I am building a new IF Crown Jewel TI. My current bike has the Record group. I was wondering if the chorus group is just as smooth. (I have tested DA and Ultegra and there is a fairly large improvement with the DA.) Is the same true for Record vs. Chorus?

Background:
This bike will be used for climbing. I will probally use the new CT componets.

I am building a new IF Crown Jewel TI. My current bike has the Record group. I was wondering if the chorus group is just as smooth. (I have tested DA and Ultegra and there is a fairly large improvement with the DA.) Is the same true for Record vs. Chorus?

Background:
This bike will be used for climbing. I will probally use the new CT componets.

In my experience, they're identical. When I'm building, I always use Chorus unless I manage to convince myself that I'm building a "dream bike." In that case, I spring for Record. In my case the upgrade is pure snobbery. I've never been disappointed with the lesser gourp.

I have found that DA is usually a reasonable upgrade to Ultegra, but there is very little difference between Chorus and Record.

IMHO, Chorus and Record share all the same technologies, except for the 'Ultra' shifters of the Record. Small parts have differences like Ti bolts/screws and the extra carbon on the derailleurs, but other wise they share (basically) the same technical specifications (correct me if this is not true though).
However, I must admit that I have never ridden on a Record groupset, only Chorus, so I have no personal experience.
You can easily see this by going to www.campagnolo.com (http://www.campagnolo.com/), hovering over "products", "products", then click on "groupsets", "Record", "groupset", then compare the various parts to Chorus by clicking on a part (ie short cage derailleur, then click on "Compare with" and on the drop down menu, click on "Rear derailleur Chorus").
As terry b said, Record can be pure snobbery, just because of its name, so if you want to save money, just get Chorus.

Now I did say it was pure snobbery in my case. I would never dream of accusing any of my fellow roadies of such a base motive. ;)

Yer bad, terry. ;)

No difference in actual use IME Record or Chorus. Record is just more chi-chi and a tad lighter.

Now I did say it was pure snobbery in my case. I would never dream of accusing any of my fellow roadies of such a base motive. ;)

Campy puts that big RECORD logo on everything, how else will a non-record owning person know that the rider next to them is clearly a cut above the rest. :p Seriously, on some parts that is the only real difference.

I've used 2003 Record and Chorus, and 2004 Chorus. No (noticeable) difference. Yes, I am spoiled, and yes, I do consider myself lucky.

but it is certainly more than 10% less expensive!!!

Ask the resident snobs at the campyonly board and see what they come up with. You may even start a Campy civil war. BTW, I'm a Record user so I meant "snobs" in a nice way.

Yes, Chorus will function just like Record. The weight savings is usually just Ti vs. Steel fasteners, etc.

I'm buying a new road bike, and will use Chorus for everything except the Shift Levers and front Derailleur. The difference in price in these components is minimal, and you get the nice "Record" on the shift levers and the carbon cage on the front derailleur. On other components such as the brake calipers and the rear derailleur, the price difference is SUBSTANSIAL, and not worth it in my opinion. In the case of the compact carbon crankset, I think they are BOTH overpriced - I'm going with FSA!

You can get replacement part diagrams on Campy's website. The Record levers share all the same parts with Chorus, except for a couple teflon-coated bits and a shifting ratchet with holes drilled out. Cosmetic parts differ, like the lever blades which say Record vs. Chorus. So Record might be marginally smoother here.

The hubs are basically the same except for the hub body and drive shell body; all the moving parts are the same. Record gives you a grease port, which no one seems to use, since you'd have to pump in a LOT of grease for it to get from the center to the bearings. Some people put oil in there when they race, I hear, but that seems silly to me. Centaur hubs also differ only in their hub shell and drive shell body.

The website says the front derailleur has a carbon outer plate. They don't seem to indicate that it has a metal layer on the inside or anything like that, so I assume it doesn't. And that seems totally silly for saving just 8g.

As for cranks -- if you're even considering Chorus, that means that you care at least a little about money. The $550 or $650 for Campy's carbon cranks doesn't make any sense when you can get FSA carbon cranks for half the price.

I don't know about the BB - since they're sealed units, the internal parts aren't listed. But I think it would be reasonable to guess that they have the same bearings.

