Unable to produce bicycles in the United States at a competitive cost, by the end of 1991 Schwinn was sourcing its bicycles from overseas manufacturers. This in turn led to further inroads by domestic and foreign competitors. Faced with a downward sales spiral, Schwinn went into bankruptcy in 1992.[59] The company and name were bought by the Zell/Chilmark Fund, an investment group, in 1993. Zell moved Schwinn’s corporate headquarters to Boulder, Colorado.
Great for pavement and light trails, the Marshall features pedal assist and throttle up to 20 MPH, and up to 35 miles per charge. Powering this bike is a 26.6 volt 10 amp hour battery pack that uses Lithium Polymer cells. For the time period it was released, this was a pretty awesome battery and that shines true today with bikes still on the road.
They really thought out the balance, accessories and drive modes to make it simple and practical to use. The price was great and the components were built to endure. I like that they included little things like water bottle mounting points that so many ebikes skip (in part due to midframe batteries).
It can actually be hard to tell if it’s working or not, until you tap the on/off switch and realize, yes, it’s helping out nicely. There’s no need for the max assist level on flat ground. There are four or five pieces of plastic that clip together to seal this thing up very well.
Making sure this is the case might mean visiting a local bike shop that carries it and either giving it a test ride or just seeing which size is right for your height. We recommend looking into not only a brand’s testing options but also its return policy, as you want to make sure it’s also eligible to be sent back should it not fit. I’ve covered the battery pack elsewhere, in great detail. Also, how to bypass the BMS if it’s gotten unhappy. If they’re shallow hills (perhaps, what Iowa calls a hill), you’re fine.
Many of the other wires, for the electric assist and control systems, are internally routed through the frame. This design choice makes the bike look nice and provides good protection. I love how the battery pack slides out to the right vs. mounting down from the top and appreciate the three-bolt design of the track, which provides more strength where it attaches to the frame. It’s a nice pack for being on such a cheap bike… and batteries tend to be some of the most expensive parts of electric bicycles.
If they’re steep hills (Seattle style), get another bike. Wrapping the front wheel is a decent enough fender, though it terminates a bit higher in the rear than I’d like for the wet Seattle winters (road spray). I live in Southeastern Ohio, amid the Appalachian foothills, so most of the bike rides in my area are hilly. Thus, for my next ride, I first headed for a local cemetery that sprawls over the top of a high hill and is accessed by a steep road. In fact, the graveyard provides a favorite vantage point for photographers wanting a shot of our town. Schwinn are now in their second generation of ebikes with the Marshall, Coston CE and DX.
The one thing I was conflicted about was how bright the blue LED lights were. The Schwinn GSE or “GSElectric” is an electric bike that was sold from 2007 to 2009 in a couple of different forms. There was a cruiser style frame and the city commuter “World” setup you see here.
Once the controller is turned on, you will be able to use the motor, lights, and other electric functions. Turning takes a little bit to get used to as it is a little more schwinn dealers top-heavy than a regular bike with the battery. After a few minutes it’s just like riding a normal bike.