Colnago has just released an updated monocoque frameset of their top-shelf road race bike. Building on the success of the previous generation Conlnago V1-R, the new V2-R uses the same premium grades of high modulus carbon, but increases stiffness with an all new optimized layup. The newest iteration again brings two braking options to suit all riders, and keeps tire clearance to 28mm for both. Rim brake versions revise the location of their direct-mount calipers, while the disc bake version now uses flat mounts. Jump past the break for more info on this Italian stallion…
While their flagship C-60 continues to use tube-to-tube carbon lugged construction, the V2-R opts for a monocoque design for lighter overall weight. The monocoque V2-R uses quite a bit fewer individual carbon pieces to keep weight down, and is actually produced in Taiwan both to keep costs down of for the repeatability of the individual plies that the industry has built up there.
It is still a lightweight Colnago though, and doesn’t come cheap. A frameset will retail for €2900 (or $4400), while the red complete option seen at top with a Campagnolo Super Record mechanical gruppo commands a healthly €9000 price tag. The V2-R will be offered in several different color options, as well as a throw-back black with gold pin striping Arabesque motif.
Cable routing is simplified with the internal routed cables entering the frame on top of the downtube, just behind the headtube, similar to the Concept. Mechanics should be pleased to see the V2-R’s rear brake on the seatstays, instead of under the BB like the V1-R. Other small tweaks include an integrated seat post clamp and a redesigned, squared-off headtube junction.
On the V2-R Colnago has kept their unique ThreadFit 82.5 bottom bracket interface (sorry, but I refuse to call it a “standard”.) This design uses an oversize bore with thread-in adapters that resize it to accept a press fit 86.5 (BB86) bearing set. With this, Colnago promises the enhanced rigidity of larger diameter bottom brackets, with the quiet reliability of a threaded BSA bottom bracket. Compared to the V1-R frame, the V2-R weighs the same (835g) but BB rigidity has increased 13% and the headtube claims to be 4% stiffer.
Disc versions of the V2-R will set you back a couple hundred € or $ more, and add just over 100g. They now utilize 12mm thru-axles front & rear for more wheel compatibility.
Geometry on both brake setups is the same, with the V2-R available in eight sizes from a tiny 42cm up to a sloping 58cm (each measured in from center of BB to the centerline of the sloping toptube.) The V2-R will be available late July/early August as a frameset or several complete build options.
