Colnago has revealed two limited-edition bikes that put their carbon frames on full display, without any paint and only minimal graphics.
The Y1Rs and V5Rs Dark Series bikes are said to take Colnago’s philosophy of creating bikes for riders who want more from the machine beneath them “to its logical extreme”.
“The finish reflects the ideal color scheme for dedicated racers: full carbon with visible carbon-fiber layup, complemented by chrome-plated details. A minimum layer of transparent coating is sprayed to assure the quality of the finishing,” says Colnago.
Colnago says the bikes have been made the same way as Tadej Pogačar’s raw-carbon Y1Rs that he used at last year’s Tour de France.
Having stuck with his standard Colnago Y1Rs for the opening weeks of the Grand Boucle, Pogačar switched to a raw-carbon version of the aero bike for the stage 15 uphill time trial and then used it again for stage 16, which finished on Mont Ventoux.
Colnago said at the time that a typical Y1Rs build weighs between 7.2 and 7.5kg, while Pogačar’s raw-carbon version was just over 7kg. The Italian brand also said the aerodynamic gains of the Y1Rs outweighed the small weight savings of switching to the V5Rs.
Pogačar's raw-carbon Y1Rs sold at auction for $190,500.
Whether the radical looks of the Y1Rs or the more classic appearance of the V5Rs appeal to you, Colnago says there will be 300 of each Dark Series bike, and production has already started in a range of sizes.
The bikes will arrive in shops from early March, starting with Colnago Elite Dealers. Prices are to be confirmed.
