RBarcan

Hi

New member here. Just fitted the Swytch electric system to my wife’s Bike Friday. Initial thoughts are that the battery being in handlebars may affect handling and also the position of the cable from the motor means that the bike’s first fold can’t happen as the cable would be fouled.

I’d welcome any advice about workarounds.

Thanks

jfouellette

Hi, Going to an e-assist mod may require some work.

Bike friday does have this video

linberl

You can lower the battery by putting a handlebar extender. lower down on the stem mast. It may not be as easy to reach the controls, though. If you can buy an short extension to fit that cable you could disconnect the extension when folding without stressing the more critical Swytch connections.

kayakindude

Not sure if you can fit a brompton block adapter on a bike Friday but swytch makes a mount for it. There should be plenty of slack in the wire but if more is needed there are extenders available on Amazon. You want the orange 3 point connector.

You don't really need to access the swytch interface on top of the battery when riding, you can just set and forget the power level.

How does it handle and provide power on the folder?

TheMadBrewer

I've just ordered a Swytch for my NWT. Interested in how is worked in the past year or so.

RBarcan

It has been brilliant! Has performed faultlessly and we both love it as it means we can ride together again. As we’ve aged I’ve kept cycling at pretty much the same pace but she had slowed down a lot. Only slight issue for us is the range. Wish it was 50 miles not 50km. I understand that extenders are available and we may look into that.

PS You realise that ours is Gen 2. Presumably yours will be the new battery - even less range?

roadcrankr

If you ordered the newest (3rd) generation Swytch, they sell mounts and cables to enable one to locate the battery midship or on a rear rack. Get ready for a long wait for a 3rd gen delivery! The latest iteration looks nice, with the ability to carry a spare battery to swap during a ride.
Check out a private facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/2679153205653978 . The group includes many with direct experience on all the product line. The group exists merely as a resource, with zero affiliation with the manufacturer.

TheMadBrewer

Yes, they were quoting 15km or 30km, with the 15km being "Airline friendly"

Not sure I need it now, but I am getting older and don't ride the distance I used too

TheMadBrewer

Thanks for the link. I had two options for delivery, March or May, with March being $200 (IIRC) more. Not in a hurry, so I went with May.

roadcrankr

I ordered last April, with an expected Sept ship date! Swytch informs me that it will arrive any day now.
I bought & paid for two of the max kits that, theoretically, will provide the 30km range over flat terrain.
My plan, for now, involves installation on only one bike, while carrying a spare battery on longer rides.
Also, I will use a throttle rather than the crank sensor, since I may only access it on the few climbs heading home.
They charge too much for a second battery, so for only a couple hundred bucks more I bought an entire kit.