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. We’re confident that in no time at all you’ll be zipping around town, pedaling on a path, or motoring down a trail in the quiet woods. Headlights, taillights, and integrated frame lights help you see and be seen in low-light conditions. In this Schwinn electric bike review, we’re going to tell you all about Schwinn’s electric bike line-up, and who it’s designed for.
Surprisingly few websites seem to have actually gotten around to riding the thing when it came out. The Schwinn Ridgewood launched recently in the electric bike market. Before we get into the e-bike itself, I want to take a moment to talk about e-bike ownership and what it has meant for me. I mentioned the shunning of my trusty Trek bike in lieu of my e-bikes this summer, but the reason for that has been life-changing for me. I’ve been using an electric bike and a shoulder bag for most of my shopping “can you grab me XYZ from Target” runs.
The Tailwind was announced in late 2008, and came out in early 2009, retailing for a rather high (at the time) price of $3,199. It also managed to get coverage in a lot of business-focused magazines – which is unusual for an electric bike. That is not the case with this e-bike and I think it comes down to a question of power management. Even at level 3 assistance, my pedals are free spinning in 7th gear. The only time you’ll ever need to balance power output would be if you were planning on doing an entire 20 miles without charging. For commuters and people who run errands, that’s not always going to be the case.
Overall, given the fundamental shift I have seen in my personal bike riding habits this past summer, I very much enjoy having an e-bike. The Coston e-bike is a good example of that in a much more approachable price range than some others. But a lot of the nicer features also have drawbacks.
With 2.6″ tires, you’ve got a lot of air and rubber under you to tackle more than just well-manicured bicycle lanes. Hitting curbs or potholes will be smoother than most pure commuter bikes, especially considering the inclusion of the front suspension fork and suspension seat post. Speaking of which, check out my video below to see the bike’s performance and features in action, including those cool frame lights. 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. Schwinn has a long and storied history of making the best bikes on the planet specifically for younger riders. That youth-first attitude is fully embraced in our e-bike offerings as well.
But don’t worry, The Coston CE is the best electric bike for tall riders. Keep in mind that e-bikes are built for all different types of riders, from casual cruisers to high-octane adventurers. Also know that there are bikes equipped with features that are specifically designed for kids, women, and older riders. Whatever you want to do on your e-bike, and whatever type of riding you intend to do, we’ve got you covered. 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.
Below, we offer suggestions based on your height, including one bike made specifically for tall riders. Front and rear mechanical disc brakes deliver all-weather stopping power and speed control. You can ride with confidence through rain, dust, and more. Ride up to 20 MPH with the 250-watt pedal assist hub motor that gives you a boost while you pedal.
Throw a better battery and a better controller on it, and I bet you can get a whole lot more than 250W out of the motor as well. 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. mongoose excursion $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.
The left brake lever controls the front brakes and the right the rear, as is standard. 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. I mostly used the motor in pedal-assist mode, though I will cover the throttle in the next section. The motor on this bike is very aggressive in that is starts up quickly with even the slightest movement of the pedal, and it goes hard.