The Schwinn GSE or “GSElectric” is an electric bike that was sold from 2007 to 2009 in a couple of different forms. There was a cruiser style frame and the city commuter “World” setup you see here. Although it is becoming harder to find, many of these are still on the road with their original high quality Lithium Polymer battery packs. In my opinion it’s a great setup with everything you need to cruise around town running errands. It’s also great for commuting to work where you can easily remove the battery pack for a quick charge before heading home. The fenders keep you dry while the larger 700c wheels and hybrid tires provide efficiency in coasting.
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 schwinn beach cruiser 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.
It’s easy to see the affordable quality when you see a Schwinn. It’s still lower than many mountain bikes making it easier to get on and off, especially on awkward spots on the trail. A small, easy to use console is on the left side of the handlebar.
That’s a big difference when you’re picking up the bike to turn it around or put it on a car rack. Once I rigged up my kids’ old trailer into a cargo trailer, I could transport even more from the grocery store. Suddenly I was spending hours if not days less time in my car, and more on a bike. I won’t pretend that exercise was a factor here — the e-bike does 95% of the work for you — but I’ll argue with any doctor that some peddling is better than sitting on my butt in a car. A 7-speed transmission from Microshift also adds to the commuter street-cred, giving those in hilly areas the ability to run through the gears on hills. Climbing a hill at the lowest gear setting available, without battery power.
Respectfully, most of the e-bikes you find online come from companies with alphabet-soup for names that may sell just as many portable batteries as they do e-bikes. The Schwinn Coston CE falls in the middle of its e-bike model line, offering a slight upgrade over the Schwinn Marshall but without some of the features found on the higher-end Coston DC. Here at Schwinn, we worked hard to develop a high-quality ride that won’t break the bank.
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. Ride schwinn dealers up to 20 MPH with the 250-watt pedal assist hub motor that gives you a boost while you pedal. 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 have spent over a century building the bicycle industry into what it is today, and we’re not done yet. Schwinn e-bikes are available for purchase right here on the Schwinn website! Schwinn e-bikes are also available through Dick’s Sporting Goods, where select models are available for an in-store test ride.
Mechanical disc brakes help provide plenty of stopping power, whereas one of the standout features is the rear rack which has a 55lb. The Schwinn Monroe 250 gets its 250 moniker from how many watts the hub drive puts out. This power level proved more than enough for me and my lifestyle, though there are models from other brands with 500 watts should you need even more. And at the end of the day, we’re talking about an affordable cruiser, so I didn’t expect to find high-end shifters, hydraulic disc brakes, or suspension on the bike.
Schwinn’s electric bikes are designed for beginners and first-time e-bike riders. But they are also perfect for experienced riders who want to get around town or tow some luggage a little bit easier. At first, I was nervous about the bike going 20 miles an hour. On my long rides on a hybrid bike, I averaged 15 mph but once I got going, I realized 20 mph isn’t a big deal. Similar to how you can change gears on a multi-speed bike, you can choose how much the motor assists you, too. If you’re having trouble going up a hill, just increase the assistance to maintain your speed.
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. The shifter is on the right handlebar opposite the LED display for the motor on the left. Choose your level of assistance or ride without it completely.