Short answer: for most riders, the Colnago to buy is the V4, an all-round carbon race bike that starts at ₹4,39,990 complete with Shimano 105 Di2. Racers choose between the V5RS, the lightest Colnago ever made, and the Y1RS, its aero race bike. The C68 is the handmade Italian flagship, the Master and Steelnovo are steel classics, the G4X and C68 Gravel are for gravel, and the TT1 and T1RS are for time trials and the track.
Colnago was founded by Ernesto Colnago in 1954, in Cambiago near Milan, and few names in cycling carry as much history. Eddy Merckx rode Colnago, and Tadej Pogačar's Tour de France wins came on Colnago bikes. The range has grown into ten frame families, and the model names do not explain themselves, so this guide works through them by what each bike is for.
- The range at a glance
- V4: the all-rounder
- V5RS: the lightest Colnago
- Y1RS: the aero race bike
- C68: handmade in Italy
- Steel: Master and Steelnovo
- Gravel: G4X and C68 Gravel
- Time trial and track: TT1 and T1RS
- Which Colnago should you buy?
- Sizing and ordering
- FAQ
- Choosing yours
The range at a glance
| Family | What it is | Frameset | Complete bike |
|---|---|---|---|
| V4 | All-round carbon road bike | ₹2,89,990 | From ₹4,39,990 |
| V5RS | Lightweight all-round race bike | ₹6,19,990 | ₹17,79,990 |
| Y1RS | Aero race bike | ₹6,99,990 | ₹17,99,990 |
| C68 Road | Handmade modular carbon flagship | ₹5,99,990 (Ti version ₹7,19,990) | From ₹18,29,990 |
| Master | Classic steel road frame | ₹2,79,990 | |
| Steelnovo | Modern steel road bike | ₹5,69,990 | ₹17,79,990 |
| G4X | Carbon gravel bike | ₹7,39,990 | |
| C68 Gravel | Handmade gravel flagship | ₹5,99,990 | |
| TT1 | Time trial and triathlon | ₹7,24,990 | |
| T1RS | Track | ₹6,39,990 |
Prices are indicative and move with exchange rates and import duty. See the full Colnago range.
V4: the all-rounder
The V4 is the Colnago most riders should start with. It has a monocoque carbon frame developed from the same layup research and aerodynamic work as the V4Rs race bike, with a shorter head tube and longer fork than earlier V-series bikes, so it handles sharply but stays comfortable enough for long weekend rides. It is the only Colnago family offered here as a complete bike with Shimano 105 Di2.
| Build | Price | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| V4 105 Di2, Fulcrum Racing 800 | ₹4,39,990 | Electronic 12-speed shifting on alloy wheels. The most affordable complete Colnago. |
| V4 105 Di2, SC 60 wheels | ₹4,89,990 | The same bike on 60mm carbon wheels, which are faster on flat roads. |
| V4 Ultegra Di2, SC 60 wheels | ₹5,49,990 | Steps up to Ultegra Di2. Lighter, with a crisper shift. |
| V4 frameset | ₹2,89,990 | For building up with your own groupset and wheels. |
Our pick: the 105 Di2 with Racing 800 wheels. It gives you the Colnago frame and electronic shifting at the lowest price, and carbon wheels are an easy upgrade later. Our guide to carbon wheel upgrades covers the options.
V5RS: the lightest Colnago
The V5RS is the latest generation of Colnago's all-round race bike, the bike for racing in the hills. Its frame weighs 685g ready to paint, making it the lightest Colnago ever, and the frame kit is 12.5% lighter than the V4Rs it replaces. New lamination methods place the carbon fibres more precisely, so it stays stiff under hard efforts despite the weight saving. Available as a frameset at ₹6,19,990 or a complete bike at ₹17,79,990.
Y1RS: the aero race bike
The Y1RS is built for speed on flat and rolling roads, sprints and breakaways. Colnago's testing found it needs about 20 watts less than the V4Rs to hold 50 km/h, with a 19% smaller frontal area, helped by the CC.Y1 integrated handlebar and a curved down tube. It is also 3.5% stiffer than its predecessor, and the Y-shaped seatpost junction adds some comfort for long races. Available as a frameset at ₹6,99,990 or a complete bike at ₹17,99,990.
The Y1RS uses its own XS to XL sizing and an integrated cockpit, so check the Y1RS size chart and get fitted before ordering.
C68: handmade in Italy
The C68 is Colnago's flagship and the bike that carries its craft tradition. Instead of one moulded frame, it is built from eight separate carbon parts, hand-assembled in Italy and joined with hand-finished carbon bands, so it looks like a one-piece frame but keeps the ride character of Colnago's lugged frames. Its geometry is close to the race bikes, so this is a fast road bike, not a comfort bike.
- C68 Road frameset at ₹5,99,990, or as a complete bike from ₹18,29,990.
- C68 Road Ti frameset at ₹7,19,990, with two 3D-printed titanium joints and nine frame parts. The titanium joints also make custom geometry possible on request.
