Class 1It’s important to remember that not all e-bikes are created equal. Some e-bikes are classified as “Class 1” bikes where the electric motor only provides assistance to the rider when they pedal. Everything after that comes from the power in the rider’s legs.These bikes are allowed wherever bikes are permitted. Of course, some of that weight is in the 288-watt battery which Schwinn adversities as being good for up to 35 miles of range. We’ll get into the range in a moment, but the rest of the bike is fairly standard fare for any bike. You get a 7-speed gear system on the rear wheel with a single gear on the front.
If you’re using an e-bike to commute or run errands, or if it’s a particularly hot day, the throttle might be a better way to go. The throttle is a thumb lever on the left side of the bike, next to the LED panel. It has about an inch of travel between off and full, and you can push the throttle part way down or all the way down. Obviously, full throttle is the easiest to maintain. So, if you commute, or you frequently run errands, an e-bike can save you a lot of gas, and get you outside more.
If you buy one, you’ll almost certainly have to bypass the BMS. If this doesn’t intimidate you, you live in the flatlands, and you don’t mind the style and riding position of a bolt upright bike, then go for it. $350 plus a bit of time and effort for a working 250W ebike is an amazing deal. Throw some bags on the rear, and you’ve got a great little flatland bike for grocery runs or potting around your retirement community. With the assist running on low or medium, the bike rolls smoothly and lightly, and the assist blends smoothly with pedaling.
For running slowly on flat terrain, the brakes are just fine. The rear brake, if a bit springy, will get you stopped, and the front chimes in quickly to bring you down in a hurry if you need to. The wheel lock is a Basta Defender, if you’re curious (apparently now, the AXA Defender). It’s a good blend of “comfortable while sitting on it at the store” without being horrendous to actually ride. It’s, obviously, 3D – I really hate those 2D seats, so this is a good one.
For now, however, Class 3 e-bikes hit the highest regulated speed. When Schwinn contacted me about reviewing one of the bikes, I chose the Coston DX in the step-thru version, which makes for easy mounting. The Coston DX is distinguished from the Coston CE and the Marshall by a larger battery (360 watt-hours versus 288 watt-hours in the other two), giving it a range of up-to 45 miles (versus 35 for the other two). It also has upgraded fenders, a rear rack and a unique storage saddle that opens like a clamshell with the hinge in the nose and has room for your wallet, phone, energy bars or a multi-tool. All three models have headlights, taillights and integrated downtube lights for full visibility.
That way, when you unlock the battery it doesn’t just fall out. Some thought was put into the idea there and I appreciated it. The Coston e-bike comes with a typical brick-on-a-string charger that plugs into a normal 110v outlet. Schwinn advertises that it takes about four hours to charge. 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.
Road or trail grit will stay out, and chain oil will stay in. They can do this because all the shifting is done in the rear hub – so it’s a straight, simple chainline with nothing other than two sprockets and a chain. I really, really like this feature – I can ride it in long pants and not get dirty, and if I take it on a dusty trail, the chain will stay clean and grit-free. This is awesome, and I’d love to see more bikes doing something like this.
Court – good work on the site, schwinn beach cruiser you have really stepped things up. 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.