Schwinn has been a large name within the bike industry for over a decade. Generally producing mountain bikes for all shapes and sizes. The Sidewinder is Schwinn’s take schwinn beach cruiser on an electric mountain bike. The Schwinn electric bike scored a 33 on our Tower ebike score. Lets get into the review and find what areas the bike struggled in.
So to offer a full-size electric bike with otherwise nice commuter features yet with such a small battery is a bit surprising. The low power motor is matched by a low capacity battery. With just 288 Wh of capacity, the battery surprised me, and not in a good way. Sure, I’ve seen plenty of e-bikes with 288 Wh batteries before. It’s just that they’re usually on smaller, lightweight e-bikes that push the needle considerably less on the scale. With 2.6″ tires, you’ve got a lot of air and rubber under you to tackle more than just well-manicured bicycle lanes.
We can’t stress enough how critical it is to choose the right-sized bike. Well-fitted bikes provide the most comfort and can make the difference between falling in love with cycling and simply struggling through mundane rides. Below, we offer suggestions based on your height, including one bike made specifically for tall riders. This guide is designed to make the decision to buy the best e-bike for riders of all types as simple and stress-free as possible. We know an e-bike is a big purchase, and we want you to be comfortable, happy, and stoked when you hop on your new purchase.
Its throttle was so lackluster and slow — especially when compared with other bikes of a similar price class — that it sometimes didn’t feel like it was powered at all. Once you’re up to speed and cruising on a flat surface, the ride quality feels smooth and reasonably quick, but the motor struggles up moderate hills. And when it comes to serious hills, the Coston gets left far behind other e-bikes.
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.
In the past, the range you got depended on how much work you were willing to put into it. On my older e-bike (also a Schwinn) I get about the same 20 miles of range at level 5, but I also get closer to 40 miles at level 3. The controller schwinn dealers is easy to use with one thumb, which is nice. 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.
The downside is this bike feels about as heavy as a light-armored vehicle. The bike tops out at around 57 pounds, which is tank-like in the biking world. By comparison, my poor, neglected Trek bike weighs around 25 pounds.
A step-thru version offers a slightly lower top bar than the regular version. The simple, somewhat disappointing truth is that the Coston DX doesn’t stack up against other e-bikes of a similar price. At over $2,000, it should have better acceleration and range, and as a Schwinn it should have better craftsmanship. It’s undeniably a great-looking bike, but the performance simply doesn’t deliver on that promise. Press the power button to turn it on, which will enable use of the motor, lights, and other electronics. The Coston DX does have a flat-out great lighting system, with a bright headlight, taillight, and running light beneath the central frame that provides solid surrounding visibility.
The shifter is on the right handlebar opposite the LED display for the motor on the left. The frame used is a lightweight aluminum 6061 with upright geometry and a low step-through top tube. This design along with shock-absorbent tires and mechanical disc brakes make the Mendocino a very comfortable and controlled ride. $3,200 isn’t cheap by any means, though it would be, over time, an extremely economical purchase when compared to fueling and car costs. Anyone with a small apartment will be hard pressed to find a place to keep the Tailwind, and it’s not a likely candidate for one of those wall-hung bike racks, either. Additionally, the weight of the bike makes it pretty inconvenient to carry up and down stairs on a regular basis.
Graphics on the control unit illustrate going up hill, riding on a flat surface, or going downhill. Red LEDs show which mode you have selected and indicate how much charge the battery has left. 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. 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.