Robert electrifies his bike with SWYTCH's conversion kit | 100% Independent, 100% Electric
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2024
- LIKE if you would like to 'electrify' your bike and SHARE if you'd like to see people switch away from cars where possible. Full description below...
The Swytch conversion kit can transform any pedal bike into an electric assist bike and they kindly gave one to Robert to help him face his cycling nemesis - Salter's Lane! The kit is easy to use and the simple system will double the power of your existing bike. Could these kits be the answer to getting more people to use the bikes they already have? And more importantly - will Robert make it up the hill? For ease of reference, use the timestamps below.
To find out more about Swytch, head here: www.swytchbike.com/
Fully Charged is 100% independent thanks to RUclips Memberships (join above) and Patreons (join via / fullychargedshow .
Online news, views & reviews: FullyCharged.Show
LIVE exhibitions in USA, UK & Europe: FullyCharged.Show/events
Twitter: / fullychargedshw
Instagram: / fullychargedshow
Timestamps
0:00 Take One Ordinary Bicycle
0:58 Hill Climb Challenge
2:22 Unboxing the Swytch e-Bike Kit
2:59 Creating Converts
3:13 The Boys from Swytch Bikes
4:03 Uphill Struggles
5:08 Works on any Bike
6:51 Costs of the Conversion Kit
7:28 Vital Statistics
8:59 First Ride & Riding Style
10:15 Accessories including Throttle, Brake Sensor
11:21 Steep Hills & Sedentary Cows
12:01 One Handed Release & Recharging Times
12:35 Reaching the Summit
13:12 Subscribe & Support
#ElectricBike #ElectricBicycle #ElectricBikeConversion
#Swytch #SwytchKit #SwytchBike #SwytchReview #SwytchConversionKit #SwytcheBikeKit #Brompton #BromptonConversion #EBike #EBikeConversion #Micromobility 
Наука
LIKE if you would like to 'electrify' your bike and SHARE if you'd like to see people switch away from cars where possible. Full description below...
The Swytch conversion kit can transform any pedal bike into an electric assist bike and they kindly gave one to Robert to help him face his cycling nemesis - Salter's Lane! The kit is easy to use and the simple system will double the power of your existing bike. Could these kits be the answer to getting more people to use the bikes they already have? And more importantly - will Robert make it up the hill? For ease of reference, use the *timestamps* below.
To find out more about Swytch, head here: www.swytchbike.com/
Fully Charged is 100% independent thanks to RUclips Memberships (join above) and Patreons (join via www.patreon.com/fullychargedshow).
Online news, views & reviews: FullyCharged.Show
LIVE exhibitions in USA, UK & Europe: FullyCharged.Show/events
Twitter: twitter.com/fullychargedshw
Instagram: instagram.com/fullychargedshow
*Timestamps*
0:00 Take One Ordinary Bicycle
0:58 Hill Climb Challenge
2:22 Unboxing the Swytch e-Bike Kit
2:59 Creating Converts
3:13 The Boys from Swytch Bikes
4:03 Uphill Struggles
5:08 Works on any Bike
6:51 Costs of the Conversion Kit
7:28 Vital Statistics
8:59 First Ride & Riding Style
10:15 Accessories including Throttle, Brake Sensor
11:21 Steep Hills & Sedentary Cows
12:01 One Handed Release & Recharging Times
12:35 Reaching the Summit
13:12 Subscribe & Support
Love you guys so much for keeping us entertained . ❤
I can so relate to this!
Even with electric assistance I usually get home panting like a dog.
Do that two times daily and in 8 weeks you do that at minimum help. That is the benifit for your body, just, regularity is key with it.
Did you see all the comments from people who've been doing the same thing for years for a fraction of this insane price? Might be more useful to your subscribers to cover the cheaper options. Maybe invite some of the people commenting here to advise you and show off their much more capable and cheaper conversions. A nice how-to episode covering _all_ the options. Love the show in general.
@@AndrewHelgeCox not everyone is bicycle savvy, you might be but the majority is not. If the kit were off the shelf, so what?
If it includes all parts, an easy to follow instructions and in the English language it might well be worth it. But to it under the bus 'because it is made cheap in China and everyone can order parts there' makes no sense as an argument to buy or not buy something.
"As you can tell, it's made a huge difference" As he gasps for breath...
Kryten needs a battery upgrade :-)
TO be honest he might also get out of breath with a fast walking pace. If he uses the bike 3 times a week for a month or 2 that will go away and he feel much better. This isn't a great electric bike system but if he gets it for free might as well use it.
@@irish-medi-weed-grower5240 I guess they may have done, but interesting the 'boys from Swytch' just happen to be on hand to help with it ;) This is basically a promotion rather than a review. No comparison with other ebikes or balanced opinion of the cost in the market. Fully Charged has been going this way for quite a while now which is a shame.
the gasping is due to the thin air on top of the 8000feet mountain!
He probably could have fell back on the electric motor more if he had wanted to, but chose to do as much of the work as he could.
Can't believe how wobbly you ride a bike, Robert ^.^
It's the Cotswold beer
Riding at too low a gear.
The battery is in the worst possible place. That much weight high up and on the bars makes it unstable.
