Test of the new Campagnolo Super Record WRL groupset

The Super Record Wireless group is the top-of-the-range model in the collection of the Italian manufacturer Campagnolo, with 12-speed electronic derailleurs, wireless transmission, new tooth combinations for very progressive gear changes and new ergonomics for the handles. Let's see how the Super Record WRL performs over several hundred kilometers, after a test without concession.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

With the Super Record WRL, Campagnolo intends to enter into direct competition with Shimano and its Dura-Ace Di2 and with Sram and its Red AXS groupset., the first groupset with a completely wireless transmission between the control levers and the derailleurs. Even if the price of the groupset is very high (more than 1000 € more than Shimano et Shame), Campagnolo opposes its competitors with materials premium with a subtle combination of carbon, titanium and aluminum that is sure to appeal to purists. Let's get the weight criterion out of the way right away between the three spearheads of the three main transmission brands on the market: At 2480 g, the Campa Super Record WRL is 38 g heavier than the Dura-Ace, and 36 g lighter than the Red., all things being equal. In short, it's not an issue, unless you compare the weight of high-end groupsets with that of more reasonably priced transmissions.

=> SEE AS ​​WELL : All prices and weights of the groups route and gravel 2023/2024

Let's talk about ergonomics instead. Until now, Campagnolo stood out with handles with two levers - whether mechanical or electronic - including the famous push button on the inside of the lever to lower the sprockets on the cassette, or go down to the small chainring, and a lever to perform the inversion operation. The new version of the Super Record abandons this push button and now adopts two pucks, placed behind the brake lever.. The lower puck allows you to lower the teeth, the upper puck to raise them. But it is of course possible to customize the action of the buttons by going through the dedicated application, as with Shimano and Sram.

The new handle shape offers moretagand grip with the rubber and a little more cushioning to improve comfort while riding. The handle is also longer on its upper part, and less high on the most forward part, thus better integrating the hydraulic braking. The overall shape provides better braking control than the previous version, whether with your hands on the handlebars, or your hands at the bottom of the handlebars.

Under the hood, there is the bleed screw, and access to the buttons on the inside face which allow you to adjust the derailleurs, but not yet changing the pages of an associated counter. A feature that may be on the agenda for a future update of the MyCampy application and the group.

A small screw accessible through one of the holes on the lever provides access to the brake lever clearance adjustment, so as to bring it closer or further away from the hanger, depending on the size of your hands.

On the other hand, it should be noted a very bad point for the hollowed out area just behind the lever, under the handle, with edges that are too pronounced, and which can be hurtful or in any case very unpleasant to hold.

Wireless communication

Just like the Sram Red AXS, The Campagnolo Super Record WRL groupset operates completely wirelessly between the levers and derailleurs. Each element has an internal battery (flat batteries for the handles, removable but not interchangeable batteries for the two derailleurs), which makes it easier to assemble.tage of the group in the absence of an internal battery placed in the seat post or in the down tube, as with Shimano.

The autonomy is announced between 750 and 1000 km depending on use., but we didn't have to do a full recharge for our part for more than 500 km, apart from the very first use. The batteries can be recharged directly on the bike or after removing them from the derailleurs with a specific cable, and it is quite fast with 90% charge in 45 minutes and a full charge in just 1 hour. An LED light on the derailleurs indicates the battery status. A little touch of fun, the lighting displays a Campagnolo logo!

Like Shimano and Sram, the Super Record WRL groupset communicates with its own MyCampy application to change some customizable gear shift settings (functions ordered by each button as mentioned above, choice and settings of sequential or semi-sequential speed changes like its two competitors), but also with an associated meter like Garmin or Wahoo, to see the gear engaged and the state of the batteries displayed.

