Tom Bowers Cycling - The Best Deal in Cycling? Magene PES 515 Review (With One Catch)

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I tested the Magene PES 515 power meter for four months alongside my Favero Assioma pedals and Elite Direto XRT to see whether it really is the best deal in cycling.

Check it out here https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_c3uw1vOF

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0:00 The Best Deal in Cycling?
1:09 Unboxing, Install & Weight
6:05 Has the Value Changed?
7:29 The Data What Was Wrong?
9:40 Slope Adjustment & Accuracy Fix
11:57 Why Do We Trust Favero?
12:59 Pros & Cons
14:08 So… Is It the Best Deal?

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Bike part mentions in this video

Magene PES P515 Power Meter Set 4 Bolt 110BCD 24mm Cadence Pedal Balance Ant Steel Spindle Crankset Chainring for Shimano Sram

Magene PES P515 Power Meter Set 4 Bolt 110BCD 24mm Cadence Pedal Balance Ant Steel Spindle Crankset Chainring for Shimano Sram

Created: July 04, 2025

The reviewer tests and reviews the Magene PES515 power meter, which is a spider-based power meter that comes with a PES crankset. They detail the unboxing, installation on a bike with a Shimano groupset, and extensive testing against other power meters. The reviewer notes the initial accuracy was off by 4-5% compared to their reference pedals, but after applying a calibration offset in the app, it showed excellent precision and repeatability. They conclude it is a very affordable option that requires some user calibration to achieve accuracy.

AI-Summary

Pros

  • Super affordable at $299 including cranks and shipping
  • Excellent repeatability and precision
  • Natively compatible with a 24mm axle and four-bolt Shimano spacing spider, making installation super easy
  • Uses a rechargeable battery (compared to coin cell batteries)
  • Plug-and-play with existing Shimano chainrings, improving shifting performance
  • Includes a standard 24mm aluminum crankset
  • Has Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity
  • Claimed accuracy of +/-1% and battery life of 330 hours

Cons

  • Not lightweight; carries a weight penalty (total weight with chainrings ~653g)
  • Initial accuracy required calibration; it read 4-5% higher than reference pedals out of the box
  • No longer the cheapest power meter on the market due to new competitors
  • Requires user calibration to match other power meters, not ready out-of-the-box for those expecting perfection
  • Uses a USB-A charging cable instead of USB-C

Key Points

  • Spider-based power meter
  • Comes with Magene's PES aluminum crankset
  • Uses a 24mm axle
  • Four-bolt Shimano style chainring pattern (110BCD)
  • Claimed +/-1% accuracy
  • 330-hour battery life
  • Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity
  • Rechargeable battery with magnetic charging cable
  • Includes mounting hardware, preload bolt, chainring bolts, decals, and rubber washers
  • Installation is simple on bikes with stock Shimano cranksets
  • User can apply a constant power offset via the app for calibration
  • Precision (repeatability) is excellent even if initial accuracy requires adjustment
AFFILIATE by MyBikeParts
aliexpress.com
🇺🇸
$299.00
🇫🇷
€290.99
🇬🇧
£300.79
Rating there:
4.7 (78 reviews)
Last checked:
about 1 month
ago
AFFILIATE by MyBikeParts
aliexpress.com
🇺🇸
$298.99
🇫🇷
€302.69
🇬🇧
£284.79
Rating there:
4.7 (134 reviews)
Last checked:
5 months
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magene.com
🇺🇸
$299.00
Rating there:
4.5 (4 reviews)
Last checked:
28 days
ago
AFFILIATE by MyBikeParts
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$338.86
🇩🇪
€338.69
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£321.39
Rating there:
4.7 (81 reviews)
Last checked:
9 months
ago
AFFILIATE by MyBikeParts
aliexpress.com
🇺🇸
$273.87
Last checked:
8 months
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