1x Campagnolo Ekar drivetrain

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Vespasianus
Posts: 283
Joined: Thu Jun 11, 2020 10:15 pm

by Vespasianus

MauriceBrocco wrote:
Thu Nov 17, 2022 8:46 pm
Hi everyone. New to the forum. I've been following this thread while I was swapping my SRAM Rival 1X drivetrain with mech disc brakes (TRP Spyre) out for Ekar on my custom steel gravel bike.
I bought the parts used from various sources and I got the brifters cheaply with no calipers. Since it is common knowledge that Magura supplied parts at least for Gen1 of Campags disc brake system, I thought I'd attempt a Campigura setup.

At least in Germany where I live, Magura components are quite easy to find used, Magura being a German company. I got a set of their MT8 SL flatmount calipers. The pads are identical with Campags Gen1 brakes. Both systems also use the magnetic pad retention. I don't know whether the caliper pistons are actually identical but I measured them and they seem to be the same 22mm that Campy states for theirs. Also, Magura barbs and olives are identical to Campy disc brakes.
I actually think these calipers at least on paper are superior to Campy's because they're one piece and they're lighter at 96g per caliper.

Now using these requires a banjo fitting on the caliper which means in this setup you have a banjo fitting on both ends of the brake line. I've never seen that before on bicycle disc brakes so I wasn't sure whether the flow rate would still be good enough. But I can now safely say that it works absolutely great. The bite point is very refined, easy lever action, great modulation and plenty of power.
Rotors are Formula Monolithic 160mm. which I had been using with my TRP Spyres before. I'm currently riding this bike in the Bohemian forests and mountains and I've been riding down some pretty steep descents whilst having to keep dragging the brakes to negotiate rocks and roots. I also did high speed road descents. Pad retraction is great. I get no rubbing and no disc warping, so I'm pretty happy. Maybe this info helps other people out there.

Here's some pics:

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Also, I kept my SRAM Red crankset (because I might add a power meter at some point) and bought the 13speed compatible chainring by Ratio components. I can report that it works great. Seems like a quality product.

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Very nice and well done!
Cinelli Superstar - Campagnolo H11
Tommasini Custom X-Fire gravel - EKAR

wilmar13
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:50 am
Location: Rock Hill, SC US

by wilmar13

Miller wrote:
Fri Nov 18, 2022 4:40 pm
I have some Ekar components to install. Has anyone got experience in running full gear outer through an integrated handlebar, like, will the mechanical shifting be ok with that?
No experience, but the spec is 30mm radius cable bend (arc of 60mm diameter). I am only pondering building a bike with Ekar but thouught it may be possible with a semi-integrated stem like the Deda DCR. I doubt you could get it through the stem/headset without having tighter bends than that. I think it would work, shift quality may go down due to cable tension.
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by Weenie


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wilmar13
Posts: 349
Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:50 am
Location: Rock Hill, SC US

by wilmar13

Image

The S-DCR is supposedly used (enters headset below stem), but its hard to see the shift cable so it makes you wonder.

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Miller
Posts: 2764
Joined: Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:54 pm
Location: Reading, UK

by Miller

Wilmar13, thank you for that info. Something for me to ponder.

MauriceBrocco
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:38 am

by MauriceBrocco

Miller wrote:
Sat Nov 19, 2022 9:07 pm
Wilmar13, thank you for that info. Something for me to ponder.
I see no reason why it wouldn't work. Provided that the the housing doesn't do super tight turns. I got Campag 11sp mech routed fully internal through a one piece cockpit on my road bike. I'm not even using Campag housing bc it doesn't come that long. I'm using aftermarket cables by BBB. It shifts just as good as on my 2nd road bike with external cables. Slightly more force is required but that's it. Also, apart from the Deda stuff you could also use FSA's ACR system.

MauriceBrocco
Posts: 21
Joined: Wed Nov 16, 2022 9:38 am

by MauriceBrocco

I got my hands onto a set of Chorus 12sp disc calipers and I can confirm that the pistons on these at least visually seem to be identical with Magura MT calipers. Weight difference is minimal, too. The front caliper weighs 108g on my scale, the rear 102g - but the front one does not need an adapter for 160mm rotors. The Maguras weigh 96g each, but you'll need an adapter front and back. So the weight difference probably comes down to being around 10g max.

fignonsbarber
Posts: 146
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 10:24 pm

by fignonsbarber

wilmar13 wrote:
Sat Nov 19, 2022 6:34 pm
Image

The S-DCR is supposedly used (enters headset below stem), but its hard to see the shift cable so it makes you wonder.
I have that Deda SuperBox stem on my Ekar bike and the shifting works fine. No issues.

