AndyK 

I agree that given the low cost of Asian workers, and the mass produced parts of Shimano and SRAM, why are THEY so high priced??

thirdgenbird

That's my point. Campy is low volume and has high labor cost but the still produce a group that functions just as well as dura-ace, weighs less, has one more cog, is arguably more reliable, and still comes in at close to the same cost. Sure it is still an out of pocket expense, but where does your money go when you buy shimano? It is not for lighter, better, or more reliable parts.

Commodus

For Mr. Shimano's third Ferrari?

...it's a good question actually.

Snydermann

Because they can be, they let Campy set the price limits and they sell their stuff to match that level. Same reason a Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon 5002 P watch is 1.5 million dollars, because it can be, and someone will buy it.

I remember reading somewhere that one reason Suntour failed was because they didn't charge enough for their prime components. People thought they were less quality because they were less expensive.

Campag4life

What can be said about Campagnolo. I ride it and to me it is the synthess of art and engineering. The Italians, like Ducati, Ferrari etc have a certain something that isn't found in Sram or Shimano. It is in large measure culturally driven and the Italians bring something other cultures can't spawn. That said, all the high level stuff is outstanding. Campy isn't for everybody. Some don't see or feel the engineering. For them there is other stuff available. Many great bike companies over time are now gone. It would indeed be a shame if the same thing happened to Campag but in this economic climate and particular with Sram coming on so strong, Campy's long term solvency maybe in jeapardy.
Live on Campagnolo.

p2templin

So excited to hear they have an electronic gruppo coming. Just wish we knew who'll have a triple-ready electronic setup ready first - not ready to sacrifice two rings off our tandem to go electronic.

thirdgenbird

when i think of the shimano parking lot i think of things like the LFA. it would probably be in bad taste to drive a ferrari to the shimano factory. if it is an older one there is a good chance campagnolo did titanium, aluminum, or magnesium work for it.

campy does, or has, done work for several car companies, ducatti, and nasa.

Campag4life

Yup..wheels in fact.

Snydermann

Back in the day when I was into both bicycling and model car building, I remember flipping out when I saw that the wheels on my model Lamborghini Countach were engraved Campagnolo.

Ahhhhhhhh . . . impressionable youth.

thirdgenbird

i know they used to do work for ferrari, lamborghini, alfa, ducati, nasa, and i believe bmw. my question is do they still have this business? one article i read said that it made up of 30% of their revenue in the 70s.

Campag4life

No idea. I'm a big car and motorcycle nut as well but my most vivid recollection of Campy and where I developed my affinity for their components dates back 30 years to all the high end bikes of the day I coveted. To me Campy is synonomous with the storied tradition of bicycle racing when bikes looked like rolling art with their skinny tube frames. I will always have a soft spot for their products which have always been exclusive to me. To me Super Record is the ultimate. Some like the new electronic stuff but to me, electric shifting isn't in keeping with the sport. Maybe my view will change over time.

DScott

<--- Campy fan since the original Super Record groupset.

thirdgenbird

The 80s is where it is at for me. Lugged bikes with oversize/aero tubing (for their day), white hoods, c record, downtubes, deltas, aero water bottles, and look pedals. I wasn't even old enough to remember it.

rc51crazy

Seeing as my first bike build, i went with Campy Veloce 8 spd back in 93..it was still working fine when i replaced it 2 years ago, without one problem the whole time. I replaced the chain a few times, but nothing else. I replaced it with the new Athena 11 spd and it also works flawlessly. I have since bought a record gruppo and it will go on the new frame that i have on order.. I have ridden all the others stuff, but will never ride anything else but Campy

rangerdavid

great history lesson. Some day I'd like to have an Italian made bike with campy, but for now my CAAD 9 with shimano will do.

Snydermann

I purchased my first Super Record parts in 1980, at age 16, working a $2.00 an hour job in a grocery store. A Super Record crankset with a steel axle cost me $119.00.

rousseau

I instinctively recoil at the idea of feeling an emotional attachment to a brand. I roll my eyes at Apple-zombies, and feel nauseous when women rhapsodize about shoes. And yet...I love Campagnolo.

