You could lock this thing up to a bike rack and not have to worry so much about scratches and bumps… except for the power cable that protrudes from the right rear axle. For those who are truly concerned about damage or theft, consider the cheaper Schwinn Monroe 250 which isn’t as powerful, but costs $300 less and still looks great. Perhaps you’re the type of person who lives up stairs and wants to store the entire bike inside?
You also get two different frame sizes to choose from, which is a big upgrade over the single one-size-fits-all frames that many e-bike companies still offer. 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 Schwinn Coston CE is very much a commuter electric bike, but it’s not one of those thin-wheeled messenger e-bikes. Electric bikes put extra power behind every pedal so you can ride farther, take on bigger hills, and enjoy cycling more than ever before.
Keep in mind that e-bikes are built for all different types of riders, from casual cruisers to high-octane adventurers. Also know that there are bikes equipped with features that are specifically designed for kids, women, and older riders. Whatever you want to do on your e-bike, and whatever type of riding you intend to do, we’ve got you covered. Below, we’ve put together an easy-to-use guide on picking the best Schwinn e-bike for you.
It slides right out, and has a nice handle to carry it. The tail light does glow somewhat, but it’s not very bright, and it goes out as soon as you stop moving. The wheel lock is a Basta Defender, if you’re curious (apparently now, the AXA Defender). If you look closely, you can see the metal bar sticking through the wheel.
This design choice makes the bike look nice and provides a bit of added protection but could make it harder to work on. All that, plus the six-pound Toshiba battery housed behind the seat, makes the bike quite heavy, and, in some ways, a bit clunky feeling to move around when you’re not riding it. Where an average bike weighs about 35 pounds, the Tailwind, as we mentioned, schwinn electric bike 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). For this review and the Monroe 250, I was able to borrow demo bikes from the Schwinn team at the Electric Bike Expo in Philadelphia. It was a medium sized frame and I am ~5’9″ tall weighing about 135 lbs.
The Coston e-bike comes with a typical brick-on-a-string charger that plugs into a normal 110v outlet. Schwinn advertises that it takes about four hours to charge. You can plug the battery in while it’s inside the bike, or you can use an included schwinn electric bike key to remove the battery from the bike for charging. I understand that I’m a big guy, and I’m also about 50 pounds over the maximum advertised weight for this bike. I was probably never going to get 35 miles out of this or any other bike.
Electric bikes are a ton of fun and I’ve had a great time this summer riding them. As an avid cyclist who commuted to and from the train for years in the past, I see e-bikes as a very reasonable step forward in commuting. 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. 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.
A separate charger is included that can be plugged into any conventional AC wall outlet. I’d like to see an ebike have a powered tail light so I don’t have to remember to test the batteries. I’m assuming with the design it’s tough to power anything on the back without a rack.
The Schwinn Coston DX is, for all practical purposes an around-town commuter e-bike that gives the impression that it’s supposed to be used somewhat ruggedly because of its sturdy appearance and build. 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. But getting on our step-thru frame electric bike is very gentle and elegant.