarnazi
9 years ago

Tomi, it’s been stated to be around 18 lbs with ultegra.

Andrew
Andrew
9 years ago

Wow – impressive!

Durianrider
Durianrider
9 years ago

big things from Giant this year.

2013 TCR Advanced SL still the stiffest bike Ive ever ridden but comfy enough for a 24hr TT.

NoMoreGreen
NoMoreGreen
9 years ago

Really nice line with nice pricing. This model will be my upgrade to Cannondale Supersix Evo non aero. Aero is the way to go!

J Train
J Train
9 years ago

I wonder how the conversation went that ultimately led to that atrocious cable routing being approved for production. Maybe it’s such a great deal because these are all the first run screw-ups.

jumbojuice
9 years ago

Hi Gramma, where did you get that weight figure?

DRC
DRC
9 years ago

Looks awesome. Surprised the bike industry doesn’t do more stuff like this in aluminum. Hydroforming is used extensively in cars, why not bikes?

If they kept the linear pull brakes, I’d be all over it.

Chris
Chris
9 years ago

That looks like its ride quality will be punishing!

Tress Jurgen
Tress Jurgen
9 years ago

Giant is definitely moving to the next level ! I just love this design. Well done.

BEERTECH
BEERTECH
9 years ago

Wow. Love it. Especially at the 105 price point as a Crit bike.

Sam
Sam
9 years ago

@J Train The cable routing was optimized for aerodynamics while still maintaining functionality. It does look atrocious with that massive loop though, setup properly the cable will be about even with the stem.

Baz
Baz
9 years ago

Yeah that cable routing ruins it for me too. :/

Jon
Jon
9 years ago

@nomoregreen that bike is a pos compared to a supersix evo. Don’t even waste your money.

G
G
9 years ago

No too fan of the cable routing, but otherwise, it is a really purdy build

Colin
Colin
9 years ago

A little research goes a long ways.
The wheels aren’t new, they were a 2014.5 product. They come stock on some of the Envie women’s bikes, weight ~1850g, tubeless ready, and make an odd whistling noise between 12-14 mph.
The cable housing isn’t fully run, actually it’s done exactly the same as the carbon propel’s. A segment of cable housing run from the shifter to the cable stop behind the stem, and then a segment from the rear chainstay to the rear derailleur. The frame is MOSTLY sheathed, but not even close to being fully run housing. Also, the cabling looks much better if have the left and right cable housing cross in front of the headtube and then run it back to the cable stops.

I’d be surprised if this bike made it to the US market considering the TCR SLR did so poorly over here that Giant discontinued it.

Dave
Dave
9 years ago

Noboby had a problem when Cervelo/Felt/many others ran the cable behind the stem. Why is it an issue now????

Bailey
Bailey
9 years ago

Hence the brand name “Rumor”, not BikeFact. Just a touch more research would reveal that this bike is an Asia market ONLY model. Don’t believe everything you read mates.

CXisFun
CXisFun
9 years ago

@Dave: because the other brands didn’t leave 18″ of excess housing popping out of the frame. Almost enough housing to block your line of sight.

Dave
Dave
9 years ago

@CXisFun: these are just photos. Having build many Propels I can tell you that they are not that long when they arrive in store. And CX is more than fun. Its the best:)))

Bill
Bill
9 years ago

@cxisfun.. it does look longer than usual, but.. picture that out front garmin 510 mount lots of people are riding, and I don’t think you can really say it’s affecting line of sight.

foundOne
foundOne
9 years ago

Not at all. No issue with Garmin mount.
As for the wheel, you can swap it out with Quattro for both look and feel.
Metallic color rocks!

dead
dead
9 years ago

Trek just came out with an SLR, Selle Italia has been using SLR for a long time now… TOO many slr XXX XX1 XTr in the bike industry. Start using the rest of the alphabet.

Cornelius
Cornelius
9 years ago

I hope they offer a frame kit! With SRAM wireless and a straight-pull front brake this could be a very slick bike.

DT
DT
9 years ago

Wow. You babies Stop whining abt that cable routing. Dont you know that’s easily changeable? And not an inherent trait of this bike?? Oh roadies….Just shorten it! Geez…

bicyclesteve
bicyclesteve
9 years ago

Too bad it won’t be coming to the USA.