Contradiction? Hypocrisy? Yeah, I guess it is. But I'll never put anything other than Campagnolo on my bike.

halfspeed

The chain tool is, of course, totally unnecessary. You can use any good chain breaker and Park makes a $50 peening tool.

ultraman6970

Just a note about pricing... probably the only 2 in the market right now that know exactly how much something cost are the italians and the guys from sram. Knowing how the japs are and how many of their companies are, there is a big chance that not even the shimano people knows how much exactly a component costs, yes i agree with the forumite that said that they just wait to see how much the other manufacturers charge and then they fix the price. They have been doing this for centuries and that's the main reason is hard to work with them sometimes.. anybody remember the image of the japanese business man smiling and bowing while he in the back he is stabbing you big time? Pretty much is like that.

Personally i have seen it in the car and in the telecommunications industry where pretty much they say observe the other guy and they charge whatever more or less just by intuition. My dad worked for nec and mitsubishi selling their equipment in other countries and both companies drove him crazy because the "bad custom" was pretty odd at the time to present proposals and stuff because it looked like nobody knew what was the price of the stuff they were selling, so much that was somehow embarrassing because they from the beginning were trying to find out how much was the bids coming from the other companies and they they arranged the numbers to match or be around the same and be competitive, the most ******** thing was that if asked from the begining how much a small phone central for a small office they wouldnt tell you because they did not know, just the most important detail for the consumer, the cost they did not know period... so it really wouldn't surprise me that they do the same with all their bike equipment. That's the reason they are always 1st in the market too, they need to recover the r&D money quick!!

Wish suntour came back with a road group, always liked them in a matter of fact a comeback with electronic would be fantastic for them.

surgeonstone

And you will never regret it. Campy....there is no other.

Trsnrtr

I started riding in '82 and was innoculated with Campy from the beginning. Buy a frame, build with Campy, get rolling.

Campag4life

A note on the chain. I haven't broken into the 11s stuff like many of you guys have...and not sure if there is a decent 11s aftermarket chain. I run 2010 Campy 10s however and run KMC chains for years with their master link called a 'Missing Link'. I also run a 9speed Missing Link on my mtb Ultegra chain. The KMC 10s chain can be shorted with a $10 Park chain tool and their Missing Link can generally be taken apart and reassembled without tools. I really couldn't ask for a better shifting bike or one that rides more quietly...the wind and wheels make more noise than the driveline. Not sure if a 10s KMC chain will work for 11s Campy as it maybe a fraction too wide. It may work but not have the X-chain performance of the Campy 11s chain. My personal view is the 11s chain while no doubt works flawlessly is a case where the price exceeds its value. Some Campy purists may disagree however and say the exclusive Campy tool and chain are worth it. At the current time the 11s Campy chain maybe the only chain that will give 11s performance you expect from Campy but for 10s, KMC chains are hard to beat for cost and performance.

Campag4life

I read a lot about the expense of Campy. I just don't see it. In fact, one of the reasons why I like 10s Centaur which I prefer to both Dura Ace and Sram Red, is because it is cheaper...all in carbon fiber. Shifters ordered out of the UK to the US are $250 shipped. Where can you find Dura Ace or Red shifters for that price? I believe even Record is cheaper if you find a good groupset deal than the other topline stuff as well.

AndyK 

I agree. If you pay retail, Campy is still a bargain considering how it's made. I'm glad they don't charge what they are worth in reliability and form! Not paying retail, I bought my full Record 11 group last year, when the dollar was killing the Pound, and got a great price from Shiny Bikes. WAY cheaper than an SRAM Red group from Performance or Competitive Cyclist, etc.

As for the chain, there are currently NO quick links (or 10 speed chain) that will work well with the 11 speed drivetrain. I tried a Super Link, and wound up going back to the rivets and Campy tool (which is a work of art in itself).

daven1986

I'd happily ride campy and want to, but I don't like the shifters!