Campagnolo Ekar GT Review: Campy 1x13 for less $

[@thedownunderverse]

Holy RD cable loop batman

[@GravelCyclist]

@@thedownunderverse How it arrived from Campy USA. I was a little perplexed, I mentioned in the video I felt it was totally unnecessary.

[@aeonsnarfus]

Sweetie! Get up! Jom the Gravel Master posted a hot new Campy video! ❤

[@AMehta-ok5pf]

Great review. The main weight difference between the EKAR and EKAR GT is in the crank. You can use the EKAR OG crank with the EKAR GT shifter, RD and cassette - which are either similar in weight or lighter than OG EKAR and have a lighter set up. You can also mix and match the rear cassette pieces to make a custom cassette. On my new gravel bike ( should be here in Nov/Dec) I will have the EKAR GT shifters/levers, e, EKAR GT RD, EKAR OG crank and a modified EKAR GT cassette that has pieces from the EKAR GT and OG to have a 9-48 range with a 38T front ring.

[@GravelCyclist]

Thank you. Love the OG Ekar crank, your build, and the mixing of the two piece cassette 👌

[@brianfessenden9203]

I have an Ekar GT group with Ekar carbon cranks on my gravel bike. I've used both groups and find the GT shifts better and the brakes feel tighter then the Ekar group, feels like Campy has made a few improvements along the way. The shifting is very easy, and for banging around on the dirt i like the simplicity and reliability of the mechanical group...and for climbing "walls" the 48x38 set up is great. I have it on my OPEN Upper and the bike is just over 16 LBS.

[@GravelCyclist]

Nice, the Ekar carbon cranks are a really nice upgrade. Interesting observations between the two groups. I haven't ridden Ekar since my review not long after its launch, would be interesting to have Ekar and Ekar GT side by side to play with.

[@alfiefranklin7831]

Cheers for the video, excellent as usual, love my original Ekar, but this would definitely be one for the future

[@adrenaline33867]

Thanks for the video! A minor amendment is that GT cassette does indeed have two solid blocks, but there are now 5 individual sprockets between the blocks. An aside, I read someone comment on another GT review that they got 10-48 cassette to work on OG Ekar derailleur 🤔. Would pair well with my current 38t OG chainring!

[@GravelCyclist]

Many thanks. I didn't remove this cassette for a proper look.

[@GravelCyclist]

For the 48T, try running in the b-screw on the work stand, see how it performs. I expect you may need to add a couple of links.

[@Ben-td4vz]

Nice works as always. 👍🏻Love the new designed levers and the 10-48 cassette, just add the OG Ekar crank and be golden. Guess there ist the most of the weight difference to be found. Would be interessted in the Basso review.

[@GravelCyclist]

100% on the crank. Basso is shipping out shortly, likely no review I am afraid.

[@bcm1013]

Now you are just showing off with the 911 :) Must admit that I have always admired Campy from afar and never indulged. Good friend built up a road bike recently with Super Record and it looks tasty. Will say it is difficult to find a given bike these days with Campy spec so building one is likely the only way to take that plunge. Thanks as always JOM

[@GravelCyclist]

Love my 911, scored it a few years ago when the market bottomed out 😃👌 One of Campy's most underrated and best mechanical groups is Chorus 2x12, absolutely love it.

[@GravelCyclist]

Chorus 2x12 review - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXObXqGrp72qepo

[@bcm1013]

​@GravelCyclist few years ago, client of mine gave me a ride in his mint normally aspirated 993. Awesome car but as a taller fellow, I just didn't fit well in it.

[@GravelCyclist]

@@bcm1013 At the time I bought my 996 Turbo, 993's and 993 Turbo's were still pricey, and they've only got pricier. Some people dislike the 996 being the first water cooled 911, but I love the fact the air conditioning works nicely :) If you were ever in my USA hometown, you'd fit nicely into my final year Hellcat Widebody, one of the very few manual transmission variants they produced. Stoked to own one.

[@bcm1013]

@@GravelCyclist indeed. 61cm bikes mean I need leg and head room. 😁

[@bengt_axle]

"Don't hold back," Tuesday. The pool is right there.

