Best Mechanical Groupset regardless of price

Back by popular demand, the general all-things Road forum!

Moderator: robbosmans

User avatar
jrobart
Posts: 201
Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:25 pm
Location: Vermont

by jrobart

I have SRAM Red 10 sp. on my Seven Diamas and Campag SR/Record 11 on my Seven Axiom SL. SRAM works fine, but it just isn't the same fit, finish or quality of the Campag.
Current: Seven 622 SLX | Seven OVRLND XX | Fondriest Carbon Magister | Yeti SB100 |
Retired: Litespeed T5G | Seven Axiom SL| Seven Mudhoney SL|S Works Crux |Fat CAAD 1 |

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
tommasini
Posts: 1460
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2003 6:48 am
Location: Central USA
Contact:

by tommasini

All the top groups perform similar - with some differences in the feel and manner in which to carryout shifts.

But keep in mind that you're getting a Wilier Cento 1SR - It is a top level frame that deserves to be dressed up in a group with top level fit and finish......and being Italian.......no choice - Campy SR.

User avatar
mellowJohnny
Posts: 492
Joined: Thu Aug 16, 2012 12:56 am
Location: YYZ

by mellowJohnny

+1 - easy choice, must be Campy.

mikeyc
Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2012 4:06 am

by mikeyc

I've had all three. Shimano works well, but its like driving a Japanese car, super reliable and smooth, but its got no soul or personality. Sorry. I then tried SRAM Red because it seemed like excellent value and was the lightest. I then realized that I didn't like the double tap, but YMMV. Also, I realized that Shimano and Campy could make their gruppos as light as SRAM by using less material/parts, but the cost is a less durable product. I traded in my Red for Campy Record and boy do I love it! Shifting is super fast and smooth and you get a reassuring "clunk" when you shift gears, I love the tactile feedback. Its like driving a nice Italian car. The ability to dump a pile of gears with one motion and trimming is really nice also. Also the hoods and levers fit my small hands perfectly, the ergonomics are superb. But my favourite feature of all is the thumbshifter, downshifting never was so fast and effortless, its just perfect. I don't see a need to go electronic either because Record works so well. And finally, if you have a nice Italian bike such as a Wilier, its gotta be Campy.

User avatar
kac
Posts: 361
Joined: Sat Dec 04, 2010 5:31 pm

by kac

I've only ridden Record 10 speed, SRAM Force and Super Record (current drive train). I won't comment on the performance characteristics, since these groups aren't exactly comparable, so I'll mention only my aesthetic preference: Campagnolo.

I like the contrasts between carbon fiber and titanium (Record) and I don't like the non-contrasting metal appearance (SRAM) and, for reasons I can't exactly define, Shimano doesn't really appeal, SR performs well (it always works and it's not noticeable: that's what counts, right?).

In short, having only looked at the other options you listed in shops, I still prefer Campagnolo, especially on an Italian bike. Still and all...I like the looks of the old Record 10 speed the best, followed by current SR, followed by Shimano and then SRAM. Since they'll all last a long, long time, take a good look and pick what you think will satisfy you the best over the years.

SLCBrandon
Posts: 709
Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:52 am

by SLCBrandon

Obviously none can be "proven" as better so I won't get into that as a current Shimano and Sram user.

That said, thinking about fitting Campy on a future bike and wondered about downshifting in a sprint with the thumb shifters. I've had Campy lovers insist it's not an issue but they are VERY biased and would never ever admit to Campy not literally being the savior himself. Seems like you only have one VERY strict option for hand position in a sprint to facililitate a last downshift. With either Sram or Shimano I can have a pretty wide area I can be in and still "flick" in a general area.

Wcl4
Posts: 193
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:33 am

by Wcl4

Image

I personally prefer the campy system as it is quieter and more refined. As much as I like the shift actuation on sram, the shifting clicks and chain noise drive me crazy. Plus campy just looks right on wilier IMO.

eric
Posts: 2196
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 9:47 pm
Location: Santa Cruz, California, USA
Contact:

by eric

Thumb levers feel unnatural to me, so no Campy.

