Immediately, Campagnolo has introduced the discharge of a brand new high-end groupset that goals to broaden market enchantment with a ‘aggressive’ worth, and ‘high-quality expertise’ – there’s only one downside – it is $4,299 / €3,990 (UK pricing to observe).
The brand new groupset, dubbed Tremendous Document S Wi-fi, follows on from Campagnolo’s Tremendous Document Wi-fi that was launched in Might this yr. It appears to share a variety of heritage with the world’s costliest groupset too. Somewhat than designing a brand new groupset from the bottom up, Tremendous Document S Wi-fi appears to be a barely decrease value by-product of its range-topping brother, with a lesser supplies and a brand new matt black aesthetic in addition.
New gearing choices, new look
What’s new? Effectively, in brief, not quite a bit – however there are one or two key variations when evaluating Tremendous Document Wi-fi to Tremendous Document S Wi-fi – even when the names are comparable!
Firstly, and instantly apparent to the bare eye, is the brand new matt black end. The brand new look stays in keeping with ‘conventional Campagnolo aesthetics’, whereas providing customers a barely extra understated look than the gloss black Tremendous Document Wi-fi. Credit score the place credit score is due, I feel the cranks specifically are a head-turner.
Tremendous Document S wi-fi includes a subdued matt black aesthetic
(Picture credit score: Campagnolo)
The much less superficial adjustments although, which will really assist to service ‘cyclists of all ranges’ is an entire host of recent gearing choices for the brand new groupset.
Clients will now have the ability to select from six totally different crankset choices, a 45×29, 48×32, 50×34, 52×36, 53×39, and 54×39, the place beforehand solely the previous three choices have been provided. The chainset choices are coupled with three totally different cassette ranges, a narrower vary 10-27, a 10-29, and a neater 11-32 possibility, making for an fascinating mix between Sram’s 10t smallest cog strategy, and Shimano’s extra conventional 11t sprocket.
The stylish new chainset is likely to be my favorite a part of the discharge
(Picture credit score: Campagnolo)
The results of including extra chainsets, and extra cassette choices, means there’s a wider vary of gears accessible for customers to select from at each ends of the spectrum, with an emphasis clearly on greater gearing.
The brand new crankset is constructed barely in a different way too, which contributes to the 150-gram claimed weight enhance throughout the groupset. The chainset continues to be carbon fibre, nevertheless it’s now not hole, which Campagnolo says gives the identical efficiency as Tremendous Document Wi-fi, however at a decrease value.
Shifters and brakes stay completely the identical to the bare eye, which some will love, and a few will not. Controversially, the discharge of Campagnolo Tremendous Document Wi-fi noticed the loss of life of the model’s legendary thumb shifter, and there’s no resurrection in sight with this groupset.
Entrance and rear derailleurs are just like Tremendous Document Wi-fi in look
(Picture credit score: Campagnolo)
In terms of shifting efficiency, Campagnolo is assured that the texture of the groupset ought to match that of its range-topping providing. You may discover the identical Extremely-Torque system on the chainrings, Professional-Tech patented exterior seals, and the identical integration with the MyCampy 3.0 app for checking up on metrics similar to battery standing.
The one actual change is a ‘extra average use of maximum supplies’ throughout the group – there aren’t any actual particulars on the fabric decisions right here, however I am fairly positive this implies much less carbon fiber and barely extra metallic.
Apart from that, it is all fairly comparable. On the floor, you may suppose a 150g weight penalty for a $1000 saving is not dangerous, however the difficulty right here is the place to begin for these financial savings. Although this grouspet is just not the brand new second-tier Document, it’s positioned out there as a barely heavier, however nonetheless functionally sound model of the model’s range-topping groupset, which makes Shimano’s Ultegra Di2 a completely truthful comparability. With Shimano’s second-tier groupset priced at $2,660, in comparison with Campagnolo Tremendous Document S Wi-fi at $4,299, it makes for somewhat a big money tablet to swallow, even with the enduring Campag branding.
New wheels to match
Matt black wheels full the brand new search for Campagnolo
(Picture credit score: Campagnolo)
Alongside the groupset itself, Campagnolo has additionally introduced the discharge of two units of particular version wheelsets to match the silky, darkish palette of Tremendous Document S wi-fi.
Campagnolo is providing each its Bora Extremely WTO and Bora WTO wheelsets in a matt end, with some barely subdued branding to match. The brand new wheels will hit the cabinets at $4,149 / € 3,800 , and $2,949 / €2,700 respectively.
What does the long run maintain for Campagnolo?
Campagnolo’s newest launch, to me not less than, feels barely unusual. It would not fairly really feel prefer it carries the identical weight as a full groupset launch, neither is it positioned as such with a concentrate on its comparatively trivial new color scheme. All this begs the query – who is that this new launch for?
The brand new shifters are one other nail within the coffin for the model’s legendary thumb shifter
(Picture credit score: Campagnolo)
The overwhelming majority of all groupset gross sales are to bike manufacturers somewhat than customers, which I feel provides us a bit perception. With the fixed post-Covid pressures of rising residing prices, there may be actually a really feel within the trade that bikes, significantly top-end ones, are far too costly. The difficulty for Campagnolo is that its fashions have a tendency to take a seat round $500 above the asking worth for a Sram or Shimano equal, making them a troublesome promote.
In fact, that is no Shimano 105 Di2 competitor, however I feel the marginally cheaper price tag is likely to be a bid to align Campagnolo-specced bikes with the competitors. Both approach, there is not any doubt that Campagnolo is at present positioning itself as nothing however a high-end element producer.
