These numbers, of course, can vary depending on riding conditions, bike weight, and rider weight. While we offer higher-capacity batteries for our e-bikes, the larger batteries won’t make the bike go faster. Again, most e-bikes out there are Class 2 and only assist up to 20 mph. Just make sure to check the specifications of the e-bike you want to ride and the regulations in your area. Once you have that, you’re ready for all the e-bike adventures you please. By 1975, bicycle customers interested in medium-priced road and touring bicycles had largely gravitated towards Japanese or European brands.
On the left bar, there’s the controller for the motor. It has a basic on/off toggle, a battery level indicator, and a power mode button that toggles between low, medium, and high. You can easily switch between power modes, and this is the closest thing to a throttle the bike has. A lightweight, very affordable, name-brand electric bicycle available in three frame sizes for improved fit, purpose-built frame with color matched saddle, grips, and deep dish rims. Efficient 250 watt Bafang hub motor feels smooth and responds quickly to a 12-magnet cadence…… In 1938, Frank W. Schwinn officially introduced the Paramount series.
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. But even the mid- to low-end Shimano parts are perfectly fine for this level of bike. The Schwinn EC1 is one of those simple e-bikes that can reliably bring a smile to your face.
The battery has to be on before turning the bike on which got me the first time I tried. A small, easy to use console is on the left side of the handlebar. It’s got 3 buttons, up down and a power/enter button in the middle. A 7-speed transmission from Microshift also adds to the commuter street-cred, giving those in hilly areas the ability mongoose excursion to run through the gears on hills. The included kickstand is also nice because it mounts near the back wheel so it doesn’t get in the way when you need to back the bike up while the kickstand is down. Anyone who has tried to back up a bike while the pedals are locked with the kickstand will appreciate what I’m talking about.
In 1900, during the height of the first bicycle boom, annual United States sales by all bicycle manufacturers had briefly topped one million. By 1960, annual sales had reached just 4.4 million.[10] Nevertheless, Schwinn’s share of the market was increasing, and would reach in excess of 1 million bicycles per year by the end of the decade. You might see the occasional “e-bike” (and we use the term loosely here) blowing through city traffic at speeds of 30 or 40 mph or more. These are essentially small electric motorcycles with pedals merely as decoration.
A higher level of assistance requires less pedaling effort. And at the end of the day, we’re talking about an affordable cruiser, so I didn’t expect to find high-end shifters, hydraulic disc brakes, or suspension on the bike. The Shimano Tourney shifter, mechanical disc brakes, and plushy spring saddle are enough for me.
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. Aluminum cruiser frame provides lightweight durability with a vintage-inspired look that never goes out of style.
I’ve seen this level of components on electric cruisers that cost nearly twice as much. Speaking of trails, I found that the Schwinn EC1 is great for more than just nice bike lanes and smooth sidewalks. The decently large tires also make it a fun bike for nature trails and gravel paths. I wouldn’t want to take it off any jumps due to the lack of suspension, but it’s not really meant for that, either. This is a relaxed, upright cruiser that has the ability to handle a fairly wide range of riding trails. Regardless, the battery seemed to be securely locked into its rack, so it’s probably not an actual concern, and probably just more mounting evidence of our insane paranoia.
The next morning, all was in readiness, so I set off for my first Schwinn e-bike ride. The Schwinn Mendocino electric cruiser bike looked like exactly what I wanted. With creaky hips, I prefer a step through model and the website showed it in bright blue, which meant it would be a great replacement for my current ride. So I ordered it, only to find that blue was not available.
Despite being priced at $1,199, this ebike comes in three sizes and features color-matched fork, grips, saddle, and stylish deep dish rims. You could lock this thing up to a bike rack and not have to worry so much about scratches and tips… except for the power cable that protrudes from the right rear axle. And, even if the bike were completely broken or stolen at some point, it’s a lot less painful to lose ~$1k than the $2k+ of most other purpose-built electric bikes. Perhaps you’re the type of person who lives up stairs and wants to store the entire bike inside?