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The innovative Skarper system has been causing a stir since June 2022: an e-bike conversion kit that uses the rear brake disc to turn a bike into an e-bike. The magazine “BikeRadar” recently reported again on the impressive development of this product and its genesis – a story that combines technology, engineering and sporting excellence.
A partnership that drives innovation
Skarper’s journey began with a vision: to develop a system that could convert any bike into an e-bike in a matter of seconds – and back. The decisive turning point came when inventor and co-founder Dr. Alastair Darwood, a medical doctor with a PhD in engineering, came into contact with Red Bull Advanced Technologies during the 2020 pandemic.
“At the time, I was working on a low-cost ventilator for the NHS. The UK government brought me together with Red Bull to develop the concept further,” Darwood recalls in an interview with BikeRadar. When Darwood then began developing and prototyping the original Skarper e-bike conversion kit, early investor Sir Chris Hoy demonstrated a prototype of the device to the CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, who was impressed by its potential.
Challenges and solutions
The early prototypes were promising, but Darwood and his team faced major challenges: The system had to be compact, strong and durable. With the support of Red Bull Advanced Technologies and their expertise in the field of finite element analysis, they were able to optimize the design significantly.
“The engineers at Red Bull helped us to make the gearboxes smaller and more powerful,” says Darwood. The result is the so-called DiskDrive, a compact drive unit that replaces the rear brake disk and can be fitted or removed in a few simple steps. According to Darwood, Red Bull Racing also helped with the development of the gearbox in the engine unit and the bearing design.
Development continued until 2023, with Skarper and Red Bull focusing on refining the size and weight of the system to ensure it is suitable for any road-going bike without compromising ride quality.
Various Skarper versions from recent years; source: Warren Rossiter/BikeRadar
State-of-the-art testing and impressive performance
The Skarper system was tested under the toughest conditions. The tests – divided into physical tests and simulations – included running the unit continuously at maximum torque output for more than 1,000 km and extrapolating this data through simulated test runs over 25,000 km. The final version of the drive measures only 34×16 cm, contains a 250W motor and a 240Wh battery, which enables a range of up to 60 km.
Christian Horner, CEO of Red Bull Racing, expressed his enthusiasm:
“This partnership shows how F1 expertise can help improve everyday technologies. The device is an incredibly clever piece of engineering, made smaller and more powerful thanks to our talented engineers.”
Skarper won the IF Design Gold Award in 2025!
IF Gold Statement:
“This groundbreaking design takes the concept of upcycling to the next level. With this click-in and click-out e-bike drive system, you can turn any bike into an e-bike without the need for wrenches, apps or cables. This is one of those must-have design solutions we didn’t know we needed. Big wow factor here!”
A look into the future
The first version of the Skarper kit is already available in our store, but the company is already planning further developments. Among other things, a model for bikes with rim brakes and a mountain bike version that is compatible with 180mm brake rotors are in the works.
With Skarper, you get Formula 1 technology directly on your bike. Order now in our store and secure a piece of technological innovation for your next bike tour!
