pm124

I just received my new Capreo equipped bike, and wanted to share some quick impressions about the components. The Capreo system is a Shimano groupo designed for folders, and includes hubs, a cassette, cranks, and a derailleur. The only thing that is special about them is the cassette, which is 9-27 and can accommodate a road derailleur and still provide a wide gearing range for small wheels.

First, the components look good.

Second, It's very cool being able to use an Ultegra derailleur with a folder.

The downsides?
First, the hubs. One of the most important parts of a folder is the hubs. They are at least twice as important as on a regular bike because they spin twice as fast on a folder. Unfortunately, the hubs on my bike were crunchy. I adjusted the cones today and, while improved, they are far from butter smooth. (I cannot rebuild the back because a special tool is needed to remove the Capreo cassette, but I was able to adjust them.) Not sure whether they can be rebuilt with XTR parts. Does anyone know?

All Shimano hubs are of poor design, using the old skool hub and cone system rather than sealed bearings. This is even true of XTR and Dura Ace. But I've been told that anything below Ultegra level is crunchy out of the box. The Capreo was no exception.

The derailleur was a mix of steel and alloy, with a steel backside. It weighs in at 300gms, which is silly given that one can use a road derailleur on a Capreo cassette. I'm not sure why they make it at all. However, the shifters are very cool, using a button mechanism for upshifting.

The cassette is drilled and on a steel spider. It's thus unlike the XT cassette, which has an aluminum spider. But given that it is significantly smaller, it is lighter.

The cranks appear to be solid aluminum, and use a square taper.

Contrary to Bike Friday's claims, the Capreo groupo seems to be Alivio-level in quality rather than XT level. The one thing that is special, the cassette, might make going for a Capreo hub worthwhile. But the rest is overpriced and low quality. If you go with a Capreo hub, adjust it on first use so you don't grind down the hubs, and so it spins more efficiently.

It would be great to see another player in this market to push Shimano a bit. But all in all, this groupo isn't bad. The weight is marginally heavier than the high end Shimano stuff, but it's also stronger. So, unless you are a weight weenie or mind rebuilding your hubs before using them, it's not a bad way to go if your bike is pre-equipped with this groupo. The high cost to quality ratio, though, suggests that it's not the best buy for upgrading a folder.

(I'll be on a tour on the C&O and won't be able to respond to this posting. Enjoy!!)

maunakea

pm, I would send the hub(s) back for replacement. My Capreo rear hub is at least 105 quality, maybe Ultegra quality. Definitely not crunchy. I used a 105 front hub.

Did you also buy the Capreo cassette wrench? You need it to unlock the cogs on the cassette.

pm124

Hi Maunakea,

I'm just about off for a tour, but thanks for the info. I'll have a LBS take a peek at them to see whether they think I'm just being anal!

In the meantime, they'll get some miles.

invisiblehand

My 105 hub is doing quite well too. I would not describe it as crunchy.

EDIT: I meant Capreo rear hub.

jasong

There are very few hubs that I've seen that are adjusted correctly out of the box. Even if an ultegra hub feels buttery out of the box, it's still probably too tight, because you're feeling it without the tension of the Quick release.

Better just to always adjust new hubs.

The only properly adjusted hubs I've ever had came on a Bike Friday Pocket Tourist (cheap wheels) that were a hair loose with no tension, then correct under QR tension.

Simple Simon

Slightly OT Question: would it be possible to put a bigger cog than 27T on a capreo ?... imagine the range 9T to 34T 377% !!

invisiblehand

I think that the biggest cog, BTW, on the Capreo cassette is 26t.

Bike Friday used to do that modification. However, I recall that it required sanding cogs. According to the website, they no longer think that it is worth the hassle.

maunakea

Yes, the Capreo cassette is a 9-26. The cogs are individual, so a la carte is theoretically possible. I haven't seen a need to try it.

invisiblehand

Here is the Bike Friday blip on modifying the capreo cassette ...

From https://www.bikefriday.com/gearing

Stick with standard Shimano chainrings. 53/39 for a double, 52/42/30 for a triple. Nothing else is going to work as well. With the range on the Capreo, especially our tested and modified 9-32 Capreo cassette, that should provide all the gearing anybody will need - both high and low. The Capreo is a brilliant solution that enables our little wheeled bikes to use the standard 30,42,42 chainring combo found on regular bikes and stay in front of the pack!

UPDATE May 2006: We are no longer able to convert a 9-26 Capreo Cassette to a 9-32 or 9-23, because the special 21 tooth cogs are no longer made by anyone. However, the other configuations should satisfy most needs.

But note Stephen's comments above re the 9-32 - to achieve this we have to fiddle with the standard 9-26 Capreo, grind bits away etc. You need a really good reason to want us to pull apart a perfectly reasonably specified Shimano cassette. Talk to us first.