2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
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2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Defy The Odds » Fri Feb 09, 2018 10:15 am
After going into one of my LBS, I saw the Toughroad, and something drew me to it instantly. It was light for what it was (a tough road bike, looked bulkier than the weight showed). Took it out for a couple of test rides and instantly had a connection with it. I felt like a kid again, not chasing top speeds but just in it for the fun. And this thing gives you bags of that
So after my second test ride I put a deposit down and within 3 days I had the bike.
I gave it a shakedown ride last night in my local around around road, pathway, reserve parkland and gravel. The bike did well on all, and here is my detailed thoughts.
Firstly, I'll start with the build. Its aluminium with carbon forks and seat post. It's Giant's top grade Alu, being the ALUXX SLR. It feels solid although some of the welds are not the prettiest. I can live with that though.
Handlesbars: the bars are drop bars but are much wider than my Defy. I like this though as they are very comfy. They are flared bars so the drops flare out which gives you loads of control on decents and just generally feels more comfortable. Long days in the saddle, your hands will be comfy, that's the bottom line. The shifters felt good and well positioned.
Brakes: This is my first bike with hydraulic disc brakes. I have always been on the fence about disc brakes however I am a complete convert now after riding one. It's not about the outright stopping power but more so the modulation. Braking is smooth, powerful but not abrupt... the way brakes ought to be. I was still bedding mine in but they felt solid, zero complaints here
Ride: Like I said I went over mixed terrain to get a feel for how it would be. The bike flies over grass and gravel. I think the best bit about owning a bike like this is that you dont care where you end up, because you can be confident that this thing will eat up the road ahead no matter the terrain. This is what I wanted. Especially given I live in an area where the roads are not well maintained, debris is quite common in the bike lanes. On particularly bumpy tracks you will definately notice it, but to be fair I think even my carbon defy would have struggled to absorb those. I was pretty happy overall though
Tubeless tyres out of the box: The Toughroad comes tubeless straight out of the box. This is also a first for me and to be honest I'll probably be setting up the Defy tubeless also once the tyres (which I literally just bought) need changing, most likely next season. Tubeless allow you to run low pressures, and coupled with 40mm tyres, 40psi is quite comfortable and fast enough. I think this also plays a big part in absorbing the shock. Also, not having to worry about punctures from pinch flats and small debris is handy. Going over branches and little thorny stuff was a breeze. In fact on a bike like this you end up seeking out these imperfections because,well, you can.
I took it out to Brimbank Park in Melbourne this morning to give it a good crack at climbing and gravel, pathway and everything in between. The bike climbs like a mountain goat thanks to the 42t sprocket on the back. The bailout gear is awesome and got me up an almost 9% climb with ease. The gears were slipping under heavy load so I think it'll need to get re-indexed to fine tune.
I did have a couple of brown pants moments on the gravel especially on the incline as I skipped between the 42t and 36t cog frequently due to gears being out of index, so lost traction a few times. but I think 40mm is a sweet spot. If I was doing single track more often then perhaps 50mm knobbies, but not necessary. The bike can in fact accept 50mm tyres WITH mudguards.
I measured my ride this morning on particular sections i usually scream down with the Defy. Although these are on tarmac, I was curious how the Toughroad compared with the Defy on the road and no surprise, it is slower. Much slower. But in the ToughRoad's defence, I wasn't going full bolt because I was trying to conserve my energy for Brimbank Park because I knew there may be a few climbs awaiting me. Still, this bike was never developed for speed, and in the grand scheme of things, it isn't too slow. Arriving at your destination 1 minute later for example is not a big deal if you're having a blast along the way.
If you wanted a do-it-all bike, this could potentially fulfil multiple duties with a second set of wheels. The Giant wheels weigh in around 2.5kg so they are really heavy. You could get a nice set of road wheels for a reasonable price (still aluminium) that would come in around 1.6kg which would make a huge difference on the road and could then mean this bike could be used on road for bunch rides and then weekend gravel duties.
All in all, so far, I am quite happy with the purchase. I feel like a kid again. Not chasing PB's or speed records, but just out there for the genuine fun of it, which is why I got back into cycling to begin with. For a value for money gravel bike, it has to be up there. Yes, there may be better options, but not for this money in my opinion.
