What is the Swytch e-bike converter?
The smallest of its kind on the market, Swytch’s eBike Conversion Kit is a very exciting innovation indeed. Easy to install, the kit is something of a one-size-fits-all for most existing bicycle models and only weighs 6.6 lbs (3kg).
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From mountain bikes to step-through bikes, this little kit will give the power-assisted biking experience you’ve been longing for.
For owners of foldable Brompton bikes, Swytch has a specifically designed kit for you too. Slightly different in design from the standard version, the installation and operation of the kit are basically the same.
You get all the parts and instructions you need, so no extra tools are necessary for fitting. The main motor comes packaged in a purpose-built wheel hub that replaces the normal front wheel of your bike.
Once your bike’s front wheel is replaced with the motor-integrated wheel, all you then need to do is attach the pedal sensor, and position the quick connect bracket on the handlebars for the battery pack. As soon as the battery pack is installed and connected, you are basically good to go.
Once fitted, you can continue setting the power level you want, and then start pedaling. The converter kit will then do the rest.
On the move, so long as the battery pack is installed, the pedal sensor monitors whether you are pedaling, or not. When it detects that you are pedaling, the power pack works out the optimum power to deliver to the motor based on the selected power level. As soon as you stop pedaling, the power pack automatically cuts the power to the motor to save juice.
Unlike purpose-built e-Bikes, the conversion kit is pretty light, it’s also fast.- very fast. Apart from the need to add extra cables to the frame, and attach the power back to your handlebars, this conversion kit gives you all the benefits of a regular e-Bike except you get to keep your old bike at the same time.
Like other e-Bikes, the kit really comes into its own on steep inclines, making the ascent quite literally a breeze. For flats and downhill sections, you can either coast along and stop pedaling, or manually switch off the kit via the control panels on the power pack.
All well and good, you may ask, but how much does the kit cost?
The standard retail price is around £999. But, you can also pre-order the kit every few months to fit your bike’s dimensions for a fraction of that.- usually 50% off. So what’s the catch with the discounted price?
Well, you’ll need to wait a few weeks for the wheel to be built and shipped out, that’s all.
What’s more, the kit comes with a 1-year warranty and lifetime ¨technical and customer support for life. The warranty covers any replacement parts or collection for repairs, and also comes with free live video support calls from Swytch’s highly qualified and very friendly engineers based in London.
The lifetime support does exactly what it says on the tin and is valid for as long as you own the conversion kit.- even if it is out of warranty. Once out of warranty, you will need to pay for any replacement parts, but will only be charged at cost.
What do you get with the Swytch eBike converter kit?
At the core of the kit is a special compact 29.5 ft-lbs (40Nm) high-torque brushless motor. This should be more than enough to propel most adults up 30% inclines with little to no trouble. What’s more, the kit comes equipped with a special controller algorithm that has zero drag.
The innovative motor is powered using a specially designed lithium-ion power pack. It comes in two forms, ECO and PRO. The pack sits neatly on a handlebar mount and can be easily removed for storage and safety.
The kit is designed to fit standard bike forks of 100 mm (3 and 15/16 inches) and is compatible with most gear types including derailleur and hub gears. Depending on your taste, the kit comes in a choice of silver or black.
The 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) powerpack has enough juice to power your modified bike up to a distance of 31 miles (50 km) and can be fast-charged in as little as 2 hours.
With regards to speed, theoretically, it can get up to 20 mph (32 km/h), but that will depend on where you live in the world and the legal top speed for using a bike. Bummer.
Can you customize the Swytch eBike Converter Kit?
Indeed you can. One of the best features of the Swytch eBike Converter Kit is the various customizable options and accessories.
For example, the swap-in motor wheel is built to your specifications as custom. All you need to do is give them your preferred, or required, wheel size, and Swytch will take care of the rest.
The kit’s wheel normally comes in a standard silver finish, but you can request one in matt black instead. This includes the motor (of course, rims and spokes of the wheel.)
There is a small fee for this particular service, but it’s worth it.
With regards to extras, the kit has some very interesting added extras. For example, you have the option to order a variety of handlebar throttles for the converter kit.
