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New Colnago V3Rs launched - lighter, stiffer and more compliant

New lightweight aero frame drops weight and gains stiffness

Colnago has launched the new V3Rs today, the successor to the bike first launched in 2014, designed with input from Ferrari, and updated in 2017.

In a way, the V1-r was ahead of its time. Here was a bike trying to balance the competing demands of low weight and aerodynamics. We’re now seeing other manufacturers add aero to otherwise light

Colnago V3r 11.jpg

Colnago pitched it as the “perfect” all-round bike, suited to sprinting, climbing and everything else in-between. “The V project was born as a compromise between weight, stiffness and aerodynamics, and its award-winning results demonstrate the success of the product, explains Colnago.

colnago v3r7.jpg

The new V3Rs has received a substantial redesign over the previous two bikes. The frame weight has dropped from 835g to a claimed 780g for a size 50cm disc frame. As well as dropping weight, stiffness has been increased to the tune of 12% in the rear triangle and 6% in the head tube. And guesswork, it’s also “vertically more compliant”. Their words, not ours.

Colnago V3r 7.jpg

To achieve the new lower weight target, Colnago says changed the carbon fibre in the layup, but doesn’t elaborate other than to say: “we used a new type of carbon fibre to increase the rigidity to lateral flexions”. Yup, that’s what it says in the press release, we weren’t at the launch event to be able to push Colnago further on the exact details of the new carbon.

colnago v3r6.jpg

Tyre clearance has been increased to try and keep up with the trend for fatter tyres, so the new bike now takes up to 28mm wide tyres.

It’s available with a choice of disc or rim brakes. The latter using direct mount brakes, as the last model did, the disc brake version features some clever integration. The company learnt a lot developing the C64 Disc with its new handlebar, stem and fork steerer that allowed fully internal routing, and it has applied this expertise to the V3Rs.

Colnago V3r 3.jpg

The new TFS fork and its Sr9 stem enable the cables and hoses to be routed straight into the frame, thus keeping them out of the air providing lower drag, and it must be said a much cleaner appearance.

Colnago has redesigned the fork legs too, with tyre clearance boosted and a new crown that not only improves the clearance but also increases the stiffness. It’s also lighter, with a claimed weight of 390g with an uncut steerer tube including the thru-axle bolt. Trim the steerer tube and Colnago reckons the weight comes down to about 340g.

Colnago V3r 2.jpg

Between the new stem and frame is an evolution of the fibre-reinforced plastic cups first seen on the C64. The idea is to use to an elastomer type material to give a tiny amount of vibration damping quality at the handlebars, just to help smooth out the roughness of today’s crap roads.

DSC03161

At the opposite end of the frame, it has overhauled the seat clamp. Never has such a humble part of the bicycle frame been the centre of so much attention than in recent years. Colnago has developed an “upper-pull” clamp with no fixed wedge, the bolt accessed from the top of the top tube, which is claimed to provide a bigger range of operation as well as being lighter and smaller.

Colnago V3r 2.jpg

Geometry has been revised a little over the previous bike. Because the new fork is longer, for the increased tyre clearance, the head tube is now shorter. It has also tweaked the reach on each size to give a better balance across the size range. It has also lowered the bottom bracket, which it says is to enhance the handling when used with wider tyres, which are not only wider but also taller.

There are eight frame sizes to choose from, starting from 42 and rising to 58. Here’s the geometry chart:

colnago v3-rs geo

We don't yet have details of availability or pricing, we have asked, so as soon as we know we'll update this article.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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14 comments

Avatar
Nick T | 4 years ago
1 like

Colnago sizing is different, 50 is roughly equivalent to a 55cm seat tube in traditional geometry

Avatar
Prosper0 | 4 years ago
1 like

I love an Italian bike but tbh this leaves me cold. The fact that they couldn’t be arsed to put the chain on properly just sums it up for me. 

