11sp campy cassettes and chains

[Tickdoc]

Gearing up for final build on my ultimate build bike soon, and it's time to make a decision on cassette gearing. It's my first foray into 11speed, and I see varying cassette choices ( and prices...geez)

12-29?

11-27?

Speed cassette?

Does it have to be a super record/record specific?

What about the chain...does it need to be a campy one?

So confused. Any time numbers are involved, I wig out a bit.

[Cicli]

Cassettes and chains are consumable. Get the cheapest cassette that will work with your group. I like Campy chains though. Chorus works fine though.

[buldogge]

Use Chorus cassettes and chains...~$100/$45 from the UK.

Alternatively people like KMCX11SL as well.

Personally I like 12-27 cassettes...I never find the need for an 11. I use it with 50/34, 52/36, and 53/39, FWIW.

-Mark in St. Louis

[Tickdoc]

Good to know. Crank is 39/53. And my hills are short, steep, and hard to find, fwiw.

[kramnnim]

For some reason my KMC chains are noisy and don't "feel" smooth when pedaling. In ~70k miles of using Campy 11sp chains I haven't had one break. In 1k or so of KMC use, I had a link pop open.

Might never happen again, but I see no reason not to use Campy chains.

[Tony T]

Why not an 11-29?
Check out Ribble (http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/cassettes-cassettes-campagnolo-11-spd-chorus-cassette/campcass700)
Most use either Campy or KMC chains. (I go with Campy and I use the Campy chain tool, though many use a KMC link)

[YesNdeed]

My SR 11 gruppo started life with a 12-25 cassette, but now that I have 12-27 and 12-29 cassettes, I regretted not getting an 11-25 originally, which would be nice to have a little bit of the time. I use the 12-27 mostly, 39/53 crank.All Chorus cassettes. In 2011, they didn't offer 11-27, do they now?

As for chains, I only recommend Campy, Chorus or Record are both fine. Over 3 years use, my original Campy chain barely stretched, but I decided to replace it anyway. I went with a KMC11SL, and a few months later, a pin broke on a climb, rendering it useless, and me, stranded. I am 145 pounds. I then tried a Shimano 11 speed chain, and despite 2 mechanics promising me it was the same as Campy, it butchered my jockey wheels and did not run smoothly. I'm back to a Record chain mated by a SRAM quick link. Never looked back...

[Tickdoc]

Ok, so sounds like I can splurge on a record chain and save on a chorus cassette.

You just saved me $200.00!

I'm sure I'll find somewhere else to spend it :p

[Tony T]

In 2011, they didn't offer 11-27, do they now?


Avail Campy cassettes are:

11-23
11-25
11-27
11-29
12-25
12-27
12-29

IRD has 11-30, 11-32, 12-30, 12-32 compatible cassettes.

[FlashUNC]

Chorus chain. Really. No need to buy the Record. They all work the same.

Chorus cassette and chain is totally the way to go. Getting a new group on the Della Santa and Chad at AC recommended both. Really no reason to splurge there.

I use the 12-27 around here, and it gets my fat butt up most hills with a 39-27 granny.

I personally use a KMC quick link with a campy chain. Helps if I want to pull the chain to clean it. But that's not super duper necessary. Though I don't want to open Pandora's Box on "how to care for chains." Those demons are best left in the cupboard.

[Cicli]

Ok, so sounds like I can splurge on a record chain and save on a chorus cassette.

You just saved me $200.00!

I'm sure I'll find somewhere else to spend it :p

For what its wirth I have one wheel set that came with a Ultegra 11 cassette. Well after seeing what WI wanted for a freehub body I decided to run it. Its perfect as well.

[Tony T]

Chorus chain. Really. No need to buy the Record. They all work the same.

Your right, but for an extra $7, I always get the record chain.

[makoti]

Chorus chain. Really. No need to buy the Record. They all work the same.

Chorus cassette and chain is totally the way to go.

Agree with this. Shifters, brakes, cranks, if you want to splurge, do it here. Cassettes & chains? Only if you really (REALLY) need to shave a few grams. Heck, if it went to 11, I'd run Veloce for these.