- C68 Dura-Ace Di2 Special Edition at ₹26,99,990, the top of the range.
Steel: Master and Steelnovo
Colnago's steel bikes are for riders who want heritage and the lively, springy feel of a steel frame. Both are made in Italy.
- Master frameset at ₹2,79,990. First made in the early 1980s, with Colnago's star-shaped steel tubes, ribbed for stiffness. It is the least expensive way to own a Colnago frame.
- Steelnovo frameset at ₹5,69,990, or as a complete bike at ₹17,79,990. Columbus steel tubes with 3D-printed joints and seamless welds, a modern take on the steel race bike. Each frame takes a full day of handwork.
Gravel: G4X and C68 Gravel
- G4X at ₹7,39,990 complete. A carbon gravel bike for racing and fast riding on dirt roads, balancing stability on loose surfaces with a lively feel.
- C68 Gravel frameset at ₹5,99,990. The handmade C68 construction as a gravel bike, with clearance for tyres up to 42mm.
Our guide to gravel bikes in India compares them with gravel bikes from other brands.
Time trial and track: TT1 and T1RS
- TT1 frameset at ₹7,24,990. Colnago's first disc-brake time trial bike, designed around UCI rules, with hydraulic lines routed inside the frame. Suits time trials and triathlon. Our triathlon and TT bike guide explains whether you need one.
- T1RS track frameset at ₹6,39,990. A velodrome frame for sprint, endurance and pursuit events, compatible with standard 31.8mm handlebars.
Which Colnago should you buy?
| If you | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want your first Colnago, for fast group rides and long weekends | V4 105 Di2 |
| Race, and your races include climbs | V5RS |
| Race on flat, fast courses or ride in breakaways | Y1RS |
| Want the most crafted Colnago, made in Italy | C68 Road |
| Love steel and classic looks | Master or Steelnovo |
| Ride gravel and dirt roads | G4X or C68 Gravel |
| Race time trials or triathlon | TT1 |
Sizing and ordering
Colnago sizes differ by family. The V4, V5RS and C68 Road use sizes such as 420, 455, 485 and 510, the Y1RS uses XS to XL, and the gravel bikes use 45 to 57. Use the chart for the bike you want: C68 Road, V4 and V5RS, Y1RS or C68 Gravel and G4X. Our frame size guide explains how to measure your height and inseam first.
Colnago bikes and framesets are ordered through us on WhatsApp rather than through the cart, so we can confirm your size, build and colour before ordering. Delivery usually takes four to five weeks.
FAQ
How much does a Colnago bike cost in India?
A Colnago frameset starts at about Rs 2.8 lakh for the steel Master and Rs 2.9 lakh for the carbon V4, while the cheapest complete bike, the V4 with Shimano 105 Di2, is about Rs 4.4 lakh, and top race and handmade builds such as the Y1RS, V5RS and C68 cost between Rs 17.8 lakh and Rs 27 lakh. Prices move with exchange rates and import duty. A frameset plus your own parts can cost less than a complete bike.
Are Colnago bikes made in Italy?
Some are: the C68 Road, C68 Road Ti and C68 Gravel are hand-assembled in Italy, and the steel Master and Steelnovo frames are made entirely in Italy, while the monocoque carbon V4, V5RS and Y1RS are designed and developed by Colnago in Italy and produced, like most carbon race frames, by specialist carbon manufacturers. All are designed in Italy. If Italian handwork matters most to you, choose a C68 or one of the steel bikes.
What is the difference between the Colnago V4 and V5RS?
The V4 is Colnago's all-round carbon road bike for fast riding and long weekends, while the V5RS is its top race bike, with a 685g frame that makes it the lightest Colnago ever, a frame kit 12.5% lighter than the previous V4Rs, and race-level stiffness, and it costs about twice as much as a V4 frameset. Both handle sharply. For most riders who are not racing, the V4 is the better value.
Can I buy a Colnago frameset and build it up myself?
Yes, most Colnago models are sold as framesets, including the V4, V5RS, Y1RS, C68, Master, Steelnovo, TT1 and T1RS, so you can choose your own groupset, wheels and cockpit, or move parts over from another bike, as long as they match the frame's standards for brakes, axles and bottom bracket. Integrated race frames such as the Y1RS need specific cockpit parts. We can advise on compatible parts and build the bike for you.
Which Colnago did Tadej Pogačar ride?
Tadej Pogačar has raced Colnago's top race bikes with UAE Team Emirates, including the V4Rs on which he won the 2024 Tour de France and its successors, the lightweight V5RS and the aero Y1RS, which the team chooses between depending on whether a stage is mountainous or flat and fast. The V4 shares development work with the V4Rs. The V5RS and Y1RS are both available from us as framesets.
Choosing yours
Tell us your height, how you ride and your budget, and we will help you choose the right Colnago and size. Ask TBA Guide, and we will take it from there.
