Colnago
Encyclopedia
Colnago is a manufacturer of high-end road-racing
bicycles
founded by Ernesto Colnago in 1954 near Milano in Cambiago
, Italy
. Instead of following his family's farming business Ernesto Colnago chose to work in the cycle trade, apprenticing first with Gloria Bicycles at 13, subsequently taking up road racing. After a bad crash ended his racing career, he began subcontracting for Gloria, opened his own shop (1954) and built his first frames the same year. Much in demand as a racing mechanic, he was second mechanic on the Nivea team Giro d'Italia
under Faliero Masi
in 1955,
eventually being employed as head mechanic for the Molteni
team of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx
.
The company became known for high quality steel framed bicycles, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials including carbon fiber, now a mainstay of modern bicycle construction.
rode to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics
on a Colnago bicycle. In 1963, Colnago joined the Molteni team as head mechanic, and riders such as Gianni Motta
raced on Colnago bikes. A win on a Colnago in the 1970 Milan-San Remo race by Michele Dancelli
for the Molteni team inspired Colnago to change his logo to the now-famous 'Asso di Fiori' or Ace of Clubs.
After the demise of the Faema team, Eddy Merckx joined the Molteni team, and what ensued was mutual innovation--as Colnago describes it: "Merckx was an up and coming champion and I was an up and coming bike builder. So it was a real honour to work for a great champion like Merckx. It helped us to grow... when we made special forks, and special bikes." This included the super-light steel frame used by Merckx in 1972 to break the world one hour record. This bicycle has been displayed all over the world, including in a display case inside a Brussels metro station
named after the great rider. From his racing experience came Colnago's passion for light purpose-built racing frames, and some of the experiments, like drilled-out component introduced on custom bikes like Merckx's were then made available on production models.
With a growing reputation from their racing wins, Colnago plunged into the market for production bikes. In America, the early seventies were marked by the bike boom, and Colnago "pumped out bikes as though the future of humankind was at stake." In the 1970s through the 1980s, the "Super" was Colnago's mainstay model, a high-end racing frame available as both a track and road model. To this was added the lighter framed Mexico model (named after the location of Merckx's hour record set in Mexico City
), and later other models were added--like the Superissimo and Esa Mexico. While the finish on these bikes could be variable, they were great riding bikes and developed a cult-like following.
In response to criticism that his frames were not stiff enough, next Colnago experimented with ways to change the behavior of frame components. In 1983, he introduced the Oval CX with an oval-shaped top tube to add stiffness. He then experimented with various crimped-tube frames which became production models as their top of the range frames, beginning with the "Master." Later "Master-Light", Master Olympic and Master Piu extended the range. Over time the material of "Master" frames went through several iterations from Columbus tubing
DT15V to "Ultimate Superlight" from Tange Japan. Colnago produced the steel (Columbus tubed) frame used in 1982, by Saronni to win the world professional road race championship, and a short-lived collection of bikes were badged with the Saronni name for a time.
In 1986, the company introduced the "Precisa" brand bicycle fork
. It was the first front fork with straight blades. The normal road racing ~4 degree fork rake was provided by the shape of the crown rather than curving the tubing of the blades. Colnago claimed that this straight-blade feature provided lengthwise elasticity similar to curved blade forks to dampen road roughness, but with much improved crosswise stiffness for sprinting. The design was also considered to be one of the lightest full steel forks. Many modern forks, especially carbon forks, now use straight blades.
A second change was a new look to the Colnago frames with the Decor paint jobs which were composed of multiple airbrushed colors and patterns, including the trademark racer painted on the top of the top tube. While this set the Colnagos apart from many of the contemporary bikes, it also served to limit the ease of counterfeiting.
Since the 1980s, while Colnago has continued to produce high-end steel bikes, and has branched out into other materials, working with Ferrari
to develop new carbon fiber technology, and has introduced titanium and aluminum frames. One of the unique frames from this period is the Bititan, a frame that has a dual titanium down tube. Crimped and oversize tubes appeared on the Tecnos (1996-2000)--one of the lightest production steel bikes produced, and these reappeared on the aluminum Dream frame. Colnago also experimented with multi-material frames, including the CT1 and CT-2 which were made with titanium main tubes, with carbon fiber forks and rear stays, and a similarly constructed although short-lived version of the Master with steel main tubes.
