I’m thinking of “upgrading” my current gravel/endurance bike from Ekar to either Record Allroad 2x or 1x Gravel. I haven’t seen any real world reviews as most are just from the initial drop and just copy the marketing blurbs from Campy. Has anyone used the new group on the road or on gravel? How would it compare to Force XPLR or GRX Di2? Also thinking about a partial upgrading and trying the derailleur and new shifters with my ekar cassette and chain. Finding in stock for parts or the group is a challenge but I’m not in a rush. Just looking for any real world use perspective!
IIRC, Dave Rome is actively writing a review. Unsure when this is going to be published.
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I haven’t ridden Record X, but I have tried Super Record X, so in the absence of many other replies, some thoughts:
The casette shift ramps have been completely redesigned for X groupsets, so using your Ekar cassette may result in clunkier-than-expected shifting. Saying that, if you’re used to Ekar anyway, that wont be a problem. Then again, part of the advantage of Ekar was the ability to easily interchange between the 9-42 and 10-44 cassettes, whereas Record X cassettes only come in 9-42 or 10-48, which I would expect to require some mech adjustment and a different length chain when swapping between the two.
Braking is the same as other Campagnolo discs, so no problems there, although youre currently limited to 160mm discs unless you go off-brand.
Levers feel familiar, the new thumb button is easy to adjust to - you can push it in from below to make up for the lack of curly bit, I had no problem adjusting to it from Ekar.
X-series shifting feels much less like Campag - there’s no familiar clunk-bang sensation. The shift sensation is more like wired Di2 - smooth, fast and quiet. I felt it shifted faster than AXS, but that is a very subjective opinion. Personally I would go 1x with 9-42, but the front shifting was excellent, even when stress testing it under stupid load.
I’ll be sticking with mechanical for as long as possible because I like clunk-bang, but if that’s no longer an option, i’ll probably end up on Record X when the time comes.
Hopefully reviews start to materialise soon. Hope this was somewhat useful.
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This is good to know - I’m currently trying to get a ride on the new Record Road 13, currently running Ekar on gravel and last version Chorus mechanical on the road…I’m excited to find out some more real world info from members or the escape collective review teams view on this new Record as it is very very exciting.
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I’ve been riding Super Record 2x13 for about three months now. I’ve previously had bikes with EPS 11 and 12 speed, also SRAM AXS and Dura-Ace Di2 and also currently have an Ekar equipped gravel bike and an AXS equipped MTB. Wow! Writing that I’m thinking I spend way too much money on bikes.
Anyway, the SR13 is next-level stuff; setup is easy, shifting is flawless and the brakes still remain the best out there. As all the electrical/electronic guts of the Super Record and Record gruppos are the same, I’d expect the same level from Record/Record X. Also worth noting that the new MyCampy app is light years ahead of previous versions and integrates seamlessly with my Garmin Edge; I love using the shifter “bonus” buttons to scroll through my data screens.
Not sure about Record X and where you’re based, but I was looking today at Gambacicli.com and they have Record gruppo available at a great price (even for me in the USA with orange baby tariffs) and currently also a 10% discount.
I think/hope Campagnolo really are back with these new gruppos.
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I have on order Record X 13 to replace my Ekar. Cheeto’s tariffs are slowing down EU sellers…
I spoke to the East Coast campy rep - all parts are compatible. You need new barbs and olives for a lever/brake swap.
Ekar chains work with Record.
Can also keep same chain length if tooth difference is +/- 4 teeth. The clutch makes up for it.
Bummed to hear the “Campy Clunk” is missing.
Pretty stoked to see Campy build a modular system that rivals the top gravel sets.
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i’m tempted to get Record 13 for my upcoming build instead of Force+Red E1 because I can get better gearing for hills and it’s something different.
I read that the thumb button is only comfortable in the drops and in the wrong place when in the hoods. Is this true? I spend 90% of my time on the hoods.
This is an on-going trope from the interwebs stated by people who have never used Campagnolo or “tried it once” and foiund a forced reason to not like it. “The thumb shifter is not in the right place from the hoods.” It’s either lack of familiarity, poor shifter placement on the bars or just gaslighting. Most people have functioning thumbs that can far cover the range of where the thumb shifter is located. The mechanical ones took more force, but even then you can/could shift with either the distal phalanx (the end) of the thumb or the proximal phalanx (the base of the thumb). Campagnolo has also always been the only system (mech or elec) you can upshift from the tops (without the need for blips) with your small (pinky) finger. That thumb shifter allowed and still allows rd upshifts and fd downshifts from three positions (drops, hoods and tops)
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Cheers for the gambacicli link, just bagged a record 13 group for my upcoming fairlight build.
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The thumb shifter of Campagnolo UltraShift mechanical shifters can be an acquired taste (I love it, but know people that don’t) but the electronic nubbin of the new shifters would be very hard to dislike, and requires little effort to press. From the hoods, its just under your thumb, and only takes a small tap.
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Nice one!
Any particular shortcomings of Ekar that you are hoping/trying to address?
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I rode Ekar for a year and I loved the feel, the weight, the look, and the range of gears. Unfortunately, it was really hard to get the shifting smooth, and when I did, it didn’t last more than a ride. Compare that to the ultegra mechanical on my road bike which I barely have to adjust for smooth shifting. So this winter I cross-graded to an older sram force AXS group and it’s been so much better. Not as pretty, only 12 speeds, heavier, but shifts like a dream. And included power meter is nice. If record had been available I would have been tempted, but boy am I happy to be off Ekar.
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I have never owned a Campy groupset, and could never figure out how to make EKAR comfortable when playing around with it in the store.
But with the new stuff, I can comfortably hold the hoods and actuate the thumb button either with the side of my thumb, or with my index/middle finger wrapped around from the underside. It’s making me really tempted to go with Record for my next bike.
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An alternative explanation is that there’s a selection bias: those of us with poor thumb range of motion who tried Campy would not have liked it, and those who know their thumbs have poor range of motion will be less likely to try it.
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I think using the thumb button from the hoods is awkward but I have never had any problem temporarily moving my hand a couple of cm further back to upshift. On the other hand, sometimes I even operate the thumb button with the underside of a bidon if I’m in the middle of a longer sip and I suddenly feel like upshifting without putting the bottle down.
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Thanks for the tip! I ordered the Record 2x13 road from gambacicli. Great service! I asked them (in a comment to the order) to upgrade the cassette to the SR only 11-32. Next morning the payment link for the delta was already in my inbox.
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