Well, get ready for this, because the Schwinn EC1 electric bicycle gives that same old feel of a classic Schwinn cruiser but adds a nice, firm electric boost to your ride. And it’s currently on sale for a killer price of just $898. It doesn’t make much sense to me for an electric bike – the focus on fast charging and a high power density chemistry on a bike that really doesn’t need much power is hard to understand. The only thing I can think is that they hoped it would become a delivery fleet bike or something – but a decent delivery rider would absolutely smoke this bike in any terrain.
Many other e-bike companies charge extra for those parts. But, another thing to consider is that the Shimano Nexus 8 with Roller Brake retails for around $250 alone – so if you want one, this one comes with a whole 700C based electric bike attached! Throw a better battery and a better controller on it, and I bet you can get a whole lot more than 250W out of the motor as well.
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. A growing mongoose excursion number of US teens and young adults were purchasing imported European sport racing or sport touring bicycles, many fitted with multiple derailleur-shifted gears. Schwinn decided to meet the challenge by developing two lines of sport or road ‘racer’ bicycles. One was already in the catalog — the limited production Paramount series.
Submitting payment online reserves your spot in our production line. You still need to send the battery and charger in using our Battery Intake Form so we can service your rebuild. Schwinn has been making bicycles for over 100 years. It’s easy to see the affordable quality when you see a Schwinn.
One thing I miss from previous e-bikes I’ve had was a range estimator that gave you an idea as to how much further you could ride at your present power level under present conditions. Such a feature is fairly inaccurate all things considered, but some estimate is better than no estimate. In late 1997, Questor Partners Fund, led by Jay Alix and Dan Lufkin, purchased Schwinn Bicycles. Questor/Schwinn later purchased GT Bicycles in 1998 for $8 a share in cash, roughly $80 million.
If you don’t press the power button to turn on the PAS, it will feel like you’re riding a regular bike when you pedal. I always thought electric bikes let you pedal at you own speed with the motor helping out. They go at whatever speed they are set for and you turn the pedals to keep the power flowing to the hub motor. 1 was a little slow, 2 was just about right, 3 sent me whizzing along faster than I could pedal.
By 1950, Schwinn had decided the time was right to grow the brand. At the time, most bicycle manufacturers in the United States sold in bulk to department stores, which in turn sold them as store brand models. F. Goodrich bicycles, sold in tire stores, Schwinn eliminated the practice of producing mongoose excursion private label bicycles in 1950, insisting that the Schwinn brand and guarantee appear on all products. In exchange for ensuring the presence of the Schwinn name, distributors retained the right to distribute Schwinn bikes to any hardware store, toy store, or bicycle shop that ordered them.