With the G5-X, Colnago brings its sporty gravel bike into the modern era. Wider tyres, smoother-riding geometry, a storage compartment in the down tube and numerous mounting points are designed to make this Italian off-road racer suitable for multi-day ultra-distance races and fast tours.
With the G5-X, Colnago presents the next generation of its race gravel bike. Although the name suggests it is an evolution of the G4-X, the manufacturer describes it as a completely new platform. It is not said to be derived from a road bike, but rather to have been developed specifically to meet the demands of modern gravel races. A wide variety of events served as a reference: from the fast Traka and the approximately 320-kilometre-long Unbound Gravel to self-supported ultra-races such as Badlands and the GranGuanche Audax.
The result is more versatile than its predecessor. With up to 53 millimetres of tyre clearance, luggage mounts and an integrated storage compartment, the G5-X moves a step away from the purist gravel racer – without compromising on its sporty credentials.
From the G3-X to the G5-X
Colnago entered the gravel market relatively late. The model unveiled in 2019 The G3-X was the Italian brand’s first standalone gravel bike. It combined a sporty riding position with a smoother-riding geometry than a cyclocross bike and accommodated tyres around 42 millimetres wide. However, it lacked mounting points for a luggage rack or mudguards, meaning the bike was only of limited use for longer bikepacking adventures
With the G4-X, the tyre clearance increased to 45 millimetres. At the same time, integrated cable routing, the optional carbon cockpit and several mounts for bottle cages or small bags brought the bike closer to the current race-gravel class. We were unable to find a dedicated TOUR article on the G4-X. (colnago.com)
At the same time, Colnago launched the more exclusive C68 Gravel . Its modular carbon frame is manufactured in Italy, offers a maximum tyre clearance of 42 millimetres and largely does without bikepacking mounts. Whilst the C68 Gravel stands above all for craftsmanship, exclusivity and the characteristic design language of the C-series, the G-series remains Colnago’s functional monocoque platform for gravel racing.
Colnago G5-X: Tyres up to 53 millimetres wide
The most striking development concerns tyre clearance. The G5-X is designed to accommodate tyres with a nominal width of up to 53 millimetres. All three models on offer come fitted as standard with 50-millimetre-wide tubeless tyres from Goodyear or Pirelli.
Wider tyres are said to offer greater traction and control on rough terrain and can be ridden at lower tyre pressures. At the same time, the extra clearance provides greater margin for manoeuvre in muddy races such as Unbound, where mud can build up between the tyres, frame and fork.
The new tyre clearance also demonstrates just how far race gravel bikes have come. Whilst Colnago’s first G3-X was still closely modelled on the classic road bike and cyclocross bike, the G5-X, with its 50 tyres, is already operating in a dimension that, until a few years ago, was more typical of cross-country mountain bikes.
Longer, flatter and smoother-running
Colnago combines the wider tyres with a fundamentally revised geometry. A flatter head angle, a longer wheelbase and a lower bottom bracket are designed to make the G5-X more stable at high speeds and on steep descents. To ensure the steering does not feel too sluggish despite the flatter head angle, the fork has been given more offset.
The lower centre of gravity is designed, in particular, to ensure more predictable handling on fast, open stretches of road. At the same time, Colnago promises that a new carbon construction for the frame will better absorb hard impacts without compromising responsiveness when accelerating or climbing.
The G5-X is available in five sizes, ranging from 450 to 570. Unlike the G4-X, Colnago has reverted to a classic round seatpost with a diameter of 27.2 millimetres. This means that, as well as flexible carbon seatposts, Vario and suspension seatposts can also be fitted.
Storage compartment in the down tube and mounting points on the fork
There is an integrated storage compartment under a cover on the down tube. This can be used to carry items such as a spare inner tube, a CO₂ cartridge, a tyre lever and a tubeless repair kit. However, the bag and repair kit are not included.
