Bicycle Mechanics - How do you tell campy cassettes apart from each other?

Hi, I just bought a campy 10 spd cassette. It didn't come with a box or any paperwork. I was told it was record level, but I can not find any markings that state what group it is actually from. Does anyone know how to tell what level a cassette is?

-Z

Use a magnet. If it is Record the larger cogs will be titanium.

Hi, I just bought a campy 10 spd cassette. It didn't come with a box or any paperwork. I was told it was record level, but I can not find any markings that state what group it is actually from. Does anyone know how to tell what level a cassette is?

-Z

Weigh it.

Compare against weightweenies listing here http://weightweenies.starbike.com/listings/components.php?type=cassettes


Use a magnet. If it is Record the larger cogs will be Titanium.

They are also a visibly different colour from the smaller cogs on that same cassette.

They are also a visibly different colour from the smaller cogs on that same cassette.

But not if they are all titanium. There is a Record cassette with all titanium cogs.

Centaur and below are individual cogs, Record and Chorus have aluminum carriers that group the biggest cogs together. Here's the tech PDF (http://www.campagnolo.com/repository/documenti/en/SPECS2010-ENG.pdf) from Campagnolo.

OK. It is a 12-25, I weighed it without the lockring and my scale has it at 227grams. According to the weight weenies website that would be in the range for a Chorus level cassette. Weight weenies does not list a weight for an all steel record level cassette but my understanding is campy made an all steel version in 2008 and maybe prior to that as well.

I believe it is either record or chorus based on the following:

1. spacers match the pattern displayed on the branford bike website for record and chorus cassettes with a 12t cog (http://branfordbike.com/page.cfm?pageID=60).

2. there three sets of riveted cogs: 23/25, 19/21, 16/17. These are riveted to alloy (non-magnetic) carriers.

3. I maybe wrong but my understanding is that centaur only has the largest two cogs mounted to an alloy carrier, and veloce are all individual cogs.

Here is the link to the ebay auction I bought it from:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230406684825&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

The listing said "record", I am just trying to confirm.

Did I get ripped off, or is this a fair price. The cogs look to be in a very good condition.

-Z

Doesn't look like Record. Did you confirm all cogs are magnetic ? I suppose that's a fair price for a Chorus if it's almost new.

Used cassettes are one thing I avoid since they wear out quickly compared to other components, and it's hard to get an accurate idea of how worn they are.

I have another cassette that is 11-21 record ti/steel cassette, the largest four cogs on that one are titanium (checked with a magnet), with a weight of approx 160grams. So I understand the color difference referred to above.

The cogs on the 12-25 are all steel, so says my magnet.


Is there any other way to verify what product I have other than weight?

You could go to the Campy website, and look up the numbers stamped on each cog and see if they match what you have. I think some cogs get shared among different models, and they change from year to year. A 2009 Centaur is basically the same as 2008 Veloce for example.

Anyway, you did not get a Record cassette, so you could look for some kind of resulution from the seller as the product is "not as described" ... or let it go.

The magnet test is so much more simple. No nonmagnetic cogs? It's not Record. The largest 4 should be Ti.

On the bright side, the steel cogs will last twice as long.

I was suggesting looking up the cog info to differentiate between other models and years, not Record which is unique with the Ti cogs.

The listing said "record", I am just trying to confirm.

Did I get ripped off, or is this a fair price. The cogs look to be in a very good condition.

-ZIt looks like a chorus cassette. http://i49.tinypic.com/217vwo.jpg

Given the seller misrepresented the type of cassette, I wouldn't trust the 'low mileage" claim. I'd send it back or ask for a partial refund. Personally, I'd rather have a new Centaur than a used Chorus.

The magnet test is so much more simple. No nonmagnetic cogs? It's not Record. The largest 4 should be Ti.

On the bright side, the steel cogs will last twice as long.

No.

Looking at it is simpler. The TI Cogs are obviously different coloured. Don't even need a magnet.

Operator...

You're assuming the OP has others for comparison. Nitpick, nitpick.

Operator...

You're assuming the OP has others for comparison. Nitpick, nitpick.
Not necessarily. The Ti cogs will have a different finish and appearance from the other cogs in the same cassette. If the cassette is all steel, all of the cogs will appear alike.

Not necessarily. The Ti cogs will have a different finish and appearance from the other cogs in the same cassette. If the cassette is all steel, all of the cogs will appear alike.

Or if they are all titanium.

OK...so I emailed the guy I bought it from and he responded that he believed the cassette to be Record as it came off a bike he parted out that had record for for everything else. When I explained to him that Campy did not make an ultra-drive record cassette that was all steel he agreed that it must be Chorus. He mentioned that I could send it back to him and I countered with a request for a partial refund of $25. He agreed and is sending me a check.

So here is what I have learned about Campy's 10 speed cassettes:

1. This forum is great place to get info.
2. Record Ultra-drive cassettes were not made in an all steel version, they came as either all titanium or a mix of Ti and steel.
3. Record and Chorus cassettes with a 12T small cog have 3 carriers with 2 cogs mounted to each, and 4 loose cogs.
4. Record and Chorus cassettes with an 11T small cog have 2 carriers with 2 cogs mounted to each, and 6 loose cogs.
5. Centaur and Veloce cassettes may have 1 carrier with the two largest cogs mounted to it and the rest loose, or else they are all loose.

-Z