what do people think?
am quite tempted to get one so as to keep up with the kiddos.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Swytch e-bike kit
(15 posts)- Started 3 years ago by SRD
- Latest reply from SRD
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Posted 3 years ago #
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Looks nice and simple to install compared to the usual Chinese kits you find online. At that price though you may as well buy an entire electric bike!
Posted 3 years ago # -
I considered a conversion kit for an old bike a friend offered me for free, but as @crowriver says they're either shonky or quite expensive.
In the end I took advantage of the Energy Savings Trust/Scottish Government ebike loan scheme(interest free, repaid over up-to four years, each household can get up-to two ebikes at up-to £3K each, or one up-to £6K ecargo bike) instead - takes about a month to go through the process, but it's pretty painless, and I trust my Gazelle more than anything I could have put together :P Might be worth considering.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I will doubtless get a gazelle when we have somewhere to store it. But couldn’t carry it up 3 flights of stairs.
I am tempted by the Ribble gravel e bikes.
I have a chance to get the swytch kit for ‘half-price’ (I guess closer to their Kickstarter price?) Later this week.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Oh aye, if it's in the 500 quid range that gets a lot more appealing.
And yes, heavy bikes and flats aren't the best of friends, I can just about haul mine up to the 1st floor I can definitely understand why you find the idea unappealing with three flights.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Have you considered this system - http://www.velogical-engineering.com/velogical-velospeeder---standard-motor-for-bicycles-retrofittable ?
Posted 3 years ago # -
I got a switch kit (at the discount price) and it is quite good. I got it after my partner got a proper e-bike with Bosch mid-drive motor and managed to do uphills faster than I could without assistance. The kit isn’t as powerful as the ebike or so smooth to respond. On the bike the power from the motor is proportional to it power put in to the pedals. With the kit the power comes on at whatever level I have chosen as long as the pedals are turning, even if they aren’t turning fast enough to be powering the bike. So if someone else is setting the pace and it is less than the motor speed I have to stop pedalling or switch down the power level. The bike with the kit is lighter than the proper e-bike, and cheaper and still handles much as it used too. A disadvantage of the swytch bike was the long time between ordering and delivery. But when part was faulty it was replaced very quickly, arriving in the post next day.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Half price for the Swytch sounds like a good deal. That would then make it more attractive to retrofit to an existing bike, a bit like fitting a dynamo wheel I suppose.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thanks @slowcoach and everyone else
Posted 3 years ago # -
Ordered the pro kit for £624 on the 2nd of June, still waiting for it to arrive. @slowcoach I didn't realise the power was discrete rather than continuous and based on pedalling speed. Seems a bit of a shame. Although when I had an electric brompton (it failed & got refunded) I found I would cycle at super high cadence to keep the power coming through as much as possible. A habit I have continued and now occasionally get mocked for on non-electric bikes...
Posted 3 years ago # -
I have just ordered that too. Sounds like it will arrive just in time for our rainy autumn weather...
Posted 3 years ago # -
@toomanybikes The discrete power level is only a minor inconvenience, and only when using little power. The swytch has different power levels which can be set via buttons on top of the battery pack. Most of the time one of the two lowest settings was fine for me with occasional high for steeper hills - we’ve managed up 15%-20% gradients ok. It can be turned down to zero assistance and back up again, which is easier than holding the button down to turn it off or on. More details on their website eg manual The battery is fairly easy to remove which has pros and cons for security and convenience.
I also have a Revos friction drive on another bike, which has less friendly controls. It is either on or off, and to change between them needs back-peddling about 2 turns- not handy if you start going up a hill before realising you need assistance. The LED to show if you have switched it on or off is down on the pedal sensor and hard to see. It took more work to fit to the bike than the swytch, There may be a different fitting to use with mudguards and avoid spray on your legs. The drive rubbing on the tyre makes a noise and causes some drag when off, so I have figured out how to have it disengaged normally and push it into place when assistance is needed.
@nobrakes velological kit looks to avoid the disadvantages of the revos kit but more expensive and maybe fiddly to fit?Posted 3 years ago # -
Have ordered the Pro kit as well - my wife has been making noises about coming on rides with me, but there is significant discrepancy in speed/range between her and I. Hopefully this will make help even things up (well, for 50km at least).
Posted 3 years ago # -
@slowcoach I’ve only read one review of the Velogical kit which said it was not quite as powerful as a standard hub drive kit, but if weight is a consideration I don’t think anything else will be anywhere near as light. I like the aesthetic of it too.
We have a hub drive on our tandem and a few extra kilos on top of a bike that already weighs more than 30 Kilos doesn’t really matter but on a lightweight bike I would be tempted to try the Velogical. I have a vague plan to turn my trike into an electric shopping platform, I might go with the Velospeeder.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Has arrived!
Posted 2 years ago #
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