When it comes to buying things in the 21st century, we seem to have an embarrassment of riches. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be an exhaustive and daunting task to pick the best electric bike. 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.
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. Staying active is a whole lot easier when you have fun and look good doing it. Our comfort hybrid bikes bring classic styling to modern functionality for rides that are all about taking it easy (but not too easy!). Electric bikes put extra power behind every pedal so you can ride farther, take on bigger hills, and enjoy cycling more than ever before. And with a step-through-ish frame courtesy of the medium height top tube, this is one e-bike that can be a classy ride for that special man or woman in your life. The rear rack offers plenty of cargo space for backpacks or picnic baskets, while the under-seat storage compartment is great for your keys, wallet, and other small items.
If you want to know how fast you’re going you will need to add an aftermarket LCD display as seen on the bike in this review and that could cost ~$25. I like that they included a bell with the bike and would love to have also had some lights for safety. Considering the relatively low price point aftermarket lights are something that could be added easily later on.
In the past, the range you got depended on how much work you were willing to put into it. On my older e-bike (also a Schwinn) I get about the same 20 miles of range at level 5, but I also get closer to 40 miles at level 3. In general, if purchased on the Schwinn website, your new bike will be shipped within hours of being ordered and should arrive within 7-10 days. So to offer a full-size schwinn electric bike electric bike with otherwise nice commuter features yet with such a small battery is a bit surprising. 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 fork and suspension seat post.
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. When riding with level 5 assistance my pedals were free-spinning most of the time even on the highest gear. Another consideration to keep in mind when choosing an e-bike (or any bike for that matter) is your height.
The Shimano Tourney shifter, mechanical disc brakes, and plushy spring saddle are enough for me. I’ve seen this level of components on electric cruisers that cost nearly twice as much. There’s nothing overly fancy about it, though I’d say the fact that it comes with built-in fenders and a rear rack is a nice feature. Your sales taxes will be calculated at check-out and vary per state. Meanwhile it is possible that you don’t see any sales taxes applied to your purchase.