electrify my bike
January 22, 2022 6:37 PM Subscribe
As a long-time occasional bike commuter wanting to get a power boost on hills, last summer I ordered a Swytch ebike conversion kit for my Jamis Renegade link to pdf of specs. It finally arrived about 6 weeks ago, but unfortunately, when I finally opened the box and tried to install it, I found that it isn't compatible with my bike. The hub motor wheel will fit only forks with U-shaped dropouts, and mine apparently has 'thru-axles'. I would appreciate some help figuring out my next step!
Although this is my mistake, I am pretty disappointed with Swytch as the kit is billed as universal fit and in the FAQ where they mention thru-axles, they talk about them being only on high end mountain bikes which is definitely not my bike. Also, I am now way outside the return period of 2 weeks.
I don't have any other bikes that I want to convert: the Jamis fits me well, is comfortable, and personalized enough that I would like to keep it. The main thing keeping me from biking to work more often is the short steep hills.
These are the options I see:
1. Keep the Swytch kit, buy a new fork, and install them both. Pros: I get to keep using my bike. Cons: it will take time and money to fit a new fork, plus it seems super complicated to even find a fork that will be compatible with the bike, fenders, disc brakes, quick release etc.
2. Sell the Swytch kit, try to find a different conversion that will work. For example there are some that are installed in the bottom bracket, though they are also more complicated to install.
3. Sell the Swytch kit, consider selling my bike, buy a real ebike. Cons: expense, hassle...
4. Keep the bike, ride more, get more muscles.
5. Something else I am missing?
Any advice? I think I could sell the kit for a reasonable price on the local facebook groups as this is an area with a big cycling community. For reference I am in Maryland, US, and between us, my husband and I are reasonably skilled bike mechanics. (I used to volunteer in a bike coop but my time and attention are stretched more thin these days.)
Although this is my mistake, I am pretty disappointed with Swytch as the kit is billed as universal fit and in the FAQ where they mention thru-axles, they talk about them being only on high end mountain bikes which is definitely not my bike. Also, I am now way outside the return period of 2 weeks.
I don't have any other bikes that I want to convert: the Jamis fits me well, is comfortable, and personalized enough that I would like to keep it. The main thing keeping me from biking to work more often is the short steep hills.
These are the options I see:
1. Keep the Swytch kit, buy a new fork, and install them both. Pros: I get to keep using my bike. Cons: it will take time and money to fit a new fork, plus it seems super complicated to even find a fork that will be compatible with the bike, fenders, disc brakes, quick release etc.
2. Sell the Swytch kit, try to find a different conversion that will work. For example there are some that are installed in the bottom bracket, though they are also more complicated to install.
3. Sell the Swytch kit, consider selling my bike, buy a real ebike. Cons: expense, hassle...
4. Keep the bike, ride more, get more muscles.
5. Something else I am missing?
Any advice? I think I could sell the kit for a reasonable price on the local facebook groups as this is an area with a big cycling community. For reference I am in Maryland, US, and between us, my husband and I are reasonably skilled bike mechanics. (I used to volunteer in a bike coop but my time and attention are stretched more thin these days.)
Best answer: You could change the fork as suggested above but I’d would highly recommend using a LBS to make sure you are getting a suitable fork (same offset, steerer tube type, same axle width, etc).
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:21 PM on January 22, 2022
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 7:21 PM on January 22, 2022
In my estimation you can buy a reasonably good ebike for a lot less money than a reasonably good bicycle. Nowadays a grand will get you something quite serviceable. If that is something that interests you maybe do some poking around on electrek.com or another such site. Personally I would rather have an ebike designed to be an ebike than a conventional bike that has been converted. Good luck!
posted by jcworth at 7:48 PM on January 22, 2022
posted by jcworth at 7:48 PM on January 22, 2022
Best answer: I think it's very nice to have both an electric and non-electric bike (and electric bikes are less hassle and less likely to have issues than a conversion kit) and would recommend selling the kit and buying a dedicated ebike. If this is going to be a daily commuting bike, buying something that works smoothly and doesn't create any issues is going to be well worth the extra cost.
posted by ssg at 7:50 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ssg at 7:50 PM on January 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
One thing I see in the specs of your Jamis is that it has mechanical disc. I highly recommend that any bike with an assist should have hydraulic disc brakes. Nothing else will give you the stopping power. A lot of cheap ebikes come with cheap brakes. Please do yourself a favor and avoid those.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:33 PM on January 22, 2022
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 8:33 PM on January 22, 2022
Best answer: While I think disc brakes are necessary if not just from a "always works" standpoint, hydraulic doesn't matter and adds hassle. My mechanical brakes can lock up tires and you can't get more power than that.