Before the collaboration with Ferrari, in 1981 Colnago prototyped the CX-1--a full monocoque carbon fiber bike with disc wheels that was shown at the Milan bike show. The early attempts at carbon fiber frames were not commercially successful, but the lessons learned were embodied in their flagship frames, such as the C-40 (pat. 1994 and its successor, the C-50 respectively named for Colnago's 40th and 50th years in bike building. These are carbon fiber frames that set standards of excellence. Interestingly, they used a modified form of traditional bike frame construction, substituting carbon fiber lugs for microinfusion cast steel, and carbon fiber "tubes" for the complex steel tubes used for steel frame construction.
have competed on Colnago bikes. In the early 1970s, the Molteni
team which included Eddy Merckx
rode on Colnago bikes. Giuseppe Saronni
rode Colnago bikes throughout his career, from 1977 with Scic, later with Gis Gelati and with Colnago-Del Tongo. Colnago was well-known as the sponsor of the Mapei Professional Cycling Team throughout the 1990s. For 2005, Colnago sponsored the professional cycling team Rabobank
. Colnago has also been the bike sponsor for the American domestic team, Navigators whom the Australian sprinter Hilton Clarke
rides for.
For 2006, Team Milram
joined their list of professionally sponsored teams featuring well-known Alessandro Petacchi
and Erik Zabel
. In addition, Colnago serves as a co-title sponsor of the Landbouwkrediet-Colnago professional cycling team that competes on the UCI Europe Tour.
In addition to current sponsorship agreements, Colnago will be the official frame supplier to Team Tinkoff for 2007.
Beginning in 2006, Colnago sourced mid-level aluminum frames from Giant Bicycles of Taiwan
. One was the Primavera, the second was the Arte. Both received favorable reviews, although some thought the shift of manufacturing out of Italy was a matter of some regret.
There was some controversy in 2005 over whether Giant would be producing additional models, including carbon frame models, for Colnago. According to statements by Ernesto Colnago, founder and president of Colnago, this was not the case:
Despite this denial, since 2007 Colnago's carbon monocoque CLX frame has been manufactured in Taiwan.. In 2008, a second Colnago carbon fiber model, the CX-1 was sourced in Taiwan.
The top Colnago frames (C59, C50 (now discontinued), Power Extreme, Extreme C) continue to be manufactured in Italy, and in a series of public statements, Colnago has insisted that all the designs originate with the Italian design team. The mid-range carbon offerings are currently being sourced from Taiwan, a move which is shared across most bike manufacturers.
Materials--especially the carbon fiber used for construction has been sourced variously--both from and ATR Group Materiali Compositi Avanzati and most recently from Toray.
Road bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
bicycles
Racing bicycle
A racing bicycle, also known as a road bike, is a bicycle designed for competitive road cycling, a sport governed by according to the rules of the Union Cycliste Internationale...
founded by Ernesto Colnago in 1954 near Milano in Cambiago
Province of Milan
The Province of Milan : /) is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Milan. The provincial territory is highly urbanized, resulting in the third highest population density among the Italian provinces with more than 2,000 inhabitants/km2, just behind the provinces of...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Instead of following his family's farming business Ernesto Colnago chose to work in the cycle trade, apprenticing first with Gloria Bicycles at 13, subsequently taking up road racing. After a bad crash ended his racing career, he began subcontracting for Gloria, opened his own shop (1954) and built his first frames the same year. Much in demand as a racing mechanic, he was second mechanic on the Nivea team Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
under Faliero Masi
Masi Bicycles
Masi Bicycles is a manufacturer of road, track, cyclocross and commuter bicycles based in Vista, California, United States.-History:Faliero Masi commenced making bicycle frames at the Vigorelli Velodrome in Milano in the 1950s, after a career as a professional racer and team mechanic...
in 1955,
eventually being employed as head mechanic for the Molteni
Molteni
Molteni was an Italian professional road bicycle racing team from 1958 until the end of 1976. It won 663 races, many of them earned by its most famous rider, Eddy Merckx. Other riders included Gianni Motta and Marino Basso, who contributed 48 and 34 wins respectively...
team of Belgian legend Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
.
The company became known for high quality steel framed bicycles, and later as one of the more creative cycling manufacturers responsible for innovations in design and experimentation with new and diverse materials including carbon fiber, now a mainstay of modern bicycle construction.
