Convertion

[busby]

Has any one tried a Swytch convection kit,? New improved version just out, getting tempted as I get older.BUSBY.

 

[busby]

Conversion not convection?

 

[ED O'DARAC]

Yes, we have converted two Brompton bikes. Brilliant. They fold and store in the back of our Adria Twin 640SLB. I had an older Swytch and also the new one. New one is smaller and lighter and the software is slicker. Throttle is brilliant.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

What makes the software slicker and how much bike mech experience do you have and how easy / long was the conversion for you? Is the gubbins still on the handlebars in a bag?

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

Has any one tried a Swytch convection kit,? New improved version just out, getting tempted as I get older.BUSBY.

We just recently bought (off the shelf) e folders and went down to a quiet car park to practice, as wed never been on ebikes before. In fact we hadn't been on any bikes for a couple of years and were not cyclists at all. We couldn't stop grinning, we were whizzing around like youths. They are heavy bikes but no sensation of that on the level at all, and of the low/med/ high assist settings low on a slope made us whizz up it.

We first became interested in ebikes when pushing ours up a hill near Coniston and this old guy (about our age) came whizzing up the hill. I started talking to him and he had an eMTB (about £3k's worth) gorgeous to look at. He said it had taken 20 years off him.

I then ummed and aahhed for 2 years, eg spending 300 on a bike seems enough to me never mind 3k then there's the problem of security so for the van it's folders for us, but for home im also now looking at getting my MTB converted.

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[RustyRuss]

I’m in the middle of converting our standard hybrid/MTB’s into ebikes using TongSheng TSDZ2 mid mount 250w motors. (Legal in the UK although I’ve seen and ridden a 350w version and there is no label or visual difference, it just accelerates faster and in theory can have a higher max speed.) It has involved some of my mechanical skills, for example the motor fits through where the pedal “axle” used to be, I had to buy a special socket to undo the nuts on both sides, note the left hand side had a left hand thread! I also had to buy a “pedal taker offer” called a crank puller, to remove the old pedals. I also had to buy a chain splitter for my wife’s bike as it didn’t have a quick release chain link. So I spent circa £500 on each motor and battery pack and £15, £10 and £7 respectively for the specialist tools above. I think the Swytch system is easier to install but I wanted something that kept our bikes using the matching sets of wheels they came with and not having to mess about with the brakes and derailleur gear sets. Having said that I did have to be a bit inventive with the brake and gear change Bowden cables that run under the pedal mount tubes..... I’m just waiting for the second battery to show up as they’ve had issues with supply from China because of bloomin’ Brexit and HMRC import duty.....

I’m sure you’ll have fun whichever way you decide to go!

Cheers!

Russ

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

Hi Russ. What was the total conversion cost, I assume you have some kind of display / controller? I really like the idea of going for a mid hub for the reasons you give particularly for one of my mtbs which is a 'classic' from the 90s. What wh is the battery and where did you get the kit?

Marc

 

[RustyRuss]

I bought the kit off Amazon, type in TSDZ2 and you’ll see the site. There is only one as the German wholesaler can’t get his goods into the UK because of fffing Brexit!!! They are imported, (via Germany!) from China. The kit is circa £500 delivered, this includes the motor, pedal cranks, a digital display/contoller, brake leavers (specify the hydraulic brake lever kit-it’s a couple of sensors and a couple of strong magnets) over the crap brake leavers they supply, a thumb throttle and a nifty set of lights and a “bottle” battery that’s about the same size as an old fashioned thermos flask. You can get a bike rack with the battery slotting in underneath it, but personally I thought that would ruin the weight distribution on the bike and make it rear heavy, so difficult to get on and off! The kit is beautifully made, everything, apart from the crap break levers, looks and feels top quality. There is a great set of installation instructions from a company called “Whoosh!” available on the internet, also loads of “how to” videos. I read a lot about the cycling characteristics of various different e-bike convertions, and I boiled it down to two in the end. A choice between the Bafang unit in it’s various wattages and the Tong Sheng TSDZ2, again in various wattages. I picked the TSDZ2 because several reviewers said it was easier to ride and start off because of the torque sensing characteristics of it’s drive system, it’s also watt for watt a bit cheaper. All I can say is that having ridden my wife’s bike (my battery is still to turn up, but the people in China have been keeping me informed via lots of Amazon emailing that I should get it next week!) it feels like you have turbocharged legs! It copes admirably with steep hills, you still have to put some effort in and use the derailleur rear gears but it truly is like having turbocharged legs! The setting off procedure is just like a normal bike, set the pedal, push down and simultaneously plant your butt on the saddle, the torque senses that your off and about a second after being in the saddle starts to give you assistance. Their are 4 settings, from mild assistance to full blown super turbo, my wife used power settings 1 & 2 on our inaugural trip out. We cycled around 8 miles, that was a revelation as my wife has a new hip joint and previously could only manage around 3 miles on our first trips after a winter bicycling lay-over. She was off like a gazelle! She’s not a very confident rider and is normally apprehensive about riding on busy roads, after two miles she was whizzing along with out a care, feeling super confident.
The other thing I liked about the TSDZ2 is you can get into the software and manipulate the torque and maximum speed settings etc etc to make the bike suit your particular style of riding, I might mess with that once I’ve used my bike for a while. Spare parts supply seems genuinely super available, the only reported problem items are a blue nylon transfer gear within the motor that shreads teeth, but only if you seriously abuse it, and even then that’s on the most powerful 750watt versions. You can retro-fit a brass transfer gear if you damage it. Costs around £20. You can also buy different size chain rings for the pedal set, it comes with a 42 tooth as standard, but you can readily get a 52 set as a straight swap, again around £20. It was fairly easy to fit, but I am a dedicated mechanical “tinkerer” so I’m pretty handy at taking things to bits and putting them back together without having loads of nuts and bolts left over. You will need some specialist tools like the hub nut remover mentioned in a previous post, and you’ll need to be savvy that the left foot pedal has a left hand thread and the hub nut on the left side of the bike may have a left hand thread, depending on manufacturer. ( most appear to be LHT). You’ll very likely need a extension bar (or a 1 metre piece of scaffolding pole ) to remove said nut! Break cabling needs to be thought out too, as most bikes these days seem to route the Bowden cables under the bottom pedal bracket, but there is a 5mmish gap, depending on the thickness of your bottom bracket tubing, between the motor and the bracket. You’ll also lose the front derailleur set which means you’ll have to split the chain, my bike has a quick release chain, but SHMBO’s needed a chain splitter.
Hope all this rambling helps!!

If you need some assistance then post back and I’ll attempt to help!

Cheers!


Russ

 

[RustyRuss]

I’ve just re-read my post and I do know the difference between a brake and a break, apparently the predictive text on my Ipad doesn’t!!

 

[Carpmart]

I’ve just re-read my post and I do know the difference between a brake and a break, apparently the predictive text on my Ipad doesn’t!!

Brakes are to stop a vehicle, break is when you ‘break’ something or have a rest... HTH’s?

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[RustyRuss]

The battery turned up on Thursday, so I’ve fitted it now. What a cracking machine! Absolutely fantastic to use, it is literally like having a new pair of turbocharged legs! You still have to pedal and put a bit of effort in, but when i came to the hill back up to our house on my initial test ride I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make it to the top. It usually leaves me gasping for breath and owning a pair of tortured legs.

In short it’s worth every penny of £500 as it means I’ll be back out on my bike again this summer.

Cheers!

Russ