Campag Athena or Chorus?

hugo15

I currently run a Campag Centaur 9 speed triple set up and I am thinking of upgrading to Campag 11 speed compact set up. I am really torn between going for Athena at about £600 or pushing the boat out and going for Chours at £800. Is the Chorus stuff worth the addition £200?

Squillinossett

If I was in that situation I would bed or steal the extra £200.

APIII

Athena's a bit of an unknown being so new. Chorus, however has always had an excellent rep, and can't say I can fault the 10speed version. I'd expect the 11 speed to be even better. If you 've got better things to spend 200 quid on the go for Athena, it's just a question of your priorities 8)

ballspondroad

I prefer Athena because I like the alloy version (so strokable). That extra 200 quid for Chorus seems to be for the carbon bits.

Kingtut87

I run Athena 11 on my Cinelli Willin and it does a great job. I've never tried the Chorus stuff but as far as I can tell its the same technology on both just chorus is that bit lighter. Plus the alloy Athena looks the dogs.

giant_man

Lots of people are putting the mostly alloy Athena onto retro bikes now, with classic steel frames such as the Master X, etc. So I guess it depends what frame you're using.

On a carbon frame I would go for Chorus though. Both excellent cos it's campag of course!

gkerr4

chorus!

no doubt - it seems to be the best value point in the new campag line-up - diminishing returns above chorus and while super record is super desireable - it is probably still chorus which offers you the most for your cash

Once_In_A_Blue_Moon

gkerr4 wrote:

chorus!

no doubt - it seems to be the best value point in the new campag line-up - diminishing returns above chorus and while super record is super desireable - it is probably still chorus which offers you the most for your cash

+1

ajb72

Just been through this exact dilema myself (although briefly flirted with the idea of SRAM Force!!)

For me, it was an easy decision to go for Chorus, and at £750 I really though the added ££ was worth every penny. My mate has Athena on his new Ribble Gran Fondo and I have to admit it looks nice - quite retro as others have mentioned already.

However, I really hated the carbon levers mixed with the alloy mechs and chainset, they look really out of place. I think they are also a carbon wrap over alloy, which makes the decision to include them even more bizarre to me.

I am not really sure where Athena is supposed to fit in - I guess as a retro look with modern performance - but why make it 11 speed and give it carbon levers?

Go Chorus and never need an upgrade - go Athena and always be wondering if you should have found the extra £100!!! I have to say, the quality seems to have stepped up over the 10 speed groupset - the rear mech in particular is a work of art.

(Not that there was anything wrong with the quality of the 10 speed Chorus - this just seems to have more in common with the Record finish & materials)

hugo15

Well it looks like it's going to be Chorus then if I can get one of my LBS to get somewhere close to the internet prices.

cal_stewart

buy it online and pay the shop to put it on

pmac1893

If you can get a better deal on the chorus from an online source than i would say go with that, but dont be surprised when everyone at the LBS treats you like crap.

hugo15

I would rather support one of my LBS but they would need to come close in terms of the price.

Mark Alexander

Both will be great but I'd go Chorus unless it were a retro build.

ebay, sell something to pay for it. Maybe your granny or the dog?