@@waynerussell6401 That is true, but I've seen Robert ride wobbly on other ebikes on the show ^.^
he needs a proper motorcycle.
I was right there with you until they said it was over 900 quid.
£500 if you pre order and wait 10 weeks wasn't it.
@@bobmuir5811 Yes, but once it's available to buy off the shelf will be nearly £1k - I predict they won't sell many.
The sales strategy is based on the "Kickstarter" model. The cost is kept down by people Pre-Ordering and waiting for their kit. The £900 figure is for stock kits and they are clearly not encouraging that as after several large batches successfully delivered, they are still saying there will be some stock soon! £500 is the price most people pay BUT beware there is also Import Duty and VAT to pay which takes a standard kit to around £625. The kit is very well made and packed and the fitting is easy if you have a modicum of mechanical ability. I fitted mine to a Moulton TSR which has a very strange bottom bracket form and required a special mounting block (which I designed and made) to install the pedal sensor at the correct distance from the magnet disc. However I could have bodged it with some "Sugrue" or epoxy filler which is what many seem to do. I get to keep a very nice and favourite bicycle while getting the extra assistance I find i need for enjoyable cycling in our hilly area. After sales and technical support is generally responsive and helpful too.
@@bluesmoon3 Mine arrived just today. Excited to get it fitted. When I test-rode the new version, it cut down my usual 25 minute commute to 8 minutes...insane!
@Jim Dunleavy. Fair comment but I wanted a supplier with a UK address and it so happens that the kit fills my specification pretty much perfectly. I a have an Alfine 11 speed hub and the motor hub looks almost the same which balances the bike's appearance very nicely. The battery pack also balances with the cotton duck daybed on the small rear rack. So its all good from my point of view.
Anybody is welcome to build or buy whatever "floats their boat" and this does it for me. Cheers!
Fair play Robert, that's quite a big hill. I feel knackered just watching you go up there!
Initially: "oh wow, this looks great, give me one!"
After hearing the price: "well why would you buy that?!"
Do you know the cost of an electric bike? With a 250W Motor and 400W Battery they're currently 2000+ USD, converting an already owned bike can improve the reuseability of already owned bicycles, plus if this enables some1 to drive less they'll be doing themselves a big benifit to their health & reducing CO2 emissions. Bike riding is one of the most efficient means of transporting humans
@@lghammer778 Don't know where you're getting your prices from, plenty of similar power/range bikes around the same price point, and with those you get the whole bike!
@@lghammer778 You can get an electric bike ("Carrera Vengeance E Mens Electric Mountain Bike - 18", 20" Frame", 317Wh battery, range of up to 40 miles) at Halfords for £1099 and sell your old one which will save you money.
@@lghammer778 Do you know the cost of an electric bike, seems not, this is a very low range, very low power kit for $1350USD before tax and the accessories to integrate it properly, throttle, brake interlocks ECT are all extras. highly overpriced to pay for a marketing budget.
Electric bikes also seem ridiculously expensive, TBH.
I don't understand the pricing at all. 999£ for a max 300£ product... Makes no sense xD You must not have any skills to use google if you actually end up buying that :D
Yep, before they mentioned the price I though £800.
Jog on Swytch, jog on.
cost me £300 for 500w rear wheel motor with 150 ah battery from china and 2nd hand bike with front rear suspension
Costs money to run a company and pay employees to keep the whole thing running and supply support. You're paying about half for the product and the rest for the company. Similar to just about anything you buy. If you want to do it yourself, no one is stopping you.
If you pre order....other wise £999_you listen
@Ross Bourne only if you.pre-order..other wise £999 ...cos i listened..
I modified my old bike 18 months ago using the Bafang mid-drive kit. Never looked back - it's frickin' awesome! Yep, it levels the hills and makes cycling fun again. I'm 58, and was a keen cyclist in my teens. Now I'm fit once again and 100km rides are within my grasp which they haven't been for a few decades. I'd recommend it to anyone.
Did the same thing, Bafang 250w kit that I run off power tool batteries (since i have a gazillion of them anyway)
I've had an electric bike for six years. The Li-Po battery has refused to die - or even degrade that much.
It has meant that I can still get exercise without risk of a heart attack. My aged knees aren't capable of making the hills anymore, but with electric assist (i.e. it doesn't do all the work for you), I can tackle any hill.
They aren't cheap and there is the worry that if you left it parked it wouldn't be there when you come back. But that's true of any expensive bike. Nice review Robert.
Love it, I really wanted to buy one, BUT the price point is too high, I could swytch to a new electric for not a lot more.
In reality, I think anyone who would get one would pre-order (which is what I did) and that makes it much cheaper. £400-£500 when you have a bike you like already was reasonable in my eyes.
@@adamtyson6809 Fair point, I just hate my bike :)
At pre order price it's excellent. I could not get an eBike cheaper. But not at standard price.
Love this channel and the insight he gives
My Husband and i both have these kits we got them for $500 the Eco Kit we love it now we can go up hills easier and without being out of breath when we get to the top of the hill we are enjoying them very much and the best part is we were able to use it on our Canondale bikes no need to buy another bike.
By God you where knackered you were wobbling up the hill out of breath, what a gift this is for me i was about to but this Swytch kit but now no bloody way . I thought you were going to pass out !!