Real McCoy
Real McCoy
9 years ago

@bicyclesteve

“Where there is a will there is a way”.

Let me know if you need more info!

solace
solace
9 years ago

@jon
I’m totally fed up with the Cannondale Evo too, it comes with BB “clicking” PF30.
At least GIANT comes with Shimano BB and crank. Besides I agree with other commenter that Aero is the way forward.

Eddie Mart
Eddie Mart
9 years ago

wow!! this is going to be my first road bike!

Bryin
Bryin
9 years ago

I can’t believe anyone would live such stupid cable routing… it is simply stupid… and ugly… and harder to work on…

Why does anyone thing that a road frame is going to make an aerodynamic difference? You have to be kidding. The ONLY way an aero frame offers any advantage is if you ride over 25mph and are not drafting. That only applies to TTs so aero road makes little sense. Plus if you are actually buying your bikes it is unlikely you can even ride 25mph for an extended period of time. If you could get any advantage out of an aero frame you are already being given your bikes by a sponsor. Aero frames are bought by guys who either want to look fast or think they really are fast…

Add aero frames to the growing list of really dumb things roadies buy- tubeless wheels… carbon wheels… low spoke count wheels… superlight frames… superlight wheels… carbon stems… carbon bars… superlight tires… elcetronic shifting.. BB30… BB90… BBright.. etc… and disk brakes.

swangarten
swangarten
9 years ago

@Bryin- I can’t tell if you are kidding or not. At first it reads like you are but then it looks like you really are that clueless.

In case clueless is correct you should know aerodynamics could have an effect at any speed. Relative ground speed(Rider speed, wind speed, wind angle…) is what has the effect on a road cyclist. If the combination of those top 20MPH you now have an advantage over a non-aero machine.

As for the rest of your curmudgeon list you left off indexed shifting, STI shifting, 6/7 speed freewheels, 8/9/10/11 speed cassettes, dual pivot brakes, quick releases, clipless pedals and hardshell helmets.

Destiny
Destiny
9 years ago

@Bryin

Include “the mother of all noises” -> PF30[A-Z] in your curmudgeon list too.

Adam
Adam
9 years ago

@Bryin- To further add to @Swangarten. You mention that only sponsored riders that are given their bikes can ride for 25 mph over an extended period of time. In fact many cat 5 US crit racers win races by breaking away and maintain that speed relatively easy for an extended period to win races. A cat 5 racer is usually a novice to say the least and on average 10 years before they even become good enough to become a cat 2 racer (semi-pro) that do not receive free bikes but maybe a very little discount from a major bike company.

Citations:

Dan Coyle author of “The Talent Code”

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705811009714

Bryin
Bryin
9 years ago

If anyone thinks that the aerodynamics of a FRAME makes one bit of difference in a road race, you are simply too gullible. A frame aerodynamics makes no difference in real world performance. Sure there are lots of manufacturers out there that will come up with some wind tunnel tests that “prove” the value of whatever imbelcilic part they want to sell but I have yet to see a real world road test (very easily done with a power meter) test that proves real aero advantages from any frame.

Even a pro riding at 30mph gets so little aero advantage from their frame it does not matter.

swangarten
swangarten
9 years ago

@Bryin- Stick with your downtube shifters, this conversation is beyond your ability to comprehend.

qryes
qryes
9 years ago

I bet if they spec it with the new tiagra 10spd, it would still look good and be priced better.

Steve Miller
Steve Miller
9 years ago

@Bryin

Here’s more pics for you. You can see the bird-eye view of cable routing here.
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/road-bikes/giant-propel-advanced-2

Yours truly,
Aero bike

Radsport Haus
9 years ago

I fully agree, the alumimum frame looks amazing. very nice low level Giant race bike.

brian
9 years ago

@bycliclesteve why did you say the bike wont come to america its a great deal of bike

Charlie
Charlie
9 years ago

Any more news on this?

jj
jj
9 years ago

any more news on this please? @bikerumor

Paul Lewis
Paul Lewis
8 years ago

So it never went to market? Still not for sale anywhere???

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