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To EPS or not EPS...

by Crell
Fri, May 23, 2014 15:39
12

Hello all, I'm going through a tortuous order process with Canyon for a CF SLX. (more on that another time)

I went for a 2014 Record mechanical groupset; which although being shown as "in stock" when ordered; it transpires it wasn't.

My conundrum is that I could go for basically the same bike but with the 2013 Record EPS groupset and get it now by the look of things for the same price.

Has anyone ridden both groupsets, and how are people getting on with 2013 EPS in general? My heart says go for the EPS and my head says stick with the mechanical groupset. 102

Thanks

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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12 comments

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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I was talking about mechanical as I know the weight differences, and I'm sure the actual guts of things that aren't motorised are fairly similar across the sets.

SR is ~100g less than R which is ~100g less that C. At the sharp end of technology, £6 per gram isn't the worst value weight saving on a bike, but I'm not trying to tell you what good value is to you - you don't justify buying Super Record, you just do it if you want it.

They only brought Super back because people wanted it, anyway.

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blablablacksheep20 | 10 years ago
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I had dura ace mechanical on my bike and friends had di2. Many said it was amazing ect and how did they cope before without it.....

But then some hate it and say on climbs it's sluggish and slow.

I think it's pure preference between both and neither better or worse why else would they make two if one was that much better than other.

Personally I'd get mechanical as it's easy to look after, and typically you can buy replacement parts easier.
Also electric wise di2 is meant to be a lot better than EPs.

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CXR94Di2 replied to blablablacksheep20 | 9 years ago
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blablablacksheep20 wrote:

I had dura ace mechanical on my bike and friends had di2. Many said it was amazing ect and how did they cope before

But then some hate it and say on climbs it's sluggish and slow.
.

Di2 can have shift speed altered from standard to high speed. Also multi shift is very useful. Just keep the button pressed and the derailleur tracks quickly across the cass. You can also specify how many sprockets you want it to jump in one go.

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Crell | 10 years ago
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i fall in to the category of "the red writing looks cool" but I'm not spending another 650 to get SR and an R sys upgrade . Can't justify it.

Those first two posts are close to why I'm stuck.

1) It's cool and everyone raves about how good it is (but maybe inferior to DI2).

2) more to go wrong and not really user serviceable. The down tube mounted battery robs the bike of some of its clean looks as well.

There just seem to be lots of "super fan reviews" full of hyperbole rather than anything objective.

Still stuck 1

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Nick T | 10 years ago
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Titanium axle too, quite a weight saving over Record all in. About as much again as Record loses over Chorus, wether that's worth it is up to you.

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giobox replied to Nick T | 10 years ago
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Nick T wrote:

Titanium axle too, quite a weight saving over Record all in. About as much again as Record loses over Chorus, wether that's worth it is up to you.

By the official numbers there's an 86g difference. Over on weight weenies I've seen a few real world examples weigh in with a much smaller difference than this. Super Record has rarely ever made sense as an upgrade over Record, except for the emotional impact of the red "super" word.

In my opinion charging an extra 600 or so quid for titanium bolts and a sliver of carbon and red ink is bordering on criminal, and I'm glad Shimano and SRAM have so far stayed clear of these marketing lead product tiers.

Can't really compare to Chorus as Campag don't do Chorus EPS (yet).

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Flying Scot | 10 years ago
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Personally, I would stick with Record mechanical, it won't go out of date so quickly!

A mate in the trade tells me that if you go EPS, go for Record NOT Super Record, as he believes Record is superior and has had more development, so bear that in mind if going the EPS route.

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giobox replied to Flying Scot | 10 years ago
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Flying Scot wrote:

A mate in the trade tells me that if you go EPS, go for Record NOT Super Record, as he believes Record is superior and has had more development, so bear that in mind if going the EPS route.

That's nonsense. Super Record is just the exact same Record group set with titanium bolts, an extra piece of carbon on the rear mech and some ceramic bearings, and the word "Super" written on it. Other than that they are exactly the same groupset, motors and all.

Super record has always been a marketing invention to part campy fans from even more money, there is zero engineering difference. That red "Super" word on the brake levers looks awesome, and Campagnolo know people will pay for it.

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Flying Scot replied to giobox | 10 years ago
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giobox wrote:
Flying Scot wrote:

A mate in the trade tells me that if you go EPS, go for Record NOT Super Record, as he believes Record is superior and has had more development, so bear that in mind if going the EPS route.

That's nonsense. Super Record is just the exact same Record group set with titanium bolts, an extra piece of carbon on the rear mech and some ceramic bearings, and the word "Super" written on it. Other than that they are exactly the same groupset, motors and all.

Super record has always been a marketing invention to part campy fans from even more money, there is zero engineering difference. That red "Super" word on the brake levers looks awesome, and Campagnolo know people will pay for it.

I will take your word for it, but what he told me was that they had been upgrading Record, but the SR was still the same as at launch.

Might be BS of course, I'm a record man, find SR a bit Spinal Tap.....this one goes to 11...

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Nick T replied to Flying Scot | 10 years ago
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Flying Scot wrote:

Personally, I would stick with Record mechanical, it won't go out of date so quickly!

You've not seen the new mechanical prototypes, I take it 3

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Al'76 | 10 years ago
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Not run it myself but have a good friend who has Campag on all his bikes..and loves it. He runs EPS on his TT bike and won't shut up about how good it is.

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Bill Hall replied to Al'76 | 9 years ago
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EPS 1 from 2013 has the battery box externally mounted on the frame. EPS 2 battery box can be mounted inside the frame.
The shifting is fantastic using the Campag type levers. Quick, light, perfect chain alignment.
The downside is the battery charger connection which is easy to wreck when you plug it in. The components are small and recessed so they are difficult to see and harder to line up. The instructions and diagrams are poor. I've learned the hard way by having to buy another charger and wearing a head torch to connect it, but I can do it now!
I had 2011 Record mechanical which was the best I'd ever had but the 2014 EPS2 is much better.

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