Review of the new Campagnolo Super Record WRL groupset

The Super Record Wireless groupset is the top-of-the-range model in the Italian manufacturer Campagnolo’s collection, featuring 12-speed electronic derailleurs, wireless shifting, new gear combinations for very progressive gear changes, and new lever ergonomics. Let’s see how the Super Record WRL performs over several hundred kilometers, after an uncompromising test.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: ©3bikes.fr

With the Super Record WRL, Campagnolo aims to compete directly with Shimano and its Dura-Ace Di2 and with Sram and its Red AXS groupset, the first groupset with entirely wireless shifting between the control levers and the derailleurs. Even if the groupset’s price is very high (more than 1000 € more than Shimano and Sram), Campagnolo offers its competitors premium materials with a subtle combination of carbon, titanium, and aluminum that will surely appeal to purists. Let’s immediately dismiss the weight criterion among the three flagships of the three main drivetrain 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 other things being equal. In short, it’s not an issue, unless one compares the weight of high-end groupsets with that of more reasonably priced drivetrains.

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Let’s talk about ergonomics instead. Until now, Campagnolo stood out with levers featuring two paddles – whether in mechanical or electronic versions – including the famous push-button on the inside of the lever to shift down the cogs on the cassette, or shift down to the small chainring, and a lever to perform the inverse operation. The new Super Record version abandons this push-button and now adopts two paddles, placed behind the brake lever. The lower paddle allows shifting down, the upper paddle shifting up. But it is, of course, possible to customize the action of the buttons via the dedicated app, as with Shimano and Sram.

The new lever shape offers more grip with the rubber and a little more damping to improve comfort while riding. The lever is also longer on its upper part and less high on the most advanced part, thereby better integrating the hydraulic braking. The overall shape offers better braking control than the previous version, whether with hands on the levers or hands in the drops.

Under the hood, there is the bleed screw, and access to the buttons on the inner face that allow adjusting the derailleurs, but not yet changing the pages of an associated bike computer. A feature perhaps on the agenda for a future update of the MyCampy app and the groupset.

A small screw accessible through one of the orifices on the lever allows access to the brake lever reach adjustment, so as to bring it closer or further from the handlebar, depending on hand size.

On the other hand, it is worth noting a very bad point for the hollowed-out area just behind the lever, under the grip, with edges that are too sharp, and which can be painful or at least very unpleasant to hold.

Wireless Communication

Just like the Sram Red AXS, the Campagnolo Super Record WRL groupset operates entirely wirelessly between the levers and the derailleurs. Each component has an internal battery (flat batteries for the levers, removable but non-interchangeable batteries for both derailleurs), which simplifies groupset installation in the absence of an internal battery placed in the seatpost or down tube, as with Shimano.

Battery life is announced between 750 and 1000 km depending on use, but we did not have to perform a full recharge ourselves over 500 km, apart from the very first use. Battery recharging can be done 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 nice touch of fun, the light displays a Campagnolo logo!

Like Shimano and Sram, the Super Record WRL groupset communicates with its own MyCampy app to modify certain customizable shifting parameters (functions assigned to each button as mentioned above, choice and settings of sequential or semi-sequential shifting like its two competitors), but also with an associated bike computer like Garmin or Wahoo, to display the engaged gear and battery status.

Campagnolo 12-speed goes to 10

Just like Sram, Campagnolo adopts cassettes with a 10-tooth smallest cog for this new Super Record WRL groupset. A surprising decision from the Italian manufacturer, who does not hesitate here to completely challenge received ideas on the subject, in order to optimize the progressiveness of gear changes and save weight with a particularly light cassette. Campagnolo thus offers three chainring combinations (45-29 as on our test bike, 48-32, and 50-34) and three cassette combinations (10-25, 10-27, and 10-29). While there is always a 16-tooth difference between the two chainrings and their choice will depend on the user’s level, the first two cassettes offer the first eight cogs that follow each other tooth by tooth (first seven cogs for the 10-29). For comparison, a 50/10 is the equivalent of a 55/11, which is 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 cog 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 cassette weighs in at only 210 g in 10-25, but it requires mounting on a specific Campagnolo N3W freehub body.

The rear derailleur, with many carbon and titanium parts, is particularly massive on its outer section. It seems quite exposed to us in case of a collision with another cyclist’s front wheel in a peloton. The front derailleur is also quite imposing, but more importantly, its removable battery is not interchangeable with the rear one, due to a Sram patent.

A centerpiece of Campagnolo groupsets with its magnificent 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 crank arms, it retains the Ultra Torque system like the previous model for excellent power transfer, with a titanium axle, and ceramic bearings for fluidity.

Very High-Performance Braking

Campagnolo disc braking is currently the most powerful and progressive on the market, regardless of conditions. This is due to a temperature control system to prevent overheating and a slightly floating rotor. This concept limits the risk of rotor warping, as well as all rubbing noises after firm braking, even for just a few seconds. It’s a real success.

On the Road: Fast and Fluid Shifting

For an entirely wireless system, the Super Record WRL distinguishes itself from the Sram Red AXS by being faster. The derailleurs’ response to each lever command is instantaneous. And extremely fluid, thanks to the shape of the cassette teeth, reworked compared to the brand’s other cassettes. After a ride and a few tens of kilometers of adaptation compared to the old Campagnolo EPS version, it is simple to understand the shift buttons, and easy to sweep across the entire cassette by holding a finger on one of the controls. When shifting down the cassette, the sensation of cog change remains quite distinct, even audible, as it has always been with Campagnolo. Like a signature.

Regarding the gear ratios, it took a few kilometers to get used to the new references. This 45-29 and 10-27 combination for this test groupset offers great versatility, with a large gear equivalent to a 54/12, and a small gear equivalent to a 39/36, for comparison. The shift from the 10-tooth cog to the 11-tooth cog is sometimes criticized due to the large difference in development, but with a 45-tooth chainring, this sensation is attenuated.

The fluidity of the drivetrain extends even to the 10-tooth cog.

In any case, the cassette’s progressiveness is highly appreciated. With the first eight cogs following each other (45/10 up to 45/17), it’s as if you’re going from 54/12 to 54/21 without excessive cadence breaks. The fluidity of the drivetrain extends even to the 10-tooth cog, which here does not cause any sensation of rubbing or stiffness, as is the case with Sram drivetrains.

Italian Class

With its very high price, the Campagnolo Super Record WRL groupset can be described as ultra high-end, whether referring to the finish (apart from the lower part of the levers) or the operating quality. The drivetrain is flawless, and adds to the now legendary Campagnolo disc braking. The new range of gear ratios is interesting in use if one takes care to choose the right chainring combination according to one’s level. Ultimately, the Super Record WRL groupset is aimed at affluent and epicurean riders, who will not hesitate to spend a significant amount more than the price asked by the competition to stand out in the pelotons.

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