New ebike conversion kits offer up to 60 miles of range
Swytch has announced the release of its own electric bike, priced at £999, two new Max conversion kits designed to take you further, and a new rear hub motor.
The ebike conversion kit brand has big plans for 2025, following the success of the original Swytch kit, the lightweight Air system, the Max and the value-packed Swytch Go.
The new Max+ and Max++ kits are designed to bring the convenience of the bar-mounted Air and Max designs in line with the frame-mounting Go kit, while adding a bright ring light to the casing for 180-degree visibility on the road.
The Swytch Go Bike will become one of the cheapest electric bikes on the market when it is released next year. It’s a unisex seven-speed design with an aluminium frame and disc brakes.
Max+ and Max++ kits
The new range-topping Max++ ebike conversion kit uses a case design that fits more cells than ever. The battery capacity is upped to 370Wh, putting it on a par with lightweight ebike systems such as Mahle’s X20, found on electric road bikes including BMC’s Roadmachine AMP.
The Max+ has a 280Wh battery with a claimed range of 20 to 40 miles, a step up from the basic Air and Go systems (90Wh & 180Wh respectively).
The Max+ battery pack is compatible with Swytch’s existing quick-connect bar-mounting system, making it easy for existing Air or Max owners to upgrade.
The two new Max options are available for order now, with delivery commencing in January. Swytch tells us it has already received 2,000 orders from existing customers.
New rear hub motor
Swytch is also now offering Swytch kits with a rear-hub motor. The new rear hub can be supplied with either a standard or thru-axle and is compatible with both rim-brake and disc-brake bikes. The rear motor also includes an integrated pedal sensor.
Swytch Go Bike
In what could be considered a strange move for a brand built around converting existing bikes to electric assistance, Swytch is set to launch an electric bike of its own in 2025.
The Swytch Go Bike is based on the entry-level Go system and is a lightweight unisex design. The aluminium-framed, disc-brake equipped, seven-speed bike is set to retail for £999, making it one of the cheapest ebikes available.
Swytch CTO and co-founder, Dmitro Khroma, explains: “One of the key reasons our customers love their Swytch bkes is that they keep the feel and ride of their original bicycle – the Swytch system is so light and unobtrusive that you still have a [regular] bike, unlike most budget ebikes out there that end up heavy and not pleasant to ride.
“We challenged ourselves to develop a quality, lightweight bicycle, that is a great bike to ride without electric power, but with the added assistance of a Swytch system, so you get a bike, and an ebike, for a really great price,” Khroma says.
How to install Swytch conversion kits
The Swytch system requires you to order a replacement front wheel for the bike you want to convert.
It’s then simply a case of replacing the wheel with the 250W hub-motor equipped Swytch wheel. You then run a cable from the hub to the power pack, fit the pedal sensor and click in the battery, and you’re good to go.
Similar systems are available from fellow UK brands Cytronex and Boost. Fellow UK startup Skarper has launched a click-on, click-off system for sale this week.