My own opinion is conversions are fiddly to live with, but times change, maybe this one isn't, but if you were willing to buy one in the first place, don't let needing a new fork stop you. Ebike wheels do better with heavy, strong steel forks and those are usually cheap anyway, so unless you were rethinking this before finding out the kit doesn't fit, I say "see it through!"
posted by flimflam at 8:56 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
My own opinion is conversions are fiddly to live with, but times change, maybe this one isn't, but if you were willing to buy one in the first place, don't let needing a new fork stop you. Ebike wheels do better with heavy, strong steel forks and those are usually cheap anyway, so unless you were rethinking this before finding out the kit doesn't fit, I say "see it through!"
posted by flimflam at 8:56 PM on January 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
The time when the best option was to convert a regular bike to e-assist was 5-10 years ago. Now, there are very good electric bikes to be had at reasonable prices - any shop that's a Trek dealer probably has a couple models for you to test ride. I say option #3. It is not at all more hassle when you compare it to everything involved in #1 and #2. And if you were going to do #4 you wouldn't be asking this question;)
posted by epanalepsis at 4:09 AM on January 23, 2022
posted by epanalepsis at 4:09 AM on January 23, 2022
If you do want to do #1 or #2, please go to a shop. They will check everything over for you and save you some time and hassle. Again, the days when this was a fringe activity best done at home are over.
posted by epanalepsis at 4:18 AM on January 23, 2022
posted by epanalepsis at 4:18 AM on January 23, 2022
Best answer: It's probably not the right option for you, but in the interest of completeness I'll note that there exists at least one thru-axle compatible hub motor. I have one on my trike and love it, but I'm using it with a heavy cargo/utility trike where I want lots of power and strong regenerative braking. Also, I enjoy tinkering with DIY stuff. It sounds like you want something light and simple, which this isn't.
You can also get a hub motor that replaces your rear wheel, but I think most of the budget rear-wheel hub motors are made for freewheels, and I suspect you want to keep your 10-speed cassette.
I don't have any personal experience with the Bafang/Tongsheng mid-drive conversion kits (the type that mount to the bottom bracket), but from what I've read they might be a better choice for a light assist that's mostly intended to give you a boost on hills. It seems like if you can replace a bottom bracket and run some wires, you should be able to install one of those.
(P.S.: Hello from another former bike coop volunteer!)
posted by sibilatorix at 12:14 PM on January 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
You can also get a hub motor that replaces your rear wheel, but I think most of the budget rear-wheel hub motors are made for freewheels, and I suspect you want to keep your 10-speed cassette.
I don't have any personal experience with the Bafang/Tongsheng mid-drive conversion kits (the type that mount to the bottom bracket), but from what I've read they might be a better choice for a light assist that's mostly intended to give you a boost on hills. It seems like if you can replace a bottom bracket and run some wires, you should be able to install one of those.
(P.S.: Hello from another former bike coop volunteer!)
posted by sibilatorix at 12:14 PM on January 23, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have not tried the Swytch kit, although I do occasionally hover my finger over the button for it, because I have a Brompton that's lying there in my doorway folded and unused while I'm trying to get over some long term fatigue.
I do have plenty of experience with fitting and riding and maintaining a Bafang mid-drive conversion kit, and I hugely recommend it. Mine's on a Surly 1×1 frame with a 7 speed hub gear, and it works fantastically. I used to live up a fairly steep hill (1 in 10, for a little over a mile), and it made great work of that, really integrating smoothly with my pedalling. I've got a street legal European kit, so limited to 25km/h (15mph) and 250W continuous (350-ish peak), but I suspect it'd work fine with more. It has worked well apart from needing to replace the control unit after keeping it outdoors in the rain unsheltered and unused over winter. This was a bad decision on my part, but my local ebike shop were very happy to sort that out.
In terms of ground clearance with the mid drive kit: The Surly has a fairly high bottom bracket, and I can still take it on bumpy tracks if need (the need to see fields and views, mainly) be, but really it's a workhorse bike, which is what it sounds like yours is. The balance of the bike with the extra weight down low is superb (useful for feeling safe going down that hill at 30mph), and riding moderate distances in the country also works great with it. I'm definitely very pro- that suggestion.
Someone suggested you could get ebikes for $1000 or so, which I guess is technically true. I can't imagine them being sustainable to use frequently, whereas the base of a good mid-market bike is a solid starting point for something for frequent use.
posted by ambrosen at 12:53 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
I do have plenty of experience with fitting and riding and maintaining a Bafang mid-drive conversion kit, and I hugely recommend it. Mine's on a Surly 1×1 frame with a 7 speed hub gear, and it works fantastically. I used to live up a fairly steep hill (1 in 10, for a little over a mile), and it made great work of that, really integrating smoothly with my pedalling. I've got a street legal European kit, so limited to 25km/h (15mph) and 250W continuous (350-ish peak), but I suspect it'd work fine with more. It has worked well apart from needing to replace the control unit after keeping it outdoors in the rain unsheltered and unused over winter. This was a bad decision on my part, but my local ebike shop were very happy to sort that out.
In terms of ground clearance with the mid drive kit: The Surly has a fairly high bottom bracket, and I can still take it on bumpy tracks if need (the need to see fields and views, mainly) be, but really it's a workhorse bike, which is what it sounds like yours is. The balance of the bike with the extra weight down low is superb (useful for feeling safe going down that hill at 30mph), and riding moderate distances in the country also works great with it. I'm definitely very pro- that suggestion.
Someone suggested you could get ebikes for $1000 or so, which I guess is technically true. I can't imagine them being sustainable to use frequently, whereas the base of a good mid-market bike is a solid starting point for something for frequent use.
posted by ambrosen at 12:53 PM on January 24, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by flimflam at 6:50 PM on January 22, 2022