History
From the late 1960s through the 1970s, Colnago was generally regarded as one of the builders of the world's best custom road race frames. In 1960, Colnago saw fame as Luigi ArientiLuigi Arienti
Luigi Arienti is an Italian former racing cyclist. At the 1960 Summer Olympics, he and teammates Marino Vigna, Mario Vallotto and Franco Testa won an Olympic gold medal in the team pursuit, with a time of 4:30.90....
rode to a gold medal at the Rome Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
on a Colnago bicycle. In 1963, Colnago joined the Molteni team as head mechanic, and riders such as Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
raced on Colnago bikes. A win on a Colnago in the 1970 Milan-San Remo race by Michele Dancelli
Michele Dancelli
Michele Dancelli is an Italian former road racing cyclist. He was born in Castenedolo, Lombardy.-Professional career:His main victories include one Milan – San Remo , the 1966 Flèche Wallonne, three editions of the Giro dell'Appennino , two Trofeo Laigueglia...
for the Molteni team inspired Colnago to change his logo to the now-famous 'Asso di Fiori' or Ace of Clubs.
After the demise of the Faema team, Eddy Merckx joined the Molteni team, and what ensued was mutual innovation--as Colnago describes it: "Merckx was an up and coming champion and I was an up and coming bike builder. So it was a real honour to work for a great champion like Merckx. It helped us to grow... when we made special forks, and special bikes." This included the super-light steel frame used by Merckx in 1972 to break the world one hour record. This bicycle has been displayed all over the world, including in a display case inside a Brussels metro station
Eddy Merckx metro station
Eddy Merckx is a Metro station on the western branch of Line 5 of the Brussels Metro. It is named after Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx, five time winner of the Tour de France....
named after the great rider. From his racing experience came Colnago's passion for light purpose-built racing frames, and some of the experiments, like drilled-out component introduced on custom bikes like Merckx's were then made available on production models.
With a growing reputation from their racing wins, Colnago plunged into the market for production bikes. In America, the early seventies were marked by the bike boom, and Colnago "pumped out bikes as though the future of humankind was at stake." In the 1970s through the 1980s, the "Super" was Colnago's mainstay model, a high-end racing frame available as both a track and road model. To this was added the lighter framed Mexico model (named after the location of Merckx's hour record set in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
), and later other models were added--like the Superissimo and Esa Mexico. While the finish on these bikes could be variable, they were great riding bikes and developed a cult-like following.
In response to criticism that his frames were not stiff enough, next Colnago experimented with ways to change the behavior of frame components. In 1983, he introduced the Oval CX with an oval-shaped top tube to add stiffness. He then experimented with various crimped-tube frames which became production models as their top of the range frames, beginning with the "Master." Later "Master-Light", Master Olympic and Master Piu extended the range. Over time the material of "Master" frames went through several iterations from Columbus tubing
Columbus Tubing
Columbus is a manufacturer of steel tubing used in bicycle frames, located in Settala, in the Province of Milan. The company was founded in 1919 by A.L. Columbo and was taken over by Columbo's youngest son, Antonio, in 1977...
DT15V to "Ultimate Superlight" from Tange Japan. Colnago produced the steel (Columbus tubed) frame used in 1982, by Saronni to win the world professional road race championship, and a short-lived collection of bikes were badged with the Saronni name for a time.
In 1986, the company introduced the "Precisa" brand bicycle fork
Bicycle fork
A bicycle fork is the portion of a bicycle that holds the front wheel and allows the rider to steer and balance the bicycle. A fork consists of two fork ends which hold the front wheel axle, two blades which join at a fork crown, and a steerer or steering tube to which the handlebars attach ...
. It was the first front fork with straight blades. The normal road racing ~4 degree fork rake was provided by the shape of the crown rather than curving the tubing of the blades. Colnago claimed that this straight-blade feature provided lengthwise elasticity similar to curved blade forks to dampen road roughness, but with much improved crosswise stiffness for sprinting. The design was also considered to be one of the lightest full steel forks. Many modern forks, especially carbon forks, now use straight blades.
A second change was a new look to the Colnago frames with the Decor paint jobs which were composed of multiple airbrushed colors and patterns, including the trademark racer painted on the top of the top tube. While this set the Colnagos apart from many of the contemporary bikes, it also served to limit the ease of counterfeiting.