Sram chain noise is due to the older Red cassette which acted like a sound amplifier, and the Sram chain. I use KMC chains and mostly Shimano cassettes on my Sram bike and it has no more chain noise than my Shimano bikes. The shifts are louder than Shimano but not annoyingly so to me.

Sram shifts take a lot of force compared to Shimano. And even though I've had about 700 hours on the Sram bike I still sometimes upshift when I wanted a downshift because I did not push the lever quite far enough. With Shimano it just doesn't shift, which is much better. OTOH Sram shifts take less hand motion.

I may try out 9001 before I buy my next group. I don't find Shimano to be soulless but I like my shifts to be as minimally intrusive as possible, like I always just happen to be in the right gear.

2tonGorilla
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:32 pm

by 2tonGorilla

Campy SR11 hands down.

kode54
Posts: 3740
Joined: Tue May 23, 2006 9:39 pm

by kode54

Wcl4 wrote:Image

I personally prefer the campy system as it is quieter and more refined. As much as I like the shift actuation on sram, the shifting clicks and chain noise drive me crazy. Plus campy just looks right on wilier IMO.


no doubt. that Wilier looks great with Campy. i wouldn't even consider Shimano or SRAM as it would feel out of character. in fact, the Campy 80th anniversary matte version would go nicely...and that's considering the 'regardless of price.'
- Factor Ostro VAM Disc
- Factor LS Disc
- Specialized Aethos Disc
- Sturdy Ti Allroad Disc
- Guru Praemio R Disc

User avatar
Quinn039
Posts: 273
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 1:56 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

by Quinn039

Campy, I agree with the concensus based on the Italian pedigree of the bike. Personally a Shimano fan, but I can't wait to get a nice bike to put a Campy gruppo on.

Zoro
Posts: 352
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2013 12:52 am

by Zoro

My son races SRAM and Shimano, I ride Campy. He doesn't care which. SRAM is lighter. If you were to never go to a bike shop again, or adjust your bike - I think Campy would last longer. But we do take care of our bikes. Everything is so stiff now compared to years ago, it doesn't matter between those. Shimano seems to be a smoother shift. We just orders Di2 for this year (had Di2 10-sp before) mainly because we can program it to run 10spd.

If you race - choose the one with the best race support. That varies by venue.

Wcl4
Posts: 193
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2012 4:33 am

by Wcl4

I have the newer sram 10 with yaw. That cassette and chain is still considerably louder than campy. I don't know with dura ace cassette, although I do have a shimano cassette laying around and could try easily enough. Good experiment.

User avatar
Cheers!
Posts: 1483
Joined: Sat Aug 05, 2006 2:29 am
Location: Mountain View, California
Contact:

by Cheers!

I would say Dura-Ace 7800 was the best mechanical groupset ever made. Shifted flawless. Was super reliable. Easy to service. Hood shape was nice.

Musiker
Posts: 196
Joined: Sun Aug 30, 2009 1:07 pm

by Musiker

+1 for personal choice.. I have no doubt all three groups are great..

I've only ridden SRAM and Shimano and I like both, with a slight edge towards SRAM mostly because of the weight and because I have come to like the "hard" way it shifts, it kinda feels better to me... I just upgraded my Parlee from Force 2010 to with SRAM RED 22 - Have not ridden it yet, but it shifts perfect in the workstand, hehe! The cables are pretty stiff - Not so much it was a problem (Electrical tape held down the cables fine), but I only used the supplied Gore for the shifters and old Nokon for the brakes...
I think I will get Nokon or Ilink for the shifter cables once housing needs replacement.

I have only tried campy on a few test spins, not long enough to get used to the thumb switching - So I can't really say how I would like it in the long run, but I also think the thumb switch looks a little out of place.. Basically the look of the thumb switch have been the main reason I never even considered Campy, lol..
If I felt that SRAM and Shimano had issues, I might had considered again... Or if I got an Italian bike, then I would almost feel obliged to get Campy for it, lol....

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply