mrblue

I just installed Campagnolo Potenza 11 on my road bike. It replaces Shimano 105 5700.

I've never owned or ridden a bike with Campagnolo, and for a long time I've aways wondered what Campy was all about. After noticing the Potenza groupset on Ribble for <$500, i figured, what the heck? If it sucks, I can sell it, right?

The installation and set up was totally painless; about as easy as my Shimano 105 was. The only gripe I have is I wish Campagnolo hadn't put so much grease on the chain. After a quick test ride up and down my street the first thing I noticed was the shifters/hoods seem much smaller than my 105. Which isn't a good or bad thing, just something I found shocking at first, like stepping into a pair of new shoes. However they are quite comfy, and the the thumb lever, coming from Shimano 105, takes some getting used to.

The shifting, both front and rear, felt more crisp than the 105. However the over all feel of the shifters felt less substantial than the 105. What I mean is, the 105 shifters felt solid. The Potenza felt a little...cheap (for lack of a better term).

The braking was far better on the Potenza. It took very little pressure on the brake levers to come to a complete stop. In a word, I'd call the Potenza brakes "touchy."

Over all, I think Potenza is a little better than 105, simply due to weight and my personal aesthetic taste. As for shifting, it's about equal. Braking, I felt Potenza was better.

How does it compare to Ultegra, which is what it is positioned, according to Campagnolo, to compete? I dunno. I've never owned or ridden a full Ultegra equipped bike. I can say I had an Ultegra 6700 rear derailleur on my bike for a while. Aside from the weight difference, I found no glaring differences between the Ultegra 6700
RD and a 105 5700 RD. They shifted about the same.

Has anyone else had any experience with Potenza they'd like to share?

redfooj

I currently have 5800, 6800, 11sp carbon chorus.

Slight preference for campagnolo aesthetics (esp skeleton brakes), brifter shape, quite prefer the multiple-upshift, and that the shifting action moves in same direction as derailleur.

But honestly, once setup properly, all are fantastic. All work equally well. If u told me I could use 1 brand for the rest of my life I wouldn't care.

The only true standout is SRAM with (wireless) etap. Clean looks. And yaw FD obviates need for trimming.

Between Shimano and campagnolo there's no real substantial functional difference between the 2. Except Shimano is generally better priced.

Sy Reene

Sorry, no Potenza experience to share -- using Chorus at the moment.
But curious where you found Campy indicating Potenza was an Ultegra competitor?

For a double crank, Potenza and 105 represent the lowest cost 11-speed groupset from the respective brands. Otherwise, equating one brand to the other though might be by groupset weight, though I don't know what these are. I really like the Potenza Silver look fwiw.. did you do black or silver?

mrblue

I went with black. I read a bunch of reviews of Potenza and every reviewer mentioned it was Campy's attempt to compete with Ultegra, for the mid-range market. Whether that's true or not, I couldn't say.

mrblue

Like I said, I have no experience with a full Ultegra groupset, but, just going by weight (based on manufacturer provided statistics), it seems like Potenza is lighter than 105 but slightly heavier than Ultegra.

garciawork

The only issue I have with Potenza, or at least this was the case when it was released, is it can only shift 1 up, 3 down, rather than 3 up, 5 down. That is one of the huge benefits of Campy IMO, and why I originally went with Chorus over Athena years ago, even though I wanted the silver look. But, regardless, I vastly prefer Campy aesthetics, ad shifter feel. Unfortunately, I don't plan on building a bike sans disc brakes again, so until they release theirs, Shimano for me...

look566 rider

Another benefit to Campy is they can be REPAIRED opposed to replacing the entire component. I.E you scrape or break the brake lever, replace with a new lever.

Sy Reene

I suppose this can be advantageous, though I will say it's a bit disconcerting to see that just one brake blade sells for about $100, while a pair of full brifters is only about $220. With a longer-term view, not sure which way I'd really go.

Pridedog

I recently installed Potenza shifters, front derailleur and medium cage rear derailleur on my disc equipped bike. I have ridden most Campy groups over the last 40 years as they are my brand of preference.

On my disc equipped road bike I could not get an affordable Campy compatible disc rear wheel. So I went with a custom Shimano cassette (12x32) and a 46x34 front chainring combination. I didn't think I would like the front derailleur shifting one down and 3 up. But after getting use to it I do like it.

Not being a racer I don't need to shift more than one cassette at a time in the back.

I like that the hoods are similar to my Record 11 speed set up on another bike. The shifting quality on the front is excellent. On the back it is not in the same category as my Record or Chorus set ups, but I didn't expect it to be. Plus some of the issues I think on the rear shifting have to do with the Shimano 11 speed cassette and its compatibility to a Campy 11 speed derailleur.

The short throw on the shifters make them work great with my road BB7 discs.

I don't really care about where they set in the hierarchy, the fact that they were very affordable and fit my need are what I do care about.

Shuffleman

I agree that it is diffficult but ultimately it boils down to preference. I have full Athena on one bike and full Ultegrw 6800 on my other bike. They are both smooth. I love the Campy hoods and thumb shifting. I wish I put Athena or Chorus on the new bike for that reason alone. Either way both Campy and Shimano are awesome products.

palu

Just a quick question: I know other Campag groups need special tools (specifically for BB's/cranks). Does the Potenza groupset need specific tools for install?


I'm looking to upgrade the whole groupset on my "gravel" bike, with BB7 road discs. I may upgrade the brakes to TRP at the same time. Currently has Shimano group. Just want to try out Campag, but not if it means I have to buy a bunch of specialty/proprietary tools.


Thanks.

chaadster

You don't need special tools for install, no, nor are any needed for other Campagnolo groupsets. Removing stuff is another matter, though, and for older Powertorque cranks, a puller is required, but the Potenza is supposed to have a self-extracting crank arm bolt.

palu

Yes, thank you, my mistake: I did mean removal. I've watched a few videos which says puller is required (a couple of different types, as I recall, depending on type, material). That's good about the self-extracting bolt. Makes things easier.

chaadster

I found the ideal fix was to add a Chorus shifter to my Athena Carbon group, which I spec'd in silver derailleurs and brakes alongside the carbon fiber brifters and crankset. The resulting visuals on the Venturi are perfect to my tastes.

I'm considering doing a new build right now, and am really torn over Potenza, primarily because shift gear is not cross -line compatible, meaning that Chorus/Record shifters are not compatible with Potenza derailleurs and Potenza shifters are not compatible with Chorus/Record derailleurs, so I'd be kinda stuck with Potenza. Probably it's not a big deal, but if Chorus weren't $300 more, I'd definitely go Chorus.

palu

Some MacGrubering and you should be able to make it work:


Here it is, Chorus long cage for 11-32 - The Paceline Forum

tony2v

My 1990s Bill Davidson built up with the sliver Campy Potenza, Ritchey Classic and Mavic Ksyrium ES wheels.
My Breadwinner Lolo and Moots Compact have 11 speed Chorus and my Alchemy Xanthus has 11 speed Record.
The Potenza shifting feels a bit slower in the rear. I don't miss the multiple shifts on the rear because this bike ISN'T about going fast

Jay Olson

Actually, Potenza is compatible with 2015 and later Chorus, Record and Super Record (other than use of the 32T rear cog with a non-Potenza rear derailleur). I use Chorus ergopowers with Potenza derailleurs, and it works great.

Racing Dan

Does 11sp shimano cassettes work with 11sp campy drives?

redfooj

flawlessly. i swap wheelsets across 6800 and chorus bikes and dont even bother with rd tension adjuster

plug and play and seamless shifting from end to end

Racing Dan

Thanks, didn't know that. Good to know.

chaadster

Campagnolo tech documents clearly indicate that Potenza derailleurs are not compatible with current Chorus/Record shifters (those marked w/ "A"). For example: https://www.campagnolo.com/media/fil...ev02_04_16.pdf

Are you perhaps using pre-'15 Chorus? Are yours marked A or B?

chaadster

I didn't read the whole thread, but the OP there was talking about using a 32t cog from Potenza line with a Chorus RD modded with a Potenza RD cage (to replace the Chorus RD cage), right?

That's something different than I was discussing, which again was using a Chorus shifter with a Potenza RD, which from within the current range of offerings, Campy say are incompatible.

Perhaps the OP in the Paceline thread modded the Chorus RD with the Potenza RD cage because he could not simply swap in the complete Potenza RD with his Chorus group (or precisely, Chorus shifters)? Because the parallelogram relates to shifter pull, that would be the most logical explanation, anyway.

chaadster

The thing I dislike about silver Potenza is the 2-tone RD.

chaadster

Yeah, I swap two sets of Ultegra cassette equipped wheels and a Campy casssette wheelset across two Campagnolo Athena derailleur bikes without any fuss or adjustment as well. Best thing about 11spd, IMO!!

Jay Olson

I am using 2016 Chorus levers. As you probably know, in 2015 Campagnolo changed the cable pull for their shifters/derailleurs in Chorus and above gruppos. Only Athena retained the old cable pull. When Potenza was introduced, it used the same cable pull as the 2015 and later Chorus and above, and Athena was discontinued. So, all current Campagnolo 11-speed gruppos use the same cable pull. From a cable pull standpoint, 2015 and later Chorus levers work with a Potenza rear derailleur.

However, Frequently Asked Questions - Campagnolo - Velotech Cycling Ltd - Velotech Modular Industry standard cycle mechanics training and Campagnolo Approved Service Centre (UK) indicates that the Potenza rear derailleur return spring is not as stiff as the one in Chorus and above, which is probably why Campagnolo do not recommend using Chorus levers with a Potenza rear derailleur. They go on to say this is the same reason why using pre-2015 Chorus and above shifters with Athena rear derailleurs is not recommended, even though many people have done this.