Schwinn Coston CE E-Bike Review: A Double-Edged Sword

Once I rigged up my kids’ old trailer into a cargo trailer, I could transport even more from the grocery store. Suddenly I was spending hours if not days less time in my car, and more on a bike. I won’t pretend that exercise was a factor here — the e-bike does 95% of the work for you — but I’ll argue with any doctor that some peddling is better than sitting on my butt in a car.

Speaking of trails, I found that the Schwinn EC1 is great for more than just nice bike lanes and smooth sidewalks. The decently large tires also make it a fun schwinn beach cruiser bike for nature trails and gravel paths. I wouldn’t want to take it off any jumps due to the lack of suspension, but it’s not really meant for that, either.

In short, think primarily about what you want to do on your e-bike, where you’re most likely to ride it, and how much you want to spend. Take on greater adventures with our e-bikes, which stay true to the superior quality that’s made Schwinn famous for over 125 years.

And when it comes to serious hills, the Coston gets left far behind other e-bikes. 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. Its motor is hub-mounted, and it has a 360-watt-hour battery.

Ride up to 20 MPH with the 250-watt brushless geared hub drive pedal assist motor that gives you a boost while you pedal. Choose from several levels of assistance or use the throttle instead. For that ride, just getting the feel of the bike, I headed for a local paved rail-trail. The bike offers a seven-speed gear range, with a derailleur and double-trigger shifter from Microshift. The rear hub motor offers assist levels of 0-5, with 0 being no assist and 5 being the maximum assist. Of course, I wanted to try the assist, and when I did, I found that I never needed more than level 1 to roll at a comfortable trail speed.

So buckle up and check out the video review of the Schwinn EC1 below, then read on for all the tech specs and juicy details. The Essential Guide for MenThe Manual is simple — we show men how to live a life that is more engaged. As our name implies, we offer a suite of expert guides on a wide range of topics, including fashion, food, drink, travel, and grooming. We don’t boss you around; we’re simply here to bring authenticity and understanding to all that enriches our lives as men on a daily basis.

When fully charged, Schwinn e-bike batteries last up to 45 miles. This estimate may vary depending on model, rider height/weight, and riding schwinn beach cruiser conditions. Our Coston and Marshall lines have an optional extended-life battery available that lets you go up to 80 miles per charge.

So to offer a full-size electric bike with otherwise nice commuter features yet with such a small battery is a bit surprising. The Schwinn Coston CE is very much a commuter electric bike, but it’s not one of those thin-wheeled messenger e-bikes. Schwinn’s electric bicycle line has significantly expanded over the last couple years. When I first started riding electric Schwinns, I was largely limited to cruiser e-bikes.

Battery range and top speed can vary depending on rider height and weight, and riding conditions like hills or wind. 7-speed trigger shifters offer smooth gear changes, mechanical disc brakes deliver all weather stopping power, and the aluminum frame provides lightweight durability. Another consideration to keep in mind when choosing an e-bike (or any bike for that matter) is your height. Schwinn has electric bikes that fit riders from 4’8″ all the way up to those who are 6’4″. We can’t stress enough how critical it is to choose the right-sized bike.

Press and hold the + button for 3 seconds to turn on just the headlight. This bike comes equipped with front, rear, and bottom lights. The front and rear lights are attached schwinn dealers to the fenders while the bottom lights are part of the battery itself. If it’s a bright night and you just want some visibility, the bottom lights work well.