Before you complete any purchase, make sure you have an understanding of the local laws that govern electric bikes, which is where our guide to e-bike classes comes in handy. For example, in the US, there are different classes of e-bikes that vary by their power, speed limitations and whether or not they have a throttle, and each class is subject to different rules. Things are a little more simple elsewhere, with the UK and EU stating that anything with a speed limiter of over 25km/h is classified as a moped, while anything up to 25km/h (15.5mph) is classed as a bicycle. You have a bike in the shed you haven’t touched for many years and it seems like a perfect candidate for conversion to an electric bike.
If you need help, you may want to check out the voluminous guide to e-bikes my colleague Jo Borras created for CleanTechnica readers recently. The schwinn dealers bottom line is that no electric bike is right for all riders and all use cases. Find one that works for you, then charge up and ride happy.
It’s a well-thought-out system that looks and feels great. The battery mounts to the handlebars and we found that a really useful detail. It is easy to disconnect and take it away for storage, so it doesn’t get stolen when you are out and about, or to lighten the bike when, for example, it needs to be carried up a flight of stairs.
The throttle is integrated with the drivetrain and brakes. This is because the motor is actually an assistance system; primary meant to augment your manual pedaling. In fact, the motor disengages when you stop pedaling or when the brakes are engaged. A good thing in the case of the latter, schwinn dealers as I discovered the motor is surprisingly powerful. The bike can also tell when you are going downhill or coasting and will disengage the motor to save battery power. The acceleration is palpable but not jerky or jarring, although, like me, you may be initially surprised at its strength.
You will probably stumble across a lot of unfamiliar brand names. If not, then it is possible to source the battery yourself, but be sure about what you are getting. schwinn beach cruiser It’s really important to make sure that your charger is compatible too; charger incompatibility is cited as a cause of many fires caused by electric bikes.