Swytch provided me an eBike conversion kit for review and consideration. All opinions are my own.
If you’re shopping for electric bikes, stop right there and check out this eBike conversion kit from Swytch. It’s the best of both worlds!
If you live in a city or have visited one, chances are you’ve seen a rack of electric bikes. If you’ve ridden one, you know they can be fast, smooth, and fun. And expensive. But you definitely can see the appeal.
Your brain might be thinking, “I’d really like an electric bike but I already have a nice bike. And I don’t need two bikes. But sometimes I’d really like that extra power. And yet, sometimes I just want to ride my regular bike.”
What’s an eco-conscious person to do?
Swytch has an option for that jumbled brain – the Swytch ebike conversion kit. I had a chance to upfit my 22 year old Schwinn.
Did it really bring new life to an old, but perfectly good bike? I’ll let you know exactly that. But before we dive in, let’s cover a few basics.
eBike vs eBike Conversion Kit – what’s the difference?
I’ve dabbled in electric bikes and test ridden a few at some automotive events. Keep in mind this is NOT an electric motorcycle. This is simply a power-assisted bicycle. It’s great for longer distances (like commuting) or tackling big hills (like where I live).
If you’re thinking about going electric, you’ll want to know the difference between an eBike and an eBike conversion kit.
An eBike is an off-the-shelf purchase. Everything is wired, nice and neat, and ready to be charged and ridden. But you will pay a hefty price tag for that. The price varies by eBike but expect to pay a minimum of $2000 all the way up to over $6000. You’ll also find that eBikes tend to weigh a lot more with an average weight of around 54 pounds.
They do, however, look really cool. So if you’ve got the space and the coin for an additional bike, go for it.
If you’re more like me, you’ve got a good bike that has a lot of life left in it. Why not take what’s old and make it new again? Most eBike conversion kits provide a motor, a controller, and a battery (some companies sell batteries separately so make sure you know what you’re getting when you price it out).
The conversion kit lets you use your own trusty bike which can easily be used as a standard bike or an eBike. And the cost is a fraction of an eBike purchase price.
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 will say that the entire process was easy, if you know your way around a bike and can follow instructions. I recruited my husband to help me and it took us a few hours to complete the process. But once I hit the pedals, I was in love.
What is the best eBike conversion kit on the market?
Since this is the first eBike conversion kit I’ve ever used, I’m not qualified to say if it’s the best. But I’ll tell you what I love about it.
It’s lightweight (2 kg = 4.4 lbs) and when mounted doesn’t affect the stability of the bike (I was worried about this).
It’s fast with a top speed of 15 mph. I have no idea how fast I went but was satisfied with the lowest power!
It’s goes far (35 km = 21.7 miles) although I suspect most would be using the electric capabilities for shorter, around town purposes.
Even if you’re riding 20 miles to work, it’s then easy to remove the battery, take inside with you, plug it into the wall (the charger looks very much like a laptop charger) and be ready to ride 20 miles back home.
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
- Overall rating: A
- Product design: B+
- Product quality: A
- Value: B+
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!
