The dilema- Campag or Shimano

cydonian74

So what do you reckon? I am building my dream bike up and its come to the groupset stage. I have always used Dura Ace, but something is nagging me...could it be time to go Campagnolo?
Now, i can't run to Record (i don't think?) so is Chorus a better bet than DA? The bike is based around a Bianchi 928SL HoC frameset, i just don't know wether or not to go Campag and keep this all italian? But DA is such good value and functionally flawless, its a toughy so any advice and genuine feedback is welcome. Cheers, Andy.

winoneday

This one always seems to polarise people but if you've always had Shimano and you're happy with it why change? You wouldn't want to build your 'dream' bike then wish you hadn't moved across to Campag.

Then again I'm on Shimano so what do I know.

Monty Dog

There's a new DuraAce groupset later this year - so it'll be a good chance to get a bargain, or alternatively, your bike will look immediately dated! On the durability stakes, my experience is that the likes of Record and Chorus outlive the Shimano equivalents significantly.

giant_man

Well i've had both for many years and they both have their merits and downfalls. Been riding on Record mostly for the past 7 years and do prefer it. Ridden latest Dura Ace recently and found it a little clunky surprisingly, BUT preferred the very comfy brake hoods to Record Ergos. Whatever groupset you go for, you won't be disappointed.

Right now, if i was in a similar position, i would go for Chorus. Very nice.

campagsarge

BUT preferred the very comfy brake hoods to Record Ergos.

I found the same as well.

Never had a problem with Campag components in 14 years of using their stuff. They will serve you well.

fast as fupp

it is a criminal offence to put fishing tackle on an italian frame

you have been warned

briank

I had the same dilemma myself at the start of this year. Though I have used Record in the past, more recently -ie last 16 years! - my groupset of choice has been Dura Ace. Asto longevity, on my winter bike I'm still using nearly the entire 8 speed DA g/set from when I first switched. Admittedly, 9 speed is not so well made - so perhaps ot the same DURAbility. DA 10 speed from what I can gather is unlikely to be better than 9. Plus, it has the problem that squeezing 10 sprockets into the same space as 9 makes the indexing fiddly: sure, it works, but you have to keep it in perect trim and probably a bit of slop in the system will make it a right pain.
So I cadged a ride on a couple of bikes with !0 speed Record - and just didn't like the feel of the levers or the shift meachanism.
Maybe I'd have got used to it: maybe you'll like the feel of it right away.
But me, I've been gathering together :shock: NOS 9 speed DA....

redddraggon

I wouldn't put anything other than Campag on an Italian frame (even if it's made in Taiwan).

Campag FTW

northpole

I switched to Dura over a year ago from a 10 year old Veloce equipped bike. I've not had a single problem with the Dura however, I think there is a lot of logic in sticking with what you have grown familiar with. I still much prefer the logic of the Campag levers when it comes to shifting the chain across the front sprockets. That's the bit of the puzzle I would consider if I were going to set up a new bike.

Peter

st68

ive just bought a pinarello with a dura ace groupset uptill now i always used campag the d a seems alright but its not as good as the campag on my older bike but thats what came with it

fearby

Every time Campag is better.

magliaceleste

To be honest both groupsets are very good.

But I switched to Campagnolo for my Bianchi 928 and have been really pleased. For me the three main factors have been the shape of the hoods, the excellent compact crankset and multi-shift in either direction. Of course keeping the Italian theme helped. In the end I also switched to Campag on my winter trainer.

Edit: I think Shimano brakes may have the edge on outright power, but Campag have better modulation.

Excellent bike choice BTW , I'm a little bit jealous.

y tin

I'm a campag fan, but you're forgetting there is a third option SRAM. The Sram red get goods reviews and is a sub 2kg groupset.

redddraggon

y tin wrote:

I'm a campag fan, but you're forgetting there is a third option SRAM. The Sram red get goods reviews and is a sub 2kg groupset.

If the OP can't afford Record, he's not going to be able to afford Red.

robbarker

I used to be a Record diehard, but Campagnolo have lost their reputation for engineering excellence in recent years, in my humble opinion. The freehubs go annually if you ride them through the winter. Ultratorque bottom brackets groan, creak and come apart unless you install them to the absolute letter. The old solid feel to the levers/shifters has gone as well.