Avatar
srchar | 4 years ago
0 likes

I can't get used to the new typeface on the downtube. Yes, I'm picky.

Avatar
missionsystem | 4 years ago
0 likes

Despite everything, i still find it impossible not to love a Colnago...

Avatar
boringbutton | 4 years ago
0 likes

image x2 and x3 have dropped chains also haha yes

Avatar
Xena | 4 years ago
0 likes

It’s not light . 780grm for a 50cm size tiny frame .  

Controversial comment coming up ,,,,,,

Colnago for me always seem like bikes for rich fat middle age men . There I said it .  Why anyone would pay the amount they cost for such a heavy frame .  Don’t give me that “ you have to try one “

i ride a custom made frame  so go  fuck yourself and I also ride a  weight weenie cervelo sl , both sub 4 kilos.

 And both bikes do me fine  the  custom frame £6000 the cervelo £400 .  Both super light  and both hand made frames , the cervelo was made in the US .   I wouldn’t waste my money on a custom frame or super expensive frame now ,  unless I get my friend Ed at London carbon ( the guy is a carbon master ) to build me one otherwise  I’d buy stock and old . It’s cheaper and you can pick up some tasty frames . Light as fuck . My cervelo was 780 grams . I have taken all the paint off stripped it down to the carbon it’s now sub 700grms size 54cm  £ 400 that’s all it cost including postage . Took me 2 hours to strip the paint off and that was  doing it slowly drinking tea and eating chocolates. How did I do that? That’s my secret . But it was easy as fuck . Frame Is  perfect  no filler like some of the old addicts ......

 

if your a decent rider you can make any frame work .   If you want comfort stick some pedals and a crank and some wheels on your sofa ...... I hate disc bikes .

Avatar
boringbutton replied to Xena | 4 years ago
0 likes

Xena wrote:

It’s not light . 780grm for a 50cm size tiny frame .  

Controversial comment coming up ,,,,,,

Colnago for me always seem like bikes for rich fat middle age men . There I said it .  Why anyone would pay the amount they cost for such a heavy frame .  Don’t give me that “ you have to try one “

i ride a custom made frame  so go  fuck yourself and I also ride a  weight weenie cervelo sl , both sub 4 kilos.

 And both bikes do me fine  the  custom frame £6000 the cervelo £400 .  Both super light  and both hand made frames , the cervelo was made in the US .   I wouldn’t waste my money on a custom frame or super expensive frame now ,  unless I get my friend Ed at London carbon ( the guy is a carbon master ) to build me one otherwise  I’d buy stock and old . It’s cheaper and you can pick up some tasty frames . Light as fuck . My cervelo was 780 grams . I have taken all the paint off stripped it down to the carbon it’s now sub 700grms size 54cm  £ 400 that’s all it cost including postage . Took me 2 hours to strip the paint off and that was  doing it slowly drinking tea and eating chocolates. How did I do that? That’s my secret . But it was easy as fuck . Frame Is  perfect  no filler like some of the old addicts ......

 

if your a decent rider you can make any frame work .   If you want comfort stick some pedals and a crank and some wheels on your sofa ...... I hate disc bikes .

 

and breathe  1 

Discs are cool... they feel way better than my 105 rim brake bike - I quite like them.

 

Granted they dont look as good and are a faff set up... teh hassle is what really puts me off them 

Avatar
GrumpyOldPizza replied to Xena | 4 years ago
0 likes

Xena wrote:

It’s not light . 780grm for a 50cm size tiny frame .  

Controversial comment coming up ,,,,,,

Colnago for me always seem like bikes for rich fat middle age men . There I said it .  Why anyone would pay the amount they cost for such a heavy frame .  Don’t give me that “ you have to try one “

...

if your a decent rider you can make any frame work .   If you want comfort stick some pedals and a crank and some wheels on your sofa ...... I hate disc bikes .

