GROUPSETS

dbb

sram is compatible with shimano.
i reckon all the brands make great groupsets. i'm also looking to upgrade. i think one of the determining factors for me will be the comfort of the levers in my hands - given that a lot of the time is spent holding them.

have you considered the new model ultegra?

gabriel959

problem with Shimano is that is so overpriced these days that is not worth it.

Sram Rival best bang for the buck IMO

kingrollo

I have just gone back to Ultegra after Campag Centaur. I prefer shimano, I ride on the brake hoods a lot - and find the shimano more comfortable. IMO shimano has a lighter shifting action where as campag has a more solid clunk feel - I rode the campag for many miles without a problem - so can't fault the durability.

Personally I think they are all good - and once you go above 105/centaur - what are you paying for ? - nominal weight saving, and a more finished appearance. I would have quite happily gone with 105 - but ultegra for a little extra £90. However in your case - you are going to pay an extra £400 for chorus - over Ultegra - personally I think that money could better spent - a wheel upgrade would give you more of a performance upgrade - than Chorus over Ultegra.....if you aren't sure go with the cheapest is my motto

watto1minis

thanks alot for your advice, much appreciated

Chip \'oyler

TBH - even though I'm a Campag man through and through, if I was buying now as a complete beginner I would go with Shimano or SRAM

Only because it is so much easier to get aftermarket equipment that is compatible with Shimano.

Campag is so much more beautiful, but is becoming a bit niche these days. Even Italian bike manufacturers are now equipping their bikes with Japanese fishing tackle :roll:

pianoman

TBH - even though I'm a Campag man through and through, if I was buying now as a complete beginner I would go with Shimano or SRAM

Only because it is so much easier to get aftermarket equipment that is compatible with Shimano.

Can't you get Miche compatible cassettes and KMC chains?

Also, I'd be interested to see how the new 11-speed FSA groupset performs. I know their chainsets are highly thought of.

and once you go above 105/centaur

It's 105/VELOCE, that's an insult to Campag :evil:

dennisn

redddraggon wrote:

dennisn wrote:

NapoleonD wrote:

watto1minis wrote:

well i can get a
Shimano Ultegra Sl groupset with whells for £500
or
Campag Chorus groupset with wheels for £900.

is the campag groupset orth £400 more??

YES!

C'mon, guy sounds like he wants some resonable advice. Not just some old "oh yeah, Campy is the way to go because we said so" kind of stuff. Actually WORTH 400 more??
Give me a break.

Dennis, you are American, so you should be trying to support the US economy and so you should be wholeheartedly suggesting SRAM.

I'm not suggesting anything, except that the claims of superiority of groupsets, one over another, by anyone, are, what's a nice word, bullsh*t.

Slow Downcp

Surely not comparing like with like? Chorus = Dura Ace, Centaur = Ultegra, so the Ultegra set will be cheaper. I'd go for Campag every time, have Centaur on two bikes having tried a change to Shimano which just wasn't as good IMHO. The shift was quieter, but not slicker, with Shimano and I didn't find the hoods as comfortable.

doughty2002

I have and currently use Dura Ace groupset, Ultegra SL groupset and Campagnolo Centaur groupset (yes, I have 3+ bikes).

I personally prefer the ergonomics (how my hand fits the product) of the Shimano kit over that of Campagnolo and I find Shimano that bit more instinctive to ride than Campagnolo (although that may just be because I happen to have been riding Shimano longer than Campagnolo.

So far as durability is concerned my experience is that, once properly set up, both groupsets are durable and long lasting. I have never had a mechanical failure with either of them. The difference between Dura Ace and Ultegra SL is, in my opinion, small to the point of being non-existent. If you are a weight weenie then you will happily pay the extra for Dura Ace. If you would rather drop that extra gram from your stomach you'll probably see the economic virtue in going with Ultegra SL. Oh yes, there's also aesthetics. I happen to prefer the look of Ultegra SL on a carbon bike over that of the new Dura Ace.

I have no experience of SRAM. What I do have is anecdotal information from the mechanic who builds and services my bikes for me (yes, I know this is hearsay and therefore of much lesser weight/value than my personal experience). His view is that SRAM is far harder to keep properly adjusted and also less durable (he sees more mechanical failures with it than he does with Shimano or Campagnolo although he acknowledges that these may just be the teething problems of establishing and maintaining quality control at a new production facility) than Shimano and Campagnolo.
I repeat, I have no personal knowledge of this and report this as I have always valued my mechanics opinions on these issues.

I do hope that helps.

Whatever you get, enjoy the ride.

Anonymous

doughty2002 wrote:

I have and currently use Dura Ace groupset, Ultegra SL groupset and Campagnolo Centaur groupset (yes, I have 3+ bikes).

I personally prefer the ergonomics (how my hand fits the product) of the Shimano kit over that of Campagnolo and I find Shimano that bit more instinctive to ride than Campagnolo (although that may just be because I happen to have been riding Shimano longer than Campagnolo.

So far as durability is concerned my experience is that, once properly set up, both groupsets are durable and long lasting. I have never had a mechanical failure with either of them. The difference between Dura Ace and Ultegra SL is, in my opinion, small to the point of being non-existent. If you are a weight weenie then you will happily pay the extra for Dura Ace. If you would rather drop that extra gram from your stomach you'll probably see the economic virtue in going with Ultegra SL. Oh yes, there's also aesthetics. I happen to prefer the look of Ultegra SL on a carbon bike over that of the new Dura Ace.

