2015 Campy Chorus - Initial Impressions

[AngryScientist]

Real nice stuff. Definitely euro inspired and sleeker than the japanese offerings. Installation, as per usual was a breeze. No unexpected bumps or surprises. Brakes feel a little better to me than the previous generation, a little smoother actuation. New FD design is nice, more leverage, less lever pressure necessary, makes sense, works great. Rear shifts are nice and crisp, clean, as they should be. I actually dig the new crank arm aesthetic. looks good to my eye. Cranks do feel nice and stiff, but hey, i weigh 135# and have a miserable power output, i dont think i could flex a wet noodle crank arm either.

still some kinks to work out, but overall, pretty pleased with the group. longer ride report to follow.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OwiHgxHuOb8/VExBOyOdHmI/AAAAAAAAB1M/1zD437CakXE/s1000/IMG_0304.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UWtJoUQ8RbQ/VExBPJADW1I/AAAAAAAAB1U/TntnxYjHiPI/s900/IMG_0306.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8r61t973r04/VExBPMI_B0I/AAAAAAAAB1Q/ebYK1Ayt37c/s900/IMG_0307.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RKiGaFHNuC0/VExBQvJwd6I/AAAAAAAAB1s/jdEMXlvnLW0/s1000/IMG_0309.JPG

[Ralph]

Very nice.....parts and bike.

[FlashUNC]

How does the change in hood material feel vs the old stuff?

I'm really digging that crank the more I see of it.

[thirdgenbird]

That is so hot.

Originally I was disappointed by the cranks and then I decided they were fine for modern frames with oversized tubes. You proved it looks fine on steel. I love it.

Any closeups of the brake calipers? They do look different. Did Athena get these brakes too? Record and SR brakes appear the same as before.

[ultraman6970]

My only problem with the new crankset is that they introduced a new standard that at least to me was not necessary, and my other problem is that the new chainrings must be just insanely expensive, anybody knows if some 3rd party manufacturer will introduce chainrings for the new campy for fair price?

[thirdgenbird]

At least this design doesn't rely on hollow chainrings for the added stiffness like shimano does.

[lhuerta]

Beautiful build on.beautiful frame....really like that paint scheme. The new stuff is starting to grow on me....I especially like the Campagnolo logo on the brake hoods. Lou

ps-ur chain is at least two links too short....maybe three

[AngryScientist]

Thanks folks.

brake hoods - they do feel nice, and nicer than the last iteration, but the shape is pretty much the same, i doubt the gloved hand would be able to tell the difference.

I'll grab some pics of the calipers.

chain length - it may look a little short, but it's perfect. i actually had it a bit longer and had to shorten it to make proper chain tension in the small-small combo. it certainly works fine in the big-big combo too, so i think length is right where it needs to be.

[Keith A]

Thanks for the review and that's a great looking bike!

[Vientomas]

Nice ride!

[Dired]

Great looking bike!

[wc1934]

Beautiful- beautiful. Bike is awesome - not to take away from talking about it and the grouppo, but what type of wrap are you using?

[thwart]

Thanks for the report. Great looking bike.

Love the hoods, love the new FD design.

That crank, not so much. There's just something about the look of 5 arms vs 4 arms…

[Lionel]

Nice. I like it all, crank included.

[sw3759]

I'm going to have agree with thwart. love the bike and new campy stuff,like the logos on the hoods and they look like they will feel o so comfy in your hands.now about that crankset.going to be tough to get used to that look,maybe it looks better in person....

[mikerp]

Looks great, I'm looking forward to the new group myself.
How does the FD shift with the longer arm?

[mcteague]

Planning on trimming the derailleur cables? Sure are long.
Why would the brakes feel better? I thought they were unchanged.
Still getting used to the look of the cranks though.
I have 2013 Chorus and the only thing I would prefer on the '15 line is the new FD. More leverage makes a lot of sense.

Tim

[binxnyrwarrsoul]

Planning on trimming the derailleur cables? Sure are long.
Why would the brakes feel better? I thought they were unchanged.
Still getting used to the look of the cranks though.
I have 2014 Chorus and the only thing I would prefer on the '15 line is the new FD. More leverage makes a lot of sense.

Tim

'15 Chorus brakes.

[mistermo]

From where did you purchase your group? (assuming your not a Marinoni sponsored rider).

[ntb1001]

Very nice build...I'm really impressed with the groupset. I built up my newest bike a couple of months ago with 2014 Record EPS...I'm kinda regretting not going with a 2015 Chorus EPS groupset and saving a couple of bucks. I really like the way it looks.

[soulspinner]

Planning on trimming the derailleur cables? Sure are long.
Why would the brakes feel better? I thought they were unchanged.
Still getting used to the look of the cranks though.
I have 2014 Chorus and the only thing I would prefer on the '15 line is the new FD. More leverage makes a lot of sense.

