Campagnolo Super Record WR evaluation: Testing the world’s most costly groupset

Campagnolo Super Record WR launched throughout the first half of final 12 months and it appeared a brand new chapter within the legendary Italian producer’s historical past had begun. The groupset is the model’s first-ever totally wi-fi digital providing and can be its most costly so far. 

This 12 months additionally marks the primary 12 months Campagnolo tools wasn’t fitted to bikes within the top-flight WorldTour for, properly, a very long time. It appeared that the main focus had shifted away from race-focused tools knowledgeable by many years of successful on the highway, although Campag tools continues to be utilized by groups outdoors of the WorldTour. 

Campagnolo itself commented on the very fact its future plans would goal the ‘sport luxurious’ class. Super Record WR gave the impression to be a ‘past class’ hyper-expensive groupset with a price ticket I’m certain nobody had been totally anticipating. 

Associate Editor Josh Croxton attended the groupset launch for Cyclingnews and lined all the main points in his information piece. The listing worth for a groupset then was a hefty £4,499.00 / $5,399.00 / €5,200.00. Though like a number of issues within the bike world, now you can discover it for rather less on-line. Since the launch an influence meter chainset choice has additionally been launched for the group.

Campagnolo additionally not too long ago launched a variant of the groupset final month within the type of the Super Record S groupset, which featured a matt black end and a few alternate gearing choices for rather less money. 

I’m fortunate sufficient to have examined bikes geared up with three of the highest highway bike groupsets this summer season; Shimano Dura-Ace, SRAM Red AXS and Campag Super Record WR. As such I’m handily positioned to match and distinction the top-tier groupsets from the large three. I’ve been testing Super Record WR for a number of months and am prepared with my full evaluation. Does the groupset elevate efficiency to a different place or is the groupset one thing of a miss hit? 

Design and Aesthetics 

Aesthetics-wise, Super Record WR shares seems and design cues with the wired Super Record EPS groupset that has been in the marketplace for just a few years already. The Wireless (WR) tech did not herald a wholesale design overhaul, and the shifter and chainset shapes as an example are fairly comparable. 

One of the important thing speaking factors might be the truth that the distinctly formed Campagnolo thumb shifter has gone. In its place are two shifter paddles. The thumb shifter has had followers and detractors through the years as its design has developed however both method, it was synonymous with Campagnolo groupsets. 

Electronic groupsets imply batteries, and one other pretty massive change was the WR groupset’s wi-fi batteries and derailleur designs. The entrance and rear derailleurs are fairly distinguished and angular, while the batteries themselves (photographs under) are slightly bigger than SRAM’s wi-fi items.

The groupset options a number of carbon fibre, and the marbled sort end, one thing Campagnolo has produced in numerous kinds for a very long time, actually does look unbelievable on the brake levers, derailleurs and chainset – which might be probably the most stunning piece of the groupset for me. 

Across the board, if I’m sincere, the extent of ending is superb. The carbon fibre rear derailleur arm and outer entrance mech plate as an example look very unique and undoubtedly contribute to the Super Record aesthetic and picture. 

Although the derailleurs themselves are bodily bigger they do mix angular shapes with flowing strains, like the remainder of the groupset. I’ve heard sure Campagnolo equipment described as ‘jewelry in your bike’ prior to now, and while I would not go that far, up shut in individual the groupset total does have presence. 

In phrases of the groupset design itself, Super Record WR is 12-speed and hasn’t adopted in in style gravel groupset Ekar’s 13-speed footprints. Gearing choices are slightly extra compact now too, cassettes can be found in 10-25, 10-27, and 10-29 sizes with Campagnolo adopting the 10-tooth sprocket dimension that first appeared on SRAM cassettes. Up entrance, double chainsets can be found in 34/50, 32/48, and 29/45 sizes. I examined the 32/48 mixture with a 10-29 cassette on the rear. I have to say a sub 30t cassette on the rear, while going towards the grain of present traits, does look neat and compact due to its barely smaller bodily dimension. The arrival of the ‘S’ groupset launched some bigger, extra conventional chainring sizes, maybe for the racers or to fulfill buyer demand. 

Cassettes characteristic single-tooth sprocket dimension increments as much as the seventh sprocket, and after which have a max of three enamel variations so there are not any massive jumps. I’ve seen shifting down the cassette particularly to be slightly loud although, nearly just like the loud shifting sound you used to get on an old-school carbon wheel, which I do not thoughts an excessive amount of, it is simply totally different. On the subject of drivetrains, there may be now a Campagnolo energy hyperlink which I feel can be music to most individuals’s ears. Peening chain pins (manually flattening a series pin as soon as put in) and following Campagnolo’s chain set up directions at all times used to make me slightly nervous.

The new My Campy 3.0 app is simple to arrange and use. You can perform firmware updates, verify battery ranges and configure which shifter buttons do what, and what number of shifts they make. I carried out just a few firmware updates in minutes and it was simple to do. You cannot make any shifting changes within the app like you may within the Shimano E-Tube app for instance. You’ll must reference the vendor guide or Campagnolo YouTube movies for assist there which really feel slightly extra difficult than Shimano or SRAM techniques and person experiences. I did need to re-pair my derailleurs to the shifters when the bike arrived to check and it was simply performed as soon as I had familiarised myself.

There are some factors that make residing with the groupset simple that I like to say. The cutouts and shifter attain modify on the brake levers make tweaking your brake lever attain very simple, one thing SRAM launched on the brand new Red AXS levers, It was simple to arrange my most popular lever angle. I additionally actually just like the small sliding buttons on the derailleurs you need to use to verify battery life, it’s a helpful contact. The Ultra Torque chainset can be simply eliminated for upkeep with a 10mm hex key, which is able to little doubt show extra in style than the extra concerned Power Torque system which requires a puller software. Overall, after you have familiarised your self with the system changes there aren’t actually any difficult specifics to concentrate on.

Performance 

Heavy price ticket, and beautiful ending apart how does Super Record WR carry out? Well, total, there is a sense of the groupset being good, however simply not fairly ok for me in a number of departments. Considering the value tag it has although, maybe this can be a groupset you could buy for different causes apart from outright efficiency, if you happen to can afford it after all. 

The groupset is manufactured in Italy at Campagnolo’s Vicenza HQ, and the choice to maintain manufacturing at residence, in-house could also be one level that impacts the ultimate RRP, however it’s important to respect the choice. The stunning marbled carbon fibre and design options just like the titanium chainset joint which you by no means really see are additionally examples of Campagnolo sticking to its philosophy and historical past of doing what it believes to be the most effective. Do you purchase a groupset like this to purchase into the legendary historical past of Campagnolo and to help its imaginative and prescient? 

Out on the highway, every little thing works simply high quality, it actually does. But to deal with efficiency it is all only a step behind Dura-Ace and Red AXS now in my view. And for the value, it could actually solely be in contrast towards the opposite high groupsets in the marketplace.

The brakes are greater than highly effective sufficient and the elegant brake lever shaping is certainly one of my favorite components of the groupset, however the braking really feel itself is not as mild and crisp as Red AXS or Dura-Ace and feels a bit muted to me. I’ve so as to add right here that setup performs a component on this, however every little thing checks out on my take a look at bike. 

Shifting once more is okay, it is not fairly as quick and slick as the opposite massive two, barely loud on the downshift and the battery does not final as lengthy, although costs are quick. This is a non-issue for me, simply cost the battery slightly extra recurrently and verify the extent utilizing the helpful LEDs. 

Downshifts are louder, particularly at first as you get used to the sound. The noise comes from the chain shifting down the cassette and the noise from the supplies used, freehub materials, and sprocket spacer materials I feel. It jogs my memory of old-school tubular wheels and the noise banging the chain down via the sprockets would make.

Shifting is simply totally different to Dura-Ace’s precision or Red AXS’s smoothness. The really feel retains you a bit extra concerned, and there may be nearly a little bit of a mechanical really feel there. Part of me suspects dyed-in-the-wool Campagnolo followers will find it irresistible, however if you need the quickest, lightest shifting potential it most likely will not please you as a lot.

I’ve additionally discovered it tough to gel totally with the form of the Super Record WR shifters. The distinguished upward form and curve they’ve is okay however means while you hunker down on the hoods in a extra aero place your fingers find yourself increased within the air otherwise you attempt to change bar roll or shifter place to accommodate it. On an built-in one-piece bar, I discovered this difficult to get proper. I additionally need to deliver my fingers again barely on the hoods to sit down with my fingers naturally resting on the shifter paddles, not totally engaged with the shifters. The form is okay and hasn’t induced main points, however I do not find it irresistible. Ergonomically it does not really feel as properly thought out as the brand new Red AXS shifters as an example, though I perceive the shifters are slightly smaller than the Super Record EPS items.

Living with the groupset has been simple. I’ve skilled zero chain drops over a number of months, or some other points with the groupset. It’s all carried out precisely because it ought to for me. One factor is for certain, I’m additional conscious and cautious about how I lean the bike up anyplace, scratching the shifters or derailleurs has not been one thing I’ve needed to do. Some kind of PPF or protecting heli tape would not be a foul concept to guard your funding if you happen to’re contemplating buying a groupset.

Value 

I’ve needed to study and embrace extra concerning the supplies and manufacturing included within the groupset and the way that will have an effect on the groupset price ticket. Much has been made about Super Record WR’s excessive retail worth, and I did not wish to let that subconsciously have an effect on issues. 

For starters, as talked about the groupset is manufactured in Italy on the model’s headquarters, one thing which can contribute to the ultimate RRP, however one Campagnolo believes maintains high quality.

For occasion, the carbon fibre chainset incorporates a titanium axle and the 2 axle halves match collectively utilizing a hirth joint. I’d think about a titanium axle and hirth joint usually are not going to be significantly low cost to fabricate en masse, and there are most likely more cost effective options however Campagnolo believes it to be the best choice for its groupset and sticks with it. 

Campagnolo itself mentioned it was committing to the ‘sport luxurious’ class. In which case, if a machined titanium chainset axle and fantastically completed carbon fibre brake levers are a part of the rationale somebody’s groupset prices a lot, make a track and dance about it. If somebody is completely happy to pay, I’m certain these sorts of particulars could be lapped up, the identical as they’re in different market segments. Because it’s important to admire the dedication to design and the aesthetics. 

If you will have the money, wish to purchase into the romance and historical past of Campagnolo, and love the very fact the model has chosen to incorporate design options like a posh titanium axle you may’t even see, Super Record WR would be the good accompaniment to your subsequent superbike construct.

Verdict 

I do not dislike Super Record WR, however the on-road efficiency hasn’t blown me away. I discover the aesthetics, ending and sure design selections extra attention-grabbing and thrilling than the efficiency. For me, there are groupsets that provide higher braking, shifting and ergonomics which I’d select over Super Record WR.

My brother’s bike had Campagnolo tools and mine Shimano after we had been children and we might debate the professionals and cons of the techniques for hours, as numerous cyclists through the years have little doubt performed. To come out from below the microscope of an in-depth evaluation for a second, we’re blessed nowadays to have digital groupsets on our machines that do not miss a beat. Super Record WR is not the groupset I’d select, however we’re spoilt for selection nowadays and that is nice.

This is a chapter in Campagnolo and Super Record’s historical past, to not point out the corporate’s first totally wi-fi digital groupset. It may properly be one thing of a transitional groupset for the model. What follows sooner or later might construct on this new wi-fi platform and supply additional refinement, which might maybe increase efficiency to match the aesthetics. I’m excited to see what the long run holds for Campagnolo and Super Record.