Since the 1980s, while Colnago has continued to produce high-end steel bikes, and has branched out into other materials, working with Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
to develop new carbon fiber technology, and has introduced titanium and aluminum frames. One of the unique frames from this period is the Bititan, a frame that has a dual titanium down tube. Crimped and oversize tubes appeared on the Tecnos (1996-2000)--one of the lightest production steel bikes produced, and these reappeared on the aluminum Dream frame. Colnago also experimented with multi-material frames, including the CT1 and CT-2 which were made with titanium main tubes, with carbon fiber forks and rear stays, and a similarly constructed although short-lived version of the Master with steel main tubes.
Before the collaboration with Ferrari, in 1981 Colnago prototyped the CX-1--a full monocoque carbon fiber bike with disc wheels that was shown at the Milan bike show. The early attempts at carbon fiber frames were not commercially successful, but the lessons learned were embodied in their flagship frames, such as the C-40 (pat. 1994 and its successor, the C-50 respectively named for Colnago's 40th and 50th years in bike building. These are carbon fiber frames that set standards of excellence. Interestingly, they used a modified form of traditional bike frame construction, substituting carbon fiber lugs for microinfusion cast steel, and carbon fiber "tubes" for the complex steel tubes used for steel frame construction.
Team and rider sponsorship
Colnago has sponsored at least one professional team every year since 1974, often sponsoring more than one. In addition, other teams in the pelotonPeloton
The peloton , field, bunch or pack is the large main group of riders in a road bicycle race. Riders in a group save energy by riding close near other riders...
have competed on Colnago bikes. In the early 1970s, the Molteni
Molteni
Molteni was an Italian professional road bicycle racing team from 1958 until the end of 1976. It won 663 races, many of them earned by its most famous rider, Eddy Merckx. Other riders included Gianni Motta and Marino Basso, who contributed 48 and 34 wins respectively...
team which included Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
rode on Colnago bikes. Giuseppe Saronni
Giuseppe Saronni
Giuseppe Saronni , also known as Beppe Saronni, is an Italian former racing cyclist.-Biography:Born in Novara, Piedmont, Saronni turned professional in 1977. During his career, that lasted until 1989, he won 193 races...
rode Colnago bikes throughout his career, from 1977 with Scic, later with Gis Gelati and with Colnago-Del Tongo. Colnago was well-known as the sponsor of the Mapei Professional Cycling Team throughout the 1990s. For 2005, Colnago sponsored the professional cycling team Rabobank
Rabobank (cycling)
Rabobank is a professional bicycle racing team, sponsored by the Rabobank. The team consists of three sections: ProTeam , Continental , and Cyclo-cross...
. Colnago has also been the bike sponsor for the American domestic team, Navigators whom the Australian sprinter Hilton Clarke
Hilton Clarke
Hilton Clarke is an Australian cyclist.He became a professional in 2001. He was introduced to the sport by his father, an Olympic cyclist, at the age of 9...
rides for.
For 2006, Team Milram
Team MILRAM
Team Milram was a German pro cycling team, participating at the UCI ProTour.The pro cycling team was founded in the beginning of 2006, taking over the UCI ProTeam license of Team Domina Vacanze. The main sponsor is the Milram brand of the Bremen based Nordmilch company...
joined their list of professionally sponsored teams featuring well-known Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi
Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling...
and Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel
Erik Zabel is a former German professional road bicycle racer who last raced with Milram. With over 200 professional wins he is considered by some one of the greatest German cyclists and best cycling sprinters of history...
. In addition, Colnago serves as a co-title sponsor of the Landbouwkrediet-Colnago professional cycling team that competes on the UCI Europe Tour.
In addition to current sponsorship agreements, Colnago will be the official frame supplier to Team Tinkoff for 2007.
Colnago sponsored teams since 1968
All years are inclusive.- 1968 - 1973 MolteniMolteniMolteni was an Italian professional road bicycle racing team from 1958 until the end of 1976. It won 663 races, many of them earned by its most famous rider, Eddy Merckx. Other riders included Gianni Motta and Marino Basso, who contributed 48 and 34 wins respectively...
- 1969 - 1978 SCIC
- 1975-1976 Zonca-Santini
- 1975 - 1979 Kas CampagnoloKas (cycling team)Kas was a professional cycling team of the 1960s and 1970s, one of the strongest Spanish teams. It was sponsored by a soft drinks manufacturer, Kas. The team was from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. It wore team a yellow jersey with Kas written in blue...
