Depending how you choose to view these things, the entry level frameset can either be a tough sell or the bargain of the decade and sometimes both at once.
Quite simply, Ernesto Colnago with a factory and workshop based under his sprawling Italian house, knows how to consistently make fabulous top-end frames.
Striking the balance between keeping the top-end exclusivity and moving good numbers at the lower price points is no easy task, yet that’s just what Colnago has charged the C-RS with doing.
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The Colnago name has long been a desirable one with the finish always a highlight and it’s a nice differentiator on this bike that it comes in four colour options and eight sloping frame sizes.
A quick scan over the spec of the C-RS reveals to the eagle-eyed that the RS10 wheels from Shimano don’t match the rest of the tried, tested and loved Ultegra R8000 groupset – it is most definitely specified to a price but if done well that can be a good thing as it keeps down the overall cost.
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Thankfully, Colnago has stuck with the full Ultegra groupset even down to the cassette, no corner-cutting here.
Aside from the Japanese groupset, the Italian theme continues with Deda Zero stem and RHM02 handlebars, own-branded seatpost and Prologo Kappa Evo saddle, plus the rather nice touch of a branded bottle cage.
Throwing any bike into the twisty bits is sure to reveal its character far quicker than any amount of internet spec sheet scouring.
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And it has to be said that Colnago has done a great job of not only putting the C-RS together, but speccing it to its price point too.
It all hangs together well. The ride is certainly on the stiffer side of things, announcing changes in road surface, but thanks to the 25c Zaffiro Pro tyres and those budget wheels it stayed comfortable.
The mass of the wheel package means it doesn’t quite offer race-machine levels of responsivity but it was certainly keen to get on with things and always informed the rider of what was going on below, as the frame begged for better wheels.
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Ratings
Frame 9/10; Components 8/10; Wheels 6/10; The ride 9/10
Verdict
There can be little doubt that Colnago has made a really great fist of it with the C-RS. It's a superb riding frame that's easily good enough to overcome the hindrance of some of its components being specced to a budget, so is more than worthy of an upgrade when your bank account allows.
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Specification
| Frame | Full carbon monocoque frame and fork |
| Groupset | Shimano R8000 Ultegra |
| Brakes | Shimano R8000 Ultegra |
| Chainset | Shimano R8000 Ultegra, 50/34 |
| Cassette | Shimano R8000 Ultegra, 11-28 |
| Bars | Deda RHM 2 |
| Stem | Deda Zero |
| Seatpost | Colnago aluminium |
| Saddle | Prologo Kappa Evo |
| Wheels | Shimano RS 010, Vittoria Zaffiro Pro 25c tyres |
| Weight | 8.3kg (size 56cm/S) |
| Contact | windwave.co.uk |
