The Raw Carbon Colnago Limited Run: What to Know Before You Buy

Colnago is releasing 300 V5Rs and 300 Y1Rs framesets with no paint — just clear-coated carbon and titanium-chrome lettering. The finish is the same process used on the raw-carbon bikes Pogačar reportedly raced in 2025. Whether that saves meaningful weight over a standard painted frame, Colnago hasn't said. I can't verify a gram count either way.

Here's the catch: dealers have to order them as pairs — one V5Rs, one Y1Rs per allocation. That's a real constraint if your local shop is small or cautious with buy-ins. It also means availability isn't purely demand-driven.

For a data-driven cyclist, the relevant split is still the same one it's always been: V5Rs if your routes climb, Y1Rs if they don't. The finish doesn't change that calculus. What it does is remove the one question most buyers ignore anyway — "which colorway?" — and replace it with one you can't dodge: $6,200–$7,500 for a frameset, shipping March 2026.

TL;DR

• Raw carbon, clear coat only, titanium-chrome branding — same build process as Pogačar's 2025 race bikes (reported)
• 300 V5Rs + 300 Y1Rs worldwide; dealers must order them paired, which limits how broadly they'll land
• Pricing matches standard colorways ($6,200–$7,500); weight savings vs. painted versions unconfirmed