It’s the e-Bike conversion kit for the bike you already love

Every year, I seem to find one product that really fascinates me, and I can’t wait to try it out. Last winter, it was the Swytch e-Bike conversion kit to make an e-Bike out of my own trusty two-wheeler. As many miles as I’ve put on that bike, it’s becoming harder and harder to do the long rides and hit the hills as I used to do 35 years ago. Swytch was kind enough to send me a unit to test out, and although winter in Ohio prevented me from taking many rides, I’m already sold on the advantage of battery-powered assistance for anyone over age 50.  

As every senior knows, exercise is important. But, walking, and especially my favorite mode of transportation – biking – can be tiring if you live in a hilly neighborhood or like to ride on wooded trails. When I hit my mid 70’s, my heart and lungs take a deep sigh when they see me pulling my bike out of the garage.

You’ve probably heard of e-Bikes, so I’m here to tell you about the Swytch bike and why I think it beats the competition, hands down. ***Continue to the bottom of this article for special time-sensitive deal details you won’t want to miss.***

But first, what is a Swytch bike, and how is it different from the majority of other e-Bikes on the market?

Your bike – just better

Swytch kits will fit any bike – you send the measurements – they send the proper parts.

First, you can convert virtually any bike you already own into any e-Bike.   You start with your own favorite bike, and you end up with your own favorite e-Bike.  It’s now just faster and more convenient to ride.

When you buy a Swytch bike – you receive basically four or five components that convert your existing bike into an e-bike.  From the bottom up, you’ll get a pedal sensor that detects pedaling and energizes the motor.  You get the motor itself, already installed in a replacement wheel that slips into your bike’s front fork.  You get a mount for your handlebar that holds the pocketable-sized power pack and a throttle. You’ll have some wires to connect, and they all snap together as shown in a provided, detailed instruction manual, so you can make the conversion yourself.

Once it’s installed, you’ll have five levels of power assist while you ride. Of course, you can ride without the assist power and if you do, you’ve added only 5 pounds to the weight of your bike, so it will ride identically to before the conversion.  

Some people, looking for exercise, only use the power assist going up hills or when their endurance is running low. But when you turn on the power, the wonder of an e-bike becomes extremely evident.

As you begin to pedal, the-Bike picks up speed, far in excess of how much you are pedaling. Depending on the level you set, you can barely exert any energy pedaling, and yet the-Bike will be going over 15 mph.

Weight – the bike’s, not yours

Weight is the other big factor with many of the other makes I’ve tried. 

They seem to weigh a ton. Lifting these bikes could be enough to give yourself a hernia. Recall that with the Swytch bike, you’ve only added 5 pounds to the total weight of the bike you’re already used to riding.

Another big advantage of Swytch over other e-bikes is when you park it.  The battery can be one of the most expensive parts of an e-bike, and people don’t want it to be stolen. Also, most people, if they’ve arrived at work, will take the battery in to recharge it before the ride home.

Other e-bikes can have huge batteries that you’d probably not want to leave on the bike when you park it. Notice, in this article by Bikegrade.com, that the batteries can add up to 10 pounds just by themselves. Some, they say, will go over 20 pounds!

Swytch’s battery, in contrast, is pocket-sized – only slightly larger than a large smartphone and weighs just more than one pound.

Health benefits – seniors especially, take note

As an experiment, I asked ChatGPT to give me the seven top health reasons to ride a bike. You’ll see them here with my commentary. Note that Swytch seems to validate each and every one of them.

Low-Impact: Biking is a low-impact exercise that is easy on the joints, making it a good option for seniors who may have joint pain or arthritis. When pedaling with an e-Bike, you never again need to strain those muscles to get up that next hill.

Cardiovascular Health: Biking can improve cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate, improving circulation, and strengthening the heart muscle. Swytch differs from some other e-Bikes in that you must keep pedaling to keep the power going. You don’t have to pedal HARD, but you must keep that pedal cranking to keep the power flowing.

Strength and Endurance: Biking can help build leg strength and endurance, which can be particularly beneficial for seniors who may have decreased muscle mass or strength. Maybe we can be real here. If you buy an e-Bike that has a throttle like a motorcycle, where you don’t pedal, you aren’t going to build up any endurance. Just sitting on that seat, doesn’t do it. But for me, it means I can ride hard and when I tire out, I’ve got the Swytch to help me back to the garage or my car.

Bone Health: Cycling is a weight-bearing activity that can help improve bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Calcium and glucosamine are great supplements, but nothing takes the place of real exercise like biking.

Balance and Coordination: Biking can improve balance and coordination, which can help prevent falls and improve overall mobility. My doctor always asks about falls – a major concern in seniors. Whether biking or yoga, the more you practice balancing, the better off you are in your senior years.

Mental Health: Biking can also have positive effects on mental health by reducing stress, improving mood, and increasing overall feelings of well-being. Oh, I could go on for hours about this. I used to take hours-long rides when I was younger. With my panniers loaded with photo gear, there was nothing more relaxing than spending a day pedaling from one location to another for more photo opportunities.

Social Interaction: Biking can be a social activity, which can help seniors stay engaged and connected with others in their community. Riding with my grandchildren is something I just about never attempted as they could take off and leave me in the dust. Not now, little ones!

Who wants to save?

If you have been looking at e-Bikes or e-Bike conversion kits, you know you can drop a lot of cash for even those that aren’t proven and aren’t supported. Swytch is one I believe in, despite the short time I’ve had it. Their record is amazing for a relatively new company.

Swytch offers two models, depending on battery size and how far you need to travel between recharging. All kits come with a new wheel specifically made to fit your bike with the motor already mounted.

The smaller battery kit is called the AIR and comes with a battery rated for 15km (just under 10 miles). The larger model is called the MAX and is rated for 30km (just under 19 miles).

According to the pre-release information they gave me, at their next launch, the AIR will be available for under US$500 and the MAX will be available for under US$650. Both of those are 60% off their regular retail prices of $1,199 and $1,599 respectively.

Also, they’ll be offering multiple accessories to upgrade your conversion kits.  I’m already enjoying the throttle with an LCD screen, and I’m interested in adding a second MAX battery so I can get back to those day-long bike rides.

While they have shops across Europe already, they are deciding on a US location in New York City where you’ll be able to actually ride sample bikes with the kits already installed.  Watch their website in the coming days for that location to be announced.

In the meantime, check out their website today for final pricing and availability. I can assure you, that you’ll enjoy the ride.