[R3awak3n]

I say 12-27 and KMC chain

[cdn_bacon]

whatever chain you buy, make sure it has a quick link, missing link, whatever you want to call it. I had a NIB Chorus chain, and didn't set the pin in far enough apparently, made for a lovely 15km walk home. FYI a SRAM 11spd quicklink works just fine on a Campy 11spd chain. I have 500km on it to prove it :)

[Tony T]

whatever chain you buy, make sure it has a quick link, missing link, whatever you want to call it. I had a NIB Chorus chain, and didn't set the pin in far enough apparently, made for a lovely 15km walk home. FYI a SRAM 11spd quicklink works just fine on a Campy 11spd chain. I have 500km on it to prove it :)

He can use the Campy chain tool and still carry a few KMC links with him.
The only downside of the Campy chain tool (http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/tools-campagnolo-ut-cn300-chain-tool-11-spd/camptool370000000000) is the cost ($145), but it is well made.
For anyone interested, here's Campy's video: https://youtu.be/vpHGNrif8gg

.

[YesNdeed]

I've clearly been out of the cassette game awhile. Good to know!

And yes, I didn't emphasize it enough previously, but Chorus cassettes all the way, and I swear by a SRAM quick link.

Avail Campy cassettes are:

11-23
11-25
11-27
11-29
12-25
12-27
12-29

IRD has 11-30, 11-32, 12-30, 12-32 compatible cassettes.

[Tickdoc]

ok, sorry guys but really dumb here when it comes to this stuff. I know how it all works, but I get really confused regarding compatibility between brands, 10-11 speed differences in width, etc.

Sram quick link...is this one link for easy removal, or a whole Sram 11 chain?

I've removed chains before with a chain tool (on ultegra), but not sure I could get them back together enough to trust. I know my sram red bike has the quick link, and I like the sound of that, but the easier the better that won't implode when riding is the way I want to go.

You kinda have to spoon feed me here. Up until a year ago I just took mine in and paid my money when it came to maintenance.

Learning as I go.

[FlashUNC]

ok, sorry guys but really dumb here when it comes to this stuff. I know how it all works, but I get really confused regarding compatibility between brands, 10-11 speed differences in width, etc.

Sram quick link...is this one link for easy removal, or a whole Sram 11 chain?

I've removed chains before with a chain tool (on ultegra), but not sure I could get them back together enough to trust. I know my sram red bike has the quick link, and I like the sound of that, but the easier the better that won't implode when riding is the way I want to go.

You kinda have to spoon feed me here. Up until a year ago I just took mine in and paid my money when it came to maintenance.

Learning as I go.

The quick link, in my experience, is an easier way to pull the chain off for cleaning, service, whatever. Technically, Campy recommends their approach of peening a new master link in and none of that "quick link" nonsense, and effectively the only time the chain comes off the bike is when its time to install a new one. But to be clear, if you go the master link route that Campy recommends, the link must be peened or it will fail. And that's really bad news if you're a ways away from home. So you'll need a chain tool that can peen.

KMC, for their 11 speed links, recommends replacing them after removal, which is not the case for their 10 and 9 speed links. Its a minor annoyance, but probably justified given that 11 speed links are thinner and use less material and, a quick link at least, will probably be more susceptible to something going wrong.

[bigbill]

I've been on 11 speed since early 2009. I bought the chain tool from PBK when it was "only $140". I tried a KMC chain last summer but didn't like it as much as the Chorus chains I've otherwise used. I've never used a Record chain, I think the main difference is some weight. I've always followed the directions for installing the pin and never had one fail. I do carry a 10 speed KMC link in my saddle bag. The 11 speed missing links are hard to set by hand. 11 speed chains are a little tricky to measure for wear, I just change mine at 3500 miles. I get them for around $28 at Ribble so I buy 2-3 at a time. I have three, 11 speed bikes.

I've always used 12-27 with a 39/53 crankset. I raced on 8 speed back in the 90's and a 12-27 is the same gears as an 8S 12-21 with a 23, 25, and 27. I use Chorus cassettes that I get for around $90 at Ribble. I usually have a new one on the shelf in the garage.

[YesNdeed]

The quick link, in my experience, is an easier way to pull the chain off for cleaning, service, whatever. Technically, Campy recommends their approach of peening a new master link in and none of that "quick link" nonsense, and effectively the only time the chain comes off the bike is when its time to install a new one. But to be clear, if you go the master link route that Campy recommends, the link must be peened or it will fail. And that's really bad news if you're a ways away from home. So you'll need a chain tool that can peen.

KMC, for their 11 speed links, recommends replacing them after removal, which is not the case for their 10 and 9 speed links. Its a minor annoyance, but probably justified given that 11 speed links are thinner and use less material and, a quick link at least, will probably be more susceptible to something going wrong.

