But it being a midweek day, I had the trail mostly to myself and was able to test all the assist levels — learning that the bike could indeed do the advertised maximum assist speed of 20 mph. 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. Riding around on electric bikes might feel a little surprising at first, but most people who try it love it.
The main difference between the throttle and the Pedal Assist System is the force that is responsible for moving the bike forward. With the throttle, the electric bike will schwinn dealers accelerate under its own power and does not require any pedaling to get going. Now, with the Pedal Assist System, the force responsible for going forward is you pedaling.
The motor still comes into play here and provides some assistance by giving an extra boost each time you pedal. Using PAS, the bike will not accelerate without use of the pedals like the throttle does. The Pedal Assist System, or PAS, is a feature of your e-bike that provides extra power behind each pedal. It all runs through the LCD display located on the handlebars, from here you can toggle between one of 7 levels of assistance and turn on the PAS. Once you turn it on, the system engages each time you pedal on the electric bike. If you don’t press the power button to turn on the PAS, it will feel like you’re riding a regular bike when you pedal.
6-speed twist shifter offers smooth, reliable gear changes. Easily adapt to your terrain – hills, flat areas, and everything in between – with just a twist. The features like the neat integrated lighting are rarely seen in the industry and are a definite win.
Use the “+” and “–“ buttons to select your level of pedal assist. We recommend starting on the lowest level of pedal assistance. Use the included charging cable to connect the battery to a standard household outlet. I understand that I’m a big guy, and I’m also about 50 pounds over the maximum advertised weight for this bike. I was probably never going to get 35 miles out of this or any other bike.
It also has a hidden pocket in the seat, which is a pretty neat way to store your phone, keys, and other small items. Rest assured, riding one of Schwinn’s e-bikes will quickly feel just as second nature as riding the traditional (or analog) bike you’re used to. In fact, we’re pretty sure you’ll end up preferring it to your old bicycle.
Your e-bike comes with a battery, a charger, and a charging cord. Plug the cord into the charger, then plug it into the battery and, finally, plug it into the wall. The battery can be charged while it is on the bike, or you can remove it to charge the battery in a different location, like your office after commuting to work. A light located on the battery will turn on to let you know that it’s charging properly. On a subsequent test climb, I experimented with the throttle while not pedaling at all. The throttle kept the bike moving, but as I neared the summit, the speed became so slow that I would have fallen over had I not started pedaling.
And, since you brake while coasting (not pedaling), there isn’t any extra power that would affect your braking. Once you get on your e-bike, hold down the power button for 2 seconds to turn it on. Press the up arrow to choose the level of pedal assist you want. You can easily increase your assistance level when you feel more comfortable using the PAS and want to try riding longer distances or going uphill.
Longer distances and steep hills are no problem when you have a pedal assist motor and throttle to add a little extra oomph to your ride. The standard batteries that come on our Marshall, Coston CE and Coston DX bikes are good for up to 45 miles of riding. But Schwinn knows many riders want to go farther, so we developed higher capacity batteries that are super easy to install (you’ll only need a screwdriver). These additional batteries extend the riding distance up to 80 miles on both our Coston and Marshall series of bikes. That means the motor is located on the rear hub and works by spinning the back wheel.
Electric bikes have 3 main components that make them different than other normal or analog bicycles. These three components work together to operate the e-bike. 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. Please know that we have free shipping for all orders over $49, that we have a live chat option available Monday through Friday, and Schwinn has a limited lifetime warranty on all our bikes.