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. 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.
It easily recharges with a standard household outlet, ensuring its never without juice. All that, plus the six-pound Toshiba battery housed behind the seat, makes the bike quite heavy, and, in some ways, a bit clunky feeling to move around when you’re not riding it. Where an average bike weighs about 35 pounds, the Tailwind, as we mentioned, weighs 58 pounds. Of course — this bike does a lot more than your average bike, and its weight is actually fairly low for electric bikes (plus, we’re huge wimps). Well, let’s just say it really, seriously provides assistance. After you crank it on (okay, there’s no cranking involved — just a button press), you’ll feel it kick in after maybe five seconds.
I found the battery removal process to be a bit tricky. The battery locks in under the frame of the bike, and the front wheel/fender tended to get in the way when removing or reinstalling the battery. One feature I liked was a secondary tab you need to retract to remove the battery. That way, when you unlock the battery it doesn’t just fall out. Some thought was put into the idea there and I appreciated it. Once I rigged up my kids’ old trailer into a cargo trailer, I could transport even more from the grocery store.
A removable battery allows extra batteries to be used, extending the range of the bike. The 280Wh battery gives enough juice for up to 25miles, which might not seem much, but it’s perfect for weekend adventures. Lastly, the Marshall comes with integrated LED frame light and headlight, but with just a battery taillight. 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. Anyone who has tried to back up a bike while the pedals are locked with the kickstand will appreciate what I’m talking about. It looks just odd enough for drivers to take a second look in a “what the heck is that thing?
After leaving the cemetery, I pedaled a county road that unrolls over five hilltops with valleys in between. On the downhills, I went to 0 assist and flew down, hitting 36 mph on one of them. In each case I pedaled unassisted part way up the next climb, moving to a numbered assist level only when gravity began to bite. In 2019, the company finally entered the electric bike market with a line of schwinn dealerss for every type of rider.
Of course, some of that weight is in the 288-watt battery which Schwinn adversities as being good for up to 35 miles of range. We’ll get into the range in schwinn beach cruiser 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 battery, which cannot be plugged in or charged while attached to the bike, is advertised as lasting up to 30 miles per charge. Then again — the bike is still a functioning piece of equipment once the battery is dead, so maybe we should all stop being so lazy. The Schwinn Tailwind uses a Shimano eight-speed gearset in the rear hub, its limited gear ratio making the bike mostly suitable for flat areas. Cantilever brakes grab the rims for stopping power, although with the price of this bike, we would expect disc brakes. Front and rear lights that run off a traditional tire-contact generator are included. At the very top of the Schwinn electric bike range is the Coston DX.
It also has a hidden pocket in the seat, which is a pretty neat way to store your phone, keys, and other small items. Ease of riding at higher speeds without battery assistance. Climbing a hill at the lowest gear setting available, without battery power. Similarly to Healy Ridge 26, this bike has a 250W motor and 280Wh battery at your service. Ultimately, the Healy Ridge 24 is a perfect entry-level option for teenagers and electric bike beginners. From the Coston DX to the Schwinn Mendocino, the Schwinn electric bike line-up covers anything from on-road to off-road, from a casual cruise to running errands with the kids.
As a commuter e-bike, I’m also glad to see some good commuter specific parts, like the included fenders and the excellent lighting. Not only do you get typical head and taillights, but you schwinn dealers also have LED frame lights built into the sides of the battery. That adds a nice nighttime glow to the bike to give you better side visibility – an area where most bikes are lacking.