All it takes is careful consideration of a few questions and then a bit of a deeper dive to explore what options and features you want most on your electric-powered ride. So to offer a full-size electric bike with otherwise nice commuter features yet with such a small battery is a bit surprising. The Schwinn Coston CE is very much a commuter electric bike, but it’s not one of those thin-wheeled messenger e-bikes. 18-speed drivetrain with twist shifter lets you adapt to your terrain, while mechanical disc brakes deliver all weather stopping power. All Schwinn e-bikes are Class 2, which are the most widely accepted.
Schwinn includes a battery charger with the bike, which plugs into any standard wall outlet you’d have in your home, apartment, or office. To take the battery out of the bike, use the included key to release it, then plug the charger into the battery and then into the wall. The way I viewed it was that I ride bikes for exercise, so why would I ride one that does most (if not all) the work for me? Even the term e-bike sounded gimmicky enough for me to want nothing to do with them — it’s like how everything these days comes with the label of smart.
Scroll through the carousel to learn about the unique features of our e-bikes. I really enjoyed my time with Schwinn’s Monroe 250 Single-Speed Electric Bike and was sad when it came time for Pacific Cycle — Schwinn’s parent company — to take it back. It was such a mongoose bmx joy to ride around and truly turned me in favor of e-bikes (something I never thought possible). 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.
Keep in mind that you might be on your own since it likely won’t come with instructions — at least mine didn’t. I’ve put bicycles together on my own in the past and tend to be good at putting the bigger pieces together correctly like the handlebars, wheels, schwinn electric bike pedals, and so on. The part I have the most trouble with is the fine-tuning, which is one of the most important aspects of the set-up process. If you leave the battery in the bike, there is a rubber port cover you need to move before plugging in the bike.
It works by spinning the back wheel, creating the feeling of being pushed. A mid-drive motor powers the bike’s drivetrain instead of the wheel hub. This style creates a natural sensation that one would typically feel while riding a bike.Most Schwinn e-bikes feature a hub drive motor because it requires little to no maintenance.
It looks just odd enough for drivers to take a second look in a “what the heck is that thing? A second look is invaluable as a rider, where we’d often even be grateful for a first look from drivers. It’s basically the Goldilocks option, offering enough performance and functionality for everyday commuters without pushing the price too high.
Aluminum frame and wheel rims deliver lightweight durability while an integrated LED headlight illuminates the road for nighttime rides. Explore the exciting world of eBikes with a stylish urban ride that’s perfect for your on-the-go lifestyle. The 700c Men’s Monroe 350 urban electric bike has a 350-watt hub-drive motor with a thumbpad controller on the handlebar.
This plants it in the territory of pedal-assisted e-bikes rather than full-on motor-assisted. My review bike didn’t come with a user manual, so I had to play around with the bike for about five minutes before I figured out how it worked. Basically, the bike turns on once you hold down the power button for a few seconds and the key is meant to release the battery for easier charging — not for ignition.