So, while my doctor, my therapist, and I all unpack that, this is my full review of the Coston CE e-bike from Schwinn. Zip between classes and haul your stuff with ease on a hybrid. With features like cargo racks and suspension forks, they combine function and comfort for the perfect campus ride. That bike has been sitting outside in the rain, and sun, and salt air for 5 years now and has been remarkably schwinn ebike unfazed by being neglected. But I felt it was time to join the move to e-bikes. I did a Google search for “cruiser e-bikes” and found a link to the Schwinn website.
On flat ground, the bike is heavy but livable without the assist. The rear hub shifts quickly, and it’s nice to have a full range of gears without having to think too much about it (though, my commuter build also has this feature). It’s impossible to get the chain crossed up or do anything bad to this setup. As is standard for geared ebike motors, it has no significant rolling resistance when the wheel is turning faster than the motor. It’s not a bad choice for a small assist – it’s not going to cause any drag when you’re not using the assist, and it’s fairly light.
Riding this bike is easy enough, once you remember to turn the key on. Turn the key on back at the battery pack, then turn the handlebar controller on (if you want the assist), get on, and start riding. The second thing to notice is the battