Summary: To sum......dialed. The geometry is stable at speed, efficient for climbing, and the steel tubing allows that lively feel that only steel can offer. There's no question that this is one of those classic rides that will never go out of style. Built with reliable, but not silly light Campy wheels and Record group, the total weight comes to 17.5lbs in a 55cm frame.
Strengths: Resilient ride, great geometry, classic good looks.
Weaknesses: Price?
Similar Products Used: Specialized Allez
Trek 2300
Klein Quantum Race
Pinarello Opera
Colnago CLX
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Bike Setup: DA 10sp brifters & R/Der
Ultegra 10sp chain & 12-23 cassette
FSA C-16 F/Der, SLK Compact cranks 170mm 50/36, K-Force Compact Shallow 44cm, OS-115 stem 10cm, K-Force Light 35mm setback post
Fizik Aliante Ti
King headset
Speedplay Zero's
Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL wheels
Vittoria Open Tubular CX tires
Summary: I purchased & reviewed the Colnago Master Carbon earlier this year, but I REALLY wanted an all-steel Master in solid red with the chrome rear triangle. I had an earlier version from 02 with the Lampre paint, but the fade paintjob was over the top. Through my dealer, I inquired about getting the same PRO-7 paint that I had on my Carbon. Next thing I know, it was being offered as a stock color for Colnago's 08 line, and was able to get one early this year (around June). I wanted one with the old school Precisa steel fork, but I still ended up with a carbon fork when it arrived.
This is my third Colnago, so there were no surprises in handling - predictable, stable at speed.
After having ridden the Master Carbon, I have to say that while the Master X-Light is better looking and the traditionalist's choice, the Master Carbon responds better during sprints & out of saddle climbing. The difference is pretty small, but noticeable when I ride one right after the other.
I put nearly the same parts on both frames (the wheels I simply switched over), so any difference in ride is solely due to the frame. One minor change I made - I realized the FSA Compact Shallow bars are narrow where the hoods clamp than their bar end measurement (my 42cm on the Carbon are really 40cm) so I switched to the 44cm for the X-Light.
Other than that, the paint quality has improved over the Master Carbon (paint doesn't chip as easily) and because it uses a pinch seat lug, there's no broken clamp issues.
For the traditionalist, the Master X-Light is gorgeous - I never tire in admiring its chromed surfaces, the diamond shaped tubing and the metallic red paintjob. While I love riding this frame, I have to admit that if you're really concerned about performance, going with other materials might be the better way to go. Since I don't race anymore, traditional lug frames are fine for me.
Strengths: Colnago geometry - identical to the Master Carbon, very stable & predictable
Better paint quality than the Master Carbon & no seat bolt issues
Gorgeous looks with the chrome lugs & stays, without being overly fussy in finish
Weaknesses: Doesn't have the rear-end stiffness & lightness of carbon
Similar Products Used: Colnago Master Carbon
Cervelo SuperProdigy
Colnago Master 2002 (?)
and other steel dating back to the '80's
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Bike Setup: Master X-lite frame ('97), Look HSC all carbon fork, '06 Campy Record group, FSA cranks, FSA bar, Thompson stem, Chorus Ti seatpost
Summary: This is about the sixth high end bike I've owned and in terms of overall ride charisma, second only to another Colnago -- a Dream Plus -- which was stolen.
One other bike, a late 70's full Campy Reynolds 531 Motebecane with silk sewups, had the same kind of complex soul but was crude, heavy,and a total anochronism by comparison. The Master X-lite is a frame with which it impossible to find fault of any kind. As for weight -- forget it. My Masterlight built up to 17.3 with '06 Record and few carbon FSA bits. That's not heavy by anybody's standard, unless you're Levi Leipheimer, and if you had a bottomless budget, you could drop another half a pound easily. Sew-ups and extreme wheels, you'd be down to 16.