Exactly. The quick link (SRAM 11 Powerlock is it's exact name https://www.sram.com/sram/mountain/products/powerlock-chain-connector-11-speed) is where I'm willing to go against Campy recommendations. It makes it easy to remove the chain for a good cleaning, and you won't need their "bespoke" ($145) chain tool. I use http://www.parktool.com/product/master-link-pliers-mlp-1-2 for removal, but you can also use needle nose pliers to remove the link. Use the biggest needle nose pliers that will fit in the chain between the pins. Smaller ones don't work.

I have been using a SRAM link for two years now without any complaints or problems. A SRAM mechanic himself, at a support tent at the Tour of the Gila 2014, told me the issue with the links is the number of times you reuse them. 1 or 2 times is rarely a problem, but after that, one should use caution. I've got over 1000 miles on a 4th reinstall, but I'll probably get a new one before the 5th. I've pushed it enough.

[r_mutt]

Ok, so sounds like I can splurge on a record chain and save on a chorus cassette.

You just saved me $200.00!

I'm sure I'll find somewhere else to spend it :p

that's my combo- Chorus cassette and Record chain. i run a 11/23 and a 12/25

i'll break out a 12/27 if i'm in vermont.

i recommend the Campag pin or the KMC master link. i will not run a SRAM quick link out of principle.

It makes it easy to remove the chain for a good cleaning, and you won't need their "bespoke" ($145) chain tool.

bespoke means made to order.

[YesNdeed]

that's my combo- Chorus cassette and Record chain. i run a 11/23 and a 12/25

i'll break out a 12/27 if i'm in vermont.

i recommend the Campag pin or the KMC master link. i will not run a SRAM quick link out of principle.



bespoke means made to order.

I wouldn't use any KMC product after my last experience, which I posted. And I'm glad you know your definitions as well as I do.

[Tony T]

The (KMC) 11 speed missing links are hard to set by hand.

Can't remove them my hand, but very easy to install the KMC 11s link by hand.
Place the link on the upper chain, then while holding the brakes, just step on the pedal. I don't know why they even sell a tool to install these.

[Bob Ross]

Avail Campy cassettes are:

11-23
11-25
11-27
11-29
12-25
12-27
12-29


If I'm not mistaken the prices are strangely inconsistent over that range, no?
I remember pricing a Chorus 11-25 versus Chorus 11-27 and the 11-27 was something like $100 more?!?!

[buldogge]

The main price difference is between 11t and 12t cassettes...Here are the current prices @Ribble. Man, they're pretty "cheap" right now...

-Mark in St. Louis

[oldpotatoe]

that's my combo- Chorus cassette and Record chain. i run a 11/23 and a 12/25

i'll break out a 12/27 if i'm in vermont.

i recommend the Campag pin or the KMC master link. i will not run a SRAM quick link out of principle.



bespoke means made to order.

I use the pin when the (Chorus) chain is new. I'll take it off to clean and re install with KMC or IRD 11s link. I too will not use sram anything.

I use the KMC link once, they are cheap. Remember a quick link wears like a chain, I wouldn't reuse them to a new chain. Install is easy, between crank and cogs, on top, smack pedal. Use the Park tool to remove.

[waypastfast]

Chorus cassette and record chain is what I run with my SR. Chorus cassette much more longer lasting IMO.

[YesNdeed]

I'm actually the dumb one here, add poor word choices, and sacrilegious Campy chain/SRAM link pairing. But, why do we hate SRAM?

[FlashUNC]

I'm actually the dumb one here, add poor word choices, and sacrilegious Campy chain/SRAM link pairing. But, why do we hate SRAM?

Their stuff breaks a lot in my experience.

[stien]

The main price difference is between 11t and 12t cassettes...Here are the current prices @Ribble. Man, they're pretty "cheap" right now...

-Mark in St. Louis

Eesh. I'm rolling $40 new or 300 mile used 6800 cassettes over here and lovin' it.

[oliver1850]

6800 hubs with 5800 or 6800 cassettes is the way I'm going from now on. Wish Shimano offered more options with 12T small cog but I will just run the 11s with a 46 big ring.

[buldogge]

That's your problem (j/k)...

I have a couple Shimano-FHB wheel sets now and use 6800 cassettes...it is nice that they can be had for $40, but I find that they are not as smooth or quiet as Chorus...at least when used with Campy 11s.

The Campy 11s cassettes cost what they cost...$85 new is the cheapest I remember ever seeing them.

-Mark

Eesh. I'm rolling $40 new or 300 mile used 6800 cassettes over here and lovin' it.