In addition, there are six standardised mounting points on the frame and fork. Mounts on the top and down tubes are designed to provide space for bags, bottles or accessories. Additional mounts for food, clothing or a small pack can be attached to the fork. This means the G5-X is significantly better equipped for bikepacking and ultra-races than the G3-X and the C68 Gravel.
When it comes to bottle cages, buyers can choose between conventional cages and Fidlock Twist mounts. Colnago supplies three Fidlock mounts with the bike. The side-mounted system is designed to offer particular benefits with smaller frame sizes or when used in conjunction with a frame bag.
Electronic circuits and UDH
The carbon frame is designed exclusively for electronic groupset systems, but can be fitted with either single or double drivetrains. For 1x systems, chainrings of up to 50 teeth are approved. For double drivetrains, gravel cranksets as well as compact and super-compact road bike cranksets can be fitted.
For the bottom bracket, Colnago uses the bolted BSA-68 standard. The derailleur hanger complies with the manufacturer-agnostic UDH standard. All production models are initially available with an electronic SRAM XPLR drivetrain, a 40-tooth chainring and a cassette ranging from 10 to 46 teeth.
On the two higher-spec models, the cockpit consists of the one-piece Colnago CC.01 Wide carbon handlebar. Compared with the road version, the lower section of the handlebar is significantly wider, with a 3-centimetre overhang on each side. The Rival version, on the other hand, is fitted with an aluminium handlebar and a separate Colnago SR10 stem.
Three trim levels starting from 4,900 euros
Colnago is initially offering the G5-X in three versions and two colours: Carbon Green and Carbon Blue. The frame is said to be identical across all models – according to the manufacturer, there is no lower-grade carbon used for the more affordable versions.
Colnago G5-X Rival XPLR
- Gear system: SRAM Rival XPLR AXS E1
- Translation: 40 teeth, 10–46 cassette
- Wheels: Vision TC45 Carbon, 30 millimetres inner width
- Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RH TLR, 50 millimetres
- Handlebars: Deda Superzero Gravel Aluminium, Colnago SR10
- Price: 4,900 euros
Colnago G5-X Force XPLR
- Gear system: SRAM Force XPLR AXS E1
- Translation: 40 teeth, 10–46 cassette
- Wheels: Vision TC45 Carbon, 30 millimetres inner width
- Tyres: Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RH TLR, 50 millimetres
- Handlebar: Colnago CC.01 Wide Carbon
- Price: 5,750 euros
Colnago G5-X Red XPLR
- Gear system: SRAM Red XPLR AXS E1
- Translation: 40 teeth, 10–46 cassette
- Wheels: Zipp 303 XPLR SW, 32-millimetre inner width
- Tyres: Goodyear XPLR Inter TLR, 50 millimetres
- Handlebar: Colnago CC.01 Wide Carbon
- Price: 9,200 euros
A gravel racer for more than just race days
With the G5-X, Colnago is responding to a gravel scene in which fast races and bikepacking adventures are becoming increasingly blurred. Whilst the new model is still intended to be a race gravel bike, with 53 millimetres of tyre clearance, storage space and luggage mounts, it offers considerably more versatility than its predecessors.
This means the G5-X is not simply wider and more off-road capable than the G4-X. Rather, it represents a new approach within the G-series: Rather than positioning a gravel racer as closely as possible to a road bike, Colnago is basing its development on the actual conditions of modern gravel and ultra races. However, only an initial test ride will reveal whether it has successfully struck a balance between agility, comfort and a smooth ride.
Key facts about the Colnago G5-X
- New carbon monocoque frame
- Up to 53 millimetres of tyre clearance
- Five sizes: 450, 480, 510, 540 and 570
- A shallower steering angle, a longer wheelbase and a lower bottom bracket
- Integrated storage space in the down tube
- Six mounting positions on the frame and fork
- Round seatpost with a diameter of 27.2 millimetres
- UDH derailleur hanger
- BSA-68 bottom bracket
- Compatible with electronic 1x and 2x drivetrains
- Two colours: Carbon Green and Carbon Blue
- Prices: 4,900 to 9,200 euros
- Weight: not yet known
Jens Klötzer
Editor