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. Foot down geometry lets you put your foot down without getting off the seat, all while supporting proper leg extension when you ride. But even the mid- to low-end Shimano parts are perfectly fine for this level of bike. The Schwinn EC1 is one of those simple e-bikes that can reliably bring a smile to your face. So buckle up and check out the video review of the Schwinn EC1 below, then read on for all the tech specs and juicy details.
But don’t worry, The Coston CE is the best electric bike for tall riders. Schwinn’s electric bicycle line has significantly expanded over the last couple years. When I first started riding electric Schwinns, I was largely limited to cruiser e-bikes. But with several new commuter-specific e-bikes like the Schwinn Coston CE that I recently tested, this household bicycle name is making a big move on the wider e-bike market. Battery range and top speed can vary depending on rider height and weight, and riding conditions like hills or wind.
Efficient 250 watt Bafang hub motor feels smooth and responds quickly to a 12-magnet cadence…… I mostly used the motor in pedal-assist mode, though I will cover the throttle in the next section. The motor on this bike is very aggressive in that is starts up quickly with even the slightest movement of the pedal, and it goes hard.
And the build quality feels like it should stand the test of time. That being said, the small-ish 250W motor isn’t going to be a powerhouse on hills. The bike accelerates fine on flat ground, but you’ll definitely need to add some leg assist if you’re going to be climbing tall hills. Get ready to look good both on the path and in your camera roll.
Don’t let a drained battery keep you from getting where you want to go. There is a company called Rechargeable Power Energy (RPE) that can repack and restore your original battery. I have heard good things about them, that they perform this service for mainstream ebike manufacturers and double check the circuits when performing a restore or upgrade.
Bafang motors are covered under a limited warranty through Bafang NA. No owners manual so this video has helped a lot with the battery removal trick etc (since my only other experience is a Raleigh retro eglide). We’ve addressed those concerns by designing Extended Life Batteries for a couple of our best-selling e-bikes. schwinn mountain bike In short, think primarily about what you want to do on your e-bike, where you’re most likely to ride it, and how much you want to spend. If you leave the battery in the bike, there is a rubber port cover you need to move before plugging in the bike. This helps keep the battery dry if you get caught out in the rain.
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). You’ll need to consider the type of terrain and style of riding you prefer, as well as how far you want to ride before recharging the battery. For example the Healy Ridge and Ridgewood e-bikes are great for trails and other off-road rides, whereas the Mendocino is perfect for casual cruising around the neighborhood. If you’re looking for a great all-around e-bike that can do a little bit of everything, check out our Coston and Marshall e-bikes. Most of our e-bikes are available with both stand-over and step-thru frames, so you can pick the right frame style for you. Many e-bikes also include extra features like integrated lights, storage, fenders, rear racks, and more.
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. When you think about EVs, you probably (rightly) think of cars. But there’s another class of EV that might have slipped below your radar, but which has transformed my summer in very unexpected ways. The bike was provided by Schwinn for the purposes of the review.
With 2.6″ tires, you’ve got a lot of air and rubber under you to tackle more than just well-manicured bicycle lanes. Hitting curbs or potholes will be smoother than most pure commuter bikes, especially considering the inclusion of the front suspension schwinn electric bike fork and suspension seat post. 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. Schwinn advertises the Tailwind as being rechargeable in just half an hour.