What we’re riding: It ain’t your parents’ Schwinn Axios NW Arkansas

Anything faster would not meet the UK’s electrically assisted pedal cycles (EAPC) criteria, would be classed as a moped or motorcycle, and need to be licensed and taxed appropriately. Before anything, familiarise yourself with the laws regarding e-bikes in your region. Then you may want to choose a conversion kit based on your range and journey needs.

E-bikes are increasing in popularity for good reason, but there are a lot of people who have understandable reservations. When you grow up riding something as standard as a classic Schwinn bike, trying an electric bike can feel somewhere in between exciting and nerve-wracking. Our blog is coming in hot with a play by play on how exactly you ride an e-bike. A commuter ready electric bike with upright handlebar, adjustable suspension seat post, and comfortable plus sized tires. It comes with sturdy aluminum alloy fenders, a rear rack, and integrated lights..

Pedaling uphill was a bit different, maxing out at roughly 15 mph. Lighter people may be able to get it going a bit faster, though (I weigh 250 pounds for context). The way I viewed it was that I ride bikes for exercise, so why would I ride one that does most (if not all) the work for me? Even the term e-bike sounded gimmicky enough for me to want nothing to do with them — it’s like how everything these days comes with the label of smart. In many cases, we get these bikes still-in-box from both manufacturers and bike shops as overstock. While you will typically not be eligible for manufacturer warranty for these bikes, this is how we are able to offer them at such a steep discount.

Lithium is known for being light weight and since this pack is also relatively small at 266 watts vs. 360 or so, it helps to keep the overall weight of the bike down. The pack has a built in handle and LED light readout for a quick estimate of remaining battery capacity. The pack locks to the frame and does require the key to be left in to a second slot in order to be used.

The battery can be charged while it is on the bike, or you can remove it to charge the battery in a different location, like your office after commuting to work. A light located on the battery will turn on to let you know that it’s charging properly. The 250 watt motor could be bigger for this bike to use the throttle regularly and give a better boost on hills. The riding position is comfortably upright but still able to lean into things off-road. It still lets you stand if you’re trying to get up a particularly steep part of a hill or over a rough section on the trail. Turning takes a little bit to get used to as it is a little more top-heavy than a regular bike with the battery.

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 Schwinn Coston CE is very much a commuter electric bike, but it’s not one of those thin-wheeled messenger e-bikes. 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.

You can re-position the velcro straps anywhere on the power pack, allowing it to fit to a wide variety of bicycle types. Upgrade to our LED or OLED display to view battery level, unlock settings, and up to 5 power levels. Fast and sporty road bikes, with the power to climb higher and go further. I really enjoyed my time with Schwinn’s Monroe 250 Single-Speed Electric Bike and was sad when it came time for Pacific Cycle — Schwinn’s parent company — to take it back. It was such a joy to ride around and truly turned me in favor of e-bikes (something I never thought possible). Unfortunately, Schwinn schwinn electric bike doesn’t outfit the Monroe 250 with any accessories you’d typically want for commuting, such as fenders or racks.