This Schwinn model ships with industry-standard mechanical disk brakes, which do a great job. When you load anything onto the rear rack, it might get punctured or be in the way of liquid leaks, among other things. The company also throws in a walk-mode assist (the 6km button) if you want to walk alongside your bike as it trudges along. The good news is that you can continue to ride it normally once the battery drains, so you are not stranded without a charge. Most e-bikes use an 8-speed system from Shimano, but the 6-speed option is no slouch either.
Class 2 e-bikes are required to stop assistance past 20 miles per hour. Level 1 throttle tops out at around 10 mph while level 5 will give you the full 20 mph. When fully charged, Schwinn e-bike batteries last up to 45 miles.
And the build quality feels like it should stand the test of time. Schwinn’s electric bicycle line has significantly expanded over the last couple years. When I first started riding electric Schwinns, I was largely schwinn dealers limited to cruiser e-bikes. But with several new commuter-specific e-bikes like the Schwinn Coston CE that I recently tested, this household bicycle name is making a big move on the wider e-bike market.
Graphics on the control unit illustrate going up hill, riding on a flat surface, or going downhill. Red LEDs show which mode you have selected and indicate how much charge the battery has left. Each frame is available in step-through form and includes wide tires, integrated lights, upright positioning, and a powerful motor. With every Schwinn electric bike, there is the option of using pedal-assist or throttle.
The 288 Wh battery runs for up to 35 miles on a single charge. The Coston CE’s battery is a bit smaller, whereas the 250W motor is just as powerful as the other Schwinn e-bikes. The gear shift for the schwinn ebike rear hub is integrated with the right handlebar grip. The control unit is easy to use, with thumb buttons to activate the electrical system and change the amount of assistance from the electric motor.
Bicycle Guider was founded in 2015 as a free resource of firsthand bicycle tests and reviews, guides, how-to’s, and other types of cycling-related topics. We’re going to tell you all the similarities and differences between the four Schwinn e-bikes, so stay tuned.
This plants it in the territory of pedal-assisted e-bikes rather than full-on motor-assisted. On flat roads, we found the assist useful, helping the bike along with minimal pedal input required. The gears allow you to put in as much physical exertion as you feel like. From a stop, it’s good to have the bike in low gear, otherwise schwinn dealers starting out can be difficult, made more so by the fact the motor won’t kick in until you’ve been pedaling. Most of the bikes that I have seen in this range usually opt to have their batteries below the seat (usually packed to the headtube). This placement also puts the battery away while protecting it better from the rain.