Swytch, the maker of some of the world’s best-selling ebike conversion kits, has launched its most innovative kit to date.
After announcing the Max+ last year, alongside a complete Swytch bike, it's now finally available to buy – and one has just arrived at BikeRadar for review.
The new Max+ has a large battery capacity, an integrated front light and a USB-C charge point, while Swytch is also emphasising the kit's battery safety technology.
The ebike conversion kit market is moving at pace, with the Max+ arriving hot on the heels of Boost’s Brompton-specific system, Cytronex’s new thru-axle rear-motor option and Skarper’s click-on, click-off kit.
However, concerns remain about unregulated and low-quality systems.
Bringing it to the Max
Like previous generations, the Swytch Max+ can convert almost any bike into a pedal-assisted electric bike, with a 250-watt motor and a top assisted speed of 15mph.
The Max+ promises an increased range of up to 40 miles from its 274.5Wh-capacity battery.
There's also a Max++ option, promising a boosted range of 60 miles.
The Max+ works by replacing a regular front wheel with a Swytch motor wheel (built at Swytch’s Norwich factory). The quick-release bar-mounted battery can be removed at the flick of a lever. If you remove the battery, your bike becomes a standard bike again.
Swytch's CEO, Oliver Montague, says this circumvents Transport for London's recent ban on non-folding ebikes, if a Swytch bike's battery is removed.
The Max+ is now in stock and on sale at £999.
Swytch Max+ first impressions
I’ve received two versions of the new Max+ kits for testing.
The first is built with a 700c disc wheel, which has found its way onto the Genesis Day One used to test the Boost kit.
The second is built around a 20in wheel for a Kansi folding bike. I’ll be following up with full tests of both options soon.
It’s a slick-looking system, with a substantial mount for the battery. There are cables to run to the front-hub motor and down to the pedal sensor, which makes your donor bike look somewhat different.
I’d like to see Swytch adopt a wireless pedal sensor, much like Skarper’s strap-on rechargeable unit.
However, I’m impressed by the Swytch kit's simplicity, along with the presentation, packaging, instructions and overall design.
The fitting of both kits is simple and requires minimal tools: hex keys, snips or scissors for the cable ties, a 17mm spanner for the wheel nuts, and that’s it.
The comprehensive and well-illustrated fitting manual helps things along, and it's good to see the kit ships in fully recyclable packaging, too.
The battery itself, with its built-in front light and side illumination, is very well thought-out. It's IPX6 waterproof-rated, which means it's tested by being sprayed with water at a rate of 100 litres per minute, at a pressure of at least 15psi, for at least three minutes from all directions. This should make it weatherproof for all riding conditions.
The inclusion of a USB-C charge port is most welcome, because it means the battery can double-up as a power pack, and its 272Wh capacity is enough to recharge an iPhone approximately 200 times.
Fitting-wise, it took 25 minutes to convert the Kansi folder and 35 minutes for the Genesis.
Stay tuned for full reviews of the two kits once testing is complete.
