Very informative! Definitely like these type of content to help decide components when building, this time I already ordered the 12 speed Shimano Grx 820 for my Fairlight Secan 2.5, cheers from Norway 🇳🇴 😎
Great video - I purchased the original ekar almost 3 years ago, cycled just under 30k miles. At the time of purchase CV19 lock downs sort of forced my arm to go campy. Biggest issue is keeping the 13 tooth cassette shifting correctly. Personally I would have loved to have seen an electric offering, after a weeks bike packing i have issues with my thumb/finger from changing the mechanical gears.
Correct me if I’ve misunderstood, but at the start of the vid you said that the shortest crank length for the GT was 170mm. When comparing the original Ekar with the GT, you said that the GT had a 165mm option? EDIT: 8:01 you SAY that there isn’t a 165mm option for GT, but LIST that (non-) option in the wrong column 😮
I have just done about 1000km on the original Ekar now. It's on sale so you can find it at a very good price. So far it works very good and I have no complaints. I rode Ultegra Di2 before and the biggest difference for me is the breaking which I so far find better with Ekar. What I might miss is the Ultra shift. But for ultra distance riding and bike packing the shifting is fast enough and I prefer mechanical shifting for that type of ridning. Even if I found Ultegra to be a good group set also (I didnt use the Shimano cranks though).
Great video yet again for all of us. The EKAR GT will be very well made. However, on mud, Gravel, big hills and loaded bike for a camp out or multi camp Out 36 up front is too big ( for me anyway ) if it could step down to 28 it would be great with a 52 on the back as well. Especially if your riding 1000’s of Km. Bike packing - I don’t really understand as it seems to be a day out carrying never enough to be comfortable and stop in a hotel each night too ( Europe and UK ) camping can mean anything from a serviced lodge with shower to carry your own tent these days. So maybe hotel packing it will be fine or carrying zero kit.
How I do Campagnolo for my touring/gravel/commute bike. Centaur 11 speed groupset and yes this is rim brake. 10speed shimano freehub and 11 speed Shimano mtb cassette 11-40, MKS 11 speed chain, which gives a great range of gearing for getting up those 15% climbs with 20kgs of weight attached to an 11 kg aluminium bicycle. I use this combo as its cheap AND works.
Your welcome, I envy your ability to find the time to ride as much as you do. My occupation, despite the good income I earn, does permit me to ride in some very good locals far from home, just not nearly as often as I would like (commercial truck driver) And with the added chores to tend to back at home, not getting enough ride time is a real downer. Ride on Friend. 🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼🤠
That's cool you can bring a bike with you... but also a bummer about lack of time to ride it :(... I am blessed to have a lot of free time to ride when I'm not working... so gotta maximize it... but when I do work, the hours are long and intense for months at a time, and I eat way too much and quickly get out of shape :) But life is sooo good, and def no complaints here!!! Keep on keepin on!!!
@@DirtyTeethMTB why the over consumption of calories? Anxiety, boredom, peer pressure? If a bad relationship with food is permitted to exist in your life, it can destroy you mentally, physically and spiritually. I have been obese in the past, so I know first hand how utterly devastating over consumption of calories and or making poor food choices affects one's life. Good nutritious Food is a necessity in life, not an emotional crutch.
I'm a Campagnolo fanboy, but that bottom bracket looks like Ultratorque to me. I'm struggling with servicing mine at the moment - thanks to really poor bearing seals
I used the Ekar groupset for a long time, but I went back to the Shimano 12s 10-45 cassette and Sram shifters (with a special ratchet for 12s) because as soon as the Ekar chain got dirty with mud, the groupset stopped working.
I was a die hard campy fan from the 80s until early 2000’s. But Campy lost their minds w the prices and compatibility. Ekar shifters are comfy and beautiful. But ill stay w Shimano and Sram.
Very informative! Definitely like these type of content to help decide components when building, this time I already ordered the 12 speed Shimano Grx 820 for my Fairlight Secan 2.5, cheers from Norway 🇳🇴 😎
sounds like you made a great choice :) ride on!!
I've been riding the Ekar since it became available. I've had zero issues. It's just so nice to ride a 1x off road with Campagnolo.
Thanks for sharing!
Great video!! The best and most objective review I’ve seen!! Keep it up!!!!🎉
Thank you! Will do!
Great video - I purchased the original ekar almost 3 years ago, cycled just under 30k miles. At the time of purchase CV19 lock downs sort of forced my arm to go campy.
Biggest issue is keeping the 13 tooth cassette shifting correctly.