I switched to Shimano about 5 years ago, first 9 speed Dura Ace and more recently Ultegra and it just works. It's bland, a little dull, but it is dependable. Campagnolo is to Shimano what Ducati is to Kawasaki. One is unutterably gorgeous, passionate and inspired but a little underdeveloped and quirky, the other is state-of-the-art, reliable but perhaps a little too clinical. I like to ride and maintain my bikes in preference to looking at them so Shimano is my choice.

Anyway, I've just discovered the joys of fixed with my current stealth pub bike project, so the real answer may be neither.

cydonian74

redddraggon wrote:

y tin wrote:

I'm a campag fan, but you're forgetting there is a third option SRAM. The Sram red get goods reviews and is a sub 2kg groupset.

If the OP can't afford Record, he's not going to be able to afford Red.

Its not really so much a question of cost as justification. The sram stuff is excellent it would appear. I have tried the force kit and it works well, but i think its over the top in terms of cost versus performance versus weight saving; i have never been that hung up on weight; when your 6' 3", 83 kg, things can end up getting a little flexible if they're to light!
I have tried Campag centaur and it was very nice and i did like the 'clunkiness' of the shift, but again, as a few of you have said. SHIMANO JUST WORKS. And with the cost difference between Sram Red (or force for that matter) to save what? 150-200grms? I could just as easily go the loo before each ride and flush away those grams, rather than flush an extra (at least!) £600 away. So thats what rules Sram out for me i'm afraid!

James_London

redddraggon wrote:

y tin wrote:

I'm a campag fan, but you're forgetting there is a third option SRAM. The Sram red get goods reviews and is a sub 2kg groupset.

If the OP can't afford Record, he's not going to be able to afford Red.

Whaddya mean? You can get Red from the US for $1000 plus delivery and customs/vat. Poor man's ceramics and although I think the DA 7800 crank is better, otherwise it's just as good. That's LESS than £850 which is about the best you'll find Record for AFAIK.

I'm riding Red and Record at the moment and they're different but both excellent. Campagnolo durability isn't brilliant but the feel of the levers is. Red levers feel a little dead by comparison but double tap shifting works really well. Red wouldn't look great on a Bianchi - red and minty green.

On balance, I'd choose Record for the Italian theme but be prepared to spend a little time re-programming your shifting reflex from Shimano! Cut costs with some Chorus if you need to - cassette, cranks and maybe brakes.

redddraggon

James_London wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

y tin wrote:

I'm a campag fan, but you're forgetting there is a third option SRAM. The Sram red get goods reviews and is a sub 2kg groupset.

If the OP can't afford Record, he's not going to be able to afford Red.

Whaddya mean? You can get Red from the US for $1000 plus delivery and customs/vat.

Where?

aracer

I've always used Shimano, but got Campag for my new bike - simply because I'd always dreamed of having a Campag bike from when I first got into bikes and it was superior to anything Japanese, and because I prefer the aesthetics (both seem perfectly valid reasons compared with reasons others have for choosing bikes). Was originally going for full Chorus but got tempted by Record for a lot of the bits when I found various good deals (eg Ribble has cheap Record brakes at the moment). It was a bit of a leap into the dark, but I'm happy I made it, as I do I think also prefer the function to Shimano I've had.

Bear in mind that there are new versions of both DA and Record/Chorus for next year - both new mechanical versions and the long rumoured electronic versions. The rumour I've heard is that Campag even plan to squeeze an extra sprocket in the back. Depending on whether you're bothered about having outdated kit you could either wait for the new stuff, or wait for the old stuff to go down in price when the new stuff is released some time later in the year - or you could just get the current stuff to ride now!

redddraggon

aracer wrote:

The rumour I've heard is that Campag even plan to squeeze an extra sprocket in the back.

I think that rumour was false - the major difference I think coming in the new groups is the reshaping of the shifters.

James_London

redddraggon wrote:

James_London wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

y tin wrote:

I'm a campag fan, but you're forgetting there is a third option SRAM. The Sram red get goods reviews and is a sub 2kg groupset.

If the OP can't afford Record, he's not going to be able to afford Red.

