Mechanical Vs Electronic Groupsets | Which Is Lighter?

Are you considering buying a mechanical or electronic groupset? In this video, we are going to weigh all the bits of some Shimano, SRAM and Campagnolo groupsets to see the differences.

We are using Shimano Ultegra as this is more common than Dura-Ace, but the same differences roughly apply. We also wanted to include SRAM so poached SRAM Red Mechanical and eTap off a couple of Si’s bikes. Jon also managed to get his grubby hands on Campagnolo Super Record. Santa was very generous this year!

Groupset weights
Ultegra
Chainset 52/36 172.5mm - 693g
Cassette 11-28 - 11/28
Brake - single mount - 361g
Chain 116links - 263g
Brake Cables and outers (uncut) - 142g
Shifters Mechanical - 415g
Di2 - 301g
Front Derailleur mechanical - 90g
Front Derailleur di2 - 129g
Rear derailleur mechanical - 207g
Rear derailleur di2 - 239g
Mechanical Cables, ferrels, ends - 84g
Di2 Battery, cables, junction box etc - 128g

SRAM
Chainset - 663g
Cassette - 166g
Brakes - 261g
Chain - 250g
Brake Cables/Housings - 135g
Shifters Mechanical - 302g
Shifters Etap - 261g
Derailleur Front mechanical - 75g
Derailleur front Etap - 164g
Derailleur Rear Mechanical - 146g
Derailleur Rear Etap - 239g
Gear cables, and bits, outers - 78g

CAMPAG EPS 11SPEED
Chainset 53/39 172.5mm - 632G
Cassette 11-27 - 222g
Brake - single mount - 316g
Chain - 241g
Brake Cables and outers (uncut) - 141g
Shifters - 279g
Front Derailleur - 131g
Rear derailleur - 197g
Battery, cables, junction box etc - 157g

CAMPAG 12 SPEED
Chainset 53/39 172.5mm - 639G
Cassette 12 speed - 270g
Brake - single mount - 316g
Chain - 230g
Brake Cables and outers (uncut) - 141g
Shifters - 342g
Front Derailleur - 78g
Rear derailleur - 185g
Battery, cables, junction box etc - 98g

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Music: Epidemic Sound
Mile Soul - Da Tooby

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[aljonesuk]

Can't believe I'm watching a video of 2 blokes weighing things...
Keep it up!

[JMcLeodKC]

I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to see you add ALL the parts together so that it was a apples to apples, especially the Shimano groups. Basically weight should not be the determining factor when selecting mechanical versus electric.

[Century_Rider]

Much as I enjoy listening to discussions of component and bike weights, and much as I'm impressed by the best tech, the more important parts of the equation are the rider and the rider's budget. Riders are not aero, and budgets are the common man's limit. Go as light as your budget and skillset allow, but while the best tech is wonderful, "good enough" tech will still take you everywhere you want to go.

[D.Eldon_]

*Nice comparison.* _Thanks, Si and Ollie._ Here are some more observations:
1 - The SRAM Red groupsets may have been a tiny bit lighter had they been cleaned before being weighed. And the additional bits (like ferules) would have been a tiny bit lighter had the packaging been removed.
2 - The discussion of rim brake weight vs disc brake weight seemed to forget the difference in weight of the brakes and brake lines, themselves. Surely the disc brakes and hydraulic lines will be heavier than rim brake calipers and cables, which probably offsets the difference in weight of the levers. But another factor between rim and disc brake systems will be the wheel weight and frame weight since wheels with rim brake tracks will probably be heavier and frames with disc caliber mounts may be heavier. Will there be enough difference to offset one or the other? I don't know but it certainly complicates comparisons.
3 - The missing groupsets were disappointing. First, the Shimano Dura Ace mechanical and Di2 electronic groupsets needed to be included---especially since they're the analog of SRAM Red and Campagnolo Super Record and Record. Second, since Shimano Ultegra was included, SRAM Force mechanical and Campagnolo Chorus mechanical and Chorus EPS electronic groupsets should also have been included since they are the equivalents of Ultegra. I think viewers would be surprised how light SRAM Force mechanical is as well.
4 - I use a SRAM Red mechanical 1x groupset with a WiFLi rear derailleur that has a medium-length cage. My Red WiFLi rear derailleur weighs 168 g. I also have a SRAM Force rear derailleur with a short cage and it weighs 170 g. The SRAM Red eTap rear derailleur is also available in a WiFLi version with a medium-length cage.

[g.d.]

Weighing bike components? An automatic thumbs up!!! The world deserves the answers!

[BikeItUK]

Thanks for all the maths....Im sure many just assumed the electronic was heavier because of the battery, good job adding all the extra mechanical extras. Certainly got me thinking twice about an electronic groupset's. Good video as always, thanks guys. All the best Andy

[ivanb___]

Love Emma, miss Matt, like Jon, like Ollie and the 2 pretty boys, Dan is cool and Si rocks but bring back Lasty!

[howardkaye]

Hey Simon, Just wanted to say I love the GCN program. Keep up the great work!

[frozenlkea]

The value of every item in front of Si and Ollie is worth more than my car...

[pedroschlude]

The decision between mechanical and electronic is easy for me. I can barely afford ultegra mechanical

[spinwin]

Dura Ace mechanical vs Dura Ace Di2 please :)

Also include rim vs disc

[joolsenticknap]

Loved the video, would have been nice to throw in something left field like the rotor groupset.

[andrewlipsiner]

ALWAYS interesting, informative and entertaining!!

When will do a " SMACK Down "
comprehensive comparison on all 3 brands shifting systems ?

It will be interesting to find what you think about the various performances, durability, and feel of the systems

[bhumiriady]

Awesome video as usual...
This is so fascinating! Now I know the weight difference between electronic and mechanical groupsets.

[neil]

The Campagnolo comparison is a bit skewed because 12sp is fundamentally heavier than 11sp. 11sp EPS Record is about 100 - 150g heavier than 11sp Record mechanical (I know because I've swapped the groups on the same bike and that was the difference it made to total weight). The reason that 11sp EPS is about the same weight as 12sp mechanical is because with Campagnolo, both 12sp and EPS add weight.

[solderwickie]

What do you need for a slick cycling video: Two nonchalant cycling dudes, a lot of cycling components aaand! a SCALE! Yeah, that's right!

[XxXnonameAsDXxX]

Why not add the total weight in the desc

[DylanJohnsonCycling]

Thanks for satisfying us weight weenies!

[davepratt]

At 95kg, functionality is more important than weight. Your analogy at the beginning was spot on, Jon's kidney was heavier than the differences between the groupsets.

[stratocaster]

Interesting video! Here are the summery of the total weights of the groups based on your post in the description. However i would first like to point out that you are comparing a semi-compact chain set on the Shimano with 53/39 on Campagnolo and its unknown for Sram. So its not a fair comparison. Here is the total weights of the groups according to your measurements starting with the lightest:

Sram Red 2076g (Chain set unknown)
Etap 2139g (Chain set unknown)
Super Record 12 speed 2299g 53/39
EPS 2307g 53/39
Ultegra 2502 g Compact chain set (less mass)
DI2 2503 g Compact chain set (less mass)

Weight penalty between the lightest (sram red) and the heaviest (shimano ultegra di2) is 427 g.

What happened to the video that was posted and then removed that John was in?