This comes in two main options:-
The former attaches directly to your handlebars and allows you to power the motor with a simple twist of your wrist. The latter, as the name suggests, uses a spring-loaded thumb lever to prefer the same action. This is the better option for handlebar setups with limited free space.
Another cool accessory is Swytch‘s purpose-built brake sensor add-on. If you want to maximize the range of your motor battery, this kit constantly monitors your use of the bike’s brakes. When it detects that the brakes have been applied, it automatically cuts off the power to the motor.- even if you are peddling. This accessory is great for adventure cyclists, or if you find yourself in slow=moving traffic.
The brake sensor is compatible with wired and hydraulic brakes too.
For those who plan on using their new e-Bikes over longer distances than the standard setup, you can also grab yourself a spare power pack. Buy as many as you need (and can carry) to immediately give yourself an extra 31 miles (50 km) on the fly.
So, if you don’t want to part with your old bike, but need a little help at times, you can’t really go wrong with this fantastic eBike Conversion Kit. What are you waiting for?
What it offers
As before, the motor sits in the front hub and when ordering from Swytch you have the opportunity to choose what size wheel you need. All the wheels are 36 spoke count, double-walled construction with a solid axle and they are available in either a black or silver finish. The 250-watt motor with a top speed of 20 mph is also unchanged.
The solid axle will work for either quick-release bikes or bikes designed for a bolt-on solid axle. It will not work for a thru-axle bike but that’s a limitation of hub motors in general and not specific to the Swytch kit. One of the biggest points of discussion in the first article was the potential for movement in the dropouts and the optional torque arm. The torque arm is an optional accessory designed to spread the load for lightweight carbon forks. There is a torque washer included in every kit that slots into the fork drop-out. None of these specs for the wheel or battery have changed at all since the last version of the Swytch kit.
The cadence sensor is also unchanged. Like many of the less expensive e-bikes on the market, the Swytch kit only cares that you are pedaling, and not how hard. I’ll talk about this a little more below but this isn’t a bad thing, it’s just different. The cadence sensor is what makes this work. The Swytch cadence sensor uses a magnet ring with a series of plastic bristles.
On the frame side there’s a sensor that registers the magnets passing by. The sensor is able to rock and just needs to be zip-tied to the frame so that it’s close to the magnet ring and always in the same place as the ring rotates. This is the hardest part of the system to install and it is still incredibly easy. Just check the clearance first and you won’t waste time installing and removing the ring.
The last piece is the battery and controller. This piece is what makes the Swytch system special, and it has been completely redesigned for the 2022 version of the kit. Previously, the battery and control scheme consisted of a handlebar mounted unit that looked like a front bag. Some units had a light on the front and they weighed about 2 kg. All the controls sat at the top of the pack and there were a series of lights to let you know battery life and power level.
With the 2022 Swytch kit update, that whole system is gone. Instead of the fabric outer with integrated controls, there is now a battery that weighs about half as much. It’s available in two versions that will either take you about 9-20 miles on one charge. You can get either version in a wide range of colors. The size is roughly 22.5 x 9.5 x 3.8 cm and there are no more controls built in. Instead of buttons on the battery pack, you can now access the modes, battery level, and current speed via a small display.
The battery is still removable, but that system has changed as well. The last generation mounted in the center of the bars with rubber spacers and an anti-rotation strap. The new unit uses metal spacers, lacks the strap, and mounting the battery involves sitting it on a small shelf then pressing the top down. The upper part of the mount connects the power as it clamps down. To remove it, just pull up.
If you wanted to upgrade your previous kit, all the connections are exactly the same. The cadence sensor and the wheel motor run up the frame and connect with a color-coded connection with only one possible orientation. The last kit had unused plugs and this one does too. The display fills one of them and there’s an optional throttle, either twist or thumb-activated, that will take up another. You could add a light to take up another of the plugs or a brake sensor if you are using the throttle.
How to purchase
After my previous review, I received a lot of confused messages about how to buy the kit. The company will tell you there’s more demand than supply and they are intentionally rewarding customers who are willing to wait by giving discounts. You had to sign up for the list and you could preorder at a discounted price.
