Universal eBike Conversion Kit

Despite that initial impression about the size, my first ride showed me that the Schwinn was eager to roll, and nimble in the way that a large athlete can be quick on his feet. Locate the button on the back of the seat and push in. This will release the latch, allowing you to lift it up and open the seat compartment. It looks just odd enough for drivers to take a second look in a “what the heck is that thing?

I suspect this is designed to reduce battery drain when idle, but it doesn’t really work. There’s not a great spot for the wheel lock key, though you can sort of wedge it into the frame if you try. After leaving the cemetery, I pedaled a county schwinn beach cruiser road that unrolls over five hilltops with valleys in between. On the downhills, I went to 0 assist and flew down, hitting 36 mph on one of them. In each case I pedaled unassisted part way up the next climb, moving to a numbered assist level only when gravity began to bite.

We can’t stress enough how critical it is to choose the right-sized bike. Well-fitted bikes provide the most comfort and can make the difference between falling in love with cycling and simply struggling through mundane rides. Below, we offer suggestions based on your height, including one bike made specifically for tall riders. By 1950, Schwinn had decided the time was right to grow the brand. At the time, most bicycle manufacturers in the United States sold in bulk to department stores, which in turn sold them as store brand models.

Keep in mind that you might be on your own since it likely won’t come with instructions — at least mine didn’t. Even though I don’t like it, it’s got a major redeeming factor. I’m just going to start at the front of the bike and work back. 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. On the hilltop, the cemetery lanes are a mix of paved and gravel surfaces, and the robust 27.5 x 2.6 unbranded tires with hybrid tread performed well on both.

When you are done, fold it up and slip it into the back of your car — no bike rack required. And oh, by the way, it is $400 less than the Schwinn Mendocino. I sold the Schwinn and ordered a Lectric XP Lite for myself yesterday. By my count, CleanTechnica has published 1,457 reviews about e-bikes. Over the past several years, the number of e-bikes on the market has exploded as people realized they could use them to get to work, or school, or the grocery store and leave their cars at home. Today there is an amazing variety of e-bikes available to fit every need.

The Coston e-bike is controlled with a handlebar-mounted LED panel with three buttons on the side. The panel displays your speed and power level, plus you can cycle through other functions like an odometer, tripometer, and other stats like average speed, max speed, and total ride time. Of course, the premier feature of this e-bike is the “e” part.