Although it has an aluminum frame, it weighs in at just over 66 pounds. Maybe that’s not such a big deal, but much of the weight is carried high in the frame. My first impression was that the bike felt unwieldy, like I was carrying a bocce set on the rack behind me. That bike has been sitting outside in the rain, and sun, and salt air for 5 years now and has been remarkably unfazed by being neglected. But I felt it was time to join the move to e-bikes. I did a Google search for “cruiser e-bikes” and found a link to the Schwinn website.
One of our specialties is being able to replace and repair e-bike batteries that are no longer supported by their manufacturer. We’ve had many Schwinn Tailwind batteries come through the shop and we rebuild them as 24 V 14 Ah batteries using fresh lithium ion cells to get it running like new again. The Tailwind originally came out in 2009 and had about a 30 mile range with the battery. If degradation has led to an unacceptable range decrease, let us rebuild your battery so you can cover the distances you need without anxiety. Don’t let a drained battery keep you from getting where you want to go.
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. At level 5, the throttle propels you up to 20 miles per hour and disengages if you go faster than that (for example, if you go downhill).
By 1950, Schwinn had decided the time was right to grow the brand. At the time, most bicycle manufacturers in the United States sold in bulk to department stores, which in turn sold them as store brand models. F. Goodrich bicycles, sold in tire stores, Schwinn eliminated the practice of producing schwinn electric bike private label bicycles in 1950, insisting that the Schwinn brand and guarantee appear on all products. In exchange for ensuring the presence of the Schwinn name, distributors retained the right to distribute Schwinn bikes to any hardware store, toy store, or bicycle shop that ordered them.
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 schwinn mountain bicycles 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.
All of Florida has been underwater before and will be again, although hopefully not in my lifetime. The village is just big enough that it’s a bit of a walk to the restaurant, the Tiki bar, the community center, the golf shack or the pickleball courts. In October, I decided to buy myself an electric bicycle for mongoose excursion my birthday. I am at an age where, instead of relying on the whims of children and grandchildren, I can pick my own gift. I really simplifies the whole process and eliminates the need to send phony thank you notes for things you don’t need and can’t use. Wait till you get to be my age and you will understand.