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2015 Campagnolo Chorus EPS, Super Record Mechanical Tech Overview & Actual Weights

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2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS-technical-details

The new Super Record, Record and Chorus mechanical groups were unveiled in late May, followed shortly thereafter by a new Chorus EPS group. The basic details were provided, but pricing, weights and the finer points were missing, so we used our time at PressCamp to fill in the holes.

When Campy unveils a new technology, it’s generally spread around its products fairly quickly. Sometimes it shifts altogether. Case in point: With it’s introduction, Chorus EPS is now the only mid-level electronic group – Athena EPS is no more, but it did get a functional update for the mechanical group.

Chorus keeps the different wire plug design that Athena had, which means it’s not compatible with Record/Super Record EPS. The reason they initially had a different wiring structure was to save costs over the more intricate plug design on the higher end groups. It’s still IP67 waterproof and just as secure as what’s used on SR/R, just a different design that’s simpler and cheaper from a new supplier. There’s no word on whether they’ll adopt that design on Record/SR down the road, but it certainly makes sense that they’d incorporate it on the next iteration.

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS-technical-details

For now, there are no announced plans to give OverTorque (BB30) cranksets the new asymmetric spider design, but it seems a natural progression.

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS-technical-details

All pivots on rear derailleur are now alloy rather than steel. The key difference between their various EPS groups (other than wiring plugs) are simply materials. The performance should be darn near identical.

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS-technical-details

The big news with the introduction of the new mechanical groups was improved front shifting. Most of the news focused on tweaks to the chainrings, but the mechanical front derailleurs were a big part of that. Since Chorus EPS was being launched virtually simultaneously, it took advantage of some of those changes, too. There are now just two pivots, each oversized for stiffness.

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS-technical-details

The cage is more heavily shaped than before to be stiffer, guide the chain better and reduced rubbing when cross-chained.

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS-technical-details

The other big change is that the brakes get their dual-pivot design for improved power. Like the other parts, it’s basically just material changes compared to its higher end siblings.

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS-technical-details

(photo intentionally blown out to show detail – lighting wasn’t ideal)

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS actual weights

2015-Campagnolo-Chorus-EPS actual weights

Chorus EPS component weights are:

  • Crankset – 707g (including joining bolt inside spindle)
  • Shifter levers – 295g
  • Brake calipers – 151g and 159g
  • Rear Der. – 226g
  • Front Der. – 157g
  • Cassette – 267g (new 11-27)
  • Wiring Junction – 27g
  • Battery – 139g

Retail for the complete Chorus EPS group is $3,500. By comparison, Record is $4,500 and SR is $5,300.

SUPER RECORD MECHANICAL GROUP TECH OVERVIEW

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components tech details and comparison

The biggest visual changes on the new mechanical groups are the cranksets’ asymmetrical design and the rear derailleurs. For the cranks, it’s to improve stiffness. For the derailleurs, there are a lot of functional updates to improve shifting performance and increase compatibility with wider range cassettes.

They get an additional spring at the top of the parallelograms (there are now four springs hidden throughout the part!) and increased overall spring tension. This was done to improve pull back, which means crisper shifting down the cassette, particularly on bikes with tight bends in the cable routing and/or full length housing that can add considerable drag to the system.

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components tech details and comparison

 

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components tech details and comparison

The new parallelogram design and bottom pivot relocation lets the pulleys move in a non-linear path, keeping the chain closer to the cogs on cassettes with wider ranges.

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components tech details and comparison

The change in angle of the parallelograms is a bit more evident from the rear. According to Campy’s North American tech rep, the new/additional spring is hidden inside the B-knuckle and adds to overall tension in the system to keep things firmly in place.

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components tech details and comparison

Tidbit: When they went to 10-speed derailleurs in 1998, they changed from using a B-screw to adjust top pulley position in relation to the cog to using a lower spring tension adjustment at the top of the cage.

Up front, the shifters use a new cam ratio for the derailleurs to work with the new designs. One of the big questions we couldn’t wrap our heads around was how you’d use a taller lever on the front derailleur and have less shifter lever movement. The revised cam ratios pull far more cable per shift, so you get more leverage over the front derailleur with a shorter lever throw. Magic, by way of physics, but it apparently works: Campy’s EPS pushes 52Nm of force to shift from small to large chainring. The original 11-speed mechanical groups could get up to 35Nm. The new design gets up to 44Nm of force, which is why they say it’s so much crisper and more powerful.

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components tech details and comparison

Another interesting bit for the Campy uninitiated: Their CULT bearings can basically be run dry with no degradation in performance. The bearings come stock on the crank spindle, which then press directly into the BB shell. The shell covers the backside of the bearings, which is why you’re seeing them without a seal here. They say it makes service much easier since you can just flush fresh grease in if you want.

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components actual weights

2015 Campagnolo Super Record mechanical road components actual weights

2015 Super Record mechanical component weights:

  • Shifters – 344g
  • Brake calipers – 122g (single pivot) and 155g (dual pivot)
  • Crankset – 620g (w/o connecting bolt)
  • Front Der. – 74g
  • Rear Der. – 161g
  • Casssette – 200g (11-27)

The did not have bottom brackets on hand for weigh ins.

DISC BRAKES & OTHER QUESTIONS THEY DIDN’T WANT TO ANSWER

Disc brakes? Hydraulics? They have engineers working on it and they’re talking to brake pad and rotor manufacturers. Campy’s philoshopy, as you may imagine, is that they’re not just going to throw a caliper into the mix. They’ll build a complete group around a major new technology, which likely means not just brakes, but entirely new ErgoPower lever designs, new wheels, etc. Why aren’t they in a rush? Because the pro peloton isn’t asking for it.