Ebikes are fantastic, but both Halfords and Decathlon sell purpose built electric bikes with far better range for less money than this kit!
Yeah, but it's a new bike, a new E-bike, *this is aimed at already owned bikes that people really like.* Go find a good, not to heavy electric bike under 600€ ;) I've bought this kit so I can easily take on old road bicycle laying in my basement and then I have a 14 kg electric road bike this is plenty fast and very lightweight for an Electric bike *AND I can change the bike it's mounted on whenever I want*
(but yeah 1000€ retail is a bit much)
@@PierreLeCaillou Way to expensive
Look at ACTUALLY diy-ing it from eBay MUCH FASTER, MUCH CHEAPER and MUCH FURTHER *do it*
@@Louis-lu5wh where would I start? What do I need? I'm a city girl with no experience in bikes or electronics. 🤦♀️
@@jrambo7495 hi okay I will try my best to help so you can chose different options in terms of power and range. There is also hub and mid drive kits, chose a hub kit ( there is less mechanical knowledge required and it is cheaper). The main power options you have are 500w ( up to 20mph more so around 15 on its own power ), 1000w (up to 30mph), and 1500w ( 35mph, probably too fast ). I would suggest 500w if you are lighter and 1000w if on the heavier/taller side. you will need to purchase a battery, a charger with the same adapter and a kit with the rest of the necessary electrical components: speed controller, wheel with motor installed and some type of throttle, some kits include an lcd I think you should opt for this option as you can switch between modes more easily.
Notes:
-Make sure the wheel is the right size for your bike (oh yh you will need one of those too 😁)
-Make sure that the battery and charger are using the same voltage (the product name should tell you this eg. 52v).
-it would be beneficial for you to select a battery and charger set that is labelled 4v above that recommended on the motor kit, this won’t do any harm to your motor kit in any way but it will mean you get more range as the voltage cut off won’t cut power too early eg. When it says 48v use a 52v battery.
- there are a few installation vids on RUclips.
- There are two options for a throttle, one operated by your thumb and one like a motorcycle.
If you have any questions I haven’t answered or need any help along the way then I would be glad to help!
Good luck
for a couple weeks now I've been getting "This is a switch bike, and this is a switch bike" ads on youtube 👍 finally there's a review 👍
It seems they are charging us for those adverts, the price is offensive
@@tomnwoo Yeah, I did the math on these things ... I can buy a proper bike for about 200USD and the electric components are another ~200USD ...
@@Poxenium this motor laced to a rim retails for around £130-150. and a 0.25kwh batter will be around the £100-130 mark retail.. plus a handlebar bag for £20-60
I got an OhmCycle bike a couple years ago, quite expensive at $3600 on sale, but it has a 555 Wh battery (twice this one) and a 500W nominal (750W peak) motor that has torque sensors (so it feels like riding a real bike with powerful legs instead of just feeling the motor working separate from your input). Can go 28mph with pedal assist, has integrated lights, rack, tons of torque, and is absolutely silent and beautiful looking. Expensive, yes, but it's such an amazing experience that it feels like a bargain for how much joy it gives me.
Having seen this I ordered one and it has transformed my Specialized Road bike - right product right time ...
Robert: there's no way I could have done this without the swytch. There's no way.
Audience: Might not make it anyway.
"You can turn any bike into an electric bike now" according to the Swytch guy - true, but then you could do than years ago with pretty much the same tech they're now selling for an inflated price. I used a similar kit to convert a bike for my dad about 10 years ago, welcome to the future?
Yup people have been selling kits for years now.
I've seen a lot of self-converted monstrosities. Sure you can save a few quid by buying a cheapo ebay kit. If you're lucky the charger wont burn down your house. For this kit you're are at least getting customer support and what looks like a neat, well constructed conversion kit.
Yes, I could buy 2 electric bikes for the same price. This is ridiculous.
@@WholeWideWorld My Dad used to ride 5 miles with two kids on his own electric bike conversion. nearly 20 years ago now
But do those 'old-fashioned' kits have an app, social media accounts and paid shills?? See, Swytch is far better, so deserves to be 3x the price!
Congratulations Robert on making the hill! Great episode and thank you for sharing.
Wow £1000 for £200 of parts! i just bought a more powerful complete ebike system from ebay for £400, seems overly expensive
@Ross Bourne nearly £1000 pounds if you actually want it now, so they are selling it for £1000 , read properly
@Wooly Chewbakker Rules are for the adherence of fools and the interpretation of the smart, 250w is "nominal" power, so the power over an arbitrary length of time that creates an "acceptable" arbitrary temperature rise in the motor, there is nothing preventing a 250W "nominal" 3Kw burst drive line. None and i mean none, of the "250w" bikes on the market today are truly only capable of 250w,
@Wooly Chewbakker Laws, rules same thing, the facts still stand, Do you have a 250W bike? if so go put a clamp meter on a motor phase, take a phase current do the maths, and go hand yourself in, your 250w bike is not 250w, none of them are......you are not looking at the situation logically
@@tomnwoo Yes my legal nominal "250W" is also sold as a 350W in US and I believe these are mean values. When my bike is taking 15A full power from the regulator at 40v when the battery is fully charged , that makes 600W. I can believe most of that riding it.
