Swytch has re-launched what it claims to be the world’s smallest and lightest electric bike conversion kit.
Weighing a claimed 3kg for the entire setup, the Swytch Kit is available now on Indiegogo with an early bird price of £322 / $394 / AU$584 / €359 still available at the time of writing.
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Swytch Electric bike conversion kit key specs
- Claimed to be the world’s lightest and smallest electric bike conversion kit
- Claimed 3kg total system weight (1.5kg for power pack, 1.5kg for wheel)
- 40Nm brushless hub-based motor
- 250W lithium-ion battery pack
- 35km, 50km and 100km claimed run time, depending on the power pack
- 3 hours to full charge
- Available for 700c, 650b, 26in, 20in and 16in wheels
The Swytch is a simple e-bike conversion kit that comprises just three components: the replacement front wheel, the power pack and a pedal sensor.
The power pack, which doubles up as the controller, attaches to your handlebars via a dedicated connector. An LCD screen on the top of the waterproof pack indicates range, battery life etc.
The bracket and pack are similar in appearance to a Rixen-Kaul Klickfix handlebar bag. A power pack designed specifically for a Brompton luggage mount is also available.
There are three power packs available, with each step up offering an increased range and more features: the Eco offers 35km, the Pro 50km and the Tour 100km.
The Pro and Tour packs also offer an in-built 500-lumen headlight, and the latter also offers nine different assistance levels compared to the Eco and Pro’s five.
The 15mm nutted wheel fits just as normal, with no awkward, oversized bolts to contend with. A cable running out of the non-driveside runs up the fork leg and is connected to the power pack.
The Swytch kit is available for 700c, 650b, 26in, 20in and 16in wheels and is compatible with both disc and rim brakes.
A pedal sensor is then attached to the non-driveside of the bottom bracket. This also has a wired connection to the power pack. This is just a cadence sensor, rather than a torque sensor. According to a comment on the Indiegogo campaign, a wireless version of the sensor (which will be compatible with the current generation kit) will be available soon.
A twist- or thumb-throttle is available for use in the US and other markets. This is not legal for use on EU roads.
From there, you’re good to go — simplicity is the core message of the Swytch and, on paper, it appears the bike can be converted back to normal with the minimum of fuss.
It’s worth noting that the kit appears to only be compatible with traditional quick-release/bolted forks, so you’re out of luck if you have a thru-axle fork.
Where to buy Swytch electric bike conversion kit
The Swytch kit first debuted on Indiegogo in 2017, raising $500k at the time. Since then, 3,000 kits have been delivered.
The brand has returned to the crowdfunding platform because it claims that by “grouping together hundreds of new supporters”, the brand will be able to “dramatically reduce manufacturing costs”. A similar business model has been adopted in the past by other established brands such as Knog.
Manufacturing of this latest batch of kits is expected to start in December 2019, with the delivery of the first 1,000 due in April 2020.
The kit is available now on Indiegogo, with the Eco starting at £322 / $394 / AU$584 / €359. This represents a 50 per cent saving on expected RRP.
