I purchased the GO+ system for my Marin Hawk Hill MTB (26" Wheel) last September for a June delivery to maximise the savings being offered. Ordering was pretty easy and the 1 question I had was quickly answered by the sales team. Overall the communications were good throughout the delivery process, only falling over slightly at the last moment when the delivery date was pushed back to July at the last moment, with no real explanation.
On delivery the installation was fairly straightforward and being a bike mechanic I had all the necessary tools and experience of get rounds to make things work.
I did experience a few issues:
Problem 1... I'd purchased the thumb trigger power assist but I simply couldn't fit it around the Shimano brake and Gear Change levers to make it user friendly and decided finally to throw it away.
Problem 2... The magnetic sensor disc central multipurpose fitting system really didn't fit the exposed bottom bracket (BB) of my Marin and ended up buckling/breaking in the central area; making it uneven and unstable. I solved this by purchasing a large ID-OD washer that fitted snugly on the BB and glued the Sensor disc to it and slid it on.
Problem 3... I ended up with lots of surplus cable. I've temporarily tie wrapped it all to the frame, but it isn't pretty.
Problem 4... I was left with 1 exposed terminal, which would otherwise go to a brake lever sensor, which I am concerned could cause issues in the wet. I sent a request for information/help weeks ago but haven't heard back. Surely there should be a blanking cap? I must say that I am disappointed by the lack of response, which was made amusing by the fact that I ten received a post communications feedback request!
Having now fitted the kit and given it a test ride today (14 miles in 50 minutes on hilly terrain and off-road) I am very happy with the boost that it has given me. I have a long-term knee issue which isn't going away, so the benefit for me is that having this kit fitted is enabling me to get back out there on the hills and take on the challenges that I was used to doing before. I love cycling both on the roadbikes and MTBs and am excited about being empowered once more to get out there regularly.
I am seriously considering buying another Swytch Kit for one of my road bikes as a result of my recent experience.
What would I change?
1. I wouldn't accept being limited to wheel colour in future; I really wanted black to match my set, but wasn't given the option before.
2. I will probably shorten the cables to get rid of the excess.
3. I may well try and remount the battery further aft as I have nowhere to mount a water bottle now. But that will require a longer wiring harness.
Having ridden the bike today for 14 miles, I used 3 bars out of 5 of power. This means I am only likely to get 25 miles out of this battery. Admittedly I was playing with the power settings and seeing what the kit could offer at max assist settings at times, but I was hoping for a little more. I think I may need to invest in a bigger battery!
Also, the additional weight/power around the front axle, rather than the rear, made the bike feel very different from before. This wasn't an issue today but may prove to be a factor in the gravel/muddy/wet in future.
Would I bother with a booster throttle again? Probably not. If you want a bit more assist then select + on the display and the system will deliver and if you don't need so much press -. It's just a little less clutter!
Despite the teething issues in fitting this Swytch GO+ I think it is a good system if you want to convert a spare bike into a power assisted machine at a reasonable price. I would probably give it 3.5 stars based on my experiences so far. You may need to make adjustments and it may not fit quite as smoothly as advertised, but most issues are not insurmountable and therefore I am happy to recommend it as a concept.
11 months ago
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