Campy recently came into my life in the form of a complete Centaur group mounted on a brand new Merckx Majestic. You'd think my life would be complete, but now I'm pondering another purchase. Just wanted some input with those in the know.

Basically I'm weighing '03 Record vs. '04 Chorus. It will be going on a classic, high-end Italian frame. Let's assume I can get either group for the same price, or at least so close that price is a non-factor.

Seems a no-brainer to go for last year's Record stuff, but what I don't know is - has much changed? Is this year's Chorus in any way superior to last year's Record? Any inherent weak spots in either group that you know of?

Interested in any comments. Thanks.

Same quality but last years Record is better optimized in the weight department. It has Ti bolts and hollowed out bits here and there and a carbon sleeve BB that's lighter.

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Is this year's Chorus in any way superior to last year's Record? [/QUOTE]

I had this same decision to make this past spring. I went with 04 Chorus 10 over the 03 Record for 2 basic reasons. The new rear derailuer pulleys have been made with a new material that reduces noise. The front derailuer has a new cage that is aluminum and stiffer and lighter than the previous version. I didn't want mix and match the group, and I don't really care about a bunch of Ti bolts. The main things I loved about Record where the crank, carbon shifters and brakes, all of which are identical in Chorus now.

The drivetrain is deathly quiet, as quiet as my old DA9 group, and the front shifts are very quick, quicker than my DA9, so those improvements are working for me.

brewster

Seems a no-brainer to go for last year's Record stuff, but what I don't know is - has much changed? Is this year's Chorus in any way superior to last year's Record? Any inherent weak spots in either group that you know of?

Interested in any comments. Thanks.

the cassettes are very expensive, as you will discover. 04 Chorus is, like 03 Chorus, mechanically identical to Record. the materials are different (more carbon in Record, a bit of carbon in 04 Chorus, no ti in Chorus). there are no real weak spots anywhere.