@@andrewblake2254 Thanks for the reply, what you say makes sense, i think the guy above confuses the rating system for internal combustion engines which only reports the peak no matter how momentry, and the system for electric motors which Ebikes are legislated against which only considers the continuous operation capability, i think the old AA/RAC method used to do this for cars, where a 60hp car would have the dual rating for both the AA and RAC methods and would be a 12/20HP or similar, frankly i think the method for E Bikes is more honest but does allow for a really powerful Peak system still legal at a continuous 250w.
If I heard correctly, this does NOT have regenerative breaking. I rode an electrified bike in Key West back around 1995. It had a switch that allowed you to get a little bit of power, a lot of power (great for quick starts) and no power (which meant you were giving power back to the battery). I would use high power to start from and then switch to low power. I'd turn it off for breaking to give more back to the battery. If I thought the battery was getting low, I'd switch it off while cruising to put more back in. I got to ride around all day and had a grand ole time. :-)
Yeah, no regen braking. I wish.
So many online bicycle "experts" say regen braking is impossible to practically implement for bicycles, but I remember when similar naysayers were saying similar for cars, before the Toyota Prius came out. Some industries are remarkably stubborn and resistant to innovation and change.
A quick google search and you'll find a teen with a 3 part series doing some simple mods to add regen braking to his cheap ebike.
Meanwhile most ebikes with regen braking are all in the luxury category, +$4000.
Great stuff Robert, I did not know you could do that to a bike. Cheers to the Swytch team.
I paid 800€ for my first ebike with a 250W hub motor and a 557Wh battery (brandnew) 4 years ago. What we see here is an ultra cheap conversion kit, that you can buy everywhere at ebay or Amazon but those offerings incl. a more than 500Wh battery and a display for under 600€. To pay a 1000 bucks for this, is bullsh*t. They don't have it in stock and you should preorder and wait 12weeks? Just go and buy it somewhere else.
Second thing, a 250W hubmotor with a peak performance of 400-500W is not enough, to get you up on every hill - just look at Robert. If you're not that lightweight, dont buy a hubmotor, go for a mid drive. You can climb even alpine roads with a 250W mid drive, but not with a hubmotor. Even some smaller hills can be the end of your journey.
Why you should not buy a 250Wh battery? Just because it is too small to last. Like in every car the capacity will shrink down to 80% within some years. This battery is enough for maybe 25-30km so it will shrink down to 20-24km and when you need the peak power from an older battery, a small batterie will break down like your smartphone when it gets old. So get everything from 500Wh upwards and you will be future proof, or buy cheap small shit that gets hazardous waste within some years.
And just one safety thing, hubmotors in the frontwheel are the most dangerous position for a motor. This is not like you would think with cars. When the surface gets slippy and you drive with a motor in the front into a corner, your chances are very high that your front wheel loses tracktion and you get wheelspin with the high chance to taste the tarmac.
Yeah just spend 2000 and get a Haibike designed around a mid drive and 400Wh starting battery with bigger batteries available that slot in. They come alive offroad as it takes the slog of the big tyres out and greatly assists with hills and 15.5mph limit is less noticable, the fast sections are all gravity powered! I also have extra battery in the car for mutilple laps so I can go 5 plus hours continuous riding. Just awesome!
I have done 12.000 KMS with hub motors on the front wheel and I never experienced what you describe. Practice is much better than pure theory...
@Gus Johnson Um er, good lord! No need to be so rude - as long as another tree gets planted in it's place...
I've had quite a few ebikes - am totally pleased with my current cube 500Wh, but I immediately saw the niche for this for (for instance) converting my folding bike without much hassle and with a power pack to suit those typically shorter, often urban, often via train journeys. Advantages: all thought out beforehand, easy to install and well made battery pack. For £500 that is, not the full whack
Great review and well done for getting up that hill, although it still looked like hard work for much of it. Showcasing other electric bike would also be great. You could do a similar exercise that Maddie did from shopping around to buying and using and you could test ride them along the route you have just taken so we can get a comparison. Have a fun weekend and enjoy life
Easily the most harrowing & funniest Fully Charged yet.
I feel for you Robbie, I felt dizzy after riding up a steep hill a couple of years ago.
I got off and sat down then passed out and did a big face plant.
I need one of these👍
Yes Robert! Pedal to the metal. Great seeing cycling content becoming more present on Fully Charged, do cover more electric bicycles!
Breathe Robert, breathe! :D How did the assembly go? Seemed to cut a bit short there... ;)
I spent the entire video worrying about Robert crashing into the two young men trying to stay away from him. Steering in a straight line on a bike is not Robert's forte, but we still love him.
The battery is in the worst possible place. That much weight high up and on the bars makes it unstable.
@@waynerussell6401 For Robert but not the other 2 guys?
I love my bike. I got it for my high school graduation. I think converting it to electric assist will extend its usefulness to me considerably. I miss my long trail rides.
You're just a kid. Ride it unpowered for a few years before converting it!
Robert, you must have the cleanest, tidiest garage/man cave in the world. It's immaculate along with your installations along the wall.
Damn that is a beautiful landscape.