Personally I would have loved to have seen an electric offering, after a weeks bike packing i have issues with my thumb/finger from changing the mechanical gears.
thanks so much for sharing your insight!! much appreciated :)
@@DirtyTeethMTB np - liking our channel. Factual, straight to the point :)
Correct me if I’ve misunderstood, but at the start of the vid you said that the shortest crank length for the GT was 170mm.
When comparing the original Ekar with the GT, you said that the GT had a 165mm option?
EDIT: 8:01 you SAY that there isn’t a 165mm option for GT, but LIST that (non-) option in the wrong column 😮
No 165 option for GT, sorry for the blunder - glad someone actually paid attention 😂 thanks !
I have just done about 1000km on the original Ekar now. It's on sale so you can find it at a very good price. So far it works very good and I have no complaints. I rode Ultegra Di2 before and the biggest difference for me is the breaking which I so far find better with Ekar. What I might miss is the Ultra shift. But for ultra distance riding and bike packing the shifting is fast enough and I prefer mechanical shifting for that type of ridning. Even if I found Ultegra to be a good group set also (I didnt use the Shimano cranks though).
Thanks for sharing your insight! Ride on :)
Great video yet again for all of us.
The EKAR GT will be very well made. However, on mud, Gravel, big hills and loaded bike for a camp out or multi camp Out 36 up front is too big ( for me anyway ) if it could step down to 28 it would be great with a 52 on the back as well. Especially if your riding 1000’s of Km.
Bike packing - I don’t really understand as it seems to be a day out carrying never enough to be comfortable and stop in a hotel each night too ( Europe and UK ) camping can mean anything from a serviced lodge with shower to carry your own tent these days. So maybe hotel packing it will be fine or carrying zero kit.
great points, thanks for sharing!
campi has always been the outcast of cycling., great gear good luck finding parts when the bike breaks down far away from home
great note about finding parts (lack of) while bikepacking/touring... thanks for sharing!
Yes Alan, keep it coming man
thanks for watching!! much appreciated :)
How I do Campagnolo for my touring/gravel/commute bike. Centaur 11 speed groupset and yes this is rim brake. 10speed shimano freehub and 11 speed Shimano mtb cassette 11-40, MKS 11 speed chain, which gives a great range of gearing for getting up those 15% climbs with 20kgs of weight attached to an 11 kg aluminium bicycle.
I use this combo as its cheap AND works.
Very insightful - thanks for sharing :)
This is their best selling groupset. They need to come out with wireless EPS. That is a large market.
I agree 💯
Your welcome, I envy your ability to find the time to ride as much as you do.
My occupation, despite the good income I earn, does permit me to ride in some very good locals far from home, just not nearly as often as I would like (commercial truck driver)
And with the added chores to tend to back at home, not getting enough ride time is a real downer.
Ride on Friend. 🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼🤠
That's cool you can bring a bike with you... but also a bummer about lack of time to ride it :(... I am blessed to have a lot of free time to ride when I'm not working... so gotta maximize it... but when I do work, the hours are long and intense for months at a time, and I eat way too much and quickly get out of shape :) But life is sooo good, and def no complaints here!!! Keep on keepin on!!!
@@DirtyTeethMTB why the over consumption of calories?
Anxiety, boredom, peer pressure?
If a bad relationship with food is permitted to exist in your life, it can destroy you mentally, physically and spiritually.
I have been obese in the past, so I know first hand how utterly devastating over consumption of calories and or making poor food choices affects one's life.
Good nutritious Food is a necessity in life, not an emotional crutch.
I'm a Campagnolo fanboy, but that bottom bracket looks like Ultratorque to me. I'm struggling with servicing mine at the moment - thanks to really poor bearing seals
Thanks for sharing!
The Ekar group uses a specific ultra torque bb with better seals than the road groups.
And what about bearing ek/ek gt ? They are not the same. Which bearing for ek gt, ultra torque or special?
I used the Ekar groupset for a long time, but I went back to the Shimano 12s 10-45 cassette and Sram shifters (with a special ratchet for 12s) because as soon as the Ekar chain got dirty with mud, the groupset stopped working.
thanks for sharing your insight - ride on!
Appreciate the video a lot, but I just can’t see this being for me
not for me either... def not enough bang for the buck...
well, it has the campy price tag...
Indeed
Got to pay that European worker at some point
Great video, but you should work on your speech pentameter....
Thanks for watching - I’m gonna start a poetry channel next 😂
no dropper support like the grx?
As far as I can tell, no dropper post lever option like Shimano - good question :)
It's still expensive compared to GRX
You got that right 👊
GRX LOOKS ECONOMICAL
I was a die hard campy fan from the 80s until early 2000’s. But Campy lost their minds w the prices and compatibility. Ekar shifters are comfy and beautiful. But ill stay w Shimano and Sram.
agreed.
🫡🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼
your bike emojis just made me smile :) ride on!