Electric Bike Conversion Kits
Electric bike conversion kits
E-bike conversion kits can be purchased at relatively low cost and fitted to a standard bike to convert it into an electric bike. Prices start from around £400. Typically you get a front or rear wheel with an electric hub, a battery and a display unit to fit to your existing bike. They’re relatively complicated to fit yourself, but can be a cheaper option than buying an entirely new bike.
Amongst several conversion kits available in the UK a Swytch e-bike conversion kit is one. There are also;-
1. Bafang Mid-Drive Motor Kit and battery,
2. Alizeti 300C E-Bike System,
3. Tongsheng Mid-Drive Kit with Battery,
4. Rubbee X Base Model,
5. Pendix eDrive 150start,
amongst the best electric bike conversion kits
Advantages of an e-bike
Electric bikes dramatically decrease the amount of effort you have to put in while pedalling, meaning longer journeys or hilly routes are within scope for even the most tentative of cyclists. They don’t come cheap though – prices start at around £650 for a basic e-bike, but many cost upwards of £1,500. If you already have a bike that you love, you could also consider
an e-bike conversion kit.
This consists of a motor and battery unit that, once installed, give your bike the power to propel you forwards when needed. With commuting on crowded public transport looking unattractive, you can take the plunge and buy one. Read on to find out how easy it is to install, what it felt like to ride, and how to decide if this is an option that could work for you.
what you need to know before you buy e-bike conversion kit .
With a Swytch Universal e-bike conversion kit you get two main parts: a motor wheel that replaces your bike’s current front wheel, and – its main selling point – a quick-release battery pack that you mount on your handlebars. It also comes
with a cadence sensor to check how fast you’re pedalling and adjust power delivery accordingly. Extras you can throw in include a throttle (so you can accelerate without pedalling, but be warned this could mean your bike is classed as a moped) and brake sensors (so the motor instantly cuts out when you brake).
These are the main components of any e-bike conversion project; the key with Swytch is that they are all part of the same kit and work together seamlessly.
There are two battery specifications:
Eco – 35km claimed range
Pro – 50km claimed range
The battery adds 1.5kg to your bike’s weight, and the wheel a further 1.5kg. It’s available for a variety of wheel sizes (and if your wheel isn’t
listed, Swytch says it may be able to custom-make it), and there’s a kit specifically for Brompton folding bicycles.
How much does the Swytch cost?
It’s a surprisingly difficult question to answer. there is the Eco kit, which has a 35km range. costing £399 upon ordering, £25 for shipping and a further £91 of VAT and duty when the kit arrived in the country (all kits are manufactured in China), bringing the total to just over £515. Depending on which kit you choose, it could be more. Since September 2020 Swytch has charged the full price upfront so you don’t get stung by VAT and duty later on. You buy a kit direct on pre-order (or ‘crowd-shop’, as Swytch calls it). Production runs take place every two months, so if you sign up you’ll get an email a few weeks later that lets you get your order in. The company advertises a 50% discount for people who pre-order, you need to contact Swytch to get the latest details
How does the price compare with other kits?
It’s roughly on par with other branded kits, some of which can go up to £1,000, depending on the battery capacity, position of the motor and how cleverly disguised it is (some are made to look like drinks bottles). There are cheaper kits around on online marketplaces, but it’s very difficult to know how good the quality is, how safe it is or indeed when it will arrive, and there’s likely to be little support if things go wrong.
Delivery times.
From the moment orders are ‘locked’ – about a month after you place your initial order – Swytch gives a delivery window of 10-12 weeks.
Assembling the Swytch
As a means of reassuring inexperienced bike owners who are wondering whether they’re capable of actually fitting the kit. The answer is ‘probably’. I got there in the end, but problems can be overcome by plenty of Googling, YouTube tutorials, searching on the Swytch Bike Chat Facebook group. Swytch’s customer support services that, are very good for solving technical issues and sending out replacement and spare parts. The company also offers a free one-to-one video call service to get you going. In total
The key selling point of Swytch is that it’s a straightforward assembly process that should work with any bike, but whether you have a straightforward assembly experience is probably down to luck, your bike’s condition, your own level of experience with bike maintenance, and the specific quirks of your own bike’s original design.
There’s really no way of knowing until you receive the kit. The conclusion is not to have any big bike-riding plans for the first few days after you intend to assemble the Swytch, so you have time to troubleshoot any teething problems.
Riding the Swytch
Aside from its universality, the biggest selling point of the Swytch is its quick-release, handlebar-mounted battery pack. It’s simple to attach and detach, and the handle means it’s easy to carry around. Given it only weighs 1.5kg, I felt comfortable popping it into my rucksack once I’d reached my destination The battery pack also houses the controls. For the most part, all you’ll do is increase or decrease the amount of assistance provided by the electric motor from
levels one to five.
On most journeys on relatively flat streets you can kept the assistance level at two, increasing to three on moderate hills and four for steep or longer inclines where you would normally get a bit out of puff. Because UK e-bike regulations limit. motor speeds to a modest 15mph, the main benefit to electrical assistance isn’t extra speed but the effort you save when accelerating from a standstill and, as mentioned above, riding up hills. The net effect of this is that you don’t get as
hot or as sweaty when riding, and if you have any mobility limitations, such as sore knees or stiff hips, that would otherwise make cycling long distances a real chore, electrically assisted cycling makes taking longer rides feel much
more possible. It’s a true mobility enhancer.
How far can you go?
The range on the Swytch Eco seems to live up to its claims, based on a 13-mile round trip at a steady level three of assistance, the Swytch battery was down to just under 50% capacity. The claimed range is just under 22 miles (35km), so this seems to add up. It’s not the longest range we’ve seen (some full-size e-bikes can do up to 70 miles) but if you’re only going to be doing short rides around town or an hour’s commute each way, or even a day trip, it should be plenty.
Should you Swytch?
The Swytch is a relatively simple way to convert your bike, and its overall price feels reasonable for what you get, especially given it should theoretically fit almost any bike. While shipping was very slow, the rest of the experience with Swytch has been positive. You get online and phone support and a warranty, as well as helpful tutorial videos. The quick-release handlebar-mounted battery is the biggest selling point. If you love your current hybrid, road racer, trike or folding commuter bike but want to be able to go further without breaking a sweat, an e-conversion kit is the answer
I hope that this information is helpful to you.
Further Information available by
Email:- info@primaryelectrics.com
Mobile:- 07970889341
Please Note
This information has been replicated from Future Publishing Limited
Individuals carrying out the instructions in this guide do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement. There is a risk to safety if the operation described in the instructions is not carried out with the appropriate equipment, skill and diligence and therefore you may wish to consult a bike mechanic. Future Publishing Limited provides the information for this project in good faith and makes no representations as to its completeness or accuracy. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future Publishing Limited, its suppliers or any of their employees, agents or subcontractors shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information, provided that nothing shall exclude or limit the liability of any party for personal injury or death caused by negligence or for anything else which cannot be excluded or limited by law.