Either way, the current situation for the 2022 Swytch eBike conversion kit is that it’s sold out. Existing waitlist customers will receive their pre-orders first and there is still room to pre-order for December delivery at a 50% discount. A third batch is also offered for a Jan/Feb 2023 delivery at a 60% discount. Unlike before, the whole system is now up on the website and pretty simple but Swytch is hoping that sometime in the first quarter of 2023 there will be enough supply to change over to a standard ordering process.
Right now the smaller battery complete kit is 1199 or you can pre-order at 499. The larger battery kit is 1599 and the preoder price is 649. If you already have an existing kit, you can also upgrade only the battery and control system for 799/324.
What’s it like to use?
Nothing has changed in terms of how it rides, and that’s a very good thing! And now it’s even smaller and lighter. The low weight and ability to use a small bike is a big deal for accessibility.
It’s really easy cruise along at a nice clip without doing much work. Given that the Swytch kit is cadence based, you’ll just need to keep in mind that it will feel less like you are a bionic rider and more like the bike is doing the work for you. A mid-drive, torque-based system, can almost feel transparent. It’s like you are riding a bike and happen to be incredibly strong but depending on your needs that’s not always best. A cadence based system is great for transportation replacement.
Verdict
Much of this section isn’t all that different either. Since the last review I put together one of the many Bafang based kits you can find on Amazon. As expected, it’s not nearly as slick as the Swytch. The end result looks like a science experiment. The Swytch kit is a more polished experience and also a better ride (depending on what bike you pair it with if course).
The challenge is that even though it works well, and the kit is now even more polished with the update, it’s still a kit. Given how of e-bikes are coming down, it’s not even that much of a discount — maybe even none if you pay full price! — and you end up with a bike that isn’t nearly as integrated. But what you get with the Swytch is the ability to install it on almost any bike. I personally haven’t put it on anything other than a pretty standard bike but there’s a lot of people who use them for things like trikes, kids bikes, cargo bikes, or just as a way to get a lightweight e-bike. If that’s what you need, Swytch makes a fantastic option.
Can any bike be converted to an eBike?
Yes! Most bikes can be converted to electric bikes. When Swytch reached out to me, I provided specs on my bicycle including bicycle model, tire size, handle bar configuration, and front tire fork. With this information, they provided me an eBIke conversion kit perfectly matched to my bike using a front wheel motor.
To install, I replaced my front wheel, added a magnetic pedal assist kit to one pedal, installed the battery mount on the handlebars, and off I went. My trusty Schwinn, purchased in 2000, suddenly became young and hip again.
How easy is the Swytch eBike Conversion Kit to install?
If you look at my photos above or even watch some of the videos out there for the Swytch eBike conversion, you’ll find that they make it look super easy. Ah, the magic of editing!
After providing all the measurements for your custom fit conversion kit, the box arrives with everything you need to convert:
Here’s the entire installation process if you’re like me and need the step-by-step help! (Also, you’ll hear the story behind my 22 year old bike!)
I love what this Swytch has done for my old Schwinn and they will continue to offer new options in smaller and lighter packages.
Swytch eBike Conversion Kit: Really Cool Stuff Overview
The Swytch eBike Conversion Kit can be a costly product but if you’re looking for an eBike, it’s much more cost efficient than a standalone eBike. And, right now, you can get a discount! Sign up for a 50% discount off a Swytch eBike Conversion Kit! The design is a little big and bulky (although it doesn’t affect the ride), I’m giving it high marks simply because it is lightweight and their newer version looks even better.
Be sure to check out all the Really Cool Stuff I come across!
What is it like to live with?