I am middle aged (52) and fat (69kg). Guess I am not rich, as I have to put 4 kids throu college. There I am. I am a climber, Colorado. Had hoped to move from a Cannondale EVO 2 to EVO 3 ... 

 

This thing is drop dead georgeous. 

 

Weight is one criterium, handling another. Smart engineering (not having this stupid one piece integrated cockpit), yet another.  Cannondale says 866g for a 56cm frame ... So the V3RS looks like a better compromise between aero and weight. 

 

I don't really want to get into the disc vs. rim discussion. On some rides I do put on aluminium wheels due to the tricky descents and the unpredictable weather. The V3RS allows both, disc and rim without compromises (do you hear me Cannondale ???).

 

You are right about the decent rider and making every frame work. However there are some bikes that put a smile on your face when you ride them first, and then you want to go back and ride again and again and again with that same smile.

 

 

 

 

 

Avatar
BehindTheBikesheds replied to Xena | 4 years ago
0 likes

Xena wrote:

It’s not light . 780grm for a 50cm size tiny frame .  

Controversial comment coming up ,,,,,,

Colnago for me always seem like bikes for rich fat middle age men . There I said it .  Why anyone would pay the amount they cost for such a heavy frame .  Don’t give me that “ you have to try one “

i ride a custom made frame  so go  fuck yourself and I also ride a  weight weenie cervelo sl , both sub 4 kilos.

 And both bikes do me fine  the  custom frame £6000 the cervelo £400 .  Both super light  and both hand made frames , the cervelo was made in the US .   I wouldn’t waste my money on a custom frame or super expensive frame now ,  unless I get my friend Ed at London carbon ( the guy is a carbon master ) to build me one otherwise  I’d buy stock and old . It’s cheaper and you can pick up some tasty frames . Light as fuck . My cervelo was 780 grams . I have taken all the paint off stripped it down to the carbon it’s now sub 700grms size 54cm  £ 400 that’s all it cost including postage . Took me 2 hours to strip the paint off and that was  doing it slowly drinking tea and eating chocolates. How did I do that? That’s my secret . But it was easy as fuck . Frame Is  perfect  no filler like some of the old addicts ......

 

if your a decent rider you can make any frame work .   If you want comfort stick some pedals and a crank and some wheels on your sofa ...... I hate disc bikes .

My 2012 Scott Cr1 SL in a 61 was an actual 916g including the derailleur hanger, but I'm not that fussed tbh, I'd rather have something heavier that handles how I want it for the particular use and doesn't come with a silly price tag. As you say buying up older stock rim braked frames is probably the best way to go to get an affordable weight weenie bike.

I've seen a few pics of the early addicts, filler everywhere around the BB area.

Avatar
Glov Zaroff replied to Xena | 4 years ago
3 likes

Xena wrote:

i ride a custom made frame  so go  fuck yourself and I also ride a  weight weenie cervelo sl , both sub 4 kilos.

 

 

Sub 4kg? Utter bullsh*t. There are so many holes in the rest of your claims that you’re clearly just here to troll, so pop off somewhere else please.

 

Avatar
boringbutton | 4 years ago
0 likes

lol! at the 1st picture - the chain has fallen off :p 

Avatar
David Arthur @d... replied to boringbutton | 4 years ago
0 likes
aries2580 wrote:

lol! at the 1st picture - the chain has fallen off :p 

Good spot! I was so focused on getting the article together I didn't even notice. I've removed it obviously, but that's a bit sloppy by them

Avatar
boringbutton replied to David Arthur @davearthur | 4 years ago
0 likes

David Arthur @davearthur wrote:
aries2580 wrote:

lol! at the 1st picture - the chain has fallen off :p 

Good spot! I was so focused on getting the article together I didn't even notice. I've removed it obviously, but that's a bit sloppy by them

 

 

Found it rather amusing if I'm honest  1 

was that in the press pack they sent out! :o 

Avatar
gbzpto | 4 years ago
1 like

What a surprise another frame that is lighter, stiffer and more compliant

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