Campagnolo 12-speed goes to 10 

Just like Sram, Campagnolo adopts cassettes with a 10-tooth first sprocket for this new Super Record WRL groupset. A surprising decision on the part of the Italian manufacturer, which does not hesitate to completely challenge preconceived ideas on this subject, in order to optimize the progressiveness of gear changes and to save weight with a particularly light cassette. Campagnolo thus offers three combinations of chainrings (45-29 as on our test bike, 48-32 and 50-34) and three combinations of cassette (10-25, 10-27 and 10-29). If there is always a 16-tooth gap between the two chainrings and their choice will depend on the level of the user, the first two cassettes offer the first eight pinions which follow one another tooth by tooth (first seven sprockets for the 10-29). For comparison, a 50/10 is the equivalent of a 55/11, or a professional gear ratio. A 48/10 is almost equal to a 53/11, and a 45/10 is equivalent to a 54/12. Finally, the 29/29 gear ratio is the equivalent of Shimano's 34/34.

Cassette sprocket details:

10-25: 10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-23-25
10-27: 10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-19-21-24-27
10-29: 10-11-12-13-14-15-16-18-20-23-26-29

The tape is displayed at Only 210 g in 10-25, but it imposes a montage on a specific Campagnolo N3W cassette body.

The rear derailleur, with many carbon and titanium parts, is particularly massive on its outer part. It seems quite exposed to us in the event of a collision with the front wheel of another cyclist in a peloton. The front derailleur is also quite imposing, but above all its removable battery is not interchangeable with the rear, due to a Sram patent.

The centerpiece of Campagnolo groupsets with its beautiful unidirectional carbon finish, the crankset features a notch that announces the upcoming arrival of a power meter from the brand. Available with 165, 170, 172,5 and 175 mm cranks, it retains the Ultra Torque system like the previous model for excellent power transfer, with a titanium axle, and ceramic bearings for fluidity.

High-performance braking

Campagnolo disc brakes are today the most powerful and progressive on the market, whatever the conditions. It is explained by a temperature control system to prevent overheating and a slightly floating disc. This concept limits the risks of disc warping, as well as all friction noises after hard braking, even for only a few seconds. It's a real success.

On route : speed and fluidity of gear changes

For a fully wireless system, the Super Record WRL stands out from the Sram Red AXS by being faster. The response of the derailleurs to each command of the levers is instantaneous.. And extremely fluid, thanks to the shape of the cassette teeth, reworked compared to the other cassettes of the brand. After a ride and a few dozen kilometers of adaptation compared to the old Campagnolo EPS version, it is easy to understand the gear change buttons, and easy to scan the entire cassette by leaving your finger pressed on one of the controls. When going down the gears on the cassette, the sensation of changing sprocket remains quite clear, even audible, as has always been the case with Campagnolo. Like a signature.

Regarding the gears, it took a few kilometers to get used to new references as well. This 45-29 and 10-27 combination for this group of test brings great versatility, with a large development equivalent to a 54/12, and a small development equivalent to a 39/36, for comparison. The change from 10th to 11th gear is sometimes criticized because of the large difference in gear ratio, but with a 45 chainring, this feeling is reduced..

The fluidity of the transmission is found right down to the 10-tooth pinion.

In all cases, The progressiveness of the cassette is highly appreciable. With the first eight sprockets in succession (45/10 to 45/17), it is as if we were going from 54/12 to 54/21 without excessive cadence breaks. The fluidity of the transmission is found right up to the 10-tooth sprocket, which does not provide any feeling of friction or stiffness, as is the case with Sram transmissions.

Italian class

With its very high price tag, the Campagnolo Super Record WRL groupset can be described as aultra high end, whether we are talking about the finish (apart from the lower part of the handles) or the quality of operation. The transmission is flawless, and is complemented by the now legendary Campagnolo disc brakes. The new range of gears is interesting to use if you take care to choose the right combination of chainrings according to your level. Ultimately, the Super Record WRL group is aimed at wealthy and epicurean riders, who will not hesitate to spend a large amount more than the price asked by the competition to stand out in the pelotons.

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