Electrifying your bike is a great idea. I wouldn't cough up this kind of cash, though... Mid-drive Bafang kits off eBay are cheaper and better.
Even cheaper if you avoid ebay.
@@kevinshort3943 You can buy bafang even in Amazon
Jeez I feared that Kryten was going to be up for decommissioning at the top of that climb!
“Pre-order” or as we used to say “order”.
Order implies that it is currently in production; pre-order is before they do a production run?
Pre-order annoys me too. It’s just an order 🤦🏻♂️
Yep. Pre-ordering is meant to sound more enticing. Like we’re somehow privileged to be giving them our money.
@@LostWaxProcess And since their production run is pre-paid for, they cut the price in half, essentially.
The difference is that 'pre-order' means that the product you are ordering is not currently in existence
£1000 is far too much for such a small ,underpowered kit, better off getting another brand such as Bafang.
I have a bafang bbs02 and a battery that will get me 50-60 miles easily and it cost me about £700
Ross Bourne That’s for a “pre order”, which is effectively made to order.
For a stocked product it’s £999. When they have stocks.
500 is to much and FWD ist terrible to drive.
Ross Bourne How about YOU listen properly and watch from 7:11 again
@@ReinhardSchuster Agreed, too much money, but it's 2wd, not FWD and its not terrible at all, the front pulling you in the direction you are steering works really well, especially in urban environments, the front climbs obstacles like curbs really well, have you ridden one?
3:55 That beach cruiser bike in the back, I would enjoy having that as an electric bike.
Yeah we’re can we get it?
Great video, the scary violin music whenever you cut the hill scenes was very amusing. Praise for the editor.
That looks like a great lane. I might have to go down there with me bike and give it a blast see how I do!
In 1994 Sinclair released an electric bike conversion kit called the Zeta, then in 1997 the Zeta II
Wow never hear of that, despite remembering the c5 (and my mates zx80, zx81)
Here in the UK it was called the Sinclair Zike. *Edit I didn't notice the 'conversion kit' before. Thanks!
@@gp8155 The Zike was Sinclair's electric bike, the Zeta was Sinclair's electric bike conversion kit
😯.....Insane prices...😯......
This kit and ones like it are helping to liberate thousands of over 60's by getting them out of their armchairs and into exercise and the open air, .........priceless !
@Ross Bourne You seem to work for them, £500 is daylight robbery
@@victorseal9047 Hardly. At this silly price point , weak components and not ideal design anyone would be better off buying a new electric bike, for only marginally more. Not to mention the faff and potential issues about fitting the kit.
@Ross Bourne
that's only a preorder price... 😔
@Ross Bourne if i go on-line i can get a kit like that for my bike for 200euros...they want 563euros...for that price, i can buy a new bike and a kit like that....and its not insane prices?!?!?!
700.000 subscribers. Congrats 😎
Great video , thanks for sharing....I want one ! Believe it or not this is a really good cost effective way of getting an electric bike especially when you consider how much you will pay for a purpose built electric bike new..
Swytch is so aggressive with advertising... Non-stop ads from them on RUclips and now it’s on Fully Charged...
“THIS IS A SWYTCH BIKE” 😂 Had to plan 3 sessions with my therapist to get that out of my head
Admittedly, as someone who did a lot of research and made his own eBike, this is one of the best "all-in-one turn-key" solutions I have ever seen. At least they are advertising a product that gets people to get outside and work off all the last 4 months of sitting inside...
Alexander Borsi People can buy a new eBike with a better battery and the same motor but integrated better, for cheaper(500-700€) than this “kit”.
@RTAVY73 But what if I already own a bike? That I like? That is the point of this kit, which Robert pointed out in the very beginning.
Also, show me where your 'cheaper' kit is.
Bit controversial but I really do think that the 750 watt limit they have in the USA makes a lot of sense and a 20 MPH limit. I think Robert could do with the extra Wattage.
250w is quite a lot, if it's all going onto the road ( i wonder if the the front wheel arrangement is less effective) . i'm a pretty fit road cyclist and on a long ride i'll average 200-240w and that'll get me around at an average of 16mph ish. 750w is 1 horsepower and is really just a motorbike. I think there is a strong argument for adding a category of electric scooter that is cheap to insure and is speed limited to 30mph and has to use the road (not shared routes with pedestrians) .. but that's a different thing
@@mralistair737 I have to disagree that 750w is really nowhere being a motorbike as if you convert cc to hp or horsepower then about 14 to 17cc = 1 hp. Now 250 watts may seem good for someone who is slim and fit but for larger people it really is not enough. The thing is you can get up to speeds of 30 mph going downhill on a standard bicycle so is it really that dangerous to up the limit to 20mph?
the power limit: minimum or maximum - i thought it was maximum limit, but then the "i think rob could do w...." part made me confused.
**edit:** oh, so its maximum allowed limit. okay, got it
@@baconbuttties it doesnt really matter what the cc is.,remember the bike is a lot lighter than the motorbike, wth tiny brakes, no helmets etc. All i know is that pedalling with 750w would get me moving at about 30mph on the flat, and it's equivalent to me sprinting absolutely flat out.... now even with a 20mp limit I think that's too much for people to be using on the sort of shared pedestrian cycle routes we have in the uk.
by the way i meant you could have both, eg you might have one category of 250w bikes.. like "shoppers" and one whcih could be 1kw mopeds for longer distances / road use.
