Ultegra vs Centaur?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Kitchener, ON
Posts: 2,032
Bikes: 1994 Proctor Townsend Reynolds 753, TT S3 True North, Kona Major Jake, Kona Honky Tonk, Marinoni Puima, Cannondale BBU
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Ultegra vs Centaur?
I have a frame which is going to be blasted and powder coated next month, and it will need a grouppo. I've been thinking about a change from Shimano to Campagnolo for a while now, my Cannondale CAAD 9 looks to be the right candidate. Its the 2007 Optimo 3 model with Ultegra brifters... Now my question is, will I notice a big performance jump from Ultegra to Centaur on the CAAD 9? I've never ridden Campy, but I've heard its more durable, repairable, shifts more reliably. If I move to Centaur on the Cannondale, then I'll use the 105/Ultegra parts for the other frame which needs powder coating...
If I move to Campy, I will be using the American Classic conversion cassette. Is there any drawback to that?
If I move to Campy, I will be using the American Classic conversion cassette. Is there any drawback to that?
#2
Full Member
Personally if I'd think to leave my Shimano, I'd go SRAM....SRAM Force if I could afford but Rival is nice too.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Near Sacramento
Posts: 4,886
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Stick with Campy! Nothing shifts like a Campy.
__________________
-------
Some sort of pithy irrelevant one-liner should go here.
-------
Some sort of pithy irrelevant one-liner should go here.
#5
Full Member
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Brooklyn, NY. Made in France
Posts: 1,139
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#8
Flatland hack
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Nowhere near the mountains :/
Posts: 3,228
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I recently made the shift to centaur. I like.
#9
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Point Lookout, NY
Posts: 1,210
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
You say in the post that you never tried Campagnolo. Then why do you considering it? Odd.
I went from ultegra to chorus. I would never go back to shimano. Doesn't mean you will feel the same. I like the thumb shifting and he hoods fit my hands better. I have never tried sram so I won't comment. Not that you asked but some folks seem inclined to put it in. Even when it's not mentioned.
Go to your local shop or find a buddy with campy. Try it. Then consider what you want to do.
I went from ultegra to chorus. I would never go back to shimano. Doesn't mean you will feel the same. I like the thumb shifting and he hoods fit my hands better. I have never tried sram so I won't comment. Not that you asked but some folks seem inclined to put it in. Even when it's not mentioned.
Go to your local shop or find a buddy with campy. Try it. Then consider what you want to do.
#12
Senior Member
#13
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Point Lookout, NY
Posts: 1,210
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Really? Ultegra is a group below DA. Chorus is below record. Don't make it a price thing. Thats not the point. It's the second tier group in both lines. Till 2009 that is. So chorus to ultgra is a good comparison. Function wise chorus/centaur are not far off anyway.
Last edited by MadeInItaly; 08-20-08 at 09:47 PM.
#14
Cycling Skier
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 620
Bikes: 2019 Moots Vamoots DR, 2008 Pedal Force ZX3, 2006 Jamis Eclipse, 1997 Marin Indian Fire Trail
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
In all fairness, these are two sides of the same coin. Both are great groups (Rival is great, too), and it all depends on what fits you best.
I will say that the difference in interface feel between 2008 Centaur/Chorus/Record Ergopower levers and their new 2009 brethren is substantial. I tried a bike equipped with the new 11-speed Chorus this afternoon and the new hood-top design is a big improvement for those who wish there were more positioning options for Campy-equipped bikes. They're not quite as small-hand friendly, but the extra position options are really great.
And the 11-speed shifts like butter, too - expected, given the narrow tolerances.
I will say that the difference in interface feel between 2008 Centaur/Chorus/Record Ergopower levers and their new 2009 brethren is substantial. I tried a bike equipped with the new 11-speed Chorus this afternoon and the new hood-top design is a big improvement for those who wish there were more positioning options for Campy-equipped bikes. They're not quite as small-hand friendly, but the extra position options are really great.