If you're in the market for a gravel bike, or you want an adventure/fun/all terrain bike, give this a shot
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby NASHIE » Fri Feb 09, 2018 10:30 pm
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby gassyndrome » Sun Mar 04, 2018 12:10 pm
What a great bike! Definitely a bit slower than a roadie to get up to speed (probably mostly to do with wheels?) but you can't just indiscriminately ride into stormwater culverts or nip down a bit of a singletrack on a roadie either. Bike feels very solid and the finish isnt done justice by Giant's photos.
I had mine set up with a rear rack for commuting which will start tomorrow and I'm loving the simplicity, silence, no fussing about and range of the 1 x drivetrain.
I noticed that you took off the chain guide? I think it probably isn't justified given that my MTB has never dropped the front but I'll leave it on their for a little while yet. I've also already started thinking about an upgraded wheel set.....
Anywho, thanks for the inspiration as this was the only review I could actually find when trying to suss it out!
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Mububban » Mon Mar 05, 2018 12:53 am
As is so often the caseDefy The Odds wrote:This is my first bike with hydraulic disc brakes. I have always been on the fence about disc brakes however I am a complete convert now after riding one.
Great to hear you're loving the bike. As you mentioned, grab a lighter set of wheels and you've got a great all-rounder!
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby FenixDragoon » Wed Mar 07, 2018 7:18 pm
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby eeksll » Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:19 pm
does it feel less planted/grippy on the tarmac with those tyres? Would you be happy to "scream" down those section on the tyres you have on the tough road? what tyres are they?Defy The Odds wrote: I measured my ride this morning on particular sections i usually scream down with the Defy. Although these are on tarmac, I was curious how the Toughroad compared with the Defy on the road and no surprise, it is slower. Much slower. But in the ToughRoad's defence, I wasn't going full bolt because I was trying to conserve my energy for Brimbank Park because I knew there may be a few climbs awaiting me. Still, this bike was never developed for speed, and in the grand scheme of things, it isn't too slow. Arriving at your destination 1 minute later for example is not a big deal if you're having a blast along the way.
note the thread I started here: http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic ... 4#p1439824
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Defy The Odds » Tue Mar 27, 2018 8:13 pm
Firstly I am glad that this thread has inspired others to look at gravel bikes and even purchase the ToughRoad.
It is honestly a great bike and I have only take the Defy out once since I bought the ToughRoad. Its just so much fun.
I think the biggest bonus is you can take those roads you always wondered "where does that road go?" And not care where you end up. I headed out the other night and it had rained earlier, ended up taking a muddy path that I never took before and ended up having an awesome twilight adventure.
To answer the question previously, the bike is super planted.
I took it up and down a 7% incline hill near my place for a good run at how it climbs and descends. The wider tyres actually really inspire confidence.
The bottom bracket is lower than a CX bike so the bike feels more solid on the road.
It climbed better than the Defy with the 40 tooth cog making light work of the 7% uphill.
Given how new the bike is, I am really happy I have given some people some insight because for me it was a bit of a leap of faith which I am thoroughly glad that I did.
Here are some images of some of my recent escapades
The below was after I de-stickered the wheels
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby The other Lance » Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:02 am
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby DrShifty » Thu May 31, 2018 5:12 pm
Mine has flat bars and I've not seen one with drop bars. Did you change them or is that how they are sold now?
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Orion » Sat Jun 02, 2018 10:29 am
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Orion » Sat Jun 02, 2018 11:25 am
The GX model has drop bars:DrShifty wrote:I bought a Toughroad two years ago in the same manner, I saw it in the bike shop and bought it on the spot. The bike is a lot of fun and has got some charisma about it that makes me feel good when I'm riding it.
Mine has flat bars and I've not seen one with drop bars. Did you change them or is that how they are sold now?
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/au/toughroad-slr-gx-0
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby DrShifty » Sat Jun 02, 2018 1:13 pm
When I bought mine they had two models, the basic 2 and the 1 with the pannier racks. Now they have five models. That must say lots about the popularity of the style of the bike in the last two years.
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby V-meister » Sun Jun 03, 2018 4:58 pm
I no longer need to commute, so I sold mine just last week, but I'm looking to replace it with something that has drop bars, like the typical adventure/all road bikes becoming so popular these days. The SLR GX 0 was high on my list but they're sold out in my size nationally.
