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. 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. The Coston e-bike is controlled with a handlebar-mounted LED panel with three buttons on the side.
I was also sent the medium frame version, which turned out to be slightly small for me but fortunately, the build ended up being just right for how I like to ride. Instead of fumbling with it myself, I go to my favorite local bike shop, Spin Bicycle Shop, in Lansing, Michigan. For $70, the shop put my new Schwinn e-bike together and offered to make any tweaks after I rode it for a little bit. I tested a couple Schwinn e-bikes from the demo stable at the end of the Square 2 Square ride in Bentonville recently.
The AIR power pack simply clips onto the handlebars via mount provided (which fits ANY handlebars), and can be instantly attached or removed providing discreet and lightweight power as you ride. So on my comp day off, I decided to swing by Skate Escape, a bike shop near Piedmont Park in Atlanta. A few months ago, after some calling around, I concluded that they were the only bike shop in town that appeared to be schwinn beach cruiser interested in carrying the upcoming line of Schwinn Electric Bikes. I guess the other sporty-bike shops couldn’t spare the floor space with all the racks of fluorescent spandex. ? In any case, I had received an email from them letting me know that they had the basic model in the store for test rides. Seeing as the only opportunity for a test ride within 100 miles was only 5 miles away, I dropped in for a visit.
The higher you go, the zippier and faster the motor will spin but it will also draw more power, depleting your battery more quickly. The second chart is a battery level indicator showing five dots, each representing a 20% drop. The display itself is encased in black plastic and has sealed buttons built in that seem well protected from water and dust. It does leave something to be desired when you have experienced fancier ebike products, but it gets the job done. You won’t see your speed, average speed, trip time, odometer, trip meter, range estimate, or any other fancy stats… just your power level and battery level.
Basically, the bike turns on once you hold down the power button for a few seconds and the key is meant to release the battery for easier charging — not for ignition. I’ve put bicycles together on my own in the past and tend to be good at putting the bigger pieces together correctly like the handlebars, wheels, pedals, and so on. The part I have the most trouble with is the fine-tuning, which is one of the most important aspects of the set-up process. Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you.
When purchasing, you’ll go through a thorough process, which can feel a bit over-complicated, but in doing so it means the actual conversion is a straightforward one. We tested out the Cytronex on a Brompton T-Line and found it delivered smooth and intuitive power. Plus, our hands-on time with it leads us to believe it’s strong and durable enough to use for commuting.
The up and down are mostly for adjusting the pedal assist levels up and down. The motor stops assisting when you hit 32 km/h (20mph) schwinn ebike with the throttle or pedalling. For most of my riding around trails and small paths in the city, the 32 km/h motor limit is plenty.
All the options listed below are from established brands though, and we’ve checked the continued availability of these electric bike conversion kits as of April 2024 and updated this guide accordingly. Even though this electric bike offers 24 speeds (and thus has grip shifters on the left and right handle bars) the cockpit is relatively clean. 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.