And the 11-speed shifts like butter, too - expected, given the narrow tolerances.
#19
I like my car
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,747
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#20
Senior Member
The conventional wisdom (and my own limited experience) is that the two groups don't line up exactly side-by-side; you move the Campy side up a notch, which puts Record in a class by itself. Hence Chorus is comparable to Dura Ace, and Centaur is comparable to Ultegra (though in my own experience Centaur is much better than Ultegra).
Last edited by rousseau; 08-20-08 at 10:12 PM.
#21
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Point Lookout, NY
Posts: 1,210
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I have small hands. No problem shifting. I don't race and i'm not in the drops a ton. Again, I prefer the shifters over shimano. I can't say the OP will till he gives them a test run.
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Kitchener, ON
Posts: 2,032
Bikes: 1994 Proctor Townsend Reynolds 753, TT S3 True North, Kona Major Jake, Kona Honky Tonk, Marinoni Puima, Cannondale BBU
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I plan on going to a shop closer to September to try a bike with Campy. Don't think shifting from the drops will be a problem for me, because like 80% of us, I do of my shifting from the hoods.
WRT the conversion between Dura-Ace, Record, and Chorus - I feel like Record and Dura-Ace are pretty evenly matched in quality. To me, Centaur is like Chorus without multiple upshifts in one throw - i.e.: has the escape mechanism. Looking at the obvious specs between Centaur and Chorus tell the story - both have carbon levers, carbon outer parallelogram on the RD, skeleton calipers, carbon cranks...
When I look at Dura-Ace vs Ultegra, its obvious that the quality of basic finishes are better on Dura-Ace, so I can only imagine how much better the internals of Dura-Ace STI levers are over ultegra. Heck, even the Dura-Ace rear dérailléur is leaps and bounds over the ultegra one in design and quality.
The only time I played with SRAM was on a stationary bike with Force, and I don't have much confidence in the lever throw... it seems that there's too much room for error.
----------------------------------------------------------
I should say - after my ride tonight, I'm really hoping that Campy gives more shifting feedback than Shimano. I'm constantly second guessing my ultegra downshifts, because there's nary a hint of feedback...
WRT the conversion between Dura-Ace, Record, and Chorus - I feel like Record and Dura-Ace are pretty evenly matched in quality. To me, Centaur is like Chorus without multiple upshifts in one throw - i.e.: has the escape mechanism. Looking at the obvious specs between Centaur and Chorus tell the story - both have carbon levers, carbon outer parallelogram on the RD, skeleton calipers, carbon cranks...
When I look at Dura-Ace vs Ultegra, its obvious that the quality of basic finishes are better on Dura-Ace, so I can only imagine how much better the internals of Dura-Ace STI levers are over ultegra. Heck, even the Dura-Ace rear dérailléur is leaps and bounds over the ultegra one in design and quality.
The only time I played with SRAM was on a stationary bike with Force, and I don't have much confidence in the lever throw... it seems that there's too much room for error.
----------------------------------------------------------
I should say - after my ride tonight, I'm really hoping that Campy gives more shifting feedback than Shimano. I'm constantly second guessing my ultegra downshifts, because there's nary a hint of feedback...
Last edited by kergin; 08-20-08 at 10:30 PM.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 279
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Having ridden all three gruppos and even older and defunct ones I can tell you my opinion...and it's just that...is that Campy stuff is just better. I like the way it shifts, feels, works, and it's repairable...though I have yet to need to. I prefer non-record (all aluminum) vs. the carbon group. I ride carbon now but still prefer the mechanics to be metal. I ride Chorus.
#25
No cud for foil.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD and Montreal, QC
Posts: 1,001
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have '06 Centaur, like the poster above. I like it very much, especially because the aluminum alloy levers have survived two direct hits very admirably. If you're setting it up yourself, and you learned how to set up a drivetrain with Shimano components, you might be a bit thrown off at the beginning, but I think the payoff is worth it.