When are they going to do a mountain bike group? 1991.

Why Fulcrum and Campagnolo wheels on the road side? Because people aren’t likely to run Campy wheels on a Shimano or SRAM equipped bike, so they wanted a brand that appealed to non Campy buyers.

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TT
TT
9 years ago

So there won’t be Athena EPS any more? Only 3 EPS groupsets?

Francisco
Francisco
9 years ago

Best info I’ve seen till now on the new groupsets. Thanks!

greshkov
greshkov
9 years ago

not sure ifi missed it, but is there a tooth count for that sr cassette?

kdawg
kdawg
9 years ago

The chainset is 52-36. Counted the teet and then noticed it’s stamped on them!

Colin
Colin
9 years ago

the chorus crank is 52-36 the SR is 53-39

MaLóL
MaLóL
9 years ago

Big big big Kudos to bikerumor for always showing real weights in scale of upcoming groupsets and components. that’s the way we want it!!!!!!

jr
jr
9 years ago

What’s the BCD of the chainrings? Is it standard, or is there an offset bolt?

dereksmalls
dereksmalls
9 years ago

So how do the new FD & RD compare to the RS versions weight wise, are they lighter or heavier? Is there pricing on the new stuff yet?

greshkov
greshkov
9 years ago

tyler, thanks for the info.

greg
greg
9 years ago

a bit inaccurate with the front derailleur mechanics and effort. if it was just a longer arm coupled with a shifter that pulled more cable, all would pretty much even out and it would shift and feel the same. in reality, that longer arm is pretty much straight up and down. coupled with the approach angle of the cable, the effective arm length is very short initially. so the derailleur moves a lot at first, until the chain is all up against the big ring. the leverage then increases, easing the derailleur effort right when it would be getting tough.

it’s pure genious. thanks, shimano. refreshing to see campy simply admit it is a very clever design and just incorporate it.

solarider
solarider
9 years ago

So, apart from the bearings, the Chorus and Super Record drive side chainsets are the same? Only the non drive side arms are hollow?

Do you knowing they will just slot straight into the current bb?

Never thought I would say it, but the chain set could actually do with a few more graphics.

They are SO developing hydraulic disc brakes! Why is it we see spy shots of other manufacturers kit quite often, but not Campagnolo? Is it because they are good at hiding it, or that the others engineer leaks?

greg
greg
9 years ago

…also, i dont know what youre talking about with regard to the derailleur pivots. there’s exactly the same number of pivots as before.
brakes were always dual pivot, except for an option of a single pivot rear brake in certain groups.

Eyal
Eyal
9 years ago

I think they’re a lot like Apple, secretive to extreme. They’ve said they working on something, it’s being tested in the field and will see it at Eurobike.

Noel
Noel
9 years ago

No mention of changes to the cassette or chain for Super Record. Does this mean they carry over unchanged?

Bryin
Bryin
9 years ago

Over priced junk.

HammerTime
HammerTime
9 years ago

How much does SR crankset connecting bolt weigh? If connecting bolt weight is added to 620g, will this give apples to apples weight comparison between SR crankset and 707g Chorus crankset?

solarider
solarider
9 years ago

Is the new SR chain set actually heavier than the current 5 arm ti bolt version?

Slone
Slone
9 years ago

– verbage states that there is an additional spring in the new derailleur, not an additional pivot. And for the record (no pun intended), until the last three or four years if Single Pivot Rear was the only rear brakle made in Chorus or above- if you wanted dual pivot in rear you had to buy an additional front brake and manipulate the long bolt into your build or remachine- Campy has always maintained that a single pivot design for the rear brake is sufficient- the peloton agreed. Dual pivot rear brake is an additional cost option added only recently due to the increase of Freds and Clydesdales on the road and the ease of manufacturing (swapping the long bolt for a short bolt when building the brake).

greg
greg
9 years ago

@Sloan –
diffrerent verbage, different derailleur.
” There are now just two pivots, each oversized for stiffness.” speaking of the front derailleur. there are still four.

Flip
Flip
9 years ago

@HammerTime – Not that this answers your question specifically, but Super Record UT cranks have long used a titanium joining bolt that weighs less than a fart. I’d wager that the bolt transfers over to the new SR crank, as well. I don’t know the bolt’s actual weight, but it couldn’t be more than a few grams.

Leon
Leon
9 years ago

So if you were looking at upgrading your current group set (2012 Campagnolo Chorus mechanical) would you go for the new Chorus EPS with a price tag of $3,500, or the Super Record RS TI with a price tag of $2,515 (as per wiggle.com)?

Looking at this from a pure racing point of view as I will be spending in that region and if it helps it will be going on to a 2014 Wilier Centro Uno Air with Corima Aero’s. Current weight with the Chorus mec is 7.12kg (15,69 Pounds).

Steve
Steve
9 years ago

Can you confirm that the super record crank has Ti axle. I know campy used to do a steel and Ti version on the 2014.
I just put a 2014 super record Ti 170mm 53-39 on the balance and its 592gr. including the bolt. In comparison, I have a 2013 record 170mm 52-39 that tips the scale at 621gr. bolt included.

andres
andres
9 years ago

when the new chorus mechanical will be release ?

480rider
480rider
9 years ago

Just built up a Merlin with 2015 Record. The shifting is incredibly quick and smooth. This new design is the real deal…not just marketing hype!

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