If you're dreaming of an electric bike, but don't want to let go of your old bike, an ebike conversion kit might be the answer. The Swytch Kit lets you pimp your bike with a 250W front motor wheel, which can propel you to speeds of up to 20mph (32kph). Your mileage will vary, but under ideal conditions and with the largest power pack, you can reach up to 20 miles (32km).

Let's inspect the details to find out whether this ebike conversion kit is the right choice for you.

What's in the Box

The Universal Swytch Kit contains multiple parts. Our review sample arrived in two separate shipments, but your order should come in a single box. Here's what you can expect to receive:

• Motor wheel (optionally: hub-only if you want to keep your front wheel)
• Power pack with a handlebar mount and charger
• OLED Display with a mounting bracket (optional accessory)
• Pedal sensor and magnet disc/s
• Bracket spacers and zip ties
• Quick Start Guide

Our kit included two power packs: the Swytch AIR and the Swytch MAX.

You can choose your wheel and power pack size during the pre-order. When finalizing the order, you can add additional accessories.

Swytch Kit vs. Electric Bike: What's the Difference

The biggest difference between the Swytch Kit and an electric bike is that you need to supply the bike for the former. That's great if you already have a good bike, don't have space for a second bike, or want to spend as little as possible. Even if you don't have a bike yet, you could upgrade a cheap single-speed and still save money over an ebike.

On the downside, the range of the Swytch Kit is limited due to its lower battery capacity. At 90Wh and 180Wh capacity, the AIR and MAX batteries have a range of up to 10 miles (16km) or 20 miles (32km), respectively. Regular ebikes carry much larger batteries, and hence have a range between 30 and 100 miles (48 and 160km).

Larger batteries, however, translate into more weight. If you frequently travel with your bike or haul it up and down stairs, a heavy ebike isn't practical. At under 7 pounds (3kg) of added weight and with a removable power pack, the Swytch Kit keeps you flexible. You can even take the smaller battery on a plane.

Keep in mind, however, that the Swytch Kit motor wheel "only" has 250W of power. While that's similar to many ebikes available today, you can find models that go up to 1,000W. You'll need more power if you have steeper hills to climb or more weight to carry.

Finally, and possibly a deal breaker: you can't just go out and buy a Swytch Kit. You have to join a waitlist.

How to Buy a Swytch Kit

The first Swytch Kit was launched as a crowdfunding campaign back in 2017. The UK-based company has since maintained the crowdfunding mentality in that they only produce enough units to supply demand. And that's why you have to wait before you can pre-order your kit.

On the bright side, Swytch promises a 50% discount for those who join the waitlist. However, since the product has yet to hit mainstream retail, it's unclear whether the "full price" will ever apply. Either way, here's how the pre-order process works:

1. Join the Waitlist

   

   To get notified of the next product drop, head to the Swytch homepage, enter your email address in the bottom left, and click the Join The Waitlist button. Alternatively, you can click the Sign Up button in the top right on any page to bring up the sign-up form. All you have to do now is wait. Swytch is currently selling batches 4 and 5, due for delivery in March or May/June 2023, respectively; earlier batches have sold out.
2. Choose Your Kit

   

   When your time has come, you'll receive an email with an order link. You'll be able to choose between the Universal kit, which fits any bike, or the Folding kit. You can also select between the AIR or the MAX power packs. If you own an older Swytch Kit, you can order the Upgrade kit.
3. Pick Your Batch

   

   Later batches may come with a larger discount. Regardless of the batch you choose, you'll have to pay a deposit of roughly 40%. While your pre-order is fully refundable at any time before delivery, keep in mind that currency fluctuations might impact the refund amount.
4. Complete Your Order You'll receive an invitation to the Order Portal when Swytch is ready to finalize your order. They'll confirm delivery details, wheel size, and you can add accessories. Here are some things they asked me before shipping the review sample:
   • Does the bike have disc brakes, rim brakes, or another kind?
   • What's the wheel size?
   • What's the fork width and axle type (U-shaped, drop-outs, or a thru-axle)?

5. Pay the Remaining Balance Once you complete your order, you'll also have to pay the remaining balance, which includes shipping. When you receive your delivery, also be prepared to pay local taxes. While Swytch covers import duties on all current orders for some countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, you might still be responsible for local sales tax, VAT, or GST/PST/HST.

You can find more information about taxes, shipping estimates, and refunds on the Swytch Terms and Conditions page.

How to Install the Swytch Kit

Installing an ebike kit might sound intimidating, but with the Swytch Kit it's easier than you might imagine. The toughest part for us was removing the mountain bike tire and inner tube from our old wheel and re-adding it to the motor wheel. Fortunately, Swytch uses a front motor wheel, so you don't have to deal with the more complex rear wheel.