Whaddya mean? You can get Red from the US for $1000 plus delivery and customs/vat.

Where?

I've PM'd you details, Red

azzerb

James_London wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

James_London wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

y tin wrote:

I'm a campag fan, but you're forgetting there is a third option SRAM. The Sram red get goods reviews and is a sub 2kg groupset.

If the OP can't afford Record, he's not going to be able to afford Red.

Whaddya mean? You can get Red from the US for $1000 plus delivery and customs/vat.

Where?

I've PM'd you details, Red

I'd also be interested if you wouldn't be so kind please?

Mark Alexander

I use Shimano Ultegra/DA on my race/TT bike and Campag Xenon on my general/training bike.

Th Shimano is a year old and as good as it is, I'd rather Campag.
The Campag rear cassette, derailur and chain have just ben replaced after 4 years of flawless performance (unlike their owner) despite many crashes. the triple chainring, front derailur, hoods and brakes cary on flying the flag.

Although I'd rather Campag, and Italian deserves Campag.....
Why change from what you know and trust???


:?:

acorn_user

If you are worried about Campagnolo freehubs, you could try Miche hubs.

aracer

redddraggon wrote:

aracer wrote:

The rumour I've heard is that Campag even plan to squeeze an extra sprocket in the back.

I think that rumour was false - the major difference I think coming in the new groups is the reshaping of the shifters.

It would appear it is true. http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... hp?t=43589

redddraggon

aracer wrote:

redddraggon wrote:

aracer wrote:

The rumour I've heard is that Campag even plan to squeeze an extra sprocket in the back.

I think that rumour was false - the major difference I think coming in the new groups is the reshaping of the shifters.

It would appear it is true. http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum ... hp?t=43589

11 speed just feels dirty

andyp

campagsarge wrote:

BUT preferred the very comfy brake hoods to Record Ergos.

I found the same as well.

Never had a problem with Campag components in 14 years of using their stuff. They will serve you well.

I found the opposite. I find Campag brake hoods very comfortable and tried a friend's Dura-Ace equipped bike recently and hated the feel of the brake hoods - they felt too narrow and after a short ride I could feel pressure on my hands between the thumb and forefinger that I just don't get with Campag.

Which just goes to prove my theory on this eternal debate - try both and pick the one you like best. Both companies make good kit.

DavidBelcher

robbarker wrote:

I used to be a Record diehard, but Campagnolo have lost their reputation for engineering excellence in recent years, in my humble opinion. The freehubs go annually if you ride them through the winter. Ultratorque bottom brackets groan, creak and come apart unless you install them to the absolute letter. The old solid feel to the levers/shifters has gone as well.

I've yet to experience any of this bother, as I'm still in the Stone Age and on 9sp Mirage with (a) old-school Ergo levers, (b) square-taper BB/crank arms and (c) a non-Campag wheelset. Most likely of these to change is (c), so will see how I fare with the newer-pattern hubs as and when I get new wheels (unless I splash the cash a bit and get Ambrosio Zeniths, which are apparently a v. good hubset).
I suppose I should really be on all-French bits [1] as I ride a French frame - anyone know where I can get hold of a Sachs-Huret New Success groupset (including the dedicated Ergo levers)?

David

[1] I've got a Stronglight headset, mind. Well, it's a start....

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

pedalrog

It has to be your personal preference: for me, I have 4 bikes with Campag, Chorus on 3 of them and Veloce on the other and one - my latest machine - with Shimano 105. I know it's difficult to compare since we are talking different quality groupsets here but I am seriously considering dumpimg the 105 and replacing it with something Campag - probably centaur. The reason - I find the Shimano stuff just not robust enough, it has a weedy feel about it, the gears don't change properly, after only 6 months, despite being stripped down and thoroughly cleaned, yet my Campag bikes, particularly the tourer/Audax bike which gets a real hammering in all weathers just goes on and on without any maintenance at all. The 105 levers are spongy, I have to click them 2 or 3 times to gat any response from the rear mech, the front changer is an absolute pain to setup. The list goes on - I have been maintaining bikes for over 30 years so I do know what I'm doing.
Campag for me without a doubt.

lugster77

record for $1000 sounds v. interesting if you'd be so kind? much obliged