Pro SL

road1199–2200 EUR

Origin

pre-2015. The Pro SL has been part of ROSE's lineup for well over a decade. BikeRadar noted in 2019: 'Rose has softened the ride compared to first models we tested a decade or so ago' — suggesting origins circa 2008–2010. The URBALT entry year of 2015 captures the modern era. The Pro SL serves a consistent mission: the best-specced, lightest alloy road bike possible at sub-€2,000.

Specifications

Frame: Triple-butted 7000-series aluminium (oversized tubing, smoothed welds)
Weight: kg
Drivetrain: Shimano 105 2x11. Disc 105: R7020 hydraulic shifters, R7000 front + GS rear derailleurs, R7000 50/34 compact crank, 11-32 cassette, HG600 chain. Rim 105: full 7000-series 105 incl. cranks.
Brakes: Disc: Shimano 105 R7020 hydraulic disc (flat-mount), 160/160mm. Rim variant: Shimano 105 dual-pivot rim caliper.
Wheels: Disc 105: DT Swiss P1850 Spline 23 (700c, tubeless-ready). Rim 105: Rose R30 / Mavic Aksium alloy clinchers. 650b (27.5") wheels on 45/48cm small sizes for proportional geometry.

The verdict

+Strengths

BikeRadar 2019 Bike of the Year sub-£1,000: 'Superb value lightweight flyer with beguiling blend of power and speed'
Complete Shimano 105 (or Ultegra) at sub-€1,500 — simply unmatched through retail channels
1,280–1,350g alloy frame rivals carbon frame weight at price — 'as light as you'll find at this price'
Smooth welds: 'impossible to tell from carbon at first glance' — premium appearance on budget build
Carbon fork provides genuine front-end compliance benefit
650b small sizes (45/48cm) — rare and practical for shorter riders wanting proper geometry
Tubeless-ready wheels standard — future-proof upgrade path
Disc option: 32mm clearance, hydraulic braking — well-rounded all-weather package
Cyclist: 'Gives you plenty of bike for your buck — well balanced, efficient, comfortable on long rides'

−Weaknesses

No mudguard mounts — BikeRadar and road.cc both flag this as 'egregious omission' on an otherwise ideal all-weather commuter
Alloy seatpost on Lady/lower builds — BikeRadar: 'upgrading to carbon post would be a good first move'
Press-fit BB — durability concern in wet/commute conditions (though less critical than on expensive carbon bikes)
9.4kg complete (Disc 105, 55cm) — not light. Heavier than Xeon RS was at similar price.
Headset cable routing (Gen 3): replacing upper headset bearing requires cable disconnect — DIY caution
Internal rim width 18mm — narrower than current 25mm standard preference
No spec customisation on cheaper variants — buy fixed build or choose premium models for configurator access

Did you know

01BikeRadar named the Pro SL 105 its sub-£1,000 Bike of the Year 2019 — the same year the Backroad and X-Lite Four were also BikeRadar Bikes of the Year. Three ROSE bikes in one year.
02Small sizes (45cm and 48cm) use 650b (27.5") wheels — ensuring proportionally correct geometry for shorter riders. Very unusual for a road bike.
03The smoothed welds are so clean that BikeRadar, Bikerumor, and road.cc all independently noted the frame 'looks like carbon at first glance.' ROSE deliberately smooths welds to achieve this.
04Cyclist magazine: Anodised black finish option 'lighter than painting it' — ROSE thinks about weight down to the paint/finish choice
05BikeRadar noted that Rose's direct sales model means components can be specified via the configurator on more expensive models — but cheaper Pro SL variants have fixed specs.
06Pro SL Lady: frame geometry NOT women's specific — same as standard. Only saddle, bars, and small 650b sizes differ. Consistent with ROSE's approach across road bikes.
07At 8.03kg (53cm, Ultegra), the Pro SL Lady is comparable to carbon Ultegra bikes costing significantly more — BikeRadar's key point.
08Pro SL has no mudguard mounts — both BikeRadar and road.cc flagged this as a missed opportunity for what is otherwise an excellent all-weather bike candidate.
09The Gen 3 (2020) headset cable entry means disconnecting cables to replace upper headset bearing — a maintenance caveat for DIY mechanics

Who it’s for

First road bike buyers wanting genuine performance specBudget-conscious cyclists upgrading from entry-level or hybridEndurance / sportive riders who don't need race geometryShorter women riders (Pro SL Lady with 650b in 45/48cm)All-weather commuters wanting a light, fast road bike