Campag Super Record 11 vs Shimano Dura Ace Di2

philo

Sorry about this in advance.....but it could balloon. Given that I'm going to get some decent cash soon so will be building another bike, top top end of course. So the big question is Super Record or Di2? I'm a BIG campag fan and have chorus 11 on my current steed but Di2 is getting pretty good reviews! Hmmmmm......dilemmas

Smokin Joe

I too am a Campag man, but assuming you have another bike for winter and backup I would go electronic.

Why not?

philo

Yes electronic shifting is probably the way forward but does it have manual override just in case your battery dies on you during a long ride?

Chrissz

Personally I'd hang fire on going electric - it's still comparatively new tech and you can be pretty sure that 5 minutes after you've bought the latest Di2 setup they'll announce a newer, lighter, faster updated version!

At least with Campag 11 you could update the separate parts as new bits are introduced - I suspect this would not be the case with electronic systems.

Besides, the Campagnolo gear just looks soooo much sexier

philo

It does look like Campag WILL enter the electronic arena in the near future, so as you say Chrissz the Italian stuff just oozes the class that screams "must have". I think I'll wait for the electronic war to start before committing my cash!

Smokin Joe

IIRC Campag had a prototype electronic system in the pro peleton well before Shimano, but they seem to have gone quiet on it. Anyone know what's happening?

Chrissz

Smokin Joe wrote:

IIRC Campag had a prototype electronic system in the pro peloton well before Shimano, but they seem to have gone quiet on it. Anyone know what's happening?

Italian electrics (ever owned a Fiat or a Lancia?)

gkerr4

if you are a campag man then I can't think of anything worse than a shimano electronic groupset!

of course you should go super record!!

what frame are you thinking of?

FHKJ

Go Di2!

You can clearly afford it, and who wouldn't want to try out the newest and coolest kit?

mrushton

But of course,you know that FSA are getting ready to launch their 'Microshift' gear change system and at a price that will seriously undercut the other 3. So you won't want to see if their system offers any (dis)advantages?

C-S-B

Di2 all the way!

Why go for super record when it will probably only offer 'meh' improvements over the chorus 11 you have instead of something new, different and exciting?!!

With Di2, no fiddly readjustments for stretched cables, perfect shifts every time since it knows exactly when to move up/down the cassette, ridiculously fast chainring shifting, extremely clean cable routing (if frame allows it...)

Levers are also the only levers that look better than DA7800 shifters imo..

giant_man

Go campag, keep it real! Shimano haven't got their %hit together with the Di2 yet I don't think so I wouldn't buy it yet. They will, but at the same time as Campag bring theirs out, which is the one you should go for in 2-3 years time.

But right now, SR 11 would be my choice.

Monty Dog

Super Record for sure - unless you fancy sponsoring Shimano's Di2 Test Programme and watch the resale value plummet when they iron-out all the bugs on the current model.

philo

There's a video review of both here:

Di2
http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... ERY_BRAND=

Campag 11 speed

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CC ... RAND.ID%3D

Both get great reviews from the guy in the clips. As my wife would say about shoes....why not buy both!

onthefells

I for the life of me can't see why anyone would go electronic. What are you gonna do when it goes wrong...especially mid ride? you will be well and truly screwed unless of course you are some kind of electronics wizz.

I can see it now....7 grands worth of bike marooned in the middle of the moors on some race/sportive being laughed at by everyone coming past on 500 quid bikes :shock:

STEFANOS4784

Why not e-mail the guys at competetive cyclist, those reviews are rather useless, sounds like he's trying to sell the stuff...............

P.s definately Di2 8)

Smokin Joe

onthefells wrote:

I for the life of me can't see why anyone would go electronic. What are you gonna do when it goes wrong...especially mid ride? you will be well and truly screwed unless of course you are some kind of electronics wizz.

quote]
Why would you be truely screwed? You've still got drive and plenty of people ride single speed.

You'd be screwed if your forks broke yet most of us are happy to trust to carbon.

gabriel959

I think I would choose Di2 over Super Record too.

STEFANOS4784

Smokin Joe wrote:

onthefells wrote:

I for the life of me can't see why anyone would go electronic. What are you gonna do when it goes wrong...especially mid ride? you will be well and truly screwed unless of course you are some kind of electronics wizz.

quote]
Why would you be truely screwed? You've still got drive and plenty of people ride single speed.

You'd be screwed if your forks broke yet most of us are happy to trust to carbon.

Old sand scared of progress

inseine

I had a play with all the groupsets at the Paris bikeshow. I know it's not like riding them, but when do you get the chance to do that? I liked the Campag levers over the others, but that's personal, though Shimano does seem to have lots of sharp edges on the underside particularly new Ultegra, which I can't see anyone liking.
I have to say that Di2 was the only one that made me go 'Wow!'. Problems aside it really is super quick, slick and effortless.

LardLover

Jeez what a decision to have to make.

