Upgrade to Campy 11s or 12s?
 

3 of my bikes are outfitted with Campy 10s but I’m looking to “upgrade” to 11s or 12s on at least one of my rigs through the next couple of months. There are no issues with my 10s gear...... just looking for some newer shifty bits and selling my 10s gear here on PL. A few questions:

- i know 11s cassettes work with no issue on any of my 10s FHB’s but is the same also true for 12s?
- most of my stuff right now is either Record or Chorus and I’d probably be sticking with the same on this upgrade. 12s so far has only been available as Record or SR but looking on the Campy website it looks like Chorus is also available as 12s now..... maybe that’s new recently?
- any experience on 12s versus 11s on functionality and longevity? I don’t swap components or upgrade a whole bunch so looking for something with a LONG life. the 10s stuff has been flawless in that department.

Any comments appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Put me down as interested as well, I'm in the same boat as you OP. The thing that has turned my head is the Chorus 12 speed with a 32/48 crank. I use 34/48s on all my 10 speed Campy equipped bikes now and I have two frames that need components.

About a week ago I heard Campy NA was about to get more Chorus 12 in stock. I'd go with Chorus 12 since it's a better value relative to the other groups and you might as well go with the latest thing even though Campy supports older stuff for a long time. I understand the 12 speed cassettes work on existing hubs. By the time you need a new cassette, Potenza will probably be 12 speed if you want to save money and don't mind a few extra grams. I don't believe you can do 53-39 rings with Chorus if that matters to you, but a 52-11 is only too small a top gear if you're getting paid to ride or close to that level. The ergonomics of the newer levers is really nice.

You can't get a 53/39 Chorus 12 crank, but there shouldn't be a problem with a record 12 crank and probably no problem with an 11 speed crank. Chorus offers 53/36, 50/34 and 48/32 cranks.

The chorus 12 shifting shifting is excellent. If you don't want to spend a lot for the campy chain tool, a cheap park tool will work to shorten the chain. A kmc 12 or sram eagle quick link will join a Campy chain. I find that the sram axs 12 chain also works and is quieter.

I have the 48/32 with 11-34 cassette.

Record 12s on Merlin cost $1200, Chorus 11S cost $960 and Chorus 12s from the cheapest place I can find cost about $1100. If I buy new I would go with 12s record. 12s RD let you choose 11 29 or 11 32 which are the two option you will ever need. Go with Record 12s. https://www.merlincycles.com/campagn...et-120859.html

I'd imagine upgrading from 10s to 12s would be a huge significant jump in performance.. I went from 1st/2nd gen 11s to the 3rd gen 11s and the performance of shifting was night and day. Campy still has that snappy shifting characteristic but the front shifting is Shimano like now. The rear shifts are butter smooth too!

-yes
-yes plus sub compact crank
-11s levers AND 12s very different innards than 10s. No shift springs or spring carrier to break. 12s is very new but should be on par with 11s, which has been out for a decade(2009 intro)...functionality? Flawless...Campagnolo makes small changes all the time they don’t yell about...11s and 12s works and lasts exceptionally well.
Like 9s and 10s and 11s and 12s, Campagnolo did it first, the others follow( except road Shimano, stuck in 11s and sram, ZERO mechanical 12s groups....oh well.

Your link to merlin cycles shows $1419 for Record and they don't show any Chorus 12, in my search. I found Chorus 12 for $1060 at pinkjersey.com.

My reason for buying Chorus 12 was the 48/32 crank and 11-34 cassette. Neither is available with Record.

What you might need depends on where you ride and how old you are.

I have Record 12 on my Ottrott and it is very nice, but can't speak to its longevity yet. The shifting is precise and smooth. All of the Campagnolo stuff I have had in the past has worked forever so I do not forsee a problem with the new stuff.

I also have the newest version of Chorus 11 on my Merckx and it is very nice as well. I think it is one of the nicest groupsets I have ever used and it functions excellent as well. If I didnt have the 12spd record it would be a hard group to beat. No experience with the new 12 spd chorus, but the levers are now alloy instead of carbon if that matters and it is a bit heavier.

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Can you shift through several cogs at once on 12 like you can on 11? I don't think you can on the Potenza stuff, 11 or 12. The upper lines?

Yes, chorus 11 and up still shift through several cogs at a time. Not sure about chorus 12, but Record and Super Record can as well.

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it didn't show you the 10% off on the top? it does on mine

If your hubs are Chris King, they won't take 12s.

I went from 10 to 3rd gen 11 speed Chorus mechanical on a couple bikes and Record EPS 11 on one. MAJOR upgrade from 10 speed. Better gearing range and ergonomics of levers/hoods much better. Then I upgraded one of my bikes to Super Record 12 last summer. 12 speed is DEFINITELY the way to go. The ergonomics of the levers/hoods has been even further refined and the expanded cassette range is phenomenal. I'm running a standard crankset with an 11-32 cassette and it's the best gearing setup I've ever had. I can do it all, climb steeps and crank up the speed on the flats or descents sur la plaque!

Don't the Campy 12 cassettes lack the (for most people) all-important 16t cog?

Personally, I find it far more useful than the 11t on offer on the 12s cassette options.

For me, 11s Chorus (latest gen) is the pinnacle. Not sure how the hoods or ergonomics could get any better. Crisp multi-shifting at the rear, smooth shimano-like front shifting (even on a 50-34, which is meant to be the "worst" for front shifting).

I've got it on two bikes and I've got a further two mini-groups (derailleurs and shifters) stashed in box.

Chorus 11 has more in common quality and materials-wise with Super Record than Chorus 12 does.

Been stashing away Record 11s chains and Chorus 12-29 cassettes. Reckon I'll be on Chorus 11 for the next decade, with zero desire for anything else.