Campagnolo Record Ergopower Shifter/Brake Lever

Price Paid:  $300.00 at Tonka Cycle

Favorite Ride:
Lake Minnetonka

Bike Setup:
Kent Eriksen titanium, full Campy Record, Ultra Torque Compact, Rol Wheels

Summary:
Using full Campy Record and very pleased with the shift action, more positive than my previous DA

Strengths:
Rebuildable, shift action and looks

Weaknesses:
Cost

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
compared to the old Chorus or Record, the 2004 levers are more bark than bite. 2004 Record levers lose about 24 grams from the 2003 and earlier levers because of a drilled out, teflon (or something) coated shift disc and a carbon spring carrier (I think). I am not the most subtle person, but I can't discern any difference between the 04 levers which are supposed to shift more smoothly and the 03 levers. they are sexy levers, though.

Strengths:
weight, appearance, smooth shifting

Weaknesses:
little or no advantage over previous record.

Similar Products Used:
Shimano DA 9, Tiagra, Campy Centaur/Daytona, Record carbon, 2004 Record carbon

Price Paid:  $0.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
one with lots of shifting

Bike Setup:
Calfee Dragonfly Record 10S Ultra

Summary:
I'm very fond of these levers. If you can afford them put them on your racing bike. If you can't afford them, get Chorus.

Strengths:
Shifing action is very light, flowing, and effortless. Light, great looks, crash worthy (they've gotten stronger than year ago). Very good shifting action, and the braking power is very very good, terriffic modulation. Rebuildable. You can shift into a harder gear with your right pinky from the tops of the bars without moving your hands. Sprinting and shifting with the thumb is better than I expected, reach is fine and I only get one gear when I'm in a gear I'm sprinting in.

Weaknesses:
Shimano has a mechanical advantage for front shifts because the whole brake lever pivots, not just the small inside lever. Expensive. Sometimes I get 2 shifts instead of on in the mid range cogs, like 19 to 16 instead of 17 or 19 to 17 instead of 18, depending on cassette, I'm still getting used to the extremely light action. But this is a minor complaint, not a deal breaker.

Similar Products Used:
105 and Ultegra 9 Speed, Dura Ace 8 Speed, Campy Record 8 speed. Suntour down - tube and bar ends, Campy retro-friction down tube.

Price Paid:  $249.00 at procycle discount

Bike Setup:
Airborne Zeppelin with Look HSC3 fork, '04 Campy 10sp, Spinergy Spox wheels

Summary:
I finally made the jump to Record 10sp this Spring after 10+ yrs of flawless performance with an Athena 8sp group. Any regrets? No, not a one. Campagnolo components flat out work. The new group is elegant in appearance and is backed up with stunning performance. Worth every penny.

Strengths:
Ergo shifting, beautiful carbon levers have a nice feel, nice and light

Weaknesses:
Shifting feels almost too light

Similar Products Used:
Campy Athena, Suntour Superbe

Price Paid:  $0.00

Bike Setup:
mid 80's Marinoni Special built with old C-Record (delta brakes, cranks) and newer C-10 bits. some Ritchey WCS stuff to round it out.

Summary:
really, so far these levers are great. i was inspired to write this review in response to the last guy that wrote about how the lever hoods are insubstantial. let's just say that i have plenty to hold onto while dodging jerks in SUV's during my daily/nightly commute. so there. oh, and mine are the '04 model...i've failed to notice any buzzing noise (yet).

Strengths:
lightweight, easy on the eyes, brake QR is still part of the design, just very sleek.

Weaknesses:
none so far

Similar Products Used:
shimano dura-ace/ultegra/105 sti...bar- cons...down tube shifters of varied degrees of quality.