I have no experience of SRAM. What I do have is anecdotal information from the mechanic who builds and services my bikes for me (yes, I know this is hearsay and therefore of much lesser weight/value than my personal experience). His view is that SRAM is far harder to keep properly adjusted and also less durable (he sees more mechanical failures with it than he does with Shimano or Campagnolo although he acknowledges that these may just be the teething problems of establishing and maintaining quality control at a new production facility) than Shimano and Campagnolo.
I repeat, I have no personal knowledge of this and report this as I have always valued my mechanics opinions on these issues.

I do hope that helps.

Whatever you get, enjoy the ride.

Is that with the old shape Campag hoods or the new ones?

dboden

I have Centaur on my winter bike and Ultegra SL on Carbon.
And I like em both. It is clearly different every time I swap bikes but you soon get used to whichever you are on. And they both do the job nicely. I really couldn't decide which I prefer. One thing though there is alot more after market stuff for Shimano / SRAM.
I really think you would be pleased with any at this level. Just look for a deal!!

inseine

Remember that Ultegra SL is last gen, but there are clearly some good deals if you lik it.
New Shimano has completely different lever shapes and hidden cables like Sram:Campag.
Campag is nice but you need a £100 chain tool if you're going to stick with the OEM part. I don't like the fiddly Shimano chain either. KMC chains are the way to go.

dboden

inseine wrote:

Remember that Ultegra SL is last gen, but there are clearly some good deals if you lik it.
New Shimano has completely different lever shapes and hidden cables like Sram:Campag.
Campag is nice but you need a £100 chain tool if you're going to stick with the OEM part. I don't like the fiddly Shimano chain either. KMC chains are the way to go.

I like it.... But I don't "lik it"... actually it has crossed my mind!! hmmm :P

wicked

This question gets asked a lot, the answer is none of them are better its just personal preference. I (really) wanted to have campag on my new bike but I tried it and was not very impressed with the hoods ,the clunky change, the thumbshifter and even the looks. I tried SRAM and thought no way its so noisy so stuck with shimano its the safe reliable option. But thats just my personal preference and there are plenty who will disagree.

To the original poster just go and try them and all will become clear!

gabriel959

I find Shimano much noisier than my SRAM kit, in fact sometimes with Rival I wonder if I have changed gear.

inseine

After riding DuraAce for the last five years I bought a bike with 105 and the intention to change the group straight away. The thing is, I find the 105 better than the DA just for the fact it's new and really all these groupsets are good and so, as has been said, it's up to you and maybe pointless asking others when it's more of a personal thing.

STEFANOS4784

I really can't believe this is still going.............again :roll:

gkerr4

and keep going it really is...

My (sensible head on) 2p.

I had tiagra on my old bike - which is now my winter bike. and liked it in use but really preferred the shape of the 'old shape' campag hoods. So when I build my posh bike in early 2008 I specified the full 2008 centaur carbon groupset for it - which was great!

the using the winter bike at times I realised that the shimano shift was much quieter and 'subtle' in effect - the campag was clunkier and more solid feeling - the thing was, I preferred the feeling of the campag stuff and I very much preferred the campag hoods (ended up hating the shimano hoods) - so I have now got campag on both bikes.

actually I ended up upgrading parts on the posh bike to 2008 spec record and moving the centaur to the old bike - and there is a marked difference betwen record an centaur - but thats a whole different thread!!

STEFANOS4784

So in brief it's down to personal preference? That's all that need be said on the subject :?

gkerr4

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

So in brief it's down to personal preference? That's all that need be said on the subject :?

yes - to sum up - it's your personal preference.

there - that's this thread wrapped up.

keef66

@Kingrollo

IMO shimano has a lighter shiting action where as campag has a more solid clunk feel :shock:

Shimano for me then; I'm a bit constipated at the moment and can do without that solid clunky feeling.

STEFANOS4784

gkerr4 wrote:

yes - to sum up - it's your personal preference.

there - that's this thread wrapped up.

I'll bet ya a fiver

Pross

hi NapoleonD
thanks for your input but NO we wont all i was after was a bit of advice on ONE thing i have all of the other components but if you cannot give friendly advice then maybe you are on the wrong thing

thanks for everyone elses feedback much appreciated

Jeez, someone's touchy. Don't think anyone is suggesting you've bought a bad frame or are asking stupid questions - I haven't been on here long myself but I'm pretty sure they are suggesting that you'll end up getting upgrade-itis like pretty much everyone else. I haven't even got my new bike yet but I'm already deciding what bits to change :shock:

On the subject, I've used both in the past (pre-integrated gear/brake levers) and mechanically both are excellent. Campag is much nicer looking though IMHO but you pay extra for it compared to the Shimano alternative. If I buy a nice Italian brand frame I'll be going with Campag but otherwise will probably go Shimano. SRAM I haven't tried but on the basis they are relative newcomers their products seem quite highly priced to me as I can't imagine they are any better built than the equivalent model from the more established brands but then trying them I may find different!

STEFANOS4784

I think everyone is right here, as a beginner Nappy-D's comments were not helpful, however a simple search will reveal that there is no real difference other than personal preference. Which is why, i assume, N-D was trying to pullo del leggo (sick of same threads coming up 300 times a day with no real outcome )

Percy Vera

I read NapD's post as light hearted banter, and also thought that the OP went off on one!

At the end of the day... it gets dark

No, at the end of the day it's personal preference - SRAM, Campag & Shimano all have been used when winning professional races so they must all be good enough quality.

Chip \'oyler

Tell you what - I'll wrap this thread up:

1. Campag stuff was invented by a man freezing his t i t s off on an obscure mountain a few years ago i.e. they're the brand with history and romance

2. Shimano make fishing tackle i.e. their stuff works but smells of maggots

3. SRAM are American i.e. joined the groupset war too late and are now over here stealing our women

I think that's all you need to know

STEFANOS4784

Chip \'oyler wrote:

'The idiots are winning'

+1