Pedal Assist + Throttle

But of course half the fun of riding a bike is using your own power for propulsion (or at least sharing the load). So I usually found myself keeping it in the second or third pedal assist level out of five total levels. There’s nothing overly fancy about it, though I’d say the fact that it comes with built-in fenders and a rear rack is a nice feature. 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.

schwinn electric bike

A mid-drive motor powers the bike’s drivetrain instead of the wheel hub. This style creates a natural sensation that one would typically feel while riding a bike.Most Schwinn e-bikes feature a hub drive motor because it requires little to no maintenance. In the event a replacement is needed, the motor is easy to replace as part of the wheel. The Schwinn Tailwind uses a Shimano eight-speed gearset in the rear hub, its limited gear ratio making the bike mostly suitable for flat areas. Cantilever brakes grab the rims for stopping power, although with the price of this bike, we would expect disc brakes.

I’ve seen this level of components on electric cruisers that cost nearly twice as much. These are battery rebuilds only, the bike is not included in our battery refill service. Simply just mail in any equipment that came with your battery as well as the charger  from there we will test the battery to see its current condition but the charger is needed in the testing process.

The Coston e-bike comes with a typical brick-on-a-string charger that plugs into a normal 110v outlet. You can plug the battery in while it’s inside the bike, or you can use an included key to remove the battery from the bike for charging. 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.

By the way, it is my understanding that Schwinn has not made bikes for many years but just licenses their name. About ten years ago we sold Currie electric scooters under the Schwinn name. Upway offers you to select if you would like to receive your bike either 85% assembled or 99% assembled. You also have some schwinn road bike extra options regarding the speed and choice of appointment. Shipping generally starts at $99 but depends on the model (some bikes are not eligible for 85% assembly). 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.

Our test bike’s front brakes were particularly grabby, causing an end-over incident during an emergency stop. We found the Tailwind works largely as advertised, with a nice assist while riding around town and a battery with a high capacity that recharges quickly. On our test bike, the front brakes were too grabby, and we wondered why such an expensive bike wouldn’t have disc brakes. And the price of the Tailwind, above $3,000, puts it far beyond the realm of people who may just have a casual interest in an electric bike. 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.

Feature rich, relatively affordable, light weight electric bike from ~2009 well suited for city use. Lithium polymer battery pack is fast to charge, easily removable and balanced with the front…… The Tailwind’s frame is meant for flat city or suburban riding, and, at the end of the day, Schwinn’s entire package here hits dead-on a really specific and growing demographic. There is a small but ever heightening interest in alternatives to gas automobiles in the US, and bicycles, as evidenced by bike-friendly cities such as Portland and Minneapolis.

For seniors, we recommend an e-bike with a step-thru frame and upright riding position. This frame style makes it easier to get on and off the bike, and an upright riding position is easier on the lower back. The frame is also designed to be lighter for easier handling, and includes wider tires for extra stability. Examples of this style include both the Coston DX and Mendocino Step-Thru models. Choose your level of assistance or ride without it completely. Select models feature a throttle, which makes it easy to get going from a stop.

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. When you think about EVs, you probably (rightly) think of cars. But there’s another class of EV that might have slipped below your radar, but which has transformed my summer in very unexpected ways. The bike was provided by Schwinn for the purposes of the review.

Here at Schwinn, we worked hard to develop a high-quality ride that won’t break the bank. Plus, we believe in our bikes and back them up with one of the best warranty programs around. We do not cover parts purchased and labor performed by another bike shop. Schwinn Bicycle Company is one of the oldest and most trusted companies in the bicycle business. Founded in 1895 Schwinn has over a century of trust worthy experience manufacturing the bicycle.