[@GravelCyclist]

Tuesday totally dips in the pool once in a while.

[@robbiek4400]

Fair enough, I too thought things like that before I actually tried it and got to experience it for myself. Maybe one day you’ll do the same.

[@maxredburn6610]

The Basso is beautiful

[@GravelCyclist]

It is indeed pretty tasty, it just needs a longer stem to fit me better. Due to a proprietary stem / integrated front end, I had no option but to just ride it as best as possible.

[@sonny6893]

Campagnolo Ekar 13v 🔝🔝🔝🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹

[@floydharris2808]

Love Tuesday!

[@williwacker2774]

Thanks for the first actual Ekar GT review. Talking about the BB bearings, I think the Campy way isn't that comfortable at all. You need a special bearing puller to get them off the spindle and another special tool to press (or even hammer) them back on. The process comes with a higher risk of damaging the bearings compared to replacing in-BB-shell bearings. I don't like thumb shifters at all but seeing as I'm into road 1x I'd love this with a potential 10-36 or 10-39 cassette. Anyway, for some reason Ekar GT remains pretty much unobtainable throughout Europe. It's on many webshops but nobody's got it in stock. So far prices haven't dropped a penny from the MSRP which puts it into a tough spot against Rival AXS, Apex AXS, let alone GRX or Apex XPLR mechanical.

[@GravelCyclist]

Understand your concerns about the BB bearings, the right tools are critical. I've seen the process, which in the hands of a skilled mechanic goes decently well. Campy produces a 9-36T cassette, but as the cassettes are two piece, you could bodge together a 10-36?

[@williwacker2774]

​@@GravelCyclist Thanks for the hint but bodging won't work I'm afraid. I'd end up with a doubled cog or 2t jump in the harder/mid gears which is what I'm seeking to avoid by going to 13 speed.

[@GravelCyclist]

Ugh, sorry, I haven't investigated the cassette splits for the two pieces.

[@Raymond-Farts]

Another problem with those Campy bearings is they are proprietary. Campy machines their bearings to make them narrower. BB Infinite talks about this and I also have Campy bottom brackets and cranks from Power Torque and Ultra Torque, and the bearings are different. My days with Campy are over because it's obvious by how often they change things within the group they don't do their homework when developing new stuff. I used to be a Campy only fanboy but not for the last 4 or 5 years and I don't see that changing in the future.

[@GravelCyclist]

Larry, if you need a laugh, see the Gravel Cyclist FB page, and some of the comments relating to my Ekar GT review.

[@williwacker2774]

Must say "Ekar GT" sounds like one tier up from just "Ekar" the same way "Super Record S" does vs "Super Record". So for Campag it is "Less is more".

[@GravelCyclist]

The GT nomenclature is perplexing.

[@TheSpaceBrosShow]

Isn't Apex or maybe even Rival XPLR axs less than this? Ya gotta really like Campy for this groupset Though I am rooting for a 3rd option rather than just the 'other two'

[@gregsullivan7408]

Bah - Apex/Eagle with e*thirteen 9-52 - that's what I want

[@thedownunderverse]

How about the Zonda GT wheels?

[@GravelCyclist]

Bike returning to Campy USA shortly, sorry!

[@brendanmarshall5852]

What’s the price diff OG to GT?

[@bengt_axle]

Do you find that you have to frequently adjust the barrel adjuster in order to keep the shifting smooth and precise? Or is it as easy to maintain and reliable as a 10 speed?

[@GravelCyclist]

I performed an initial adjustment, nothing was required beyond that. I had good luck with OG Ekar in this regard too. However, I guess it could become an issue depending on how the shift cable is routed.

[@bengt_axle]

@@GravelCyclist Yes, indeed. This model is entirely internal going through the bar and headtube. It is surprisng that it works with 13 speed. Delaney reported problems with the same bike using C13.

[@GravelCyclist]

Thank you, Larry. This has been my experience with Ekar and Ekar GT. I have to question some of the BS I've seen posted by an expert reviewer or two, claiming shifting issues.

[@elliotgossard6442]

Could you talk about your gravel shoes? Thanks

[@derekmattice3077]

Northwave Extreme XC from a few years ago, that color combo is no longer offered.

