The bike tops out at around 57 pounds, which is tank-like in the biking world. By comparison, my poor, neglected Trek bike weighs around 25 pounds. That’s a big difference when you’re picking up the bike to turn it around or put it on a car rack. 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 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.
They seem to be quite strong units, and I wouldn’t expect any problems with them, ever. It’s using an internally geared rear hub with a straight chainline, well protected inside a plastic housing to keep it clean and to keep you clean. This is a 6-7 year old bike, and my particular example has been ridden a good bit, so it’s not in perfect condition. But I can still review it and provide some feedback on it for people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to find anything recent. Or, at least, get some good detail photos of parts otherwise not covered. I live in an oceanside condo community in Florida, which is very nice or will be, at least, until the seas rise and reclaim Florida’s barrier islands once more.
The throttle helps on flat ground or very small hills. The 250 watt motor can’t push much up bigger hills but it’s a lovely help when you’re pedalling. I spend most of my time on dirt roads in assist level 2 in 2nd or 3rd gear. For the big hills it was a quick shift to the nice, easy first gear. Class 2Class 2 e-bikes (the majority of e-bikes on the market today) have a throttle that can propel the bike to that top 20 mph speed without any pedal assist from the rider.
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 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.
They sense how hard you are pushing on the pedals and provide enough boost to offset headwinds and hills. But they tend to be higher end models that can cost a considerable amount of money. I am what is politely known as a “budget conscious” person. Shipping took a little over a week, but soon enough the UPS truck was at my door and unloading my first ever e-bike. Attach the quick release front wheel, handlebars, and seat, then plug in the battery to get it charged up.
They’re not really e-bikes, and they might not be legal in most places.You might also find some high-power e-bikes that allow for a manual override of the regulator. These e-bikes can reportedly reach top speeds of 60 mph. Putting your bike together is actually schwinn mountain bicycles pretty easy. We have a video that details electric bike assembly and with a few basic tools you’ll be out and about in a matter of minutes. We’ve also put together a guide for new electric bike riders that details each step you should take before you ride.
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.
Riders of all ability levels and all shapes and sizes can pretty easily determine the best e-bike for them with just a few minutes of reading and research. Press the power button on the battery to turn the e-bike on. This button is mongoose bmx located on the underside of the downtube near the cranks. Use the included charging cable to connect the battery to a standard household outlet. Designed specifically for kids, these bikes are perfect for learning and having fun.
Fortunately, it doesn’t run at full assist all the time. If you need help, you may want to check out the voluminous guide to e-bikes my colleague Jo Borras created for CleanTechnica readers recently. The bottom line is that no electric bike is right for all riders and all use cases. Find one that works for you, then charge up and ride happy. That lovely early morning ride can turn into a chore when the wind shifts and starts blowing in your face rather than against your back. But with e-bikes, you will hardly notice the difference.