New Colnago G4-X is a thoroughbred gravel race bike with aero-optimised profiles

Italian bike manufacturer Colnago has just revealed a new bike in the shape of the G4-X, a gravel race bike aimed at travelling fast over rough terrain.

The G4-X is the next evolution of the brand's existing gravel bike, the G3-X. Rather than being a completely redesigned model, the G4-X refines what the G3-X already had. One of the main changes for the new bike is its aerodynamic optimisation which has come straight from the V4Rs road bike that has propelled Tadej Pogačar to countless victories.

Read more: Top-end brand above industry troubles as Colnago's growth continues in 2023

Keeping up to date with current gravel trends, the G4-X has improved tyre clearance over the previous model with the maximum tyre width now sitting at 45mm, up from 42mm.

Further evidence of the bike’s aero overhaul is the decision to stock the bike with the CC.01 integrated cockpit which has been directly lifted from the C68 road bike. The profile of the bar itself has been updated with a new wide version on offer to make it more gravel-specific with the drops sporting a flared profile to give more control whilst riding in this position.

© Colnago

The G4-X frame has a revised rear triangle to accommodate up to 45mm tyres

Colnago clearly understands that choice is important to riders with the brand offering three cockpit configurations to choose from. Firstly, the G4-X will be available with a traditional two-piece bar and stem from Deda with its Superzero Gravel Alloy bar paired with an RS10 Alloy stem.

Beyond this, the other two choices are both variants of the CC.01 integrated cockpit. There is the standard profile road configuration or the CC.01 Wide to choose from. The CC.01 Wide sports, as the name suggests, a wider profile at the drops, flaring from the 40cm width at the hoods, and the new bars also have a slightly shallower drop and reach than the standard cockpit. The rationale behind this is to put you in more of a relaxed position better suited to controlling the bike on loose surfaces.

As far as the frame of the G4-X is concerned, changes have been small if not significant. Much like the Cervélo Áspero launched this week, the G4-X moves to the now-common T47 threaded bottom bracket standard as well as a UDH rear derailleur hangar, somewhat future-proofing the bike at least for the time being.

© Colnago

The new bike can accept up to a 54-tooth chainring

There is no worry about being able to fit the right gearing to the bike as Colnago has designed the new bike to accept up to a 54-tooth chainring.

Read more: Cervélo updates Áspero gravel bike with more tyre clearance and increased compliance

Although a lot of the latest wave of gravel bikes look to be borrowing inspiration from mountain bikes in their geometry with stems shortening and reaches growing, Colnago has kept the G4-X close to the G3-X’s blueprint.

To allow the wider tyres to fit within the rear triangle, the chainstays have been redesigned around a narrower profile that gives the tyre the extra room that it needs. To compensate for any potential loss in rigidity around the rear of the bike, Colnago opted for a different modulus carbon fibre that aims to boost the stiffness in the area.

Pricing and availability

Interestingly for an Italian brand, there will be no Campagnolo builds available for the G4-X. Instead there will be a Shimano 1x and 2x GRX model which is currently the only model set to be available in the UK, along with three SRAM models available in the US and Europe.

All models of the G4-X will be available from 20 June 2024 with the Shimano GRX build retailing for £4,500 / $4,750 / €4,330.

As far as the SRAM builds are concerned, the range will start with Rival AXS at $5,250 / €4,830, Force AXS XPLR at $6,250 / €5,710 and the range-topping Red eTap AXS XPLR which is set to retail for $9,750 / €8,870.

What do you think of Colnago's latest bike? Let us know in the comments sections below. For all the latest product launches and developments from the world of bike tech make sure to head over to the dedicated tech news section of the GCN website.

Colnago

One of the most iconic Italian bike brands, Colnago has supplied bikes to some of the best riders in the world, including Eddy Merckx and Tadej Pogačar.