[@robbiek4400]

I kept ekar on my bike for 1 race then ditched the whole idiotic 1x13. The issue is the 1x and lack of electronic shifting. I’m not putting a compromise on a high end carbon gravel bike.

[@GravelCyclist]

Like you, I love electronic shifting. People are screaming out for electronic Ekar, I really hope it happens some day, but not at the crazy price point.

[@robbiek4400]

@@GravelCyclist yeah I’ve come to realize I just don’t like a 1x on anything other than my MTB. Ekar is really good but can’t help thinking it’s the good version of a bad idea, for me. I’m a roadie who loves the dirt too so my idea of a gravel bike is more of a fast road race bike that can do monster truck mode and jump or roll anything I encounter. Thanks 3T😁

[@GravelCyclist]

@@robbiek4400 FYI all of my personal bikes are equipped with 2x 😀👌

[@GravelCyclist]

Thankfully, there are choices for all nowadays.

[@bonbonflippers4298]

Wow please tell me what tiresare those?

[@derekmattice3077]

Ultradynamico Rose Race Front and Cava Race Rear.

[@teunluijbregts2533]

Less pricey - does that mean there isa less expensive 13sp cassette available?

[@GravelCyclist]

Not that I am aware of for the cassettes.

[@GravelCyclist]

Have to agree with you concerning the cassettes. Or, someone can post otherwise?

[@robertfriedlander9927]

Are the new levers compatible with the OG drivetrain?

[@GravelCyclist]

I believe so.

[@robertfriedlander9927]

@@GravelCyclist Thanks. I can’t stand that little bump on the levers

[@GravelCyclist]

@@robertfriedlander9927 It was a real problem depending on the handlebar. I got lucky during my review of OG Ekar.

[@robertfriedlander9927]

@@GravelCyclist I have it set up with an Enve AR handlebar. The work around is putting small pieces of bar tape underneath to help smooth the transition from lever to bar. It's not perfect, but it's helpful.

[@dcv9460]

I'm sure EKAR wireless will be really EXPENSIVE! As all Campy components 😎💯

[@GravelCyclist]

For certain, but there seems to be a lot of demand for it.

[@DickKnorr]

Worth it.

[@Raymond-Farts]

Nobody carries Campy anymore because nobody wants it. 13 speeds is just that much more faffing around to find the right gear, and in an offroad situation you need to find your gears fast. My cyclocross bike I still use Gevenalle shifters with 10 speed cassette because there is nothing on the market that is faster.

[@derekmattice3077]

and yet SRAM RED XPLR just went 13 speed and I expect it will sell well. There’s always one that has to e-flex about how cool they think they are still running 10 speed.

[@GravelCyclist]

LOL'd at this one, e-Flex. There's an entire YT channel where the guy hates on any electronic shifting technology, and bangs on about how good friction bar end shifters are, naturally with his face in camera shot the entire time. Total Clickbait Bull$hit. I will say, the new Growtac friction shifters that look like 10 Speed Campy ergo shifters are neat, but... electronic is so so nice.

[@Raymond-Farts]

@@GravelCyclist I have Shimano DA Di2 11 speed on my road bike and love it really. My Ridley Crossfire CX bike had Campy Centaur 10 speed but when I found out about and got the Gevenalle levers I was amazed at the speed and precise shifting. It's something that was made for cyclocross racing. A bit awkward at first to get used to but I managed it well. Nothing will ever beat it as far as I'm concerned.

[@GravelCyclist]

Hello Raymond, 11-Speed Di2 could be the epitome of Shimano's fully wired Di2 drivetrains. I have hoarded several of those parts as well, nothing like having plenty of spares :) I've seen the Gevanelle levers but never experienced them, but can see how you could slam gears quickly across a cassette. Effectively a downtube shifter attached to a brake lever, very interesting stuff. I would imagine it is pretty impervious to dodgy, cruddy, muddy conditions.

[@subtropicalken1362]

I use quick release. 😡 😏

[@GravelCyclist]

Unfortunately, they are the way of the dodo for thru-axle bikes.