Warning: Catastrophic BXT Carbon Frame Failure on Second Ride (Split in Half at 20mph)
I purchased a carbon road folding bike frame directly from them on May 21. On my second ride using this frame, it suffered a catastrophic structural failure and split completely in half while I was cruising at approximately 20 mph in a smooth, dedicated bike lane. There were absolutely no major obstacles, potholes, or impacts prior to the snap. The only feature on the road was a standard, minor pavement bump measuring less than an inch. The frame simply buckled and tore into two pieces under normal riding stress. The sudden collapse threw me hard onto the pavement, and the handlebars violently struck my chest before I rolled onto the pedestrian sidewalk. Nearby riders stopped and offered to call 911. My spouse ended up transporting me directly to the emergency room. After multiple X-rays and CT scans, I thankfully escaped internal organ damage or fractures, but I suffered intense physical trauma and an expensive hospital bill. I contacted BXT for a refund and provided them with on-scene photos, detailed close-ups of the fractured carbon tubing, images of the cross-section walls, and my redacted hospital documentation. Their customer support is demanding that I provide video footage of the active ride and the crash occurring, which is a completely impossible and unreasonable requirement. They are completely denying responsibility for a life-threatening manufacturing defect. I have attached high-resolution photos of the frame cross-section at the fracture point. To those experienced with carbon manufacturing layouts, you can see clear inconsistencies and voids/thin spots in the carbon walls that likely caused this failure under minimal load. Avoid BXT. Their quality control is non-existent, and riding one of these frames is an immediate safety hazard. If you are currently riding one, please inspect your tubes carefully.