Campag 11 speed, better than 10 or not?

Wheelspinner

I have Chorus 10 speed on my race bike, which is now a few years old, although done no more than perhaps 7000 km all up. It's been good, but I have a chance to pick up a Chorus 11 speed gruppo brand new at a really good price.

Does anyone here have any experience whether there is much difference? I have no complaints about the functionality of the 10 speed.

The first thing I noticed with 11 speed is the different shape of the levers and hoods which are much more comfortable. But other than that, is there any good reason to change? Weight?

All feedback good! Thanks...

reba6768

If you don't mind me jumping on this also, do you need a specific 11 speed freehub or does an 11 cassette fit on a standard 10 speed campag hub?

Kingtut87

A normal campag 10 speed free hub works fine. I've got the athena 11 speed on Easton EA50SL campag hub and it fits grand.

Not sure how much of an upgrade 10 to 11 chorus would be, having never ridden 10 speed chorus but the new hoods are really nice and the technology in all 4 11 speeds groupsets is pretty much the same, mainly just more carbon the higher you go.

ajb72

I previously had 10 speed Chorus and have now been riding the 11 speed for about 3 months. The difference in having one extra cog is of course minimal, save for the fact there is a much smoother transition across the gears, especially in the mid-range where the additional cog (16?) really seems ot help you always find the right gear.

Other observations:

The new hood shape is a massive improvement, really comfortable largely due to the additional padded areas and curved ends. If you spend plenty of time on the hoods like me, you'll really appreciate the difference.

Not sure if it is psychological or not, but the gear shift seems lighter and crisper to me than the 10 speed. It wasn't a problem before, but I think it has improved.

The rear mech looks much nicer than before, really high quality build and slightly more beefed up.

Braking performance is reallly good from the part dual / part single pivot approach. My old brakes were Records (single pivot) and I was not happy with them at all - these are a big improvement.

Apart from finding the front mech a swine to fit initially, I am really pleased with the groupset and would recommend it to you, if it's in your budget range.

galatzo

I had Chorus 10 for 4 years ish until Sept this year and loved it.
Went to Chorus 11 in Sept as heard such good things about it and it was part of the reason I went for the Focus Cayo Campag.
11 is much lighter action on the levers.
Not sure I prefer the look of the new ergos as much as the old ones but they are comfier, but not that much.
I have 12 - 27 and my perception is that I can feel the benefit of the extra sprocket.
Not ridden it that much and certainly not much recently but can't wait for a bit of half decent weather.
11 speedchain rings look better.
To start with I wasn't sure it was better, it's just quite different with the lighter action.
Seeing this thread has made me consider old versus new and now I think about it I do miss that firmer action of 10speed, however I haven't missed it for the last 5 months and haven't thought about it while riding the 11 speed for the last 4/5months.
In short they're both good and after a while you'll probably never give 10 a thought once you've gone to 11.
I'm glad I changed.
Camapg aren't gonna go back to 10 so if the deals right now is as gooder time as any to upgrade.
Not sure if I've helped really....

fortyone

Merckx didn't do bad on 6 speed. 10 to 11, 11 to 10, gimmicky marketing.

rickhotrod

fortyone wrote:

Merckx didn't do bad on 6 speed. 10 to 11, 11 to 10, gimmicky marketing.

That's because his competition also only had 6 speed. If he had raced against 11 speed he wouldn't have stood a chance.

Wheelspinner

fortyone wrote:

Merckx didn't do bad on 6 speed. 10 to 11, 11 to 10, gimmicky marketing.

At the time he was racing, he also wasn't a middle aged desk jockey carrying a few kg too many either, so 6 speed was probably plenty.

I, on the other hand, am waaaaaaaaaaay beyond my best years, chained to a desk job, and need every piece of mechanical advantage I can get..

desmosedici

Wheelspinner wrote:

I, on the other hand, am waaaaaaaaaaay beyond my best years, chained to a desk job, and need every piece of mechanical advantage I can get..

+1

Plus, as I was once told, "you got it, flaunt it".

Saying that, I have Chorus and Record 11 gruppos installed, and I do like them, especially when riding on the hoods. There was some initial confusion when going from Shimano to Campy, due to the different shifters, but I got used to it after a few rides. Right now I have groupsets from all 3 major manufacturers installed, and seem to find myself riding the Campy equipped bikes more often than not.

Can't say if it's because of the groupset, or the bike itself, but I do so love that sound the shifter makes when dumping the cassette for a sprint.

Wheelspinner

desmosedici wrote:

Wheelspinner wrote:

I, on the other hand, am waaaaaaaaaaay beyond my best years, chained to a desk job, and need every piece of mechanical advantage I can get..

+1

Plus, as I was once told, "you got it, flaunt it".

Saying that, I have Chorus and Record 11 gruppos installed, and I do like them, especially when riding on the hoods. There was some initial confusion when going from Shimano to Campy, due to the different shifters, but I got used to it after a few rides. Right now I have groupsets from all 3 major manufacturers installed, and seem to find myself riding the Campy equipped bikes more often than not.

Can't say if it's because of the groupset, or the bike itself, but I do so love that sound the shifter makes when dumping the cassette for a sprint.

If you really do have a Desmosedici I will be seriously jealous!

desmosedici

Wheelspinner wrote:

If you really do have a Desmosedici I will be seriously jealous!

Errrrr ... well ... let's put it this way, until the AGM this year I am Vice President of the Ducati Owners Club in the country where I live. 4 Ducs and counting.

Gragi

I'm not convinced by the new design of the shifters. Prefer the old shape - feels more comfortable in the hand