Campagnolo Super Record S Wireless Review: Premium Italian Shifting With Real Trade-Offs

Introduction

Campagnolo’s Super Record S is a special edition wireless groupset that Campagnolo says carries the same technologies and performance as Super Record WRL, the flagship road groupset in the range. It brings a new matte black finish, a wider spread of gearing options, and a carbon crankset that moves from a hollow construction to a solid one, which adds a little weight.

It sits one step below the top of the lineup, but it still commands a serious price. The sections below cover what the groupset does well, where it asks for compromises, and the compatibility questions worth answering before ordering.

Who the Campagnolo Super Record S Is For

This is a groupset for riders who like the finer things in life. It looks undeniably good, and it is aimed at people who already value Italian componentry, including riders who have paired Campagnolo groupsets with Italian frames for years.

It also makes practical sense for existing Campagnolo owners. If you already run Campagnolo freehubs across your wheels and own the bottom bracket tools the brand uses, staying inside the ecosystem avoids a fresh round of adapters and purchases. Deep-section carbon wheels such as the Bora range, tubeless ready with a distinctive spoke pattern, need a Campagnolo-compatible freehub.

Finally, this is a performance-oriented groupset. Racers and riders chasing timed efforts will not be doing themselves a disservice by fitting it, because the shifting behaves the way a fast groupset should.

Main Strengths: Shifting, Ergonomics, and Customisation

The front and rear derailleurs are wireless, the shifters are wireless, and the shifting itself is relatively fast and crisp. Press a button and the chain moves in the direction you expect it to move.

Ergonomics are shaped around racing. The hood shape lets you rest your wrist on top and hold the front of the lever to get into a narrow, aerodynamic position. From the drops, both buttons are easy to reach and can be clicked without much effort. From the hoods, where most riders spend the majority of their time, the lower button sits quite far away, and riders with small hands may find it a stretch.

Customisation is where the system answers back. There are small thumb buttons on the inside of the lever bodies that can be programmed, and the outer shifters can be reconfigured to work in a SRAM-style layout, with the right-hand paddles moving down the cassette and the left-hand paddles moving up it, while either thumb button handles the front derailleur. That arrangement can solve the reach problem entirely. Multi-shift behaviour is adjustable too, including how many gears change when a button is held, the shifting speed, and the delay before a held button triggers a multi-shift.

Braking Feel and Rotor Design

Braking power is very strong. Lever feel divides opinion: it can read as spongy, or as generous modulation that lets you ease into braking rather than getting an on and off response. Riders who prefer progressive braking will find plenty to like.

The rotors are a genuine highlight. They are the most striking looking part of the whole assembly, and the wheels and rotors remain the strongest argument for Campagnolo components.

Things to Consider Before Buying: Compatibility and Setup

Frame compatibility deserves attention before anything else. The brake caliper is available in 160 mm and 140 mm versions, and the mounting solution is built into the caliper itself. Where other brands let you flip or swap an adapter to run a different rotor size, this design does not allow it. A frame that requires a 140 mm caliper to work with a 160 mm rotor cannot be built with this groupset as it stands.

Setup is another consideration. Configuring the groupset involves a sequence of button combinations, long presses, and colour-based indicators, along with software updates. Hydraulic bleeding needs specific kits, and relatively few shops currently work with the platform, so brake service can be harder to arrange than with more widely supported systems.

There is one more physical detail to weigh up. The front derailleur body is large, and on riders with shorter legs the calf can rub against it on every pedal revolution, which forces either an altered pedalling style or ongoing contact with the mechanism.

Weight and Pricing Context

The complete groupset weighs 2,428 g. Individual figures include 748 g for the cranks with bearings fitted, 166 g for the front derailleur with its battery, 310 g for the rear derailleur with its battery, 518 g for both shifters with hoses and fluid, 239 g for both calipers, 229 g for the cassette, and 230 g for a chain without the quick link.

Pricing is the hardest part of the story. At £3,526 the Super Record S is cheaper than the previous Super Record, but it is still a very expensive purchase, and no power meter is included. Some groupsets in a similar price bracket do include one, and while not every rider wants or needs power measurement, it is worth factoring into the decision.

Positioning is a little unusual. Within the range this is the second groupset down from Super Record, which on paper places it against SRAM Force and Shimano Ultegra. On price, it lines up with SRAM Red and Shimano Dura-Ace instead, so riders shopping at this level may want to look at those options as well.

Buying Advice

Before ordering, confirm three things: that your frame and fork work with the caliper version you need, that the freehub standard on your wheels matches, and that the exact parts required are actually in stock. This is a groupset where a small mismatch can stop a build.

It is also worth being honest about what you are buying. The shifting is quick and the finish is handsome, but the overall package does not feel premium in the way the price suggests, and the setup and service requirements add friction that cheaper, more widely supported systems avoid. Buyers who already own Campagnolo wheels, freehubs, and bottom bracket tools will get the most value from staying in the ecosystem, because the parts they already own remove much of the extra cost and complexity.

Conclusion

Super Record S delivers wireless shifting, strong braking, and a deep level of customisation in a matte black package that looks the part. It also asks for a substantial outlay, careful compatibility checking, and a willingness to work within a smaller service network. For riders already invested in Campagnolo, and for racers who want the feel of the brand’s flagship technology, it is a coherent choice. For everyone else, the price and the practical requirements deserve a long look before the order goes in.