The Giant Propel has always been fast. Because the Aero road bike in the past but was hard as a rock on the roads and didn't seem particularly light-footed on the climbs due to its relatively high weight, the Giant racing bike was always a few tenths short of the competition in the TOUR test. With the New edition of the Giant Propel, which was presented at this year's Tour de France was promptly good for two stage wins, this changed abruptly. The professional racer has joined the select circle of racing bikes with an overall TOUR rating of 1.4 and left a lasting impression in the first stage. detailed laboratory and practical test by TOUR lasting impression.
Giant Propel Advanced SL - Tough at the limit
The world's largest bike manufacturer from Taiwan has given the Giant Propel a tough slimming diet on its way from a primarily fast bike to a versatile and lightweight all-rounder. The top-equipped Giant Propel Advanced SL in the BikeExchange-Jayco team livery weighs in at 6830 grams. This means it competes with lightweight mountain racing bikes such as the TCR Advanced SL from our own stable. The new Propel also has nothing in common with the old one in terms of comfort, with the integrated seat post now absorbing shocks much better. The aero racing bike has become a competition all-rounder that has lost none of its speed.
The Giant bike didn't get any faster and just missed the jump into the Top ten fastest production road bikes in the TOUR test. The 209 watts of pedalling power required for 45 km/h is nevertheless a very respectable result, which can be attributed not only to the frame but also to the high-quality wheels with carbon blade spokes and aerodynamically optimised tyres from the in-house brand Cadex. One drawback: for safety reasons, the hookless rims have so far only been approved for a few tyre models from other manufacturers.
No handlebar-stem unit on the Giant bike
The cockpit is pleasingly practice-orientated. The height of the two-piece combination can be easily adjusted and adapted to the individual position. There is no need to disconnect cables or shorten the steerer tube, as is the case with many comparable competitor road bike models with a one-piece carbon handlebar/stem unit. The stem also blends in better with the overall appearance, which is no longer so clearly dominated by its aerodynamic orientation. The new Giant Propel is superior to its predecessor in almost all areas and has matured into an almost perfect all-rounder.
Giant Propel Advanced SL
- Weight: 6.8 kg
- Price: 11999 Euro
- Frame/fork/steering bearing weight* 975/411/58 grammes
- Frame sizes** XS, S, M, M/L, L, XL
- Seat/top tube/head tube 545/560/155 millimetres
- Stack/Reach/STR*** 554/392 millimetres/1.41
- Wheelbase/caster 990/58 millimetres
Giant Propel Advanced SL - Equipment
- Drive/Circuit Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 (2x12; 52/36, 11-34 teeth)
- Brakes Shimano Dura-Ace (160/140 mm)
- Wheels/tyres (weights)**** Cadex SL 50/Cadex Aero 25 mm (1092/1473 grams)
Measured values & individual scores
- Weight of complete wheel 6.8 kilos - Grade 1,7
- Steering head stiffness 114 Nm/° - Grade 1,0
- Lateral stiffness Fork 52 N/mm - Grade 1,3
- Bottom bracket stiffness 74 N/mm - Grade 1,0
- Seatpost spring stiffness 120 N/mm - Grade 1,3
- Aerodynamics 209 Watt - Grade 1,7
* Weighed weights.
** Manufacturer's specification test size bold.
*** Stack/reach projected vertical/horizontal measurement from the centre of the bottom bracket to the top of the head tube; STR (stack to reach) 1.36 means a very stretched, 1.60 an upright riding position.
**** Wheel weights including tyres, cassette, quick release/ thru axles and brake discs if applicable.
Single noteswhich are included in the overall grade with different weightings, are only shown in part. The grades are calculated up to the final grade with all decimal places; however, for the sake of clarity, we show all grades with rounded decimal places.
Aerodynamics: Theoretical pedalling power required to overcome air resistance at 45 km/h, measured in a wind tunnel with a pedalling leg dummy.
Julian Schultz
Editor
