Campag Centaur 10sp QS Ergo Levers - 2008

fonebone3

I've bought these new levers for my new bike - Shimano setup throughout using a JTek Shiftmate (works perfectly)...

However, from the moment I fitted these levers to the bars I've hated the left QS Lever... I want to know if these levers are as designed by Camapagnolo OR is the left QS Lever faulty so I can go back to the shop with it..?

I've been using a pair of Veloce levers for five years with no problems. They change gear and brake on time. But I thought I would upgrade this time to Centaur... With the cable disconnected from the Front Mechanism and with a slight hand-held pressure to the cable there are 6 clicks to shift up to the large chainwheel and only 2 heavy cluncks down to the small chainwheel. I phoned the shop about it straight away and he said this was the "Quick Shift..."
With the cable connected it is a different story - The Shimano Front Mechanism is changing down from the large ring to the small ring with a BANG that echoes around inside the carbon frame. Sounds like a pistol going off. The whole street knows when I'm changing gear. Nothing subtle about it at all.

The question is, I'm assuming that I need a Centaur QS Front Mechanism 2008 to match up with the lever for some kind of advanced 2008 gear changing, something I never had a problem with since 1963 by the way, but who's quibbling..?
..but the nightmare scenario comes to pass when I buy the Campag Front Mech and there is still a godawful change down from the big ring to the small ring...

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

redddraggon

Isn't the spring in a Shimano Front Derailler stronger? If you use a Campag front derailler you shouldn't hear such a loud clunk.

fonebone3

I have no idea - I am hoping you are going to tell me with the benefit of experience

Hugh A

I've got these levers with an all Campag set-up and I have to say there is often quite a violent down-shift going from big to small with the front mech, although it does seem to depend a bit what rear cog I am on.

The 'quick-shift' takes a bit of getting used to after the old system which seemed to me to work well enough as it was. I guess that using the second down shift with a triple would probably produce a similar effect if it wasn't just a small trimming motion used on the double.

I know that doesn't help much but I would say you are not alone.

fonebone3

Thanks Hugh. Unbelieveable. How is this possible? What kind of an upgrade is this? I feel like I've been mugged.

fonebone3

..that is mugged, spelt M U G G E D and campag, spelt C A M P A G N O L O

redddraggon

Hmm, I don't seem to have any problems with my QS systems.

st68

my 08 centaur ergos are sweet as a nut i love em

fonebone3

This is fascinating stuff

magliaceleste

2007 Centaur on my Ribble winter bike with a Compact 50/34 chain ring. Shifts no trouble at all.

According to the blurb QS shifters will work with non-QS mechs but you wlll get better shifting performance with a QS front mech. Maybe that's the bang you get.

itisaboutthebike

lol !

MUGGED ? Will will be with Camapg 11 speed !

Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it ! Don't buy it !

fonebone3

Thanks MC - according to a few posts elsewhere there's a bit of a significant difference with the 2008 versions but it's all bit of a blur to me to be honest - I'm not particularly religious about it - I was just hoping to change rings like you are on the 2007. There's been one or two opinions on the 2008 being quite short on satisfaction and one or two quite happy with them. Jury is out so far... stay tuned

redddraggon

The only thing slightly negative I've noticed is the chainrings on the Carbon Centaur chainsets - they are nowhere near the same quality as my 06 Centaur Chainrings. I think I chipped a tooth after only a couple of hundred miles on the carbon c/set

acorn_user

redddraggon wrote:

The only thing slightly negative I've noticed is the chainrings on the Carbon Centaur chainsets - they are nowhere near the same quality as my 06 Centaur Chainrings. I think I chipped a tooth after only a couple of hundred miles on the carbon c/set

That's because they used stamped rings (ED?) rather than the nice machined rings (UD). I think people would be better off going with the alloy chainset, which still has the UD rings and costs less, but I am biased in favour of shiny items.