Campagnolo 12x Super Record EPS in review
Welcome back Girona! The streets around the cycling hotspot of Catalunya are home to many of the professionals, and this is where we were able to put the new 12-speed Super Record EPS through its paces. The test setup: the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Disc in the Movistar team colours – the stuff of world champions!
The focus of the review was on the new drivetrain and the ergonomics of the 12 speed EPS since not much has changed in terms of braking. The big question is: what is the new electronic drivetrain from Italy capable of and how does it perform compared to the competition? The review soon made it clear that the new EPS has made a huge leap forward. The shifting speed is on par with the competition, having become significantly faster compared to the EPS predecessor while retaining the mechanical feedback Campagnolo is known for.
It doesn’t matter whether we shifted up or down while climbing or whether we made big gear jumps on the front and rear simultaneously – the chain shifted with ease and precision.
Together with the 50/34 chainrings, the extra cog of the 11-32 cassette offers a wide range of 428%, and thanks to the 1-tooth jumps on the first seven sprockets, it delivers the finest gear steps. Thanks to the optimisations on the rear derailleur and front mech, cross-chaining isn’t an issue and the drivetrain remains quiet. For reasons of wear, we don’t really recommend it, although it offers a great advantage if you want to push up the last climb in the big ring. Thanks to the communication between front and rear, the derailleur adjusts its position independently, depending on the position of the chain.
The additional spring in the rear derailleur, as we’ve already been introduced to on the mechanical 12-speed groupset, offers a noticeable improvement. Short trips on gravel roads are no problem and chain slap is a thing of the past.
The optimised ergonomics of the Ergolever also convinced us throughout. The new shifters – both the up and down-shifter – are very comfortable. The enlarged surfaces make shifting even easier, and the larger thumb shifter also makes shifting in the drops much easier. In TT-mode on flat stenches of road, the Belgian aero-tuck on the hoods is a lot of fun thanks to the new shape.
The brake levers feel great and provide security in abundance. Thanks to infinitely variable adjustability, the reach on the brake levers can be perfectly tuned to personal preference. The braking performance is excellent and can be perfectly modulated. The two modes to adjust the aggressiveness of the brakes are fun to play with, and in terms of sensitivity, the Italians have set the bar.
Squealing brakes? It wasn’t an issue on the predecessor and thanks to the mechanical and magnetic springs on the brake pistons, Campagnolo has once again improved its own strengths. That’s how we like disc brakes!
Campagnolo 12x Super Record EPS in comparison
And finally, the big question: how does the new electronic groupset from Italy fare against the competition? In terms of shifting speed and precision, the EPS plays at the very forefront. As far as connectivity and configuration options are concerned, all the big names in the market offer a similar repertoire. And the ergonomics? No other topic is so heavily dependant on rider preference – all we can say is: we love it! The Shimano Dura-ACE-Hoods are indeed slimmer and visually more subtle, but as already mentioned, it’s a matter of taste. In terms of braking performance, Campagnolo is in the lead, as you can adjust the aggressiveness of the brake and very easily modulate the braking power – especially if you’re a novice. However, when it comes to wireless solutions, we’re all waiting for someone to stand up to SRAM, but so far in vain.
Conclusion
12-speed alone is not a revolution, but with the innovations of the EPS, change is in the air, bringing the revolution of the mechanical Super Record into the world of electronic shifting. The 12-speed Super Record EPS impressed us with significantly increased shifting speed and precision compared to its 11-speed predecessor. The ergonomics already managed to convince us on the mechanical 12-speed groupset, now also available on the electronic shifters. The Hoods are even more comfortable compared to the 11x EPS and the shifters are easier to use than before. Thanks to Bluetooth and ANT + connectivity, the MyCampy app lets you freely configure the EPS. We were entirely convinced of the Italian interpretation of electronic shifting!
All the details on the 12-fold Super Record EPS group can be found at campagnolo.com
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