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Classicists rejoice, Campagnolo Potenza 11 brings back polished silver

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campagnolo_potenza-11_polished-aluminum-silver-groupset_crankset

Back when Campagnolo introduced their new Potenza 11 groupset back in the spring, I was one of many who were sad to see that the primarily aluminum gruppo was almost entirely black. Potenza 11 was replacing the classy looking all-silver Athena 11 line that has been widely used for those looking for a modern performance update for their traditional metal bikes. We were told at the time that a silver option was in the works as well, but that turned out to still have an odd mix of black and silver components that didn’t quite hit the mark. It seems that Campagnolo received enough rider feedback though, and they are bringing back the polished aluminum look. There are still a couple of small black straggler bits, but for the most part they are there for a reason and style connoisseurs should be pleased…

campagnolo_potenza-11_polished-aluminum-silver-groupset_crankset-detail

I’m personally a long-time Campagnolo fan for road bikes, and was indoctrinated into a love for classic styling through those shiny angular Super Record and then smooth C-Record components of the 1980s and 90s. I was perfectly happy to see that same styling evolve into carbon components, and then into the oversized look of the most recent generations of components. But a big shiny black alloy crank wasn’t doing it for me, nor was a black & silver mix of cranks arms vs. chainrings. But I have to say that the oversized angular crank looks better than I had expected in polished aluminum. Like many other design purists, I’m sure this will look nice on a modern welded steel bike or even an updated lugged frameset, offering a nice mixture of modern styling, performance, and a traditional finish.

campagnolo_potenza-11_polished-aluminum-silver-groupset_rear-derailleur campagnolo_potenza-11_polished-aluminum-silver-groupset_front-derailleur

Both front and rear derailleurs are holdouts in the mixed polished silver and shiny black department. The black linkage on the steel-cage front derailleur is pretty minimal. And I imagine we’ll get used to the black knuckles on the rear mech that are actually a fiber-reinforced polymer composite, so couldn’t really become silver anyways. It’s a minor sacrifice to make, in order to get the improved rear shift stiffness of the much wider trickle-down parallelogram, and the ability to run an 11-32 cassette with its medium length cage.

campagnolo_potenza-11_polished-aluminum-silver-groupset_levers campagnolo_potenza-11_polished-aluminum-silver-groupset_skeleton-brakes

The levers keep a black paddle for moving up to a larger ring/cog, but they are hardly noticeable. And again the improved ergonomics and easier to operate extended thumb paddle make the update appreciated over the otherwise very similar Athena 11 version. The skeleton brakes get the full polished silver look and the same tech as their pricier siblings (even a direct mount option.) They could even look nice paired with one of the top-end groups as brakes are the only bit that doesn’t get the carbon treatment, even up to Super Record.

If you want to get deeper into the details of the Potenza group we’ve got that taken care of here, or separately we got a chance to weigh in most of the components in the new gruppo here. It looks like all of the silver bits have made it out through regular supply channels now, so if you have a classic frameset that is looking for an upgrade, no need to wait any longer.

Campagnolo.com

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Mike
Mike
7 years ago

but why Power Torque?
I tried to extract my Athena Crank and scratched it.
Still trying to figure out how to remove it.

Power Torque never again

Alex
Alex
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

I believe newer Power Torque is self-extracting (or at least was supposed to be, correct me if I’m wrong though). The first generation stuff is a terrible system though. You need a 15mm hex key (!) and a bunch of proprietary tools: http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/crank-removal-and-installation-campagnolo-power-torque#article-section-2

Steven
Steven
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

This Power Torque crank uses a self extracting bolt for easier removal. No more headaches like before.

MJ
MJ
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

The new power torque 2 (Potenza) has a built in extractor on the non-drive arm. So no more tool needed. Power Torque is cheaper to make so it keeps the cost of the group down.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
7 years ago

If Campy was really listening they’d do a silver retro group of SR, Record, or Chorus. Lower level Potenza just isn’t cutting it without UltraShift.

Morten Knudsen
Morten Knudsen
7 years ago

Ultrashift + Ultratorque = Record level.