What I like best is the generosity of the frame -- that is, it sort of feeds back to the rider and seems to have infinite strength and springiness. You can cruise, just barely touching the pedals, and totally relax. The bike disappears like a nice little pal. But you can also get on the pedals and hammer absolutely as hard as you can, and it sort of quietly snaps ahead of the bike next to you by a wheel or two. And, believe me, it isn't my superior conditioning. I really believe this is a very fast frame for strong riders, and seems to come into its own particularly on fast downhills and under hard sprinting. Steering is relaxed in that Italian way but the bike corners in a way that inspires near-craziness. Zero oversteer, understeer, uncertainty, vagueness -- it can weave, duck, slice. Whatever. At any speed. I find myself doing stuff I've never ever thought of doing on other road bikes -- even dirt roads are sporty, you can bunny hop it, you can wheely (short back end), and you can even screw up, go off the road, bang along in the grass with bushes whipping your glasses off, and get back up over a 4" asphalt edge without a single frame hiccup. Now that's composure.
It's unfortunate that weight has become possibly THE biggest buying point for a lot of people. A pound penalty in the frame is virtually nothing. However, it's great they're back making them. Huzzah.
Strengths: Handling, ride, joyous personality, tracking; feeling of absolute unfailing strength --- and history.
Weaknesses: Even the paint on mine is excellent. None.
Similar Products Used: Bianchi Freccia Celeste, fully Record, Campy Euros wheels. Unbearable after 30 miles. Crash prone with me on it. Very light, stiff, fast, unpleasant.
Colnago Dream Plus, campy Chorus 9 spd. Absolutely flawless. Smoother than any aluminum frame has a right to be. Silken.
Bianchi Veloce. hard ride, heavy, stiff, indestructable, uninspired handling. Could be ridden fast.
Assorted French steel bikes from long ago. Campy, sew ups.
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Bike Setup: Master X-lite frame ('97), Look HSC all carbon fork, '06 Campy Record group, FSA cranks, FSA bar, Thompson stem, Chorus Ti seatpost
Summary: This is about the sixth high end bike I've owned and in terms of overall ride charisma, second only to another Colnago -- a Dream Plus -- which was stolen.
One other bike, a late 70's full Campy Reynolds 531 Motebecane with silk sewups, had the same kind of complex soul but was crude, heavy,and a total anochronism by comparison. The Master X-lite is a frame with which it impossible to find fault of any kind. As for weight -- forget it. My Masterlight built up to 17.3 with '06 Record and few carbon FSA bits. That's not heavy by anybody's standard, unless you're Levi Leipheimer, and if you had a bottomless budget, you could drop another half a pound easily. Sew-ups and extreme wheels, you'd be down to 16.
What I like best is the generosity of the frame -- that is, it sort of feeds back to the rider and seems to have infinite strength and springiness. You can cruise, just barely touching the pedals, and totally relax. The bike disappears like a nice little pal. But you can also get on the pedals and hammer absolutely as hard as you can, and it sort of quietly snaps ahead of the bike next to you by a wheel or two. And, believe me, it isn't my superior conditioning. I really believe this is a very fast frame for strong riders, and seems to come into its own particularly on fast downhills and under hard sprinting. Steering is relaxed in that Italian way but the bike corners in a way that inspires near-craziness. Zero oversteer, understeer, uncertainty, vagueness -- it can weave, duck, slice. Whatever. At any speed. I find myself doing stuff I've never ever thought of doing on other road bikes -- even dirt roads are sporty, you can bunny hop it, you can wheely (short back end), and you can even screw up, go off the road, bang along in the grass with bushes whipping your glasses off, and get back up over a 4" asphalt edge without a single frame hiccup. Now that's composure.
It's unfortunate that weight has become possibly THE biggest buying point for a lot of people. A pound penalty in the frame is virtually nothing. However, it's great they're back making them. Huzzah.
Strengths: Handling, ride, joyous personality, tracking; feeling of absolute unfailing strength --- and history.
Weaknesses: Even the paint on mine is excellent. None.
Similar Products Used: Bianchi Freccia Celeste, fully Record, Campy Euros wheels. Unbearable after 30 miles. Crash prone with me on it. Very light, stiff, fast, unpleasant.
Colnago Dream Plus, campy Chorus 9 spd. Absolutely flawless. Smoother than any aluminum frame has a right to be. Silken.
Bianchi Veloce. hard ride, heavy, stiff, indestructable, uninspired handling. Could be ridden fast.
Assorted French steel bikes from long ago. Campy, sew ups.
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