Might need to wait until the the new ones are announced, but I've been looking at some other options too (per my other thread).
Great write up on this bike, thanks for taking the time!
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Defy The Odds » Thu Jun 14, 2018 5:57 am
Firstly, appreciate the feedback. As mentioned earlier, when I was looking for reviews on the Toughroad SLR GX 0 myself, there was hardly anything available online (still isn't) so I took a leap of faith purchasing this bike and wanted others to have a bit of an overview from an owners perspective.
The bike itself is the best fun I've had on two wheels since I started riding a few years back.
Having the ability to stray off bitumen roads is just awesome. Most days I decide to just take a turn down a gravel/rough road and explore, these bikes beg you to do just that. You tend to forget about Strava segments and KOM's and just enjoy yourself, very much back-to-basics riding.
They are a very capable bike and if I had to pick one as a do-it-all bike out of this and my Defy it would be the Toughroad hands down.
I don't commute, but I carry my son in a trailer, do long day rides, group rides and gran fondo type rides and I am much more comfortable on the Toughroad.
I've since slammed the stem and now it feels even better and sharper especially on roads.
For the money I honestly dont think you will find a better value for money bike.
Given it is Winter, the Defy is permanently set up on the indoor trainer and the Toughroad is used outdoors because its much better suited.
I hope whoever purchased this bike with the help of my review enjoys it as much as I do.
Here is an image on one of it's recent adventures, love this bike! :
Stay safe and enjoy the ride !
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Ehsan14 » Sun Jul 08, 2018 7:01 pm
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Agent009 » Wed Jul 25, 2018 8:39 am
Thoughts?
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Defy The Odds » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:28 am
I have a 2014 Roam 3.... gave it to my dad to join me on recreational rides.Agent009 wrote:Has anyone compared the ToughRoad vs the Roam Disc 0 or Roam Disc 1 ??
Thoughts?
They are 2 very different bikes...
Roam is heavier (about 7kg heavier), slower, flat bar, suspension fork (alu) vs carbon rigid, 3x vs 1x....
I can tell you as a matter of fact the Toughroad is more comfortable than the Roam (I have the Roam 3 though).
Roam uses ALUXX frame vs the ALUXX -SLR frame on the Toughroad. Together with carbon seatpost and forks makes the Toughroad more complacent on rough surfaces, even with the suspension fork on the Roam.
The Roam is still a good bike. Its durable, goes just about anywhere, can take a beating and would make a good commuter but as an all round bike the Toughroad is probably the cream of Giant's crop.
There is also the price difference but I am of the "do it once, do it right" camp.
Depends what you're after really
Hope this helps
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Defy The Odds » Wed Jul 25, 2018 9:30 am
Thank you sir !Ehsan14 wrote:I'm thinking about a commuter. This could be the one. Btw very well written review.
It would make a fantastic commuter. If I had to commute for work it would top of my list... very versatile
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby koolriffs » Mon Jan 14, 2019 10:55 pm
Any suggestions on how the toughroad would convert to a decent road bike?? What wheelset would you use?
I love this bike. Its huge (I'm 6'4" and weigh 97kilos), black and I call it my Toorak Tractor. It's the SUV of bikes. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of adventure in their daily life. I've lost 20 kilos since I purchased it last march. Its changed my life.
Cheers, Rob
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby 10speedsemiracer » Mon Jan 14, 2019 11:18 pm
Good work on the 20kg, that's a good effort. Re the wheels, and am not sure this will fit into your planned budget, but I would suggest getting a set built up for you. At 97kg and obviously capable of transmitting a bit of power if you're motoring along at 40kmh on gravel, I think anything less than hand-built would probably not cope.koolriffs wrote:I've got the flat bar toughroad slr 0 last March and have ridden it nearly everyday as a commuter and weekend gravel bike at Phillip Island. Discovered the Wanthaggi rail trail and this bike flys on the gravel. No worries hitting 35 - 40km/hr on a decent gravel road. However this weekend my mate (who has cycled to Uluru, across USA, you get the pic) came down with his $10k Moots with electronic gears and blew me away, in particular up the hills, which got us thinking maybe I should have a second set of wheels for the road. He really likes my toughroad and saw it come to life on the gravel trails around Rhyll. So we got to thinking that maybe I should invest in a second wheelset with an 11-28 cassette, 160 disc, 28mm tyres. That way I could hit the road with a quick wheel change. I LOVE riding the gravel but if I want to ride with my friend who finds anything less than 100km a small ride, I may need to up my game.
