Skarper announces F1 team partnership for better e-bike kit

The Skarper e-bike kit is backed by Olympic cycling champion Sir Chris Hoy, who approached the racing team. Now, Red Bull’s Advanced Technologies division engineers have helped to make the gadget smaller and more powerful than the original model. The racing specialists have also been able to thoroughly test the device, iterating on the design while ensuring it can be readily manufactured at a higher volume.

The kit includes the Skarper drive unit with a 25W 45Nm torque motor, assisting you at speeds up to 25 kph (~16 mph) across various modes. Alongside this sits a 240Wh lithium-ion battery for up to 50 km (~31 miles) range; a full recharge takes 2.5 hours, with a 30-minute charge boosting the range by up to 15 km (~9 miles). Accompanying this is the DiskDrive rotor, designed for the space behind a disc brake and a Dynamic Climb sensor to ensure you get a power boost when needed. The kit adds around 4 kg (~9 lbs) weight to your bike.

The gadget suits a 160mm disc brake, with adaption possible for 140mm brakes and models with rim brakes; the company is also working on a version to suit bikes with a 180mm rotor. The device is currently sold out, with customers invited to submit their email address to be notified when the next pre-order round begins. Those who have already pre-ordered the product can expect to receive it in the second half of the year. The Skarper e-bike conversion kit starts from £1,295 (~$1,650). 

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