Less pedal-happy cities are beginning to see the advantages of cycling (less pollution, less car traffic) and taking steps to reform their towns. Simply put — plenty of people would rather bike to work than drive there, if distance and climate factors are in their favor, for reasons environmental and health-related. There are a few things to know about the motor itself in action.
It’s good because everything on the bike feels solid and borderline rugged. The downside is this bike feels about as heavy as a light-armored vehicle. The bike tops out at around 57 pounds, which is schwinn road bike tank-like in the biking world. By comparison, my poor, neglected Trek bike weighs around 25 pounds. That’s a big difference when you’re picking up the bike to turn it around or put it on a car rack.
But with several new commuter-specific e-bikes like the Schwinn Coston CE that I recently tested, this household bicycle name is making a big move on the wider e-bike market. Battery range and top speed can vary depending on rider height and weight, and riding conditions like hills or wind. In general, if purchased on the Schwinn website, your new bike will be shipped within hours of being ordered and should arrive within 7-10 days. Please know that we have free shipping for all orders over $49, that we have a live chat option available Monday through Friday, and Schwinn has a limited lifetime warranty on all our bikes. Once I requested and received the PDF file of instructions, I was able to install the rack and basket. A little piece of paper with web address would have been nice, and saved time.
One complaint I have about the motor design is that the power cable entry point is a little exposed on the right axle. There is a rubber cap to help protect it, but the cable still protrudes a bit and could get snagged or bent and damaged if the bike were to tip onto its right side. I personally prefer schwinn road bike rear mounted stands… but I see lots of city bikes that come just like this, with no stand! For this review and the Monroe 250, I was able to borrow demo bikes from the Schwinn team at the Electric Bike Expo in Philadelphia. It was a medium sized frame and I am ~5’9″ tall weighing about 135 lbs.
After charging up the battery, sliding it into the rack system at the back of the bike (which could not be simpler), and locking it into place, you’re ready to go. The bike comes with a key which both locks the battery in place and enables the bike to be turned on. There is a battery life indicator on the left handlebar, and the schwinn mountain bike Shimano Revo-shift lever — which controls what gear you’re in — on the right. Riding this Schwinn without the pedal assistance on is, as you’d expect, just like riding any other bike… Yes, Schwinn makes a variety of high-quality hybrid and cruiser e-bikes that are perfect for commuting, errands, or cruises through town.