Any suggestions on how the toughroad would convert to a decent road bike?? What wheelset would you use?
I love this bike. Its huge (I'm 6'4" and weigh 97kilos), black and I call it my Toorak Tractor. It's the SUV of bikes. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of adventure in their daily life. I've lost 20 kilos since I purchased it last march. Its changed my life.
Cheers, Rob
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby am50em » Mon Jan 14, 2019 11:42 pm
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Defy The Odds » Tue Jan 15, 2019 6:34 pm
I currently also have a 2013 Defy Composite and am strongly considering this myself as I believe the Toughroad is a thoroughly competent bike on the road and considering selling the Defy.koolriffs wrote:I've got the flat bar toughroad slr 0 last March and have ridden it nearly everyday as a commuter and weekend gravel bike at Phillip Island. Discovered the Wanthaggi rail trail and this bike flys on the gravel. No worries hitting 35 - 40km/hr on a decent gravel road. However this weekend my mate (who has cycled to Uluru, across USA, you get the pic) came down with his $10k Moots with electronic gears and blew me away, in particular up the hills, which got us thinking maybe I should have a second set of wheels for the road. He really likes my toughroad and saw it come to life on the gravel trails around Rhyll. So we got to thinking that maybe I should invest in a second wheelset with an 11-28 cassette, 160 disc, 28mm tyres. That way I could hit the road with a quick wheel change. I LOVE riding the gravel but if I want to ride with my friend who finds anything less than 100km a small ride, I may need to up my game.
Any suggestions on how the toughroad would convert to a decent road bike?? What wheelset would you use?
I love this bike. Its huge (I'm 6'4" and weigh 97kilos), black and I call it my Toorak Tractor. It's the SUV of bikes. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a bit of adventure in their daily life. I've lost 20 kilos since I purchased it last march. Its changed my life.
Cheers, Rob
With the current 40c WTB Nano's and heavy wheelset I manage about 4km/h slower than my Defy over my usual route so I think with a lighter wheelset and 28's, it would perform really well on road and would relegate the Defy to trainer duties or being sold.
There are plenty of great off the shelf wheels to accomodate.
I would look at Fulcrum Racing Quattro or Racing 5s in a disc version. Dont cost the world. I currently run Racing Quattro LG on my Defy
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Paddles » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:13 am
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby koolriffs » Wed Jan 16, 2019 11:28 am
Hi V-meister, I too was told the 2018 (I got the flat bar SLR 0) was sold out nationally. Then I spoke to Ivanhoe Bikes in Hallam vic and they found it after a day of looking. Apparently they buy Giants excess stock and have a warehouse full of bikes that isnt available to the public. Try ringing them and see if they can look through stock. They are a family owned business and gave me a great deal and follow up service.V-meister wrote: The SLR GX 0 was high on my list but they're sold out in my size nationally.
Good luck!
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Re: 2018 Giant ToughRoad SLR GX 0 Review
Postby Defy The Odds » Wed Jan 16, 2019 12:47 pm
The problem for me is that my tyres are tubeless, and so changing out tyres means new sealant which can get expensive, messy and annoying. Its easier and more efficient having a 2nd set of wheels. I know its an expense but once you have them, they are therePaddles wrote:Hey DefyTheOdds, I was going to buy a road wheelset for my Silex for the exact reasons you're looking at doing it. As a first step (and as prompted by some guys on here) I put some good quality 42C gravel/touring slicks on my bike and couldn't be happier, they roll awesome on the smooth bitumen and are super comfortable on rough stone chip roads at 60psi and then if I drop them to 40psi they are fantastic on gravel roads and single tracks that aren't too loose (they roll great through sand though). This is only a $200 potential solution instead of the many hundreds of dollars you'd have tied up in a new wheelset (ie tyres/discs/cassette/wheels). I don't run tubeless so don't drop mine below 40psi, I also usually have the front at 5psi less pressure than the back to soak up vibration too, and I weigh 104kg.
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