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The Magene T600 smart bike trainer was recently released to the market. It offers notable improvements over previous models, mainly the T300, and is one of the few trainers with a road surface simulation feature. Below, I compare it to other smart bike trainers (like the Tacx NEO 2T) and speculate whether it will be successful or just another trainer that will fall into oblivion.
How Does the T600 Compare to Other Smart Trainers?
Price- and feature-wise, the Magene T600 is among high-end trainers such as the Tacx NEO 2T, Wahoo KICKR v6, Elite Justo 2, and others. Check out the following table to see how it compares to them.
| Feature | Magene T600 | Tacx NEO 2T | KICKR v6 | Elite Justo 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resistance | 2200W | 2200W | 2200W | 2300W |
| Gradient simulation | 20% | 25 % | 20% | 24 % |
| Power accuracy | ±1% | <1% | ±1% | ±1% |
| Virtual shifting | No | No | Yes | No |
| Auto zero / Automatic calibration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power required | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Flywheel | 11.02 lb (5 kg) | 276 lb (125 kg) [virtual] | 16 lb (7.26 kg) | 15.87 lb (7.2 kg) |
| Connectivity | ANT+, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | ANT+, ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth | ANT+, ANT+ FE-C, WiFi, Bluetooth, Direct Connect | ANT+ FE-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| 12-speed cassette support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cassette included | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 34.4 lb (15.6kg) | 47.4 lb (21.5 kg) | 47 lb (21.3 kg) | 37.48 lb (17 kg) |
| Buy | Check Price | Check Price Check Price (amazon.com) | Check Price Check Price (competitivecyclist.com) | Check Price |
Below, I dive into the most important features of the T600 trainer.
Road Surface Simulation
The T600 replaces the belt-drive system with a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor. This upgrade should reduce noise, improve efficiency, and eliminate unnecessary energy loss. But more importantly, it allows the trainer to simulate road surfaces, such as cobblestones, gravel, ice, etc.
This is the feature we first saw on Tacx NEO. Since then, not many bike trainer manufacturers have jumped on this train. I tried this feature on the Tacx NEO 2T and can live without it. It adds to ride realism but starts to be a bit annoying after a while.
Power Accuracy and Resistance
The T600 has a claimed ±1% power accuracy, an improvement over the ±2% accuracy of the T300. This higher precision is an industry standard among high-end trainers. The mid-range ones are usually around ±2%.
| Accuracy | 250W | 500W | 1000W | 2000W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | 247.5-252.5 | 495-505 | 990-1010 | 1980-2020 |
| 2% | 245-255 | 490-510 | 980-1020 | 1960-2040 |
| 3% | 242.5-257.5 | 485-515 | 970-1030 | 1940-2060 |
| 4% | 240-260 | 480-520 | 960-1040 | 1920-2080 |
| 5% | 237.5-262.5 | 475-525 | 950-1050 | 1900-2100 |
The maximum resistance is 2200W, which is more than enough for most people. The same can be said about the 20% gradient simulation. I usually halve it in apps like Zwift, as 20% is too much for my gearing ratio.
Connectivity
The expanded connectivity is also worth mentioning. T600 has a BLE FTMS, ANT+ FE-C, Ethernet, Wi-Fi connectivity, and support for three-channel Bluetooth. This allows you to use an app like TrainerRoad on your phone to control the trainer while sending power data to Zwift on your tablet or PC, offering a customized experience. Of course, it’s compatible with popular training apps like Zwift, ROUVY, MyWhoosh, etc., and can update itself via WiFi.
Ethernet is better for connection stability than WiFi, so you can avoid those annoying dropouts when racing.
Pricing
The T600 is priced at $1,099. It’s clearly positioned as a high-end smart trainer, next to Wahoo KICKR v6, Tacx NEO 2T, or Elite Justo 2. The question is, do you need it? Do you need a high-end smart trainer at all? There are many options around the $500 mark, mainly the Wahoo KICKR Core (Zwift One) or even cheaper Jetblack Volt. These trainers are usually good enough for hobby riders like you and me. Yes, they have lower maximum resistance and power accuracy, but they are usually good enough.
Conclusion
The Magene T600 offers notable upgrades over its predecessor and matches the specifications of other high-end trainers. Its pricing is similar, so the question is whether it meets the claimed specifications and whether people will prefer it over more established brands.
Its biggest selling point is the road surface simulation of 9 different surfaces. Then, it offers good connectivity, but that’s about it. Smart trainers are mature, and there is not much to improve and how to differentiate. So, it’s pretty challenging for new manufacturers to bite a piece of the market share.