ColnagoJohn
Posts: 66
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:50 pm

by ColnagoJohn

Does anyone know of or use an alternative disc pads for use on ekar? i had the older style campagnolo disc calipers and had success using magura pads and managed to find different compounds too but these new ekar style calipers dont seem to work as there is no magnet.
In the uk in winter it can be hard to get a good build up of temperature to "burn in" new pads and consequently ive burnt through front and rear pads in less than a month with only 2 of these rides off road.

AC0
Posts: 53
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:33 am

by AC0

ColnagoJohn wrote:
Wed Dec 28, 2022 2:36 pm
Does anyone know of or use an alternative disc pads for use on ekar? i had the older style campagnolo disc calipers and had success using magura pads and managed to find different compounds too but these new ekar style calipers dont seem to work as there is no magnet.
Can't the spring from the standard DB-310 pad be used with a magura (or other after market) pad?

What compound/pad were you using? If the spring can be used, I'm interested in trying something else for the mud and snow

ColnagoJohn
Posts: 66
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:50 pm

by ColnagoJohn

That was the issue I had the spring didn't fit around the side of the Magura sintered ones I had. They lasted forever on my bike with 2x on and I would like to find something similar again especially for when I'm doing cross and off road stuff

AC0
Posts: 53
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 2:33 am

by AC0

Bike Discount has Quaxar brand pads which include the spring.

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/quaxar- ... olo-db-310

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/quaxar- ... olo-db-310

Have not used them so no idea how they work but they are half the price.


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Yoln
Posts: 965
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:26 pm

by Yoln

It's been a while since I asked :) anyone has found an alternative cassette builder making lighter Ekar 13s compatible cassettes?
Litespeed Gravel Ultimate : https://tinyurl.com/zvxxy8zk
Wilier “Cento Ramato“ : https://tinyurl.com/29vs8vre
#RETIRED# Lynskey “the Do-it-all Helix” 🧬:https://tinyurl.com/bdmb5y24

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bobrayner
Posts: 122
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:25 am
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by bobrayner

Yoln wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 7:36 pm
It's been a while since I asked :) anyone has found an alternative cassette builder making lighter Ekar 13s compatible cassettes?
Good question!

I tried hunting for one last year. I contacted some aftermarket manufacturers and most of the answers were "Maybe... in the future... we'll think about it". There is a similar problem with chainrings.
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Yoln
Posts: 965
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:26 pm

by Yoln

bobrayner wrote:
Tue Jan 03, 2023 2:08 pm
Yoln wrote:
Mon Jan 02, 2023 7:36 pm
It's been a while since I asked :) anyone has found an alternative cassette builder making lighter Ekar 13s compatible cassettes?
Good question!

I tried hunting for one last year. I contacted some aftermarket manufacturers and most of the answers were "Maybe... in the future... we'll think about it". There is a similar problem with chainrings.
That's better than the answers I got a year ago: Nope, from everyone (JGBike and Recon Harris / Edco)
Litespeed Gravel Ultimate : https://tinyurl.com/zvxxy8zk
Wilier “Cento Ramato“ : https://tinyurl.com/29vs8vre
#RETIRED# Lynskey “the Do-it-all Helix” 🧬:https://tinyurl.com/bdmb5y24

Yoln
Posts: 965
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:26 pm

by Yoln

Ethirteen no different than others:

"Thanks for the inquiry! At the current time, we don't have an Ekar compatible cassette in planning but I've passed your request on to our product team. Hopefully we'll have something for you in the future. "
Litespeed Gravel Ultimate : https://tinyurl.com/zvxxy8zk
Wilier “Cento Ramato“ : https://tinyurl.com/29vs8vre
#RETIRED# Lynskey “the Do-it-all Helix” 🧬:https://tinyurl.com/bdmb5y24

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



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