Press the power button to turn it on, which will enable use of the motor, lights, and other electronics. That being said, the more you ride the Coston, the more it feels less sturdy than you first thought. The seat post has a tendency to slide under weight, and the fenders and other elements feel a bit cheap and rattly. That’s surprising, considering Schwinn’s reputation for quality.
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 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. 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.
It looks like a tough, no-nonsense bike that verges on mountain bike durability. The layout is also comfortable, with a seat and ergonomic setup that is suited to long rides. While you can ride in light rain or snow if needed, it is not recommended to expose the e-bike to water, as this may schwinn ebike damage the battery and other electric components. Press the power button on the battery to turn the e-bike on. This button is located on the underside of the downtube near the cranks. The battery meter is comprised of five segments to give you an estimate of how much power you have left.
The shifter is on the right handlebar opposite the LED display for the motor on the left. 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 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.
Schwinn e-bikes deliver the same great riding experience with the addition of pedal assist motors and rechargeable batteries that let you roam farther than ever before. All Schwinn e-bikes are Class 2, which are the most widely accepted. They include both pedal assist and throttle functions, with a top speed of 20 MPH. Class 2 e-bikes are approved for use on bike trails in most cities and states.
What makes me excited about the bike is the possibilities that it opens up, but like a lot of aspects of this bike, it’s something of a double-edged sword. Electric bikes are a ton of fun and I’ve had a great time this summer schwinn beach cruiser riding them. As an avid cyclist who commuted to and from the train for years in the past, I see e-bikes as a very reasonable step forward in commuting. The bike should have an estimated range of 18 miles without pedalling.
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.
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.
7-speed twist shifters offer smooth gear changes, mechanical disc brakes deliver all weather stopping power, and the alloy frame provides lightweight durability. Of course, the premier feature of this e-bike is the “e” part. This is a class 1/class 2 e-bike in that it can be a pedal-assist bike up to 20 mph or you can use a dedicated throttle lever without schwinn beach cruiser pedaling. You will want to check your local regulations to find out what is legal in your area. Most places are fine with class 1 e-bikes, but different municipalities have different rules pertaining to class 2 and above. I’m sure that keeping it in low pedal assist will still net riders the claimed maximum of 35 miles that Schwinn promises.
One thing I miss from previous e-bikes I’ve had was a range estimator that gave you an idea as to how much further you could ride at your present power level under present conditions. Such a feature is fairly inaccurate all things considered, but some estimate is better than no estimate. The Coston e-bike is controlled with a handlebar-mounted LED panel with three buttons on the side. The panel displays your speed and power level, plus you can cycle through other functions like an odometer, tripometer, and other stats like average speed, max speed, and total ride time. As reviewed, the bike didn’t have much in the way of storage, but other models have a rear rack and even storage in the seat. Speaking of the seat, it’s not the most comfortable I’ve ridden on, but that’s easy enough to replace with a third-party seat if you like.