First Ride: 2023 Giant Propel Advanced SL 0

When it was originally released back in 2012, the Propel was one the very first aero road bikes to hit the market. In the decade since, Giant has been steadily refining the platform with today seeing the official launch of the latest iteration, led by its flagship model, the 2023 Propel Advanced SL 0.

The 2023 model is noticeably slicker, more refined and more aero than the previous Propel.

As tends to be the way, the 2023 Propel actually broke cover earlier this year when piloted by Team BikeExchange-Jayco at the Tour de France. Success came quickly thanks to a brace of very different – but equally impressive – victories by Dylan Groenewegen (Stage 3, Sønderborg) and Michael Matthews (Stage 14, Mende). They’re results that speak volumes to the ever-evolving nature of what is one of the world’s most commercially-successful aero road bikes.

The 2023 Propel frameset is 225 grams lighter and nearly 10% stiffer than its predecessor.

At first glance, the styling of the new Propel is a little slimmer and more refined than its predecessor, especially the top tube and seat tube which now features an integrated seat mast, with fewer harsh edges and hard angles. While the base geometry remains similar to the previous generation Propel (circa 2018), the 2023 frameset is 225 grams lighter and nearly 10% stiffer – significant numbers in the never-ending quest to maximise on-road performance.

With an RRP in the vicinity of $13,999 it would be erroneousto describe the 2023 Propel Advanced SL 0 as an affordable road bike. It’s still the price of small car. Yet compared to many of its direct rivals boasting similar (that is, outstanding) levels of engineering and componentry, headlined by Shimano’s superb new 12-speed Dura-Ace Di2 groupset, integrated dual-sided FC-9200P power meter and CADEX carbon components, the value here seems pretty compelling.

Certainly, there’s more than enough on offer to warrant serious consideration should you be in the market for one of the pro peloton’s top-shelf speed machines towards the end of the year when the first bikes should start hitting Australian shores.

Like most 2023 models, the rim brake is looooong gone. It’s disc only.

The 2023 Propel Advanced Pro 0 models are priced even more attractively at around $7,799 (Shimano Ultegra Di2) and $8,499 (SRAM Force eTap AXS) respectively.

Senior journalist Peter Maniaty has been testing a pre-release of the 2023 Giant Propel Advanced SL 0 in recent weeks. His full review will appear in the November/December edition of Bicycling Australia magazine.