Has Colnago lost their appeal?
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Until you've ridden one, it's very hard to justif their appeal - the same goes for the likes of DeRosa and Tommassini. Sadly Pinarello seems to have become a marketing operation in comparison. There will always be a demand - for the same reasons that people pay stupid money for Ferraris when they could buy a Nissan GTR or a Porsche. Having read a review of the EPS, it's kinda hard to get it out of my head that I need one, with a Super Record groupset and a pair of Boras. Colnago is one of the few bikes I'd happily buy without a test ride - they don't feel the need to needlessly tinker with the product every year to suit the whims of the marketing people and clear them at a huge discount at the end of the season to make way for the 'new, improved' model.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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The manufacture of carbon fibre frames is a technological process requiring relatively unskilled labour combined with sophisticated industrial processes requiring significant investment. The Taiwanese are brilliant at it and anyone wanting a CF frame would do well to source one from here. This suits the requirements of the large 'Brands', the ranks of which Colnago has decided to join..
Conversely, the fabrication of a hand built steel frame is a highly skilled craft that reiles on relatively unsophisticated processes and low industrial investment. Being hand crafted, it also bears the signature or personality of the framebuilder. Look at a steel frame from Colnago, Tommasini, Scapin, Pegoretti, Rourke, Roberts etc and you will see this individual approach. This is why steel frames are much loved and revered.
Amongst the most revered, from this perioid, are Colnago, and the Master still continues, as does the De Rosa Neo Primato, as an example of the pinnacle of this craft that made Colnago it's reputation.
The C40 and C50 are both classic bikes of their period and show the hallmark design of Colnago during this transitional phase from Bespoke Frame Fabfricator to Global Brand.
In my opinion, the Brand phase began with the Extreme Power - if only because such a crass name could only have been dreamed up by some marketing guru that wouldnt know a bike from a bottle of bleach.
CLX; CX; Primavera; Ace, whatever, are now all part of that brand and come in the Cliche Black-Red-White livery that every other Brand is mimicking.
Colnago no longer have a special appeal simply beacause they are lo longer individual.
I note from a scan of E-bay that the majority of Colnago listings are for frame transfers - presumably because one could attach them to any Taiwanese no-name frame and get away with it.
Cherish those genuine Colnagos - from C50 back...
As a complete aside, CW awarded the EP a best race bike award a couple of years back - it was shimano equipped as you would expect from the UK suppier.
A week later Colnago took a full page advert to capitalise on their success - it was equipped with Campagnolo. Message? One just cannot be well dressed wearing shimano!0 -
From above sounds like Colnago is the Alpha Romeo of bikes.Martin S. Newbury RC0
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Not sure any lugged carbon frames are made in Taiwan.0
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The problem always has been the same with Colnago - you are paying a massive premium for the gaudy paint jobs whilsy underneath there is nothing particularly remarkable.
Is a C40 or C50 better than a Scott Addict or similar modern Carbon frame - of course it isn't - but you have to pay twice the price for the Colnago. That's why interest has dried up and with Giant, Trek and the like innovating in a sensible way, Colnago are probably just trying to think up another appalling fluorescent paint job with which to entice those that value such things..
I have ridden all sorts since the late 1970s anincluding Colnagos - but to be honest there is little difference between the quality makers in any era - whether it was steel, alu or titanium. Colnago just seemed to me to assume the mantle of "best" largely because of their sponsorship of winning trade teams and the (very 1980s) colour schemes.0 -
cprice2437 wrote:The problem always has been the same with Colnago - you are paying a massive premium for the gaudy paint jobs whilsy underneath there is nothing particularly remarkable.
Is a C40 or C50 better than a Scott Addict or similar modern Carbon frame - of course it isn't - but you have to pay twice the price for the Colnago. That's why interest has dried up and with Giant, Trek and the like innovating in a sensible way, Colnago are probably just trying to think up another appalling fluorescent paint job with which to entice those that value such things..
I have ridden all sorts since the late 1970s anincluding Colnagos - but to be honest there is little difference between the quality makers in any era - whether it was steel, alu or titanium. Colnago just seemed to me to assume the mantle of "best" largely because of their sponsorship of winning trade teams and the (very 1980s) colour schemes.
Utter tosh! The paint work on Colnago is superb. I have an EPS and the paintwork and finish is superb. In fact, having owned De Rosa, Pinarello etc, The finish and attention to detail is excellent!0 -
Buying a made in italy Colnago is a bit like like buying an Italian sportscar... of course it will do the same job as a japanese or Corean supercar, but in your mind it will do it in a much more stylish and glamorous way.
There was a time when Colnago was experimenting new concepts and designs, but those days are gone and carbon Colnago frames look the same as the others.
I can see only two reasons to buy Colnago
1) Because a Colnago frame will retain a higher second hand value than any other frame on the market
2) Because you want to buy steel and no other major manufacturer does steel any longer.
That said, if I was to buy steel, I'd probably go for a custom made local product rather than a frame that comes in standard sizes.
Of course the paintwork on a Colnago Master is something beautiful and at 1100 pounds is still reasonably affordable.left the forum March 20230 -
Well I think it's extremely appealing. Bling? Naaah, beautiful! Only thing I'd change is the headset - to a CK pewter. I hate those tapering headset tops.
Sorry for the late arousal, but this birthday issue only recently came to my attention. I want.
But how the hell did they screw up the location of rim decals that much? Haven't they read the OCP guidelines?0 -
I had this before I got my Look.
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However I really like this EPS -
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redddraggon wrote:NapoleonD wrote:However I really like this EPS -
Why don't you get one?
Fair point, well made.0
