The thought of converting an existing bicycle is alluring, but most e-kits I have reviewed don’t make economic sense. After talking with Lexie Lyng, who displayed her custom NISHIKI Road bike with a Swytch E-bike Kit at the Minnesota State Fair in the Eco Building, this may be an affordable solution for you.
Adding a motor to a bicycle is nothing new, from steam-powered experiments that evolved into gas and electric patents in the late 1800s. Today, there are many electric-assist motor kits available online. But are they cost-effective versus buying a factory-ready e-bike? Especially when you have a bicycle that fits you well, and your budget doesn’t allow you to buy a manufactured e-bike.
After riding her parents’ e-bike, enjoying the added range and the assistance going up hills, this was Lexie’s challenge. Living in Minneapolis, MN, commuting to St. Paul for work, and recently making a few significant home improvement purchases, buying a new e-bike was not a consideration.
Lexie’s e-bike kit choice
After seeing Lexie’s NISHIKI road bike displayed at the Minnesota State Fair, I met up with her a couple of weeks later to find out how she liked her Swytch Kit conversion.
Why did you choose a kit vs. buying a manufactured e-bike?
“Having made some recent household purchases, buying an e-bike was not in my budget this year. So, I looked online to see which e-bike kits would work for me, having a road bike that fits me well”.
How did you choose the Swytch Go+ kit?
“After looking at several kit options that range in price from a couple of hundred dollars to a few thousand. I selected the Swytch Kit mainly because of the price and ease of installation for the range I would get. However, if you plan to order the kit from Switch, expect to wait about 3 months”. According to their website, to keep costs down, they ask that you sign up for their waitlist to pre-order the kit, which is then delivered from a future production batch.
How hard was the installation
“It was pretty easy, once I received the kit. First, I read over the instructions, then replaced the front wheel on my bicycle with the motor wheel. Next, and the trickiest part, was attaching the pedal sensor to the crank. Followed by mounting the control/display module on the handlebars, then attaching the power pack to the frame. After connecting and securing all the cables and wires to the motor and sensor, the conversion was complete”.
After installation, how did your bike handle?
“A nice ride! Even though the motor engagement isn’t as smooth as my parents’ manufactured e-bike, I like it. Overall, the kit’s five levels of pedal assist blend well with my bike’s original gear ratio”.
Looking at the Swytch e-bike kit
According to the manufacturer, the Swytch Kit is a well-received e-bike conversion kit that provides affordable electric assistance for existing bicycles. Perfect for commuting and leisure rides, thanks to its lightweight, removable battery and easy installation. While not a substitute for high-performance integrated systems, the Switch is praised for its low-drag motor, which allows for everyday cycling when unpowered.
Swytch claims the kit will fit most bikes, is smaller and lighter than most, and has a road-legal speed of up to 16mph, with a possible range of 45 miles. And can turn most bikes into a fully functioning e-bike with just a few tools and a couple of hours.
However, users should be aware of its limitations, including the potential for wheel flop from its front-wheel motor, limited traction on rough terrain, less sophisticated control compared to dedicated e-bikes, and the possibility that it may affect your bicycle’s warranty, if you have one.
The Swytch Go E-bike Kit currently retails for $599.
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