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There are numerous e-bike conversion kits on the market, all offering a way to electrify your existing wheels. Boost has emerged as an option in a more elegant and straightforward way than its competitors. I’m here. In the meantime, everything else is contained in a circular battery pack, or something similar, that sits inside a bottle cage and is attached to the downtube.
For example, Boost mounts on the back, as opposed to Swytch, which sells a custom front wheel to mount on your bike. That means the initial installation is a bit more intensive as you have to add cassettes, chain up and analog gear all set up properly. Or, if you’re a dozen threat to engineering like me, call a technician at your local bike repair shop. Just zip tie it and you’re almost ready to go.
It’s screenless because all the torque sensors are built inside the motor, which also helps keep costs down. Users can optionally connect to the companion app to set power assistance in eco or boost mode. A short speed boost option is also available to get you out of the traffic. This maximizes your motors in a very short amount of time.The app also has a dashboard mode where you can monitor your speed, distance and battery level by attaching your phone to your handlebars.
The battery itself also has a hidden USB-A port under the dust cover to charge your device on the go or use a USB powered light set.
Today, the Boost was set up at a cycle show in England, so I was able to test ride it by connecting it to the turbo trainer. I found that it didn’t take long before I felt that the level of boost the eco mode provided was more than enough for cruising across town each day. This is an option you only need when tackling steep hills, and rarely else.
Regarding fees, boost is now available in the UK for £695 when installed at your local bike shop. You can get a kit for £645 if you want to tackle the installation yourself, but the company also offers a set of motors and batteries for people to build their own wheels. This is certainly an interesting twist on the e-bike conversion kit, and one I’d love to try myself in the future.