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Shortly after World War II, a French manufacturer named Solex began selling mopeds. These weren’t your ‘typical’ mopeds that look like pedal bikes – the mopeds produced by Solex were essentially bicycles with a small, two-stroke engine mounted above the front wheel that could propel the rider around 100km on one liter of gas mixture . The downside: Solex mopeds were noisy and clunky to ride due to weight distribution and never caught on in North America.

Clip, a startup based in Brooklyn, New York, has come up with its own twist on Solex. Its only product, the eponymous Clip, is a friction drive device that attaches to the front fork of any bicycle, turning it into an e-bike. At $499 for the Commuter model and $599 for the Explorer, it’s a relatively inexpensive way to turn almost any bike into an e-bike for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

Weighing in at 8.8 pounds (4 kg) for the Commuter model (Explorer is one pound heavier), the Clip is essentially a portable friction drive. There is a removable controller that mounts on the handlebars and the device itself. The Explorer model, the one we reviewed, has a 192 Wh battery that takes an hour to fully charge. Its range is pegged at “up to 12 miles,” a claim that’s pretty accurate based on our tests, and top speed is 15 mph. The Commuter model offers half the battery capacity, charging time and range.

Twelve miles may not seem like much, especially compared to electric bikes with a range that exceeds 70 miles. But the Clip isn’t meant for long, leisurely journeys. This is a tool for people who want to revive old bikes that might be gathering dust in the garage. In my case, that bike is a 1997 Gary Fisher Marlin mountain bike that is now only ridden once or twice a year.

Attaching the clip to your bike

The clip arrived in a box with a single sheet of instructions taped to the inside with a pair of QR codes. One leads to the product guide, but the other has a surprising feature: scheduling a one-on-one orientation session with Clip, which is unusual and fantastic at the same time. Mine took about 20 minutes.

Attaching the clip to a bike is easy in theory, and relatively easy once you get the hang of it. First, remove the remote from the clip, which attaches to the bike’s handlebars with a nifty rubber loop. Then grasp one side of the clip, slide the button on the handle and push the handle forward. Then align the top edge so that it is just below the brake caliper and pull down on the handle of the clamp. If you’ve done it right, you’ll hear a satisfying click and the clip’s white battery charge LEDs will light up. The clip wheel should now rest on the front wheel of the bike, so congratulations – you now have an e-bike.

The operation is extremely simple. Press and hold the red button to activate the friction drive. Press and hold the white button for regenerative braking action. The lack of displays and apps means we have to take Clip’s word for it that the regen feature can restore 12 to 18 percent of the device’s range. In effect, it acts as a slow brake while sending charge back to the battery.

Immediately after mounting, I found that I had to spin the pedal for a second or two before a button press would register on the clip. Then it works like a charm. Positioning the remote close to the handle worked best and I gradually got used to holding the button while pedaling. It was a little harder to remember to switch to the regeneration button while slowing down.

The extra 10 pounds of gear attached to the front wheel messes with weight distribution, leading to a “wow” moment or two when I first ride it. If you’re feeling lazy, you don’t need to pedal at all, and the Clip will eventually get you going at about 15 mph. Start pedaling and you’ll feel the clip increase your effort – unless the road is wet. The clip works best on dry roads; leave it at home if it rains.

Once you reach your destination, grab the handle, pull it back toward you, and remove the clip from the bike. Drop the remote back into place and carry the clip with you.

There are many electric bike conversion kits to choose from, but I have a hard time imagining anything easier to install and use. And that’s what makes the Clip such a good product – no need to mess around with tools, install motors and mount batteries. The clip literally latches onto your bike and electrifies it. I wouldn’t use it for a trip to the grocery store because I wouldn’t want to lug the clip up and down the aisles. But for quick trips or short trips, it’s a fantastic way to give new life to an old bike.