Reviewing a Campagnolo groupset for gravel riding these days, Chorus 2×12 isn’t the first model that pops into people’s heads. But while the newer 1x 13-speed Ekar is undeniably a huge advance, and shift off-road for the classic Italian drivetrain maker (and I’ll get to that more), the capabilities of the slightly older 12-speed Chorus group cannot be ignored for mixed-surface riding from all-road to bikepacking touring.
Campagnolo Chorus 2×12 all-road & gravel bike gruppo
I’ve spent just over one full year now riding Campagnolo Chorus 12. And its performance is just as good as when I started. Fast shifts with a positive click of the lever – up to 5 downshifts or 3 upshifts in a single throw, excellent braking power & modulation that is hard to beat on a dropbar bike, and overall reliability through rain, mud, snow, and even a bit of sunshine.
And for road riders looking to simply venture off the tarmac a bit, it carries over the familiar look and function of a traditional road double drivetrain, albeit with lower and wider gearing to tame steep hills & loose surfaces.

Now, I’ve been riding Campagnolo groupsets off-road since putting Record 10-speed on my steel cyclocross bike about two decades ago, so getting Campy dirty is nothing new for me. The first-gen disc brake H11 Chorus was the Campy group I gave such a beating to in a long-term review. There are a lot of similarities in the performance of that previous Chorus group and this newer one. This generation adds a couple hundred extra grams, but that is a welcome sacrifice for the much more usable gearing and savings of over 500€.
All-road/gravel/bikepacking build details
Looking to take advantage of the endurance all-roadside and fast gravel perspective of the Chorus groupset, I mounted it to a suitably fast gravel bike – the titanium Lynskey Pro GR. With its diamond-shaped front triangle and a rear end that balanced room for big tires with stiff, bent tubing & good 2x chainring clearance, it made a perfect match for the versatile Campagnolo groupset.
This bike has made its way through a number of variations in the last 12 months – most notably different cockpits, wheels & strap-on accessories (and will get its own detailed review, coming soon). But the subcompact Chorus 48/32 x 11-34T remained constant throughout, adapting well to mixed-surface riding from flat asphalt to bits of steep forest singletrack.
Individual components – Actual weights
Review: Riding Campagnolo Chorus 2×12 in all conditions & over all surfaces
12 months of wear in rain, mud & snow
The choice: Chorus 2×12 vs. Ekar 1×13


Final Thoughts: Campagnolo Chorus 2×12 all-road groupset