1. Required Tools

   

   In addition to your bike and the Swytch Kit, you'll need an adjustable spanner, hex keys, a tire lever, a bicycle pump, and scissors to shorten the zip ties.
2. Install the Motor Wheel

   

   Remove your old wheel from the bike, which might require loosening your front brakes or moving your disc brakes. Then remove the inner tube and tire from your old wheel and transfer it to the Swytch motor wheel. Now fit the new wheel into your bike's forks with the cable facing the side opposite the chain, and tighten the nuts. Finally, place the rubber caps over the nuts on each side.
3. Fit the Pedal Sensor and Magnet Disc

   

   Since the Swytch kit turns your bike into a Pedelec (i.e. a pedal-assisted ebike), it'll need a way to tell when you're pedaling. That's where the pedal sensor and magnet disc come in. The magnet disc attaches to the crank axle on the opposite side of the chain using zip ties. The pedal sensor sits on your frame and faces the disc. You'll have to line the sensor up with the silver dots on the disc. The gap between the two should only be 0.1 inches (3mm). When everything looks good, secure the sensor's cable with zip ties.
4. Install the Handlebar Mount

   

   Next, install the power pack mount on the handlebar, then plug in the color-coded cables from the motor wheel and pedal sensor.
5. Install the OLED Display

   

   Find a spot close to your dominant hand on the handlebar for the OLED display, as the display also controls the motor wheel's power levels. Installation is easy, but we had to find a larger machine screw, as our handlebar is apparently thicker than the average. Once installed, plug the display cable into the mount.
6. Add the Power Pack

   

   Open the mount and insert the power pack, bottom first, into the mount with the power connectors facing up. Close the clasp and ensure the connectors slot in correctly at the top.
7. Test Your Swytch Kit To make sure everything was installed correctly, turn on the OLED display by pressing the yellow power button. Now lift your front wheel off the ground, then press and hold the display's down button. If everything was installed correctly, you should see the front wheel spinning.

You can also arrange for a final installation check-in with Swytch through WhatsApp. The technical team will visually check your bike on a video call and answer any questions you may have. They will also tell you how to change the maximum speed.

Overall, we thought the installation process was smooth, thanks to Swytch's refined part design and clear instructions.

Riding With a Swytch Kit Bike: What's It Like

We tested the Swytch Kit on a few different trips around hilly Vancouver, BC. We rode a total of 43.7 miles (70.4km) with the kit turned on. Our average speed was 11mph (17.9kph), and the max speed recorded was 25mph (40.5kph). Here's how we experienced the Swytch Kit.

Weight and Noise

Riding with the Swytch Kit is a breeze. We barely noticed the added weight while riding, but the extra weight is obvious when carrying the bike. Removing the power pack can help. What surprised us was the lack of noise; the motor wheel is whisper quiet.

Operation

Operating the Swytch Kit is a smooth experience, too. Once you turn on the display and enter power level 1 or higher, it only takes one complete pedal revolution before the motor wheel kicks in. The motor power stops the moment you stop pedaling or when you exceed the maximum speed.

By default, the motor wheel will support you up to a speed of 16mph (27kph), though you can enter the settings and increase that to 20mph (32kph). Swytch's technical team will show you how to do this, but only if that speed is legal for ebikes where you are.

Range and Charging

The MAX power pack lasted us for roughly 11 miles (18km), which is far less than the advertised "up to 20 miles (32km)." However, we only used it on steep intersections and with the increased speed limit, which drained the battery more quickly.

The Swytch Kit comes with a charging brick and a proprietary connector. A full charge takes one hour for the AIR and 2.5 hours for the MAX power pack. You can also get a 3A fast charger for the MAX, which will reduce charging time to 1.5 hours.

Due to inclement weather, we didn't get around to fully testing (i.e. draining) the AIR power pack, but for the few miles we were able to test it, it worked just as well as the MAX.

Drag

Of course, you can ride your bike without a power pack installed or with the power turned off. This will naturally increase your range. The advanced brush-less geared motor also has virtually zero drag, meaning your bike will feel just like it did before you installed the motor wheel.

Should You Buy the Swytch Kit?

The Swytch Kit is the best solution for those who want to keep their bike or don't have the budget for a quality ebike. Once installed, your bike will remain lightweight, and riding uphill or far distances will be much easier. The 250W motor wheel is whisper quiet, produces zero drag when not in use, and you can achieve speeds of up to 20mph (32kph).

The two biggest downsides of the Swytch Kit compared to a regular ebike are the need to join a waitlist before you can pre-orderm and the limited range of only up to 20 miles (32 kilometers). The kit is pricey unless heavily discounted (presently up to 60%). You will also have to shell out extra for shipping (up to $200) and essential accessories, like an LED ($49) or OLED ($100) display.

Overall, we loved our experience with the Swytch Kit and that we didn't have to get used to a new bike. But if you don't have a bike already or need more power and range than the Swytch Kit offers, you might be better-off with a full-fledged ebike, like the Urtopia carbon fiber ebike or the Eskute Polluno City Bike.

When looking into other ebike conversion kits, remember that none offer the same quality and customer support Swytch does. Next to Swytch, the (second) biggest brand in the space is Bafang, but this company doesn't actually sell to consumers. Instead, you'll buy from a third-party seller who purchased wholesale from Bafang.