GRAVEL
ROAD
The new Colnago G5-X arrives with a clear brief: keep Colnago’s fast, racy gravel DNA, but broaden its remit. Not just figuratively.
The headline change is tyre clearance. Where the Colnago G4-X topped out at 45 mm, the G5-X now claims a 53 mm nominal tyre width with 6 mm of clearance. For a modern gravel bike, that’s far from a footnote. It’s probably the most anticipated fix.
🚀 In brief:
New monocoque carbon frame, presented as a fully reworked platform
Tyre clearance increased to 53 mm, up from 45 mm on the G4-X
Internal down tube storage and six mounting points
The previous generation struck a real balance: composed on the road, credible in gravel, not boxed into a single use. Its main limitation in 2026 came precisely from that 45 mm cap. Colnago seems to have heard the message without turning the bike into a ponderous or vague expedition machine.
The G5-X remains a monocoque carbon, integrated, performance-oriented bike. But it gains the attributes now expected of a high-end gravel bike: internal storage, extra mounting points, UDH compatibility, a worked-over cockpit and SRAM XPLR 13-speed builds.
Colnago presents the G5-X as a new platform, not just an evolution of the G4-X. In practice, the technical choices point to a more complete bike.
The 53 mm clearance lets you run 50 mm tyres as stock, such as Goodyear XPLR Inter TLR on the RED build or Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RH on the Force and Rival versions. That’s exactly the sort of tyre section that changes the equation when the terrain gets rough, fast, or simply fatiguing over several hours.
More volume means more grip, more comfort and often more composure on descents. We still need to see how Colnago has preserved the rolling efficiency and precision that made the G4-X so appealing.
The geometry is said to be revised, with an eye to agile handling on tricky descents and fast gravel sections.
Another important new feature: the G5-X integrates storage in the down tube. Access is via a removable plate, compatible with standard bottle cages or the FIDLOCK system. Three FIDLOCK Twistlock mounts are announced as included.
The internal bag and the repair kit are not included – worth noting. But the idea is sound: on a bike at this level, being able to stow a tube, a cartridge, a chain tool or a few tools without multiplying external bags is almost a given.
Colnago also adds six mounting points: two standard bottle cages, one under the down tube, one on the top tube and two on the fork for bottles or cargo. The G5-X doesn’t stray into a travel bike, but it becomes markedly more practical for long rides, gravel races with mandatory kit or days when you want to ride without bulging pockets.
The G5-X is offered with three builds around the SRAM XPLR E1 groupsets in 1×13: RED, Force and Rival. All use a 40-tooth chainring and a 10-46 cassette – a combination that has become a well-established choice for performance gravel.
The top-tier version gets the SRAM RED XPLR AXS, paired with Zipp 303 XPLR SW carbon wheels, hookless, 54 mm deep and 32 mm internal width. It’s a very modern performance gravel spec, with Goodyear XPLR Inter TLR tyres in 700×50.
The Force and Rival versions follow the same 13-speed drivetrain approach, with Vision TC45 carbon, tubeless-ready wheels 45 mm deep and 23 mm internal, shod with Pirelli Cinturato Gravel RH 700×50 TLR. The SRAM Force XPLR AXS here seems the most balanced build for many riders, if the final price stays contained versus the RED version.
The frame also adopts the UDH standard, which makes sense with SRAM Full Mount derailleurs. On the maintenance front, the 68 mm BSA bottom bracket is good news: simple, well-known, and less contentious than some press-fit standards.
Colnago remains Colnago: visual integration is part of the product. The cables are fully internal and the RED and Force versions receive the CC.01 Wide integrated cockpit, with widths matched to sizes. The Rival version switches to a Deda Superzero Gravel Alloy handlebar and a Colnago SR10 Alloy stem.
The 27.2 mm round seatpost is more interesting than it looks. It opens the door, at least potentially, to a dropper post. On a fast gravel bike that accepts 50 mm tyres, that’s not absurd: some more committed descents ride better with a few centimetres less saddle height.
Colnago lists the G5-X from €5,799. The positioning is obvious: we’re talking about a high-end gravel bike, not an entry-level bike.
At this level, the bike has to convince by more than just its logo. The new tyre clearance, internal storage, extra mounts, UDH, BSA and 13-speed XPLR drivetrains make a strong case. The frame will now have to prove on the ground that it keeps that lively, fast and reassuring feel that made the G4-X so appealing.
The Colnago G5-X looks like a smart update to a bike that already had solid foundations. The most important change isn’t the 13-speed groupset, nor the integration, nor even the internal storage. It’s the move to 53 mm clearance, because it puts the bike back in step with current gravel.
With 45 mm, the G4-X remained efficient but was starting to bump up against modern practices, especially on fast, rough formats. With 50 mm fitted as standard and headroom claimed up to 53 mm, the G5-X can breathe again.
The promise is strong: a Colnago gravel bike capable of riding fast, handling wider tyres, carrying a minimum of kit neatly and remaining compatible with more demanding uses. Not a pure bikepacking bike. Not a mountain bike with a road handlebar. Rather a sporty gravel bike, more mature and better armed.
| Riding style | Versatile gravel |
|---|---|
| Frame | Carbon |
| Electric assist | No |
| Gender | Unisex |
| Year | 2027 |
| Model | Colnago G5-X Force, Colnago G5-X Red, Colnago G5-X Rival |
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