Tim

+1 to a tee........

[soulspinner]

How does the change in hood material feel vs the old stuff?

I'm really digging that crank the more I see of it.

It looks a lot better on a bike than by itself to me.

[AngryScientist]

yes yes, all the cables need a trim. i need to get some of the cable end thingies at the shop today.

[one60]

http://www.bike24.com/i/p/1/9/100991_02_a.jpghttp://www.bike24.com/i/p/1/9/100991_03_a.jpg

2015 chorus on left, 2014 skeleton on right

[sailorboy]

Nick,
All looks great. What wheels are those? Are they a new wide version of something from Campy?

[Nags&Ducs]

I'm actually liking the cranks too. But it looks different than the initial pics of the crank arms. This looks more symmetrical than the initials spy shots of the 2015 cranks. The initial pics looked a lot more like Shimano.

[thirdgenbird]

http://www.bike24.com/i/p/1/9/100991_02_a.jpghttp://www.bike24.com/i/p/1/9/100991_03_a.jpg

2015 chorus on left, 2014 skeleton on right

Is there a bigger version? They almost look like a skeletonized version of the latest centaur calipers vs the brakes they have been using for decades.

Nick,
All looks great. What wheels are those? Are they a new wide version of something from Campy?

They look like standard 21mm zondas from here. Great wheels.

[bdawe]

Still think the cranks are ugly. Guess it doesn't matter much if they work well.

[ultraman6970]

The killer to me is that they look too shimano-ish. I was swearing campagnolo was going to ditch 135 and just keep 110 forever with reinforced chainrings or something.

Still think the cranks are ugly. Guess it doesn't matter much if they work well.

[oldpotatoe]

Still think the cranks are ugly. Guess it doesn't matter much if they work well.

???

[AngryScientist]

indeed, zonda wheels. best value in cycling right now IMO.

[bdawe]

Actually, ugly doesn't begin to describe them. Wouldn't, couldn't run those if paid to. Beautiful Marinoni.

[tumbler]

Beautiful bike.... 4 arm crank and all.

[thirdgenbird]

Actually, ugly doesn't begin to describe them. Wouldn't, couldn't run those if paid to. Beautiful Marinoni.

Fortunately, you probably don't have to worry about that.

The rest of is will enjoy them for you.

[Ralph]

indeed, zonda wheels. best value in cycling right now IMO.

I agree. Perfect right out of the box also. And stay that way for thousands of miles. Doesn't use rim strips, and new tires go on the standard versions easily with your fingers. I have no experience with the tubeless version....assume it's a little more difficult to mount tires.

[one60]

images are from bike24 site under chorus 2015 brakes. You can zoom the images

[AngryScientist]

I agree. Perfect right out of the box also. And stay that way for thousands of miles. Doesn't use rim strips, and new tires go on the standard versions easily with your fingers. I have no experience with the tubeless version....assume it's a little more difficult to mount tires.

i feel completely dirty admitting this, but the ones pictures here have a [gasp] shimano freehub on them and i'm running a 6800 cassette. the horrors.

[thirdgenbird]

images are from bike24 site under chorus 2015 brakes. You can zoom the images

Odd. This is exactly why I asked for actual pics.

Their add for the 2015 model shows three different brakes.
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,4,320,321;p roduct=100991

One appears to be the chorus brake we have had for a while. note adjustment screw location
http://www.bike24.com/i/p/8/5/17258_00_d.jpg

Another picture shows two different version in one pic. Note the hardware and shimano style pads on the right. Both of these appear to be a skeleton version of the veloce/centaur calipers. Neither are the chorus brakes we have had. The rear brace is a different shape and the adjustment is different.
http://www.bike24.com/i/p/1/9/100991_02_d.jpg

What on earth do you get if you buy?

[thirdgenbird]

One thing is for sure, the new campy brakes dropped significantly in cost.

The are also these non-series brakes. Are Athena and veloce going to share calipers? Curious if this new shape offers more clearance as well.
http://www.bike24.com/i/p/4/4/105044_00_d.jpg

[Rebel_Biker]

Love campy and will learn to like those cranks, but at first sight, they are not attractive. They probably look a bit better on a modern carbon frame with funky tubes and slopes.

[Lionel]

Curious if this new shape offers more clearance as well.


also curious on that point.

[beeatnik]

Angry, could you post pics of the brakes that came with the group. Wondering if they're the same as these:

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8659/15821552507_ef0b02dd60_z.jpg

[AngryScientist]

i'll post some pictures tonight.

[Bantamben]

I wonder if a 11-32 shimano cassette would work with the 2015 chorus derailuer