Pre order is the way to go. I have one and it is fantastic
I added a mid-drive kit to my bike, and its brilliant. I have about a 10KM commute to work, but its up a huge hill, about 1500m. Once I realised how easy it was to ride into and out of work, I cashed up my carpark and barely use my car for any local commuting or quick trips to the shops. One lone range test I did just over 60KM on a charge. Ive now done 2000KM on the bike.
Mid-drive kit FTW ;-)
£999 for a 250w motor with a battery the size of a fannypack
No way anyone is gona buy this
Yeah, you can buy 2 electric bikes at this price
This is what I call "City Pricing Bias" it's vastly inflated over the cost of a Chinese DIY motor, vastly underrated in terms of power and range and aimed squarely at wealthy, but non-technical 30-something city dwellers who just want something that's plug and play without all the hassle of having to read indecipherable directions, also slightly cool and trendy and a recognisable brand associated with it. I guess if one can afford that fancy Macbook pro, a BMW 7 series and a three floor townhouse, then this would be "affordable" to them.
I was thinking the same thing. The price is outrageous!
Cost me just over £500 with the upgrade and brake sensors but you have to pre order prior to a new campaign for that pricing I think. For a kit that could move if you change bikes or if you have an expensive (or in my case cheap!) bike that you'd love to keep using it's great.
@Ross Bourne You've been spamming this comment so much, anyone would think you have skin in this game.
Listen properly: £500+VAT and duty is *still* far too much to reinvent this wheel.
£1000? Are they taking the pish? It's possible to get an entire bike with centre mounted (on the crank) 1000w motor for not much more. I doubt the supplied wheel will be great quality. Also can anyone think of a worse place to put a (relatively) heavy battery? The COPENHAGEN WHEEL is also a much better solution; like Swych, they send you a wheel, but all the gubbins is inside the wheel, battery, controller, the lot. You just change the wheel. It's all controlled via an app,
@fullychargedshow (Robert), what is the make and model of your bicycle please?
Robert is starting to feel like an old friend to me. It'd be great fun to hang out with him!
also... I could use a bit of help on my bike as well. :D
The price... I'm out. :(
I love motorized bicycles! Be warned though, it’s a gateway to moto addiction. 🏍🖤☝️
Dorian Demetrulias I know, electric car, electric bike & electric scooter! Electric lawn mower next!
@@humphreybradley3060 We've been using electric lawnmowers for 20 years.
Built my own hotty, based on a 20" wheel folding frame, with mxus rear hub. Slightly naughty power wheelies and 31mph on the flat. Beats most off the traffic lights, which I see as safer. And ridden as just pedal assist around 80-90 mile range. Love it 😁
@@humphreybradley3060 Robert's done a video on electric, battery powered lawn mowers already.
Although, perhaps you were joking.
Dorian Demetrulias It can be used as methadone to ween a recovering moto addict away from his 1000cc super bike
Fitted mine a week ago and it was very worth it.
I tired following the process but my Nintendo switch won’t stay connected to my bike.
I considered getting myself one of those last year when they were doing another kickstarter / indigogo campaign but even with the "early bird" prices I really couldn't justify the cost of a kit when I don't really use my bike much in the first place (I walk a lot) and wasn't sure this would make me use it more. It's a great idea but really quite overpriced.
Call me sceptical but how do you have a bike in England with no mudguards?
You're sceptical
he doesn't commute on it or use it for any essential trips.. so he doesn't ride when its wet. the south of england is pretty dry compared to a lot of places
Common myth , England isn't actually that wet, and most of the rain is in the west side of the country, with the east being relatively dry. NYC gets more rain than London.
Easy, they're just not there! Ta da! Most bikes in the UK don't have mud guards.
Must be an American question
Well done. Creative, fun, informative. Excellent
2:30 Robert rocking Nike Lunarglide 7, those shoes came out like 5 years ago. Good to see you're being sustainable with your shoes. 👍
Or buying them after the price has dropped a bit? Doesn't make sense to buy the lastest fashion just because it's cool, makes more sense to look for what you know works well at prices that don't mean you're paying for just a name. Case in point, I recently bought some long sleeved t-shirts - some from Marks & Spencer and some from Asda. They look like exactly the same item, made from the same sustainable cotton, and probably from the same factory in Bangladesh. There is literally no difference between them in quality, but the M & S version cost twice the price of the George version from Asda (the UK's version of Walmart). Sometimes you really are just paying for a name.
I am in genuine awe at how clean and empty your garage is.
The only problem is that it costs more than a comparable new electric bike...
A grand and then you've got to fit it yourself?! Sod that.
£1000is a bit steep. I was interested in getting one of these for my wife's bike. They do look really well put together, but I can get her a whole new electric bike for £900.
Other kits include the accessories like brake switches and throttle and they're cheaper, it's a rip off
@@stue2642 you can get a foldable one for 400€ here...
Cor they seem like a wonderful team at Swytch. Well done all
My bike has a hub dynamo, and that would be replaced with the kit. How will the light then be powered? by the battery?
