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SOC16: Campagnolo Potenza group actual weights, disc brake development update

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details
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2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details

Introduced as a more affordable but high end group on par with Shimano Ultegra, the recently introduced Campagnolo Potenza group focuses the resources on performance rather than adding carbon fiber at every possible point. So, does that mean it’s heavy? Not at all…

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights

Campagnolo Potenza component actual weights:

  • Crankset: 776g
  • Shifter, right: 201g
  • Shifter, left: 199g
  • Brake caliper, rear: 155g
  • Front derailleur: 95g
  • Rear derailleur: 211g
  • 11-32 Cassette: 324g

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details

The 11-32 cassette is one of the more exciting parts of the new group, giving Campy its first “wide range” road cassette.  Insert any joke about Campy’s aging customer base needing it here, but it opens the group up to more modern uses like gravel and adventure bikes.

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details

The upper derailleur bits use the same parallelogram design as the higher end groups, which is an upgrade from Athena.

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details

What makes it unique in the Campy family is its medium length cage option, which lets it accommodate the larger cassette.

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details

Functionally, the rest of the group is the same as its siblings, just without any carbon fiber.

2017 campagnolo potenza actual weights and tech details

The cranks will only come with their Ultra-Torque spindle for now, but they may add an Over-Torque 30mm spindle option in the future.

Speaking of the future, we learned that their disc brake program is very well developed. Essentially, they’ve had hydraulic Ergopower drop bar levers since the 90’s when they paired them with Magura hydraulic rim brakes for tandem road bikes (check here for an idea of what they looked like, we’re trying to dig up an actual photo of the Campy ones).

Their U.S. tech rep told us the new disc brakes are done and in the hands of their sponsored pro teams. But, Campagnolo is a racing driven brand, so if there’s interest from the teams and athletes, development moves a little quicker. With things like neutral support cross compatibility and now rider safety still up in the air, team and rider interest isn’t as high as it needs to be, so it doesn’t seem to be quite as high of a priority.

As for consumer interest, the Campy customer is a little different than, say, a Shimano or SRAM customer. There’s still a large part of their fan base that’s buying steel road bikes and wants that classic aesthetic. But, for the Campy fans here in the Bikerumor office, it can’t come quick enough.

Campagnolo.com

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greg
greg
7 years ago

That’s Power Torque, not Ultra Torque

BillB
BillB
7 years ago

I love my Campy. I have 2 11sp SR and 1 11p Chorus gruppos. I also have Ultegra 10p dI2 and 10p SRAM Red. I’ve had several iterations of Dura-Ace 9 and 10sp. There’s something about the Campy’s ratchet feel that I just love. That said, Chorus is on par with Ultegra. I’ll be mighty surprised if Potenza is better than 105.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
7 years ago

Potenza, meh. That makes 4 groups now that share the same look with that (deleted) crank. Was hoping for a Record or SR ‘heritage’ edition. Modern tech with classic aesthetic. Silver Athena just ain’t up to par with the single downshifts.

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago

What if the modern tech tells you to change the classic aesthetic to optimize stiffness/weight/function.

Garrett
Garrett
7 years ago

I want Campy disc brakes… badly. I just set up a gravel bike with Shimano, 685 shifters and calipers, 105 everything else. While it is definitely a great group (and WAY better than the 6700 era), I still prefer the feel of the shifting and the shape of the shifters on my Chorus road bike. Not that the Shimano hydro’s don’t get the job done, and they aren’t uncomfortable, but there is nothing like Campy.

BillB
BillB
7 years ago
Reply to  Garrett

@anonymous
That for the explanation. I get it. I lusted for Campy since the 60’s. I think the key word is “advertised.” Just because Campy says it, doesn’t make it so. IMO, Dura-Ace 7800 shifted faster and more lightly than my 2012 and 2013 Super Record. The idea that Chorus is on par with Dura-Ace is just so much marketing.

anonymous
anonymous
7 years ago

“Functionally, the rest of the group is the same as its siblings, just without any carbon fiber.”

Have you actually used real Campy before? I find it amusing how it is pictured right next to a SR lever, but the line under is says they’re functionally the same.

@BillB
Chorus, Record, and Super Record are all functionally identical, except in cases where the heavier steel Chorus FD shifted better. Besides that, it just came down to how much carbon or titanium bits. Record is like DA, Chorus is cheaper record, and SR is like tuned Record. Ergopower Chorus has been advertised as just as good performance wise as Record for a long time, just with less exotic materials.

Eric Hansen
Eric Hansen
7 years ago
Reply to  anonymous

“Chorus has been advertised as just as good performance wise as Record for a long time, just with less exotic materials.”

Also how Ultegra is billed against Dura-Ace

anonymous
anonymous
7 years ago
Reply to  Eric Hansen

No it isn’t. Ultegra is advertised as having trickle down from DA. Dura-Ace is advertised the the most X, Y and Z from Shimano.

Chorus and SR parts pare pretty much identical, if anything, Chorus performs better because it doesn’t have titanium cogs that wear prematurely, steel axles are stiffer than titanium, and a metal FD cage. The sub-assemblies and all share many more identical small parts than DA and Ultegra do.

Word for word:
“The Campagnolo Chorus drivetrain represents the perfect solution for the sophisticated cyclist searching for Super Record performance at a more competitive price.”

Campagnolo makes no pretense about SR being functionally any different than Chorus. It’s just the logo and some tuning changes to reduce weight. Ultegra is trickle down, it’s implied the pro-level tech went down to Ultegra level. Chorus, Record and Super Record are functionally the same groupset.

Compared to:
“The DURA-ACE series is SHIMANO’s lightest, most ergonomic, and most precise groupset ever; delivering the finest mechanical performance.”

Shimano is not saying Ultegra has the same performance as DA at all.

Richard
Richard
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Hansen

Ultegra is exactly the same as Dura-Ace, same everything except Dura-Ace is made from lighter material. There is a Shimano video on YouTube where the engineer says they are identical except materials. Potenza is supposedly taking on Ultegra.

Mr. De Facto
7 years ago

(deleted)

Stvn Fedor
7 years ago

🙂 old athena chainset was lighter … albeit, not as sexy as this one..

Andrew Dasilva
7 years ago

I feel as if Campy is floundering a bit.

Heffe
Heffe
7 years ago

I am so stoked. My fancy new gravel machine has SRAM Force/Red combo with disc brakes and it’s nice, but I still prefer that Campy shifting. When they get some hydro disc action going I am tempted to lay down some cash to get that sweet, smooth feel again. Potenza rear derailleur with Record shifters and crank, oh yeah.

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