Available in both step-through and traditional layouts and intended to suit riders within a general height range of 5-foot-4 and 6-foot-4, the Coston seems to be largely geared toward families. Mechanical disc brakes help provide plenty of stopping power, whereas one of the standout features is the rear rack which has a 55lb. There are no fenders or a rear rack on the Marshall, which is one of the biggest differences between this Schwinn electric bike and the Schwinn Coston electric bike.
This handle also doesn’t provide enough room for your fingers when you are carrying the battery pack. Second, putting that weight over the rear wheel makes the Tailwind more likely to flip over when the bike is stopped suddenly. Our test bike’s front brakes were particularly grabby, causing an end-over incident during an emergency stop. We found the Tailwind works largely as advertised, with a nice assist while riding around town and a battery with a high capacity that recharges quickly.
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). After you crank it on (okay, there’s no cranking involved — just a button schwinn ebike press), you’ll feel it kick in after maybe five seconds. It’s a bit jarring the first time or two, but that’s par for the course, and you’ll warm up to it quickly. Once the electric’s on, there are three modes of assistance to choose from on that left control panel — flat, downhill, and hill climbing.
This helps keep the battery dry if you get caught out in the rain. Overall, I think Schwinn needs to better balance its approach when it comes to the motor and how hard it pushes, especially when it has a full charge. So, if you commute, or you frequently run errands, an e-bike can save you a lot of gas, and get you outside more. So now that we’ve waxed philosophic about e-bikes, let’s get to the Coston CE. 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.
In each case I pedaled unassisted part way up the next climb, moving to a numbered assist level only when gravity began to bite. On flat roads, we found the assist useful, helping the bike along with minimal pedal input required. The gears allow you to put in as much physical exertion as you feel like. From a stop, it’s good to have the bike in low gear, otherwise starting out can be difficult, made more so by the fact the motor won’t kick in until you’ve been pedaling. In regards to battery life and range, once again the Coston DX falls behind the pack.
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, schwinn beach cruiser this household bicycle name is making a big move on the wider e-bike market. When it comes to buying things in the 21st century, we seem to have an embarrassment of riches.
Finally, the position of the plug connector for the battery pack means it can only be recharged when taken off the bike. It would be more convenient if it could be left in position on the bike and plugged in. The frame for the Schwinn Tailwind’s electric gear is built for urban and suburban riding. The aluminum frame, along with the upward curved handlebars, creates an upright sitting position.
At the very top of the Schwinn electric bike range is the Coston DX. This electric bike is available as step-through and standover options that cover everything from the morning commute to the evening trail ride. More powerful than all the other Schwinn e-bikes, the Coston DX has a 360Wh battery with a 45-mile range and a top speed of 20mph. Its 288 Wh battery is internally housed in the downtube and can power the Marshall for 35 miles per charge (which takes just 4 hours). The motor is a 250W brushless geared hub drive motor, and you can control all the power from the 7-function LCD controller.