Also, I understand, thet rolling is more effective than regenerating, but in city-driving with lot's of traffic lights some kind of adaptable regen would be nice...
(But those things would make the kit less easy to install, I think...)
Have to agree with many nearly a grand is far too expensive. Even at Robert's age if he tried cycling up that hill about three times a week eventually he would be fit enough to do it easy. A good reason not to get fit for a grand. If this was on Dragon's Den they wouldn't invest...surely.
Yes get fit, electric bikes are not green and the 250watts isn't much when you consider the extra weight of the bike. 250watts isn't enough power for an overweight cyclist to climb hills but it's a help obviously.
Yes get fit, electric bikes are not green and the 250watts isn't much when you consider the extra weight of the bike. 250watts isn't enough power for an overweight cyclist to climb hills but it's a help obviously.
I’m always amazed when someone who doesn’t want or need a product finds it expensive, and a person who has decided they ( in this case need assistance,) don’t see it so. Also, can you place a price on it, if it encourages you to be out in the fresh air exercising especially for the over 60's !
@Ross Bourne Sorry you're rigt £500 if you pre-order, if you can't then it is a grand because when I looked on thier website it said 50% off if you pre-order.
@Ross Bourne you can buy a better kit on Ebay with accessories far cheaper than this, blatant rip off
I don't see the point in having an electric motor that just helps. On the flat, I can pedal myself, up a steep hill, I want the motor to do all of the work.
When I built my electric bike, I didn't bother with the pedal sensor.
because the law requires it. pedal assist keeps it classed as a bicycle, without that you are a motorbike and need to be taxed, insured etc etc. not saying it's sensible, but that's why they do it. a lot of the kits are hackable so that you dont have to. plus even when going up hill putting in the same minimal effort will save a lot of batter power
Ditto. I did exactly the same thing. I've never been pulled over in the two years I've had it but I am usually peddling (very slightly) anyway. So it would be impossible to tell.
I’ve been helping SWYTCH defend ebikes on FB today. My wife and I have our ebikes over 3 years now. She broke her neck 30ys so and we live at the top of a hill....it has helped her immeasurably.
All most at 700K, congrats!
I just converted my mountain bike with parts from ebay and aliexpess for well under £300.
1kw battery 250w to 1000w rear wheel , throttle and brake sensors included..
It's faster and longer range than this kit.
It would get me up that hill easy peasy.
What switch are doing is to be applauded by keeping it legal and reaching out to the masses with aggressive advertising but honestly there are plenty more options out there worth considering.
As for front wheel motor making it all wheel drive I would take rear wheel any day over that, front wheel has no weight on it during acceleration and will spin out if you are not careful, losing traction on front wheel especially during cornering is bad and you will be on the floor instantly.
Unfortunately "any bike" does not include mine, or any other that has through axles.
what search term fetch the correct images??
@@yash1152 "thru-axle bike" or "through-axle bike" gives relevant results on google for me, if I interpret your question correctly. This type of axle is standard on modern mountain and gravel bikes.
@@Drubbered
No way you should be even thinking about putting this on a bike with a through axle !!
That would be a half decent Mountain bike, and you would be wanting a mid motor for those "Mountains".
Wonder if the battery box could be made to work on my back rack as it’s too unsightly to me on the front.
I'm all for it. I bought a cheaper slightly more powerful motor from eBay with the capability to restrict it to 250W. I have explored so much more on my bike than ever before.
If you think those prices are a bit steep (they are) have a look on eBay for some really good cheaper alternative kits; this isn't the only way to convert your existing bike despite what the video makes out.
The problem with a lot of the kits available on Ebay (and other sites) is that a lot of the sellers are not in the UK, so you have very little protection under UK law. Add to that the fact you have to pay import duty AND VAT to the price you pay and they're not as cheap as they look. I still think the Swytch is over priced though. And that battery is tiny, and in about the worst place you could put it. And no UK stock at any point, so obviously drop shippers. IF they pay the import duty and VAT, and IF their customer service is second to none, then MAYBE their product is worth £500 (if it's particularly well made). Still isn't going to do what I need though, no where near enough range.
An entire electric bike with a better battery and the same but properly integrated motor, on Decathlon, costs 700 Euros.
I just pity the people that get tricked by a pretty logo and drop so much money on a 0.25 kWh battery...
Indeed. Hub kits have been around for years. 5 years ago I got a 1kW magic pie 5 for £400 and ten 5Ah 6S lipos (1.3kWh) for another £250. Got a couple of a 1kW server psus for £50 and a 1kW lipo charger for about £80 and can charge at up to 30A in less than an hour. Since made a 1.8kWh battery from 224 used laptop cells for free. Scrapped and sold my cars, and have done easily 20,000km on it since.
Heard of the internet ? Most people search on there then make a choice, and also it’s like buying an EV it’s often a recommendation from an owner of one, or advice from Fully Charged !
The advertising campaign was enough to put me off
I have balance problems. Would this possibly work on a recumbent trike?
As entertaining as it was informative! Great sense of humour 😄. I would have liked to have seen the actual installation of the Swytch wheel as some people have had difficulty with that. I am considering purchasing a Swytch kit for an old bike which I will use for errands around town as I am a bit leery of locking up my fairly expensive e-mtb while I shop.
