Campagnolo

Chorus 12 Front Derailleur

On par with its more exotic brethren, the Campagnolo Chorus 12 Front Derailleur surges into the realm of twelve-speed with all of the same technology, but with a more basic, and we may argue, more sturdy construction. This difference does come with a weight penalty, scaling in 6-grams heavier than its Record counterpart, and 8 grams heavier than the ultra-light Super Record, but at a weight that measures at a fraction of a cup of coffee that we'll consume on our mid-ride break, we'd say we're willing to take that penalty in return for its level of performance, and the spare cash that we can reserve for other component upgrades. Much like we've experienced in previous versions, the derailleur still offers the refined cable pull ration, that when paired with the new controls, provides exceptional micro-adjustments of the derailleur position. This trim feature enables you to access all 24 gear combinations of the lofty 12-speed cassette with minimal chain rub, which is something we've come to appreciate on the pricier electronic groupsets, and are refreshed to find on this mechanical version. It is worth noting that the Chorus groupset offers a larger cassette variety than its Record and Super Record brothers, and while this derailleur will play well with all of its sibling's components, should you be running the larger Chorus 11 - 34t cassette it is mandatory to pair it with the Chorus 12 Front Derailleur.

Like the new Record and Super Record, this derailleur gets a longer pulling arm where the cable anchors, improving leverage and requiring less force to initiate an upshift. The inner cage is also modified to work better with the narrower 12-speed chain and chainrings, and opts for a more simple alloy construction that keeps weight modest while providing silent shifting that doesn't lose stiffness that's needed for crisp shifts. The derailleur offers two positions in which it can affix to the cable — for some internally routed frames, the front shifting cable comes out in intensely close proximity to the derailleur, so much so that it can rub against it. The dual-position setup prevents this and increases frame compatibility to keep routing tidy, while keeping the longevity of your components in mind. Finally, the derailleur is rated to clear lofty 32mm tires, ideal for most riders who are opting for wider rubber these days.

The Campagnolo Chorus 12 Front Derailleur is compatible with all 12-speed mechanical Record, Super Record, and Chorus drivetrains.