Campy vs Shimano
 

I'm looking at two bikes, one with Campy components and one with Shimano. It's Campy Centaur vs Shimano DuraAce. I know folks hate these types of questions, but, here goes. Which is better? Are they comparable? Is there anything I need to consider outside of my own personal likes and dislikes that could have impacts down the road? Any enlightenment on these two product lines would be helpful. I'm probable more interested in a drivetrain comparison.

Thanks !!!

centaur is a mid range campy product and dura ace is shimano's top of the line componentry. that's as far as i'll stick my head in that pandora's box....
(psssst....go with the dura ace..)

Don't make your decision based on components alone. The Frame is the bike and the wheels matter too.

I never rode Centaur, but DA 7800 is pretty hard to fault.

Down the rode.....

DA shifters are $400+ and if they break you can't fix them. THey are pretty tough though.

Centaur (basically veloce shifters) can be fixed. If I ever got Campy.....I'd go with Chorus levers and centaur derailleurs.

Yeah, assuming 10 speed for both, it's an apples to watermellon comparison.

As much as I love Campy (I have a Record group), I will agree with the above post, Centaur is slightly lower grade than the DA. But, Campy provides you with repairability, and the Centaur line can be had in silver or gray anodized components. Also, the Centaur offers alloy or carbon cranks, of which you can also get in compact, DA you cannot. Centaur has more offerings, but DA is a little more refined, and weighs slighty less.

Now, if you were to compare DA to Campy Record. For there is no comparison within the realm of human understanding. It's like comparing a Toyota Camry to a Ferrari. Record is the "creme de la creme".
It is so choice. :D

Ferrari vs. Lamborghini. BMW vs. Mercedes. Honda vs. Toyota. Ford vs. Chevy.

Take the DA over the Centaur or try a more equitable comparison.

55/Rad

what bikes are you considering?

The way I have always been explained campy vs. shimano is that the two are offset. Record then DA then chourus then Ultegra and so on and so forth. so with that said I would go with the DA. but really it should be the rest of the bike that is the deciding factor. its easy to make a good frame better its much harder to make a bad frame better

For $2000-$2500. I'd take the best frame I could get (with the geometry to my liking etc) and go with 105 and some decent wheels.

Translation: Frame is the most important. Just my opinion.

Do what most Roadies do:
put the Dura-Ace on your bike, but buy a Campy t-shirt to wear around.

According to a friend who works at one of the mail order houses, guys who buy DA usually also buy a Campy shirt.
Makes some kind of sense: if you wear a Shimano shirt to the gym, for example, people could think you're a fisherman. But wear a Campy shirt, and your identity is pure cyclist.

Who cares.. just ride your bike, this dicussion has already happened x920384234.

They are both excellent products. It comes down to personal preference on the way the shift levers feel. I prefer Campy levers, so my bikes have Campy levers and derailleurs. Record on my race bike, Veloce on my rain/touring bike. My wife has Dura Ace, and she loves it.

Campy levers can be maintained, Dura Ace can't be. But overhauling a Campy lever is a pain.

This is a discussion forum. If you don't want to discuss bike stuff, then get lost. Why even reply if you are uninterested in the topic?

These days you could say that ultegra 10 and DA 10 have the same relationship in shimano as Chorus/record do in the Campy lineup.

Ultegra 9/105 have the same relationship in the Shimano heirarchy as centaur/veloce have in the Campy scheme of things.

Which is better? That's apples to oranges.

I like the Campy levers better, but that's a personal thing. I have ultegra 9 now, but when I move to Campy it will be chorus levers with centaur derailleurs ( I did some research on getting the best quality for the money with Campy gear and that's what I came up with)

I thought it was Apples to Oranges ? :)

yeah, I fixed that.I'm still correcting typos though.

I like watermellon better than oranges. ;) :)

This makes perfect sense to me..OK.

Now about that battery acid you were telling me to clean my bike with......... :)

Right now I'm considering the Javelin Narni, Felt S25 and maybe the Trek Equinox 9.

My suggestion... and yes, I'm staying out of the C vs. S "debate":

After fit and ride quality... look first at the frame... and then the wheels... and finally the components.

BTW, I'm also a big fan of watermellons.

John are you running a tri cockpit or simply road with aero bars? With a tri cockpit you take the brifters out of the equation and things are become even more similar, slowtwitch.com has a good article comparing Dura Ace to Record on tri bikes and finds some interesting things...

Test ride both bikes. IMO both groupos are great, can't go wrong with either if you're just a rec rider.

As much as I hate to say this...

If you are racing I would go with the DA bike. It's slightly lighter and probably higher quality than the centaur.

I can't believe I said that.

It will be a Tri-Bike. Thanks for the tips on slowwitch.

mmmm... watermelon :D

get campy