Simply put — plenty of people would rather bike to work than drive there, if distance and climate factors are in their favor, for reasons environmental and health-related. The Schwinn Tailwind is one amongst a large number of electric bicycles available today, a segment gaining popularity due to interest in transportation alternatives to the car. But don’t expect to sit back and let the Tailwind whisk you along–the electric motor on this bike merely provides assistance; the rider still has to pedal. Among the former is Schwinn, which has stood as one of the mainstays of the bicycle industry for over 125 years, and has recently released the Coston DX e-bike. Biking season is on the way, so we thought now would be a good time to share our review of the Schwinn Coston DX. While it could use a little boost to a 500 watt motor to help on the hills, the smaller motor keeps the price lower.
The battery, which cannot be plugged in or charged while attached to the bike, is advertised as lasting up to 30 miles per charge. Then again — the bike is still a functioning piece of equipment once the battery is dead, so maybe we should all stop being so lazy. Its throttle was so lackluster and slow — especially when compared with other bikes of a similar price class — that it sometimes didn’t feel like it was powered at all. Once you’re up to speed and cruising on a flat surface, the ride quality feels smooth and reasonably quick, but the motor struggles up moderate hills.
If they’re steep hills (Seattle style), get another bike. For running slowly on flat terrain, the brakes are just fine. The rear brake, if a bit springy, will get you stopped, and the front chimes in quickly to bring you down in a hurry if you need to. An interesting feature I’ve not seen before is a wheel lock. The upper horseshoe-shaped thing is a keyed wheel lock that lets you run a metal bar through the spokes. This keeps the rear wheel attached, and also prevents someone from biking off with it.
So I can’t say that the Schwinn wins on value here. But that doesn’t mean the bike doesn’t have a place. The features like the neat integrated schwinn mountain bicycles lighting are rarely seen in the industry and are a definite win. And the build quality feels like it should stand the test of time.
This item is offered by one of our Exchange Plus partners – a trusted, third-party company that ships directly to you when you order on ShopMyExchange.com. The Exchange sells and handles payments for this item, and you can track the status on your Exchange order details page. The rear wheel can be easily removed for transport or storage. On-board computer with speed and distance displayed. Based on the distance required to stop from the bike’s top speed.
All it takes is careful consideration of a few questions and then a bit of a deeper dive to explore what options and features you want most on your electric-powered ride. That means the motor is located on the rear hub and works by spinning the back wheel. This creates the feeling of being pushed – it’s that extra boost of energy e-bikes are famous for. Battery range and top speed can vary depending on rider height and weight, and riding conditions like hills or wind. The Monroe 250 is also quite heavy at nearly 45 pounds.
On the right is the shifter for the Shimano Nexus 8 speed rear hub. It shows you what gear you’re in (1 is mongoose bmx low, 8 is high), and you twist it to shift. Quick, easy, and when properly adjusted, surprisingly nice.