- 1977 Ijsboerke-Colnago
- 1977 Kanel-Colnago
- 1978 Mecap-Selle Italia
- 1978 - 1979 Miniflat-ys-vdb-Colnago
- 1978 Intercontinentale
- 1979 Sapa
- 1979 Inoxpran
- 1979 Lano-Boul d'Or
- 1980 Boule d'Or Colnago Studio Casa
- 1980 Gis Gelati
- 1980 - 1981 Sunair Sport 80 Colnago
- 1980 Splendor
- 1981 Gis Campagnolo
- 1981 - 1983 Boule d'Or Colnago Studio Casa
- 1982 - 1988 Del Tongo Colnago
- 1984 Kwantum Colnago
- 1984 Safir Colnago
- 1985 Kwantum Hallen
- 1985 Safir van den Ven Colnago
- 1985 Tonissteiner Saxon
- 1986 Kwantum Sport Shop
- 1986 Miko Tonissteiner Fevrier
- 1986 Roland van den Ven Colnago
- 1987 - 1988 Roland Colnago
- 1987 Superconfex Kwantum Colnago
- 1988 - 1989 Superconfex
- 1988 Panasonic Isostar
- 1989 Panasonic
- 1989 Malvor Sidi Colnago
- 1989 - 1990 Alfalum
- 1990 - 1992 Buckler
- 1990 La William
- 1990 Diana Colnago
- 1990 Clas
- 1991 - 1993 Clas Cajatur
- 1991 - 1993 Ariostea
- 1991 Colnago Lampre Sopran
- 1992 Lampre Colnago Animex
- 1993 - 1994 Word Perfect
- 1993 Lampre Polti
- 1993 - 1999 Tonissteiner Colnago Saxon
- 1994 - 1995 Lampre Panaria
- 1994 Mapei Class
- 1994 Novell Software
- 1995 - 1997 Mapei GB
- 1996 Panaria Vinavil
- 1996 - 2008 Rabobank
- 1996 - 1997 Casino
- 1998 Mapei Bricobi
- 1999 - 2002 Mapei Quick.Step
- 1999 Lampre Daikin
- 2001 Coast
- 2001 - 2006 Landbouwkrediet Colnago
- 2001 - 2007 Navigators
- 2005 - 2007 Panaria Navigare
- 2005 Domina VacanzeDomina VacanzeDomina Vacanze is a hotel group based in Italy. They are best known for the professional cycling team they sponsored. For the 2005 season the team competed in the 2005 UCI ProTour however they didn't have the budget of the other teams and produced very few wins...
- 2005 Action
- 2005 Skil Shimano
- 2005 - 2008 Milram
- 2007 - 2008 Tinkoff
- 2007 - 2010 Landbouwkrediet-Tonissteiner
- 2010 BBox-Bouyoges Telecom
- 2010 Team Type 1
- 2010 Colnago-CSF Inox
- 2010 Pendragon-Colnago
Current production overview
Until 2005, Colnago produced their entire frameset range at their Cambiago factory, although persistent rumors of subcontracting out of the more basic frames go all the way back to the 1970s. In March, 2005, they announced that they were joining the Taiwanese based A-Team, whose members include Giant, Merida and SRam--the first Italian manufacturer to do so, to produce mid-ranged bicycle models for the Japanese and European markets.Beginning in 2006, Colnago sourced mid-level aluminum frames from Giant Bicycles of Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. One was the Primavera, the second was the Arte. Both received favorable reviews, although some thought the shift of manufacturing out of Italy was a matter of some regret.
There was some controversy in 2005 over whether Giant would be producing additional models, including carbon frame models, for Colnago. According to statements by Ernesto Colnago, founder and president of Colnago, this was not the case:
- "For the 2006 model year, Colnago will be sourcing two entry-level aluminum road bike models from Giant, made to Colnago's spec and frame geometry and for sales in Europe and Asia only. All other Colnago bicycles are assembled in Italy. No Colnago carbon fiber frames are made at Giant and none will be, as Mr. Colnago has a long-term sourcing agreement in place with ATR for carbon fiber bicycle frames."
Despite this denial, since 2007 Colnago's carbon monocoque CLX frame has been manufactured in Taiwan.. In 2008, a second Colnago carbon fiber model, the CX-1 was sourced in Taiwan.
The top Colnago frames (C59, C50 (now discontinued), Power Extreme, Extreme C) continue to be manufactured in Italy, and in a series of public statements, Colnago has insisted that all the designs originate with the Italian design team. The mid-range carbon offerings are currently being sourced from Taiwan, a move which is shared across most bike manufacturers.
Materials--especially the carbon fiber used for construction has been sourced variously--both from and ATR Group Materiali Compositi Avanzati and most recently from Toray.
