The Skarper kit says it can turn any disc brake bike into an e-bike

We have seen a lot Electric bike conversion kit around these parts, but rarely does one break away from the pack quite like the Skarper. This new e-bike kit sports a unique look and claims to be able to convert almost any bike into an electric bike – as long as it uses a disc brake.

That’s because the Skarper e-bike kit actually drives the rear wheel through the disc brake.

There’s a 4kg (8.8lb) clip-on mount that houses the motor, battery and electronics in a slick-looking unit that connects to the bike’s chain.

The engine engages the disc brake, but not as you might expect. It does not touch the braking surface, but rather interfaces with another section of the disc closer to the hub. This is why riders should exchange the Skarper disc rotor for their own. Other than a few extra grams and a different looking disc rotor, the bike won’t really be affected when the kit isn’t attached.

With the drive unit removed, the bike theoretically works as it did when it was a traditional pedal bike. But with the drive unit locked in place, suddenly pedaling the bike will release the engine’s power and give the riders a boost.

That power is somewhat limited, perhaps because of the company’s European roots. The UK-based team had to comply with Europe’s most restrictive e-bike laws, resulting in the Skarper e-bike kit offering just 250W of power and a top assisted speed of 25km/h (15.5 mph).

There’s also no throttle, which means riders have to turn those pedals to turn on the auxiliary motor.

With 45 Nm of torque, the assistance is probably modest and not overpowering. It will help level a hill compared to unassisted riding, but it won’t turn an arduous climb into a pleasure cruise.

But although it may not be too powerful, the company says that the kit still has an impressive range at the tune of 30-50 km (18-31 miles) depending on the power level chosen.

Recharging takes 2.5 hours, although in a pinch they say a quick 30-minute charge will give you 10-15 km (6-9 miles) of range.

The Skarper electric bike conversion kit appears to be sold out, but the company says they will open a new round of pre-orders for £1,295 (about US$1,650) soon for delivery in early 2024.

That price is quite high when you consider that many light electric bikes with similar power levels and battery sizes They are priced at half as muchBut then again they don’t turn into pedal bikes with the click of a button.