....additionally, Record '04 and newer features coated or impregnated chain rings, something Shimano has had forever. It's a nice improvement over the bare metal rings and gets rid of the grinding noise/feel when the chain is wet or dirty. Shifting appears to be smoother as well.

On my newest build, I used Record for the controls, Chorus for rotating parts. I already had a little used BB so it's record as well. This is the smoothest bike I have ever ridden, so far.

I have a 2002 with Campy Record. It is smooth as well but the new one cleans its clock. The new Chorus crank is basically last years Record, 4 arm spider type. I am just not dropping another $100 for 15 grams less weight. The cassette, well the guy that built my 2002 spared no expense. I really don't need the all ti cassette on my new one, I darned sure am not paying $315 to $400 for it.

I had a bike with a full Daytona (Centaur) group. I put about 10,000 miles on that group and upgraded to a 2003 record group. Just a little (very little) weight difference. I feel that the campy top three are very comparable. My Daytona group with a select few upgrades would have been fine (FSA cranks and a lighter BB probably the most significant).

Like some other posts have indicated, Chorus is essentially last years record without the titanium.

I used to have record envy and now think I am a victim of campy's marketing techniques (although it is my own fault).

How long will a Campy Steel cassette last??? how many miles can you go on one?? thanks

I have had Record '98 and presently ride Record '02. WIth all the trickle down from Record to the "lesser" groups, Record is becoming less cost effective. Chorus and even Daytona will give you better value. But still there is the mystique of riding Record and it is all about the brand and the intangible value of the name!

How long will a Campy Steel cassette last??? how many miles can you go on one?? thanks


Mine lasted about 9000 miles and I do the chain and cogs once a week or so, keep a straight chainline, weigh 165. Chorus cassetes only. I am just a rec rider these days.

I actually have Record 10 on 2 bikes, and Centaur 10 on my trainer, and can detect very little difference between the two. Like most have said, it's all about weight. That's one thing I love about Campy, the quality remains consistant throughout the line.

I do prefer the Record on cold days. The carbon levers seem to transmit less cold to your hands. Hardly enough reason to justify the cost difference though.

This is the smoothest bike I have ever ridden, so far....I have a 2002 with Campy Record. It is smooth as well but the new one cleans its clock.

In my experience that's because most any new group is going to feel 'smoother' and overall tighter shifting/pedalling, quieter, etc. than a comparable group with a couple of years use on it - even if the older group was well-maintained and still in great condition.

I agree :) It can be, but that name is soooo nice! (I have Record alloy cranks and pedals ;))

In my experience that's because most any new group is going to feel 'smoother' and overall tighter shifting/pedalling, quieter, etc. than a comparable group with a couple of years use on it - even if the older group was well-maintained and still in great condition.

My 2002 only had 800 miles on it when purchased. I do believe the new Ultra Record shifters are a bit smoother. The overall drivetrain has not had to undergo what some refer to as the usual Campy break-in period. Everything shifts pretty flawlessly right out of the box, to my delight.

I actually have Record 10 on 2 bikes, and Centaur 10 on my trainer, and can detect very little difference between the two. Like most have said, it's all about weight. That's one thing I love about Campy, the quality remains consistant throughout the line.

I do prefer the Record on cold days. The carbon levers seem to transmit less cold to your hands. Hardly enough reason to justify the cost difference though.

At what point do you wear long-fingered gloves? I find I probably need the gloves long before I could tell the thermal difference between carbon and alloy levers :).

My 2002 only had 800 miles on it when purchased. I do believe the new Ultra Record shifters are a bit smoother. The overall drivetrain has not had to undergo what some refer to as the usual Campy break-in period. Everything shifts pretty flawlessly right out of the box, to my delight.

My new '00 Record group shifted great right out of the box, too. But what I'm saying is after several thousand miles it was still shifting/pedalling well, but then when I first rode my new '03 Chorus/Centaur group it seemed a tad snappier than the Record had felt. Could have just come down to the normal cable stretch and chainline wear, but IMO a new group properly set up always is better than an older group - all else being equal.

(Except of course the initial stiffness of Centaur shifters with their bushings instead of Chorus/Record bearings. But even that goes away after a few hundred miles.)