My cycle to work, which takes me around 45 minutes without electrical assistance, came down to just over half an hour with the Swytch kit. The time difference isn’t life-changing. But the big difference it makes is that I can arrive at work feeling refreshed from the cycle, not sweaty and out of breath. It also takes some of the pressure off my dodgy knees and makes longer cycles more doable. Turning the power off completely while you ride is simple, so it’s not hard to save battery on an easy stretch. When it’s turned off, thanks to the lightweight kit and the “frictionless” motor, the bike didn’t feel noticeably heavier than without the kit installed. The only time I noticed the extra weight was when carrying my bike upstairs – since the power pack and motor are both on the front, it made my bike a bit front-heavy. Though it’s a bit tricky to carry, it’s not a big issue for me, but something to take into account if you’re getting the kit due to injuries or disabilities that would otherwise make cycling inaccessible. One of the biggest issues I can see is that the power pack takes up all the space on my handlebars, leaving no room for a headlight. The Pro kit comes with a light built into the front of the power pack, but the Eco doesn’t. Both power packs have fabric straps on the front and top that you can use to add one, but you may have to buy a new headlight that can be attached this way.
Cycling with the Swytch kit doesn’t take much time off an average cycle, but it makes it more comfortable and a bit more fun. So the question is: would I spend £1,000 or more on it, or would I choose a complete electric bike instead? If I didn’t already have a bike I really like, I probably would choose a complete electric bike instead. That way, I can be confident that the bike is designed to have a motor attached, and would probably avoid the balance issues of adding an extra 3kg to the front. And for the same price as the Swytch kit, there are electric bikes out there that offer a similar range. But Swytch regularly run half price offers on their website, if you’re willing to join a waitlist. At half price, even the Pro kit would pay for itself in bus tickets in around nine months – and that sounds like a much more sensible investment. Given this price, I’d prefer to keep the bike I already know and love and give it a power boost than shop around for a completely new ride.
Other products to consider…
Bafang Front Hub Motor
Guide price: From £380 Like the Swytch, this conversion kit from Bafang has the motor in the front wheel. You can choose between different types of display and different sizes of battery. This kit is only suitable for bikes with disc brakes, and the £380 price doesn’t include a battery.
Rubbee X Base Model
Guide price: €579
The Rubbee X is a completely different kind of conversion kit. While the Swytch has a motorised front wheel, the Rubbee is a module that sits on your back tyre and drives it with a rubber flywheel attached to a motor. Because you don’t need to replace your wheel, installation is even simpler. You can change between Eco, Cruise and Power modes through the smartphone app. Though the range is limited to 16km, you can boost it by buying additional battery modules.
Bafang BBS01B
Guide price: From £360
The Bafang conversion kit places the motor low down on the bike, near the pedals on the bottom bracket. This makes it more stable than having the weight on the front wheel. The kit starts from only £360, but be aware that you’ll have to buy the battery separately, and installation will require a bit more know-how than other models.
Carrera Crosscity Folding Electric Bike 2020
Guide price: £999
For the price of the Swytch Eco kit, you can get a complete folding electric bike from Carrera with the same claimed range as the Swytch Pro. And there’s no faff in installing a conversion kit. Even this little bike weighs 18kg though, so if you’re used to riding something a lot lighter, a conversion kit might be the choice for you.
Looking for more options? Why not check out our roundup of electric bikes, tried and tested? Or perhaps you’re after some bicycle gadgets to pimp your ride? If you’re just starting out and are looking for information, check out our beginner’s guide to bike technology.
Swytch Ebike Dimensions
The most crucial question that clicks in our mind after receiving the motor wheel of Swytch is what size of the wheel a Swytch ebike kit can support. I was worried about this point also. It gets more interesting when Swytch claims that the Swytch ebike kit is made for every sort of bicycle. They have not just claimed it. They have tried their best to fulfill the requirements of this claim.
Swytch has launched a wheel with standard internal and external dimensions. Internally, this Swytch electric bike w
heel has a width of 20 mm. A 20 mm width is a standard dimension for any electric bikes wheel. This motor wheel also has a standard width of 20 mm internally. Externally, it is made of a 24 mm width. External width is also standard as most electric bike has a 24 mm external width. Swytch e-bike dimensions tell us that its motor wheel is compatible with almost every bicycle.
1) Hub Only Option by Swytch
Some people feel comfortable with their wheel of bicycle. They want to keep their last wheel with a conversion kit installed. So, Swytch has won the heart of many people by providing the hub-only option. This hub can be fixed on your already using wheel. It means that you will keep your rim and spokes.
