Less than a year after Campagnolo launched its Super Record 12-speed mechanical groupset, the inevitable EPS electronic version has landed.
The groupset's arrival came as no surprise, having already been spotted on World Road Champion Alejandro Valverde’s bike in 2019’s early season races.
- All-new Campagnolo 12-speed EPS electronic groupset spotted
- Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed hydraulic brakes first ride review
Improve ergonomics
The new groupset shares a number of components with the mechanical version, but adds in EPS parts, which have been re-engineered for 12-speed, and some all-new or improved ones too.
Externally similar, the Ergopower controls come in rim and hydraulic disc brake versions, and maintain the superb ergonomics of the mechanical system, but with, in my opinion, a superior thumb lever shape.
Unlike the mechanical one, the downward sweep of the EPS inner lever requires little thumb or hand movement to operate from the hoods or drops, further accelerating gear changes.
The double curved brake lever’s reach is adjustable and includes an extra small hand setting, bringing the levers close to the bar. There’s also some outward slant to the levers, improving aesthetics and functionality.
The enlarged upshift lever blends smoothly in to the rear of the brake lever, with a sculpted paddle that’s easy to feel and continues Campy’s one lever, one action mantra, with distinctly separated controls for each function.
Multishift is a new technology that allows shifting across all 12 sprockets with one lever activation, in either direction. You can also customise how many gears it’ll shift each time via the My Campy app. Multi Dome technology adds a tactile shift feel to the levers, which is not dissimilar to mechanical shifting, so you should always know when you’ve shifted.
The levers now feature, Varicushion rubber hoods, which should ensure consistent grip, regardless of conditions and include a mode button behind the inner shift lever that can be used to make adjustments via the control box.
Using a small hex key, the hydraulic disc brake EPS levers also offer adjustable free stroke. As before, the disc brake master cylinder is compact and low profile, making the hydraulic disc levers only 8mm taller than the rim brake levers. Both levers share identical cylinders on each side with bleed ports at the top, meaning they’re interchangeable and more cost-effective to make.
Time triallists can select a specific base bar to fit a 12-speed EPS combined brake and shift lever, although it’s only available for rim brakes.
The V4 Interface has both BLE (Bluetooth low energy) and ANT communication, which interact with external devices such as the My Campy app. As well as the current below-stem position, there’s now also an internal bar-end option. With a mounting plate it can also be fitted in to the upper down tube, just like Shimano’s Di2.
The best battery life and most powerful motors on the market
The redesigned V4 power unit is longer and slimmer, with 10 percent more battery life in addition to what Campagnolo claims was already the best available. It’s compatible with nearly every frame on the market and fits inside the down tube or via a seatpost adaptor.
Super Record’s EPS front mech is specific to 12-speed and incorporates the most powerful motors on the market, offering more torque when shifting under heavy pedaling loads. Automatic chain centering means the front and rear mechs communicate to position the front mech in the ideal position in relation to the selected sprocket, and along with its thin cage permits rub-free cross chaining.
The rear mech is optimised for the groupset’s 11-29 and 11-32 cassettes. Its 12-tooth jockey wheels have longer teeth for the upper one and shorter, chamfered teeth below. This is claimed to make for a quieter drivetrain when running an aggressive chain line. Campy’s Embrace Technology is also claimed to maximise chain wrap around the cassette’s underside.
A thinner cage increases spoke clearance, while the upper body return spring absorbs road vibrations, protecting the mech’s integrity. Standard or direct mount hangers are supplied and, as always, the EPS wires are soldered in place rather than plugged in for total waterproofing.
As before, cassette width is identical to 11-speed, fitting the same freehub bodies, but the sprockets and chain are slimmer, and the chain is lighter than before and said to be even more durable.
The largest two triplets (three sprockets) are machined from solid steel and have a surface treatment to increase lifespan, while the other sprockets are separated by aluminium spacers. Despite their gearing range, both cassettes have single tooth jumps between the first seven sprockets, from 11 to 17.
A carbon masterpiece
Super Record’s crankset is a celebration of carbon fibre, with hollow arms and a uni-directional (UD) finish. It’s incredibly glossy when it exits the mould, thanks to Campy’s proprietary UV-proof resin, and supposedly needs no finishing.
Its Ultra Torque titanium axle is fastened from the left side and spins on CULT ceramic bearings, with a 145.5mm Q-factor. The four-arm spider has additional braces to counteract the highest torque loads and each chain ring has four bolts to maximise rigidity.
Offered with 50/34, 52/36 and 53/39 combinations, the chain rings have specific shift pin and zones for each size, and go through an internally developed hard anodisation process. The cranks are available in lengths of 165mm, 170mm, 172.5mm and 175mm.
Super Record EPS 12-speed is available with traditional centre bolt or direct mount rim brakes, or, of course, hydraulic discs.
The centre bolt calipers are intended for 17- and 19-mm rim widths (internal), and have room for 28mm tyres. The direct mount brakes each have a brace to protect frames from flex, which is claimed to improve braking power. Campy’s hydraulic discs continue as before, but now 140mm rotors and calipers will be available and allowed for front wheels, which were limited to 160mm before.
A mechanical spring has been added to the magnetic spring to ensure even better pad return, with guaranteed 0.4mm roll back. Two small ear-like additions to the top of each steel backed, organic resin brake pad improve heat dissipation and they include pad wear indicators and a chamfered lower edge for easier rotor insertion. Tested to over 400 degrees Celsius, the AFS centrelock standard, rounded-edge rotors now have a floating rotor design for better centering.
Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed EPS details:
Campagnolo Super Record 12-speed EPS disc brake specifications
ArrayCampagnolo Super Record 12-speed EPS disc brake price (as shown)
- £4,108 / €4,677 / $4,636
Super Record EPS rim brake specification
ArraySuper Record EPS rim brake specification price (as shown)
- £3,800 / €4,327 / $4,292
All versions of the new groupset are available immediately.
The future of EPS
Interestingly, Super Record will not only be Campagnolo's sole 12-speed EPS groupset, but its only EPS groupset, full stop. This begs the question, what might come next?
Could it hint that Super Record EPS 12-speed is the zenith of the current EPS system and, if so, it’s hard to see Campagnolo not continuing to offer electronic shifting in some form. So, perhaps, any future mid-range electronic shifting contender could usher in a whole new system.
We have no clues, this is purely conjecture based on where the current marketplace is heading, but remember that Campy began working on the EPS system in 1992, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if there’s been a successor in development for some time already.