I would have definitely have said SR, but, after having a fiddle of a bike set up with Di2 (albeit on a static stand) I am serioulsy considering going electric. Yes, I've never tried it on a bike out on the road, but I did give it some poke on the stand (not that that's any representation of what it'll be like)

To watch the front mech auto-trim so the chain doesn't rub is a delight to watch :shock: :shock: 8) 8) :shock: :shock: . It makes just the best noise when changing. The STI shifters are gorgeous, fell tremendous.

Can you tell I'm excited by Di2? :oops:


Still, SR is drop dead gorgeous :shock: :shock: :shock:

dennisn

IMHO I think you will love whichever you buy. As for one being "better" than the other,
I'm thinking either / or. It doesn't matter. You really shouldn't be asking us anyway. Which one do YOU want.

jaredpace

Having been lucky enough to own a full SR11 groupo and having also used Shimano's new Di2 extensively. IMHO there is now choice, it's Campy all the way. And no, I'm not biased either way with old-school/new-school views. Takes your choices!

dodgy

This reminds me of the conversations at the cafe when STi first came out for road bikes "nyeeerrrrr, I'll stick to me downtube levers young 'un, who needs STi".

Di2 for me

dennisn

dodgy wrote:

This reminds me of the conversations at the cafe when STi first came out for road bikes "nyeeerrrrr, I'll stick to me downtube levers young 'un, who needs STi".

Di2 for me

+1 down tube shifters sucked. I felt like I had been delivered from the brink when STI
made it's appearance.

morxy

I test rode Di2 a couple months ago. It's definitely a new experience. Raised an eyebrow or 2. Changing gear is like clicking a mouse button. There's no apparent mechanical actuation. Auto FD trimming makes a cool sound too, kinda high tech.

Personally I'd choose Di2. I never really liked the position of the upshift button on Campy levers. But that's just a personal preference.

The battery lasts a long time. You'd be very unlucky for it to run out. If the drivetrain does die on you, maybe lift the chain onto the lowest gear with your hands (like when you put a derailed chain back on) and limp home. Can't imagine that happening often though.

Lastly, people say "wait 2 years for better versions". I see what they mean. But it already shifts crisply and quickly - some would say perfectly so - with auto trimming and good battery life. What else are they gonna do in 2 years to make it much better? Reduce the weight of the battery cell from 68g to 40g, make it a bit smaller? Is it worth the wait?

Mind you, guess they could eliminate cabling altogether. The shifters could wirelessly send electronic signals to the derailleurs, like wireless computers do now. Naturally the signal would auto encrypt on each ride to one of billions of combinations so there'd be no chance of rider A's signal affecting rider B's derailleur if they're riding nearby!

Can you imagine Team Radio Shack geeks at the roadside of a TdF stage with signal jammers generating electronic "noise" to stop Contador changing gear at critical moments?! Guess there's always Bluetooth.

dodgy

morxy wrote:

Lastly, people say "wait 2 years for better versions". I see what they mean. But it already shifts crisply and quickly - some would say perfectly so - with auto trimming and good battery life. What else are they gonna do in 2 years to make it much better?

A likely development would surely be automatic shifting option (i.e. you could disable it) so that the system attempts to keep you as close to your desired cadence as possible?

andy162

Nissan GT-R or Ferrari 430?

Japanese technical wizardry over Italian passion? What a predicament to be in. Di2 for my dollars but conversely I would choose the 430.

Pross

Can't comment - I'm a luddite who still has downtube shifters (STI started to come out around the time I stopped). Was going to change to STI but have recently discovered this is now the coolest thing in cycling such that Shimano are bringing out new Dura Ace downtube shifters so soon both Di or the CR group will be so last year

Seriously though, I love my gadgets but until someone can explain the benefits of electronic shifting over traditional mechanics I couldn't justify the switch as I'd be worried about the additional potential faults that can occur. With traditional mechs about the only problem that is likely to happen is the cables snapping. That said I haven't looked at Di in the flesh as I know I'd fall for it lol

aracer

dodgy wrote:

This reminds me of the conversations at the cafe when STi first came out for road bikes "nyeeerrrrr, I'll stick to me downtube levers young 'un, who needs STi".

Yeah, but Di2 doesn't offer the sort of advantage over STI/Ergo that STI did over DT levers. I mean realistically, exactly what advantage does it give? As useless as an 11th cog might seem, I actually reckon there's more benefit to that than electric shifting - the only reason for not going with the Campag on that basis being that you can now get 11 speed shifting down at Athena level, so there isn't the benefit of going for a high end group apart from bling!

aracer

dodgy wrote:

A likely development would surely be automatic shifting option (i.e. you could disable it) so that the system attempts to keep you as close to your desired cadence as possible?

For a racing (as opposed to a leisure bicycle ridden gently) I still reckon that's a rubbish idea almost all the time. Maybe useful in a time trial, but that's about it.