Hub will be installed in the same rim and spokes. It can be installed easily. You can turn to the bicycle shop for this treatment also. It is not much technical to install the hub in your rim. As mentioned earlier, Swytch has produced an easy-to-install kit for every bicycle.
2) Swytch Ebike Height
Most people are confused about the Swytch ebike height. They are hesitant in ordering the kit due to height. People are afraid that Swytch ebike height might not be compatible with their bicycle. I was worried about this height issue also. I was having an old-style rusty bike. Old-style bicycles are a bit different from new-age bicycles.
Manual bicycles are also different in size as compared to electric bikes. So, it was a genuine concern for me also. I was stunned to see the Swytch ebike height. This excellent kit can manage bicycles of any height. Kit accessories are made with due diligence in case of height. I was impressed that these accessories can manage any sort of height. Although, the manufacturer recommends a 5 feet height.
Swytch Ebike kit for Bromptons
The second type of Swytch ebike kit is launched to win the total market in any manner whatsoever. Most people are confused about their Brompton. People ask only about their foldable Brompton bike is whether the Swytch ebike kit can be installed on a foldable bike like Brompton.
Swytch has taken care of people with foldable Brompton bikes professionally. The manufacturer has launched the Swytch ebike kit for Bromptons. Swytch ebike kit can be installed on Brompton easily.
1) Swytch Bike Accessories for Bromptons
These are the kit accessories that are part of the swytch ebike kit for Brompton. The only difference between the universal kit and the Brompton kit is the size of the hub motor. Universal swytch kit has a 100 mm hub motor. This 100 mm width is standard for the forks of manual bikes.
The Brompton ebike kit contains a motor wheel which has a hub of 74 mm fork. It is made in 74 mm to make it compatible with folding bikes. Mostly the folding bikes have a 74 mm fork at their front wheel.
Cadence Sensing PAS kit
The most important part of the swytch ebike kit is the PAS kit. A pedal-assist system kit is installed and connected with the power pack. These are consist of cadence sensors that help the power pack to understand the pushing power of the riders. These sensors are contactless Hall Effect sensors. They won’t make any noise whatsoever in their procedure.
These sensors have a quick response of 12 magnets in them. This quick response feature will convert the bicycle into PAS mode in no time. The PAS kit plays a vital role in converting any manual bicycle or Brompton into a pure swytch electric bike. over, the PAS kit is an easy fit split. That will be installed in quick time.
Swytch Bike Fitting Instructions
Swytch has made a bundle of videos on each accessory to make it easy for a consumer to understand. The fitting procedure of both kits is also available in their manual. Anyone ordering the swytch kit should check the measurements of their bike and kit.
Swytch bike instructions are available in the manual in detail. You can find the fitting instructions online on their official website in the shape of videos. over, you can call the technical team to join you for the fitting procedure. The technical team will professionally do your work.
Swytch Ebike Conversion kit Price
Swytch ebike conversion kit price varies from origin to origin. It also varies for different types of kits, i.e., ECO and PRO kits. It was launched for 500£ initially. Recently it has increased the price up to 1100£ for their different kits. People were angry about their price hike in no time.
But eventually, you should not be worried about the price. The official website of swytch is offering a flat discount of 50%. Don’t waste time and grab the opportunity to save 50% off on this beautiful item. It will have no time to convert your manual bicycle and foldable bicycle into a top-notch electric bike.
Swytch battery is durable enough to use about 1000 times. If you see a malfunctioning in the performance of the ebike, you need to change it. It can last up to 3 years easily.
You can add throttle in the Swytch ebike. You can choose between a twist and thumb-controlled throttle. It can control the motor wheel without using PAS (Pedal Assist Sensor) system.
Swytch ebike is waterproof. You can use it in light rain, but it is not recommended in harsh weather conditions due to the electric parts that can be damaged in extreme weather.
It takes two and a half hours to charge Swytch ECO and three and a half hours to charge Swytch PRO if you use Swytch 2A charger. A 3A charger will take around 50% less time to charge the ebike.