The Swytch Go e-bike conversion kit solves the biggest challenge I’ve ever had with the Swytch Air: its limited diversity, making it a great choice for those who need to upgrade their electrically assisted motorcycles.
Easy to install
Provides power
Clear display
Complicated Buying Process
In 2023, I tested the Swytch Air e-bike conversion kit, which allowed me to convert my 30-year-old Trek into an e-bike. At the time, I liked the kit, but I struggled with two things in particular. : the ordering procedure and the limited variety of my changed e-bike.
Swytch is back with Swytch Go, which solves at least one of those problems. I tested the new Swytch Go formula for a few weeks to see how it compares to the original, and I must say I’m largely impressed. In fact, it’s a wonderful—and less expensive—option than buying one of the most productive electric motorcycles, and it would possibly just catch you to drag that motorcycle that’s been gathering dust in your garage and take it out for a spin.
The Swytch Go is only available on the Swytch website. It comes alongside the original Swytch Air, but while the Air works with classic and folding bikes, the Go only works with the former, due to the size of its battery.
As of this writing, you can purchase the Swytch Air Max for $449 or sign up for a waitlist for the Swytch Go. The base model Go kit costs $349 if you pre-order; If you need the demo optionally, they will charge you $30 more; It’s an affordable upgrade that I recommend.
Next, you need to decide on the battery capacity you want: the GB (187 Wh, 15- to 20-mile range) costs $349; the GB (281 Wh, range of 30 to 40 miles) costs $399; and the GB (378Wh, 45-60 miles) costs $475. Swytch sent me the Go, which turns out to be the most productive option for as many people as possible; Unless you plan to travel long distances, it will be more than enough.
Then you’ll need to specify when you’ll need your kit. If you need to travel until July, your total value will be $699; If you can wait until the end of July, it’s $499, and if you can wait until September, it’s just $349.
After you make your deposit, you’ll need to provide some information, such as the length of your bike’s wheels (16 to 28 inches), whether you have disc or rim brakes, and what kind of demonstration you want.
After filling in your credit card information, receive a confirmation email that will prompt you to purchase other add-ons, such as an accelerator. (You can also purchase accessories later on this page. )
Unfortunately, there is no link from Swytch’s online homepage to the order page, just a box to sign up for the waitlist. If you need to order the kit, please go to this Swytch ordering page. I still don’t understand why. Swytch makes things very difficult.
The installation procedure for the Swytch Go is very similar to that of the Swytch Air. First, you upgrade your motorcycle’s front wheel with the one included in the Swytch kit; You also want to install the inner tube and tire. Then, attach a sensor and ring around the crankshaft of one of the pedals, then mount the battery and display, and then tie the loose wires together.
In addition to its much larger capacity, the Swytch Go’s battery is much less difficult to install than the Air’s. The former requires you to mount it between the handlebar pliers and an Allen wrench; The Go’s battery simply attaches to your motorcycle with 3 Velcro straps.
In total, it takes you between 30 and forty-five minutes to set everything up. I found that the most complicated component was the sensor and the bushing that surrounds the crankshaft. To make Go indicate that you’re pedaling, you place a dotted ring. with magnets around the crankshaft; A sensor installed on your motorcycle then detects the magnets as the axle rotates and sends a signal to the motor. However, the sensor can’t be too close or too far away from the magnets, and spacing them well takes a bit of work.
While the Swytch kit includes a great set of tools, you want to get your own to remove the tire from your motorcycle wheel. Luckily, they’re pretty cheap – this set of 4 motorcycle tire changers costs $10 on Amazon, and any local motorcycle store deserves it. have a lot in stock.
The Swytch Go uses the same 250W motor as the Swytch Air, which is rarely the toughest in the world, but more than enough to give me smart assistance when I get on and off my motorcycle in the hills of my city – of which there are many. Although I had to pedal, the motor made it much less difficult to climb hills, especially when I was carrying my daughter on the back of the motorcycle.
Unlike e-bikes with torque sensors, it takes one or two turns before the Swytch’s motor kicks in, but that’s not a huge delay.
The small OLED screen (showing speed, distance traveled, and battery life) was bright enough for most situations. Two buttons just below the display allow me to adjust the engine assist point; They were easy to press, but try to mount them as close to your thumb as possible.
As mentioned earlier, I would suggest going for the Swytch Go battery, which has a capacity of 281 Wh and an estimated range of 30 to 40 miles. The initial Swytch Go has a capacity of 187 Wh, which is not much more than the Aire Swytch (180 Wh).
With the electric assistance at maximum, I rode the motorcycle for about 16 km and saw that the battery was drained by approximately 40%; extrapolating that would give me about 25 miles, which is slightly less than Swytch’s estimates, but still much larger than the Air’s 14-mile set.
Unlike the Swytch Air’s battery, which comes out of its holder, the Swytch Go’s battery is designed to stay in position, even if held in position by a set of Velcro straps. Fortunately, charging is easy: simply plug the charger into the Port on the front of the battery.
When I reviewed the Swytch Air, my two issues were its confusing ordering procedure and limited battery life. With the Swytch Go, the company solved at least one of the problems: autonomy anxiety, which now makes it a much more of a product.
As a bonus, the fact that the Swytch Go’s battery sits between the frame and not between the handlebars, means you have a lot more area to mount a headlight or other accessory to the front of your bike.
If you need to order the Swytch Go (and you can wait until September), you can get it with the battery and demo of the Go for $429, or $579 if you need it until July. That’s a pretty moderate value for a conversion kit, the maximum budget. If you have an old motorcycle gathering dust and don’t need to spend more money on a new electric motorcycle, the Swytch Go is definitely worth the investment and your time.
Michael A. Prospero is the American editor-in-chief of Tom’s Guide. It monitors all current content and monitors the site’s Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories. In his spare time, he also tries out the newest electric drones and scooters. and smart home devices, such as video doorbells. Prior to working at Tom’s Guide, he was a critical editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter for Fast Company, The Times of Trenton, and, eons ago, an intern at George Magazine. He earned his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked for the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. When you’re not trying out the latest running watch, electric scooter, skiing, or marathon training, it’s probably the newest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, much to your family’s delight (or displeasure).
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