One of the standout advantages of the Swytch Bike Kit lies in its ability to maintain the essence of your original bicycle. There’s no need to adapt to new handling quirks or unfamiliar gearing systems. The handlebars and tires respond just as you’ve always known them to. Should you prefer a ride without assistance, simply detach the battery pack, and your bike reverts to its familiar self—albeit with a slight increase in weight due to the wheel motor, approximately 2 pounds.
The Unique Sensation of Swytch Pedal Assist
The Swytch motor is ingeniously designed to be activated by a cadence sensor, which you install on your bike frame to monitor the rotation of the disc around your bottom bracket. While an optional throttle is available, it’s not designed for forceful launches from a standstill. You’ll typically need to rotate the cranks or pedals about 15 to 20 degrees before the motor engages, and its power delivery is more about smooth acceleration than an abrupt surge forward.
This characteristic means that when navigating through stop-and-go traffic or tackling trails, a bit of forethought regarding your gear selection is beneficial. If your converted bike boasts a versatile range of gears, this adjustment should be straightforward. However, if you’re considering a Swytch kit to fundamentally transform an inherently impractical bicycle into a practical one, it might not be the ideal solution. Swytch kits excel at enhancing, improving, and extending the capabilities of your bike, rather than completely overhauling its nature. Remember, riding a Swytch-equipped bike still involves pedaling and retains the fundamental feel of regular cycling. It won’t evoke the sensation of riding an electric moped unless you fully engage the throttle on long, open stretches of road.
Unleashing the Potential: Assistance Levels and Ride Quality
Once you’re beyond the initial start, the Swytch system truly begins to impress. It offers five distinct levels of pedal assistance. Even at the lowest setting, level one, you’ll immediately perceive a reduction in the effort required to climb hills, and each pedal stroke translates to a noticeably extended coasting distance. At level three, you’ll frequently encounter that distinctive e-bike riding sensation where you’re lightly spinning the pedals primarily to maintain momentum, unless you shift into higher gears for increased speed. I’ve reserved levels four and five for tackling particularly steep inclines and for experimental bursts of speed on long, unobstructed paths; in general, I prefer to conserve battery power for longer rides. For most cyclists, assistance levels one through three provide an excellent balance, amplifying the effectiveness of each pedal rotation and extending your riding range.
