This thing was terrible, for SO many reasons...

This “carbon ceramic” disc rotor from AliExpress makes some very bold claims, but after testing genuine carbon-ceramic rotors on my road bike recently, I can tell you this is nothing like them… SIROKO CLOTHING – 10% off (automatically applied via link below): https://srko.co/tracevelo Despite being advertised as “carbon ceramic”, the braking surface on this rotor isn’t carbon fibre, carbon-carbon, or a silicon carbide composite. In fact, the brake track appears to be aluminium, not steel, treated with what looks to be a PEO (Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation) ceramic oxide coating. In this episode I will: Examine the construction Break down the marketing claims Explain why it may be a PEO coating Put the rotor through real-world braking tests The result? The braking performance was only part of the story. If you’ve ever wondered how far AliExpress marketing can stretch technical language, this one’s interesting. Setup: Tested on a hydraulic disc brake road bike using resin pads (as required by the manufacturer), across repeated stops and sustained braking to attempt a proper bedding in procedure, and properly evaluate heat behaviour, noise, modulation and consistency. DISCLAIMER: This rotor was purchased with my own money. This video is not sponsored. All observations are based on hands-on inspection, testing, and the publicly available product listing at the time of filming. Carbonova giveaway: Unfortunately the giveaway ended 11/03/2026 at 17:00 GMT Carbonova pre-sale: https://www.carbonova.cn/ - Going live in the next few days Pre-sale for limited Founder’s Edition of 100 sets worldwide will go live 15th February. The pre-sale units will receive a 15% discount on the final retail price. Final retail price: -140mm rotor + 2 compatible brake pads: $279 per set -160mm rotor + 2 compatible brake pads: $299 per set Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 00:36 – Context 01:24 – Marketing claims 02:18 – Construction 04:35 – Siroko sponsor 05:23 – Testing 10:02 – Cost, durability, & performance 11:31 – Weight 12:22 – Summary 13:30 – Carbon-ceramic disc giveaway Intro roll: Created by Dev Joshi - http://www.go2dev.co.uk Instagram:   / tracevelo   Email: [email protected] 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!!!