
Did their disc brakes really fail? - Magene responds
Trace Velo
September 04, 2025
The new QED electronic road bike groupset from the Chinese manufacturer Magene, has recently come under scrutiny after a reported disc brake failure.
https://youtu.be/AK3V_emmGkI
In the last episode which you can find above, I discussed this reported issue, and used it as an opportunity to test a number of other Chinese disc brake groupsets that I have from the likes of L-TWOO, Sensah, and Wheeltop, for any similar issues.
Since that episode went live, I’ve been chatting with Magene, and they’ve sent over some interesting documentation. They’ve done some additional product testing, and are confident that the braking problem did not stem from an issue with the groupset.
So in this episode, I will discuss the issue, go over the evidence that Magene has provided, and give my own thoughts on the situation as a whole.
Magene Test Report Doc and Video:
https://imgur.com/a/magene-qed-braking-test-report-ynboGn7
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro and reported issue
01:03 – Report overview
02:11 – Conclusions from Magene
02:41 – My followup questions
04:36 – Did both brakes fail?
05:05 – Testing brakes with no pad material
05:49 – Conclusion & my thoughts
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Email:
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Please note:
I am not a professionally trained bike mechanic. There can be risks associated with using products that are unbranded, untested, or come from sources where the provenance is unknown. Please talk to a qualified bike mechanic if you are in any doubt.
In essence, be careful, do your research, and cycle safe!!!
Keywords: Magene QED,Brake failure,Disc brake failure,Bicycle disc brake failure,Road bike disc brake,Disc brake issues,Chinese road bike groupsets,magene,hydraulic disc brake,Chinese groupset,Chinese electronic groupset,L-TWOO R9 Disc brakes,L-TWOO R9 Disc,Disc brake test,Bicycle disc brake test,Magene groupset,QED,QED groupset
Parts Mentioned
Magene QED GroupsetMagene QED Groupset
Created: March 29, 2026The reviewer discusses a reported braking failure incident involving the Magene QED groupset, where a user crashed after losing braking on a descent. Magene investigated and concluded the issue was due to worn brake pads and improper bleeding, not a design flaw. The reviewer finds Magene's evidence credible but cannot independently verify due to lack of access to the groupset.
AI-Summary
Pros
- Magene took the incident seriously and provided detailed investigation reports
- Magene created an English version of the accident report for transparency
- The groupset passed Magene's extreme wear test (pads worn to backing plate) after proper bleeding
- Standard bleeding equipment can be used with possible adapter needs
Cons
- Reported braking failure incident resulting in crash and injury
- Potential bleeding difficulty due to recessed bleed port requiring extension nozzle
- Threading on bleed port may not match Shimano standard, requiring adapters
- Both brakes reportedly failed simultaneously in the incident, which is unusual
- Reviewer cannot independently test due to unavailability in UK market