Personal opinion. Colnago was a company full of passionate people that knew how to build bikes. Today it is a company full of MBA managers that just know how to build brands ... and Colnago is not the only Italian brand ended like this. As Italian I must say all of this is very sad for me.
Yep, I don't know why anybody would want this over any other fully integrated proprietary part riddled bike from any other brand, there is nothing unique or striking about this, it looks the same. If anything if you are in the market for a bike like this then colnago shouldn't necessarily be on your list, getting replacement proprietary parts will be easier for a tarmac or a giant, LBS's will be more familiar with those bigger brands and lastly it isn't competitive on price.
@@crimson177 At one time, the exclusivity of Colnago was part of its charm. Then, there was no issue with proprietary parts so there was no real downside. Now, as you correctly point out, if you are going to go with a bike like this, sticking with a big brand is less risky. For me, a bike like this should never be top on the list of any regular consumer. These are purely for pro racers. If you are not racing, then the extras 3 watts of aero saving by routing the cables internally is not worth the nightmare maintenance it brings, not to mention the insane price tag. But, I'm willing to bet that most non pro riders who buy this do so just to show off and the price tag for them is THE point.
Marco. I totally concur. I do like the C68 and really that is only for modern features and the NEW bling factor. I have a Colnago C40, I have had 3 of them. And my current one is a keeper for life and hope to pass down to my now 20 month old daughter in the future. The C40 was made out of passion, artisan, and made in Italy and really have stood the test of time a Legend.
I agree with your sentiments about the direction of the Colnago brand. I own a C40 (two actually) and these newer bikes may be more techincally advance but they lack that intangible Italian charm.
Really good, straight up and honest review, thanks Shoddy. Cycling Tips has been virtually the last line of defence in terms of being able to critique big brands, and I hope you continue to have the opportunity to do so in spite of recent news on headcount etc. Wishing you and yours a good Xmas.
Merckx, Maertens, Sarroni, VDB, Freire, Bettini, Bartoli, Rominiger, Tadej, the domance of team Mapei . Please lets not forget that Colnagos have won everything, and have been used by the greatest of all time. There appears to be lots of guys online who talk about Colnagos as if they are an artisan build for the connoisseur, lets not forget they all models, present and past , were primarily built to win races on!
I agree; they have a supreme history in racing. It's amazing it took them until Pog to win the Tour. But the bikes do have a slack geo compared to many other race bikes. And racing has changed, Colnago hopefully is too. -Dave
"Is The Magic Still There" I'm not sure it is. You are right, what used to set Colnago apart, they did things differently, they looked special, and they were special. I am fortunate enough to own a few of their classics, including the two you mentioned, the Master & C40. Doubtless the V4RS will perform well; however, the most telling sign for me, no top tube signature from the maestro. A changing of the guard maybe, but a change in the mundane direction of every other manufacturer is hardly original thinking. As Oscar Wilde succinctly put it "Fashion Is What I Wear, When Everyone Else Starts Wearing It, It's No Longer Fashion".
I am sure it is great, but i rather ride me own Colnago Tecnos art decor, Master Lite Rabobank Competition, Master Olimpic art decor and Dream Mapei with the top groups that monej can buj, i.e. Dura-ace 7800, Dura-ace 7800 Carbon, Super Record and Record (in no particular order).
Please don’t take this the wrong way! There is so much bullshit spoken about bikes, it’s untrue, these sleek, samy bikes built for the professionals these days are just that, and I have to say, reflects on the “dull” characters of today’s peloton. I have a steel Colnago Master X Lite, a beautiful EPS and a C60, all shod in Campagnolo, the likes of Miguel Indurain, Sean Kelly, Steven Roche et al could win races on those bikes, they have heart and soul, something which is lacking in today’s cycling. It’s not too far away, that I remember people slagging me off for riding a bike, amazing what Brad Wiggins did! Merry Christmas everyone……..
This Colnago is completely overpriced even if you buy the individual parts such as frame and Dura Ace group and wheels another handlebar stem comes to a price difference of almost 4000 € how is such an exaggerated price to justify.
