Campagnolo Ekar GT Review: Campy 1x13 for less $

Campagnolo Ekar GT Review:

Ekar GT Shift Lever:
"For Ekar GT, we have further improved the Campagnolo Ergopower control levers to make them even more comfortable on longer rides, while retaining the system’s pluses: its renowned precision and the maximum comfort ensured by the Vari-Cushion™ hoods. Differentiated levers mean you’ll never get a shift wrong, even in tough off-road conditions: Campagnolo’s tried and tested One-Lever-One-Action guarantees perfect control."

Ekar GT Rear Derailleur:
"The Ekar GT rear derailleur has been designed using unrivalled Campagnolo experience and inventiveness, developed and perfected in over 90 years of innovation. The dedicated 1x system and 13 speeds make it effective, the 9-tooth sprocket allows for the birth of a complete range of gear ratios with short evenly spaced shifts and well-maintained cadence levels."

Ekar GT Crankset:
"Single chainrings are obviously simple to use: no front derailleur, considerably less weight, fewer moving components that gather dirt and may cause blockages and better chain security with no useless overlapping chainrings – the perfect solution for gravel."

"The two aluminum cranks are fitted with semi axles in AISI 630 steel, in line with the clever material combinations of the entire Ekar GT groupset, with a view to producing components that are always light but deliver maximum efficiency and durability."

Ekar GT 13-Speed Cassette:
"The Ekar GT 13-speed cassette is available in four different options, from 9/36 to 10/48, which complete the range and reflect the different specializations on the gravel scene and each combination delivers very smooth gear ratio progression. Small jumps for the first 6 sprockets, which increase in the second half with the larger sprockets. This characteristic ensures an optimum experience on the saddle and helps you get the best from your performance on difficult routes and terrain."

"The wide selection of larger sprockets gives a more compact cassette for endurance events and longer gears for more adventurous riders. The cassette combinations are partnered with easy-to-replace dedicated chainrings to offer the widest range of gear ratios, smooth changing and maximum efficiency and, unlike the 2x systems, no waste. Two of the four combinations have a 9-tooth sprocket. In-depth comparative tests have shown that the 9-tooth sprocket is as efficient as any 10- or 11-tooth sprocket, without any additional friction thanks to its special profile tooth design, so that none of the power produced is lost."

In this video, JOM of the Gravel Cyclist crew presents his review video of Campagnolo Ekar GT. Everything is covered from technical specifications to the real-world no BS ride experiences with Ekar GT.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction to Campagnolo Ekar GT
1:08 Campagnolo History
1:57 Campagnolo GT is for Gravel
2:29 Ekar GT Cassette Ratios
3:00 Ekar GT Crankset & Chainrings
4:06 Shift & Brake Lever Tech
5:12 Ekar GT Rear Derailleur Tech
5:58 Ekar GT Crankset Tech
6:46 Ekar GT Cassette Tech
8:24 Campagnolo Mechanical Shifting Explained
9:58 Campagnolo Ekar GT Riding Experience
14:02 Closing
14:53 General Madness

Links of Interest:

Amazon Affiliation Link:

[brianfessenden]

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.

[AMehta-okpf]

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.

[aeonsnarfus]

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

[alfiefranklin]

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

[Ben-tdvz]

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.

[adrenaline]

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!

[bcm]

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

[robbiek]

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.

[bengt_axle]

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

[williwacker]

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.

[MyLifeIsABikePath]

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'

[williwacker]

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".

[saferandquieteroads]

hi mate, im looking at the Giant Revolt Advance Pro 0 for adventure riding off and on road and the odd endurance adventure like the Silk Road mountain race. Ive just discovered the Basso Palta and wanted your opinion if I should consider it over the giant?

[elliotgossard]

Could you talk about your gravel shoes? Thanks

[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?

[teunluijbregts]

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

[gregsullivan]

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

[robbiek]

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.

[dcv]

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

[robertfriedlander]

Are the new levers compatible with the OG drivetrain?