Campagnolo Ekar My Worst Decision To Date
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- Опубликовано: 7 фев 2025
- This short video details all of the issues that I have encountered in just under 12 month of using the Campagnolo Ekar Groupset on 100% road cycling, no gravel.
I contacted Campagnolo, they would replace some items but they would not cover labor, I decided not to accept the offer. I decided not to spend any more $$ on a groupset that has been nothing but a pain for me.
There is a Technical Bulletin by Campagnolo that details the creaking noise.
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#campagnolo #shimano #sram #ekar #gravelbike #gravelcycling #cycling #gravelracing #groupset
Wow! Are you sure this groupset wasn't counterfeit? A lot of EKAR (sadly) is made in Asia these daze so I wonder if your stuff was the real thing? I've been riding EKAR with around 3000 kms on the bike now with NONE of these issues. NONE. I also have two other bikes with Shimano GRX 11...no issues there either. I'm amazed at the rust issue you noted below, do you power-wash your bicycles? Your titanium frames may not care, but the rest of the bike won't be happy - I've seen plenty of bikes almost ruined by owners who for some reason feel compelled to blast high-pressure water on 'em rather than sponge/brush them clean.
The creaking noise was a known issue due to the spacer not being perfectly flat, the hairline cracks have nothing to do with that though. that's a overtorqueing issue.
By which procedure did you install the chain ? and which chain tool did you use ?
I installed Ekar and it shifts perfectly, but you need to a) be very precise about the chain length and b) follow the procedure to set the low limit, b-screw (distance from derailleur jockey to largest cog when on the second largest cog) and high limit, precisely. and in that order. and then finetune with the barrel adjuster starting midway the cassette (campagnolo says 5th sprocket, but you need to shift up and down a few sprockets around that, and readjust).
The frayed cable I have no idea, been using it for a long time with zero issues. How experienced are you as a bike mechanic ?
The hairline cracks were there before my initial disassembly, I only disassembled after I knew I was not going to ride this groupset anymore. I re-assembled only to take a picture of it. I never ever had a problem with shifting precision, when it shifted, it was always spot on, very precise, my issue was with the shifter / internal shifter components. It was rusted beyond repair, so far gone that Campagnolo even offered to send the shifter internals to a local bike shop but would not pay for the repairs. Same deal for all the other defective components in the video, they offered the component's but thats it, I had to pay for the rest. I was expecting a better customer service from Campy. At around the same time this happened, I had (and still have) a set of HUNT wheels that had a few cracked nipples, I contacted them and in less than a week I had the replacement parts and HUNT had me send a copy of the repair for a full refund. This is called customer service. If my campy groupset lasted just a few months for road cycling, it might've just lasted a few weeks had I put it through some gravel. I honestly think that I just got a defective groupset, but the fact the campagnolo did not go all the way with the repair is what did it for me. My SRAM Force AXS has lapped Ekar many times over in regards to miles and zero issues. As for my experience as a bike mechanic, all of my bikes, both Lynskey's have been custom builds by myself without any issues ever, even with the Ekar groupset, no issues installing and making all the adjustments, its just the reliability of the groupset thats in question, @ least in my case & probably just my groupset.
@@wcruzutube Thank you for the reply. Strange that the shifter internals were rusted beyond repair after such a short time. Been using Campagnolo for a long time. I also have Shimano and SRAM on other bikes. Will keep an eye on my Ekar though.
I've been more fortunate than you, but maybe I just haven't don't have enough miles on the Ekar yet. I definitely have the creaking issue, and it's utterly embarrassing on group rides. I haven't had any luck getting the repair part yet (support for Campy in Canada is not fantastic), but I have pinged the distributor again. I will definitely check the cassette for the cracks you found. That could explain why the creaking is much worse than it was before.
Shifting has been pretty good, although out of the box the shift lever hangs up on the brake lever. Once that's adjusted it's good. No trouble with the chain so far.
What's got me most concerned is the ability to find replacement parts when things wear out. Chains are easy to come by, but I haven't found any local source for brake pads, and who knows where I would find a shift cable if I needed one.
I have Non stop creaking despite perfect shifting. Will look into it
my Experience is completely opposite than yours! mine shifted effortlessly , once ran in after about 2K kms, its as silky smooth as you could expect from Campagnolo. Setting and dialing in is a bit cumbersome, the RD needs to be PERFECTLY aligned( i use the Abbey tool"s RD hangar to correct). Once dialed it and ran in, oh my gosh, its an example of an engineering marvels. I have 2 bikes equipped with the Ear now, A Basso Palta Gravel, and a Jones bike that i use for bike packing, and friends that also run the EKARs. All of us are puzzled and perplexed by your rather strange and bizarre experience. Maybe you bought the fake ones? or your Mechanics perhaps use the Shimano cables( very common mistake). ???
Stop immediately buying CAMPAG -NO- LOW NOW !!