Because of the way the motor engages, after about five seconds of pedaling, the electric assist can come on unexpectedly, at least the first few times you ride this bike. After a while you get used to the timing of the assist. But the motor doesn’t have nearly schwinn electric bike enough power to pull the bike along by itself, and you will find you are getting some exercise while riding it. The Schwinn Coston DX is a Class 2 e-bike, which means that it has a throttle that is capable of reaching up to 20 mph without pedaling.
The bike is powerful but also discharges very quickly. The LED controls are nice, but also missing some functionality. Of course, the premier feature of this e-bike is the “e” part. This is a class 1/class 2 e-bike in that it can be a pedal-assist bike up to 20 mph or you can use a dedicated throttle lever without pedaling. You will want to check your local regulations to find out what is legal in your area.
But if their goal was to build a good bike, I think they failed. If you live anywhere with hills, though, forget it. Even though I don’t like it, it’s got a major redeeming factor. The front fork is an adequate SR Suntour Nex 4610 with adjustable preload and suspension lockout. Why you need suspension lockout on this bike is actually quite beyond me. I’m just going to start at the front of the bike and work back.
Powering the motor and LED display console on this model is an above average capacity 36 volt 14 amp hour battery pack that mounts directly to the downtube with three bolts! So many of the cheaper ebikes I test have batteries that just use two bolts and clip down from above vs. sliding in from the side… so I really feel that Schwinn made a good choice with this pack. The battery locks securely to the mount and its casing has a bit of a lip near the top for secure lifting and carrying.
Even with the bike assisting as best it could, climbing the hill required a lot of physical exertion, although it would have been harder without the electric motor. 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 schwinn mountain bicycles like. From a stop, it’s good to have the bike in low gear, otherwise starting out can be difficult, made more so by the fact the motor won’t kick in until you’ve been pedaling. The battery pack has a charge indicator, useful when the pack is removed from the bike. A lock in the side of the battery pack turns the power on and off.
The lithium ion battery pack weighs 6 pounds and is about 15 inches long by 6 inches wide. We found some problems with the way it mounts to the bike. First, after sliding it into place on the luggage rack, it is supposed to lock into place by flipping down its red handle. We found that it doesn’t lock very securely, and riding over bumpy pavement can cause it to slip so that it loses its electrical connection.
The frame for the Schwinn Tailwind’s electric gear is built for urban and suburban riding. The aluminum frame, along with the upward curved handlebars, creates an upright sitting position. This would be a fine choice for younger or beginner e-bike riders thanks to its excellent lighting and comfortable layout — if, that is, its price were a few hundred dollars lower. The 250 watt motor could be bigger for this bike to use the throttle regularly and give a better boost on hills. I like how the Marshall is a bit more upright than a standard mountain bike but in a better position for standing than a cruiser. Turning takes a little bit to get used to as it is a little more top-heavy than a regular bike with the battery.