Bike Friday Electric Conversion Kit (Swytch Kit) for Sale

[Andrew P. Black]

In 2021 I bought an electric conversion kit for my wife’s Bike Friday Pocket Rocket.  She refused to use it because she said that it made cycling too easy!   I used it once or twice, when I was recovering from surgery and didn’t want to work hard, but didn’t want to drive.

The kit consists of a motorized front wheel (32 spoke 451 rim), a battery pack that is also the controller, a handlebar-mount bracket that lets you click-off the battery pack for charging (while leaving all of the wiring connected), a crank sensor that detects when you are pedalling and turns on the assist, and brake sensors that turn off the motor when you apply the brakes.  The brake sensors are not really necessary, since you normally stop pedalling when you brake, but I got them anyway, as a safety precaution.  The battery-pack includes a headlight, but it’s more of a “here I am” headlight than a “light up the night” headlight.

The kit I have is actually the “Universal eBike kit” from 2021; they also made a Brompton Kit, which mounts the battery pack differently.  Of course, if you wanted to use it on a “normal” bike, you would have to rebuild the motor into a “normal” sized wheel.

There are pictures of my kit here, on Flickr.  The SwychBike website from 2021 is here, in the Wayback Machine, where you can learn more about this particular kit.  I signed up ahead for the 50% discount, and the kit cost me about $860.  There have been a couple of new versions since then — I think that the battery capacity has been increased.

I was quite impressed by the overall quality of this kit.  It seemed well-made, the connectors are positive, and it was easy to install.  In particular, the bottom bracket axle sensor that detects whether or not you are pedalling assembles around the non-drive side BB axle, because it’s easy to access without removing any parts from the bike. (I think that it would be more elegant if it went on the drive side, where it would be less visible.)   If you install the brake sensors, it’s necessary to cut the brake cable housing.  If you have moderate mechanical aptitude, there should be no problem.

I would be happy to get $400 for my kit, including the wheel, to get it out of my worksop and into the hands of someone who will use it.   If you are a tinkerer, there are lots of useful eBike parts here.  I can ship it, if you are willing to pay for shipping.   Is there any interest?

Andrew Black

Portland, Oregon

[Andrew P. Black]

A small correction: the wheel is 36 spoke, not 32.