2007 production
- Extreme C, specialist climbing frame in carbon fibre
- Extreme Power, as above but stronger for the demands of sprinting
- President LdV (Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da VinciLeonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
) (special edition) — carbon fiber - President (special edition) — carbon fiber
- Brerart (special edition) — carbon fiber
- C50 Crono (special edition) — carbon fiber
- C50 Pista (special edition) — carbon fiber
- C50 — carbon fiber
- Cristallo, monocoque carbon fiber, has curved seat stays to assist with braking power
- E-1 — carbon fiber
- Dream — aluminum
- CT2 — titanium/carbon
- Mix — aluminum/carbon
- Strada SC — aluminum/carbon
- Active — aluminum
- Rapid — aluminum
- Master X Light — steel. Frame was produced from 2000–2004, then dropped for 2005, and returned in 2006.
Pre-2005 production
Carbon fiber frames
- C-50, carbon fiber tubing with carbon fiber lugs
- C-40, carbon fiber tubing with carbon fiber lugs
- C-40HP, as C-40 with patented "B-Stay" chainstay design
- C-42, carbon fiber monocoque, time trialling specific
- C-35, carbon fiber monocoque
- Carbonissimo, carbon fiber monocoque
- CF1, a limited edition of the Carbonissimo with Ferrari decals. Red/Black in color
- CF2, carbon fiber monocoque mountain bike with suspension and Ferrari decals
- CF3, As CF1 Carbonissimo frame but Yellow/Black in color
- President (50th Anniversary 2004), carbon fibre monocoque
- President Leonardo (LDV), carbon fibre monocoque HP rear stays
Titanium frames
- Ovaltitan, titanium tubing with deep oval section top and downtube
- Ovalmaster, titanium tubing with deep oval section down tube and square 'Master' toptube
- Titanio, titanium tubing with single downtube and carbon fork
- Bi-Titanio, titanium tubing with double downtube, Gilco profile toptube and Prescia fork
- CT1 titanium tubes (round), 1" headtube, twin carbon fibre rear stays
- CT1 B-Stay, titanium tubing (round), 1.125" headtube, carbon fibre rear stays
- CT2 B-Stay,(2003+), titanium tubing (round), 1.125" headtube, carbon fibre rear HP stays
Double downtubed frames
- Bititan, titanium tubing with double downtube and steel fork
- Titanio, titanium tubing with double downtube and steel fork
- Carbitubo, carbon fiber tubing with double downtube
- Duall, aluminium tubing with double downtube... made by the ALAN company
Classic steel Colnago frames
- Arabesque, steel tubing, noted for its fancy lugwork
- Super (1970s and 1980s) steel tubing. Columbus SL and SP tubesets.
- Mexico (1970s and 1980s) Columbus steel tubing. Identical to Super but with lighter gauge KL (Record) tubing in place of SL/SP. Named in honor of Merckx's hour record ride in Mexico City.
- Master, steel tubing Columbus nivachrome "Gilco" drawn in "star shape."
- Masterlight; second version of Master with straight-leg fork.
- Master Extra-light; visually similar to Masterlight. Production discontinued for a short time (2004?), perhaps in an attempt to move customer base to carbon or carbon/steel or carbon/alu framesets, it was re-introduced due to customer demand for an all-steel Colnago that was not a low-end afterthought. It is a bit lighter than its predecessor.
- Conic SLX; early (1989) models had round tubes with internal stiffeners and curved front forks, later models had clover leaf design down tube to add stiffness to the frame, and had straight front forks.
- Crystal; c1997, oversize oval section downtube and toptube made from custom built Columbus tubing, with Precisa fork.
- Tecnos; Colnago's lightest steel racing frame made from 1996 - 2000. Custom Tecnos tubeset made with Columbus Nivachrom steel, oversize top and down tubes with five-leaf-clover shaping. Chromed three point crown-tip lugs on head tube and Precisa steel fork (when not used with a carbon fork).
- Cyclocross; (specific model name and tubing unknown). Lugs and seat stays are similar to those on the Crystal, slightly beefier tubing than other road models (32mm OD downtube, 29mm seattube), relaxed wheelbase, top tube routing for rear brake and derailleur, traditional routing for front derailleur but no braze-on for front derailleur. Colnago bottom bracket shell. Straight mtb style threadless fork (no formal crown). Production quantity unknown, predates aluminum Dream cyclocross model.