CHEAP at 1/3 the price.
Did you intentionally never show the actual motor, or any of the hardware in any detail? Of course, that's the only interesting part.
Maybe if people see the actual parts they might realise how cheaply they can get them if they cut out the middleman.
Poor Robert was running out of puff trying to do that interview while cycling up that hill.
Was very mad with their customer "service" but after persistence got what I needed. I'm happy with the kit (I bought 2) though the range was overstated it's OK.
Really a great Vedio sir ..... switch is great ....it should be launched globally all over the country
You sure you've given him the same battery...he seems to be struggling along.
2 young men ride up a steep hill with a man old enough to be their grandfather and you say something like this. Nice
@@fullychargedshow i was joking! Love Robert and he's in good shape! I can delete my previous comment if you prefer.
Poxy little battery, poxy little motor, way way too expensive!
I could see that being useful for someone horribly out of shape. (like me) I live in FL where there are no hills, but I get tired trying to go any distance at all. This could help get a few miles in.
In the USA, you're allowed much more powerful e-bikes, practically motorcycles in fact, with no need to pedal.
Can they make it such that pedaling or maybe even the rotation of the wheels recharges the batteries?
I was looking at this product a month or so ago. It's tempting, but I'm not sure I can afford even the £500 for the pre-order one at the moment, and certainly couldn't afford the £1000 version. So I'll just have to stick to driving to work for now. At least I drive an EV, though.
Or buy a used ebike - better components, integrated design and much better quality.
Think the motor is a bit faulty by the heavy breathing from Robert ....still looked like hard work ,😓😓
Enjoyed this video 👍 and Robert I enjoyed your DIY segment too😁 and I too have my Hill - Demon its Palmetto Ave I used to be able to ride up it easily now days I can't.
As someone who is getting back to Bicycles I stopped riding Mountain Bikes due to knees and Shoulder injuries the Electric Pedal Assist Bicycles are bringing the enjoyment of bicycling back. LOL and no more Mountain Bikes I'll stick to urban streets and bike paths.
I got a Giant E Bike on order I want to get it painted matte black sometime in the future.
I also want to use it for errands, my grocery store, pharmacy and favorite taco place are all about a mile and a half away the bike with panniers and a rack I'm all set.
Maybe now I can keep up with those Road Riders in their fancy Spandex.
I should start the OMB Old Man on Bike group.
Great video. Thanks. And some test and achievement!
Just trade in your old bike at Halfords, don't wait 12 weeks and pay the same price for a new electric bike?
Never buy a bike from Halfords.
Um, having followed fully charged for many years, this is the first bit of kit that looks thoroughly unappealing and very overpriced. I am fortunate to own an e-bike (which I love!) but find it hard to believe anyone would part with so much ££ for so little.
Fun AND educational. Thank you !
Did they actually put a motor in the backwheel of the penny? I can see there's something with the hub but I'm not sure.
Love the idea - But that price is eye-watering. Especially when you can get a conversion kit or whole e-bikes cheaper. Please don't just become an advertising outlet
I got one through their last pre-order campaign and it arrived during lockdown, I paid less than half the price described in the video. I was looking at conversion options and it was the best one by my measure, lots of people in these comments talking about ebay kits but the Swytch was a smaller and more attractive package and I'd had the chance to test one.
07:00 Wait 10 to 12 weeks while we drop ship it you mean
10 to 12 weeks? Yeah right... I ordered one of the ‘Tour’ packages (100km range) in October 2019 & still haven’t received mine yet?! I have been told it’ll be November 2020 at the earliest?! The am FAR from impressed... 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️😩😡
@Ross Bourne haha so he invented brushless motors. You lot make me laugh.
Well done Robert. Good effort.
I was an early adopter of this kit when I made a pre-order at the Cycle Show in 2018 for £350, to go onto a £1000 brompton retail bike, knowing it would be about 12 weeks delivery from manufacturing in China, at a very compelling price. I did indeed get the order in around 13-14 weeks.
You have to have an air or expectation with this conversion kit, it is marketed as fit any bike, but there will be bits you need to modify, or bodge, it can't just fit the nuance of any bike, but it will in theory. I had to shave down the thickness of the PAS sensor to fit it in. The wheel is the easiest bit.
I also like how the old larger chemical battery kit was not mounted in this feature, the very new Lithium battery pack featured.
Unfortunately, not something you can buy through Cycle to Work schemes being a mod-kit.
8:15, hello birdie.
I'll stick to my Fiido D2s, folding, pedal-assist, electric bike - less than 1/2 the price of that conversion kit.
This is a 10 year old idea that swytch's is selling at what seems like a very high price! (can afford to make for half price!)
Also as a keen mountain bike rider this kind of front wheel hub drive is the worst for steering feel and overall balance of the bike. Notice Robert was struggling to keep the bike in a straight line.
Thats probably because Robert is rather unfit. Rather than the mechanics of where the drivetrain is...
Get well soon, Sir
After heavy Workout..😁
Whoa, I loved my Trek Soho in the years I've owned it, sadly its stolen in the city. Best bike I've owned so far.