It’s using an internally geared rear hub with a straight chainline, well protected inside a plastic housing to keep it clean and to keep you clean. Fundamentally, this bike seems like schwinn ebike a bunch of parts bolted and ziptied (yes… literally ziptied) onto an otherwise standard Schwinn city bike frame. Of course, as some of my regular readers might know, I bought one.
I’m sure that keeping it in low pedal assist will still net riders the claimed maximum of 35 miles that Schwinn promises. I’m not about to pedal around in the lightest pedal assist setting all day, especially since this isn’t a high power e-bike to begin with. So if you’re using liberal throttle, keep in mind that you’re going to wind up with limited range. Our e-bikes use lithium-ion batteries for their electrical stability, storage capacity, longevity, and lighter weight. The battery is easy to recharge with a standard household outlet and the included charging cable.
So now that we’ve waxed philosophic about e-bikes, let’s get to the Coston CE. It’s basically the Goldilocks option, offering enough performance and functionality for everyday commuters without pushing the price too high. Take on greater adventures with our e-bikes, which stay true to the superior quality that’s made Schwinn famous for over 125 years.
It sounds like the type of thing Snoopy might fly into combat against the Red Baron. But even the mid- to low-end Shimano parts are perfectly fine for this level of bike. The Schwinn EC1 is one of schwinn ebike those simple e-bikes that can reliably bring a smile to your face. 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.
That being said, I also didn’t get much extra range beyond miles, even after I set the pedal-assist at level 3. In the past, the range you got depended on how much work you were willing to put into it. On my older e-bike (also a Schwinn) I get about the same 20 miles of range at level 5, but I also get closer to 40 miles at level 3. The battery meter is comprised of five segments to give you an estimate of how much power you have left. The Coston e-bike is controlled with a handlebar-mounted LED panel with three buttons on the side.
And at the end of the day, we’re talking about an affordable cruiser, so I didn’t expect to find high-end shifters, hydraulic disc brakes, or suspension on the bike. The Shimano Tourney shifter, mechanical disc brakes, and plushy spring saddle are enough for me. I’ve seen this level of components on electric cruisers that cost nearly twice as much.
But don’t worry, The Coston CE is the best electric bike for tall riders. The controller is easy to use with one thumb, which is nice. One thing I miss from previous e-bikes I’ve had was a range estimator that gave you an idea as to how much further you could ride at your present power level under present conditions. Such a feature is fairly inaccurate all things considered, but some estimate is better than no estimate. As reviewed, the bike didn’t have much in the way of storage, but other models have a rear rack and even storage in the seat. Speaking of the seat, it’s not the most comfortable I’ve ridden on, but that’s easy enough to replace with a third-party seat if you like.
The grips are comfortable, the brake levers work fine with the Tektro rim brakes and the display console and thumb throttle are easy to reach and use. There’s not a lot of choice here, you just turn the console on with a 0/1 toggle switch and either begin pedaling or push down on the giant paddle trigger. This makes the bike easy to use for just about anyone and reduces distractions when riding. If you want to know how fast you’re going you will need to add an aftermarket LCD display as seen on the bike in this review and that could cost ~$25. I like that they included a bell with the bike and would love to have also had some lights for safety. Considering the relatively low price point aftermarket lights are something that could be added easily later on.
So, while my doctor, my therapist, and I all unpack that, this is my full review of the Coston CE e-bike from Schwinn. What makes me excited about the bike is the possibilities that it opens up, but like a lot of aspects of this bike, it’s something of a double-edged sword. Electric bikes are a ton of fun and I’ve had a great time this summer riding them. As an avid cyclist who commuted to and from the train for years in the past, I see e-bikes as a very reasonable step forward in commuting. Schwinn e-bikes are available for purchase right here on the Schwinn website!