Hardcore cyclists often balk at the mention of electric bikes, but that doesn’t negate the fact that there’s a market for these pedal-assist types of transportation. What if you could keep your pedal bike, and have the option to convert it to an e-bike when needed?
Swytch Bike provides a solution with an easy-to-install conversion kit. The world’s smallest and lightest e-bike kit lets you convert your bicycle into an electric-powered one, saving you the cost of buying another bike.
Swytch Bike: Snapshot Review
I was particularly interested in this kit for a few reasons – ease of installation, savings from not having to buy a separate e-bike, and the flexibility to change between my road and mountain bikes. In the end, I was completely satisfied.
Assembly took a couple of hours, after reading the instructions and various pertinent details on the website, plus watching some short videos. Once started, everything was fairly simple. Basically, it swaps out your original rim for one included with the kit, before putting the tube and tire back on. Hooking up the battery pack with the handlebar connector and pedal sensor is easy, too, and it’s a cinch to uninstall and put on another bike.
Going the Distance
I was able to get a full day of riding with distances up to 60 or 70 kms, and I used it mostly for inclines. On flat surfaces, I put it on the lowest level to save power. Overnight charging is the best option; you’re ready to roll the next day, so it’s ideal for day trips. And the ease of removing the battery pack makes it great for short stops to pick up stuff, or do a quick food run. Unlike traditional e-bikes with those clunky battery packs on the frame, this kit is small, sleek and simple, and is all you need to add extra power to your ride!
Product Specifications
The universal kit is easy-to-fit, both rim and disc-brake compatible, and works on both road and mountain bikes. All kits are built to order, allowing you to customize the hub motor to fit any rim size and parts in the kit are user-upgradable with no special tools required.
There are two tiers of specs for the Power Pack – ECO and PRO, both of which offer 5 levels of power assist, and are easily removable when locking up outdoors. The PRO contains higher-capacity cells increasing speeds from 35km to 50km with no added weight (1.5kg for both). All in all, this is a super light conversion kit that won’t slow you down.
The Swytch Bike Kit
The Swytch Bike kit includes everything you need to convert your bike, including a complete motor wheel in any size, built to order. Simply take off your old wheel and replace it with the new Swytch motor wheel, fit the pedal sensor by the pedals, and put the connector onto the handlebars. Then, click on the power pack and you’re good to go! Installation takes 10 minutes and you can Swytch instantly between bike and eBike thanks to the patented quick-connect bracket mechanism and removable lightweight power pack.
Any size wheel can be ordered and custom made, however, the most common 26″ and 28″ wheel sizes are typically in stock. There is a 1-year warranty, and lifetime support on the kit, Pre-ordering your kit in advance can save you up to half the price. Watch for specials on the website.
Here is the complete installation manual with power pack instructions here.