Colnago V1-R review

We tested the new product from the Italian manufacturer Colnago, the V1-R, an all-rounder developed together with iconic car brand Ferrari.

Cycling Weekly Verdict

On paper, this bike should probably score lower than an eight. The aerodynamics of the frame and bike lag behind what is now on offer from the likes of Trek and Specialized, while the rear brake is positioned at the bottom bracket which makes it a real faff to adjust and maintain. At £4,000, this might be the cheapest complete build you can get of the V1-R, but it still can’t get you a complete Ultegra groupset, and the replacement FSA crankset not only looks a bit naff, but can’t match Ultegra’s shift quality either. Yet despite all that, the V1-R has won me over with its truly exceptional ride. A true all-rounder, this is a bike that is a pleasure to ride over any terrain, and will deliver the performance that you want whether you’re a whippet climber or a heavy-built sprinter.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Exceptional ride

  • +

    Genuine all-rounder

  • +

    Smart-looking frame

  • +

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Awkwardly placed rear brake

  • -

    Expensive

  • -

    Incomplete Ultegra groupset

  • -

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Bike manufacturers seem to have a thing about hooking up with supercar companies to design their top-end road bikes, with BMC and Lambourghini, and Look and Maserati having teamed up in the past. But if you’re a fan of all things Italian, then Colnago’s partnership with Ferrari is surely the only place to go.

Frame

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