2007 Powertap Pro vs SL

spaley said:

Apologies if this has already been covered.

With the redesign of the 2007 Powertap Pro, what are the differences now between the Pro and the SL? Aside from weight, and the ability to use a Campy cassette, are there any functional differences?

Looks to me to be weight only - steel axle, steel freehub body, etc. I don't think they ever updated the comparison chart that shows Shimano only freehub body on the Pro, but who knows. If you go to the Pro and click to download the manual, you get the SL manual??? I've been wondering how many built Pros there will be on eBay with SL covers since that may be the only visable difference. - TF

The fact that the PowerTap Pro freehub body and axle are steel, may be a positive thing! The aluminum freehub body on the SL is soft and can get thrashed by big riders. I had a heck of a time removing a cassette off an SL hub used by a buddy of mine who is a 185lbs "masher". The individual cogs were so embedded in the freehub body that I had to use a screwdriver to pry off them off, one by one! :eek:

I don't know if the bearing quality is the same, but if they are, then it's just a tradeoff between the light weight of the SL, versus the cost savings and potential durability of the Pro.

Terry made a good point about being careful if buying used. But there are a couple of subtle differences:

1) Pro axle ends are black (versus gold)
2) Pro freehub body has ridged splines and is a champagne/silver color. The SL freehub body has solid splines and is gold colored (I'm talking Shimano here, not sure about Campy)

Terry Ferguson said:

If you go to the Pro and click to download the manual, you get the SL manual??? I've been wondering how many built Pros there will be on eBay with SL covers since that may be the only visable difference. - TF

I have the 2007 Pro and it come with the SL manual. Not too sure if the seals/bearings are the same though; I think it's more likely the old Pro with an SL look (just a guess). It does come with coded heart-rate strap and the 7hr storage at 1s, which is not always the case with (older/used) SL's.