And yes i agre, they can even skip the black composite derailure parts (that are 100% idetical to the parts on chorus, Record and SR).

btw, there is nothing that prevenst you from replacing the Potenza Ergos with Chorus levers. Performace wise that group would match anything from SRAM or Shimano appart from weight at a mutch lower cost.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
7 years ago
Reply to  Morten Knudsen

Oh, no problem. I’ll just buy another set for the internals. LOL! Hey, If you’re in the Christmas giving mood I’ll send you my address.

Dave
Dave
7 years ago

I agree. There are so many small frame builders producing beautiful steel frames. We need this in Record or at the very least Chorus.

I have a Wilier Supperleggera waiting for that.

Steven Shell
Steven Shell
7 years ago
Reply to  Dave

I too have a Superleggera and am waiting!

Brian Kavanagh
7 years ago

The brake levers are crying out for drillium details….

Bike Dumper
Bike Dumper
7 years ago

Bring back 11 speed downtube shifters for retro conversions as well…

Morten Knudsen
Morten Knudsen
7 years ago
Reply to  Bike Dumper

11 speed ? thants not retro, once the shifters are on the frame you dont need Index shifting. On my 88 Koga-Miyata Full Pro i use Athena 88 derailure front and rear, simplex retrofriction shifters and Campy 10 speed chain, chainrings and casette.

Shifts super fast with plenty of precicion and front shifting is a hell of a lot faster than any index shifter – downtiber or brake lever integratd. Trust me – down there you dont need indexed shifters.

Milessio
Milessio
7 years ago

Fitting Potenza brake levers to Chorus, Record etc bodies would be simple swap, but It would probably take some effort to remove the logos though.

The black paddle should be an easy target for rapid-prototype metal replacements, though not such an easy 3D modelling exercise.

The rear derailleur parts would be trickier from a mechanical & reliability standpoint.

matt
matt
7 years ago

Dang, has everyone just come to accept the aesthetics of that 4-arm crank? Having that on a classic frame would look terrible, imo. It looks more Japanese than the current Dura Ace.

JBikes
JBikes
7 years ago
Reply to  matt

On a true “classic” frame, sure I think the 4-arm cranks don’t look right. But, for example, many modern steel frames can run modern componentry but the owner may like polished aesthetic. Of the top of my head I can think of something like a Cielo Sportif vs Cielo Road Racer. The former may look best with a classic polished 5-arm spider crank, but Road Racer, with its more modern tube sizes, would look fine with a modern 4-arm and the final spec may benefit from the non-black polished look.
To me its more the weight of the bike – whether it can support what is a more “bulky” visual of a modern 4-arm or is it a classic thin tube machine that is overpowered with visually heavy components. Kinda like bulky threadless stems on thin tubed steel frames…looks unbalanced imo.

Milessio
Milessio
7 years ago
Reply to  matt

No, I’ve just bought one of the few remaining Athena cranks precisely because of the aesthetics. Dealing with the Power Torque BB might be a downside, as it doesn’t have the self-extracting bolt.

Morten Knudsen
Morten Knudsen
7 years ago
Reply to  Milessio

Get the original 11 speed Athena or the Original 10 speed Centaur – they are ultra-torque.

nightfend
nightfend
7 years ago

I like the idea of a polished silver group for custom steel frame bikes, but this is not the group. It just looks terrible. Especially the crank and shifter levers.

Meatclever
Meatclever
7 years ago

THIS is going on my Allez Sprint X2 in white. Old school playa to new school fools…

anonymous
anonymous
7 years ago

Did you complain about the black knuckles on the original 70’s Super Record derailers too?

Bikemark
Bikemark
7 years ago

Glad to see some trickle down features on the 11 speed stuff. Campy needs to stop giving the middle finger to the few people still using its components — like me. I just experienced the pain of a new outer ring, new chainring bolts and new bearings on my 2011 Athena Carbon UT crank. Those numbers (in order): $160, $55 and $41. The Athena and Chorus I’ve got both work better than Ultegra 6800, but damn, not *that* much better.

Yes, it’d be rad to have a polished Campy group for those vintage and custom builds, but I’d rather not encourage Campy to be even more niche.

Robin
Robin
7 years ago

I dig it (yes, even the 4 arm crank). It’d be nice to see Campy produce polished aluminum Chorus, Record, or Super Record flavored gruppo.

keville
keville
7 years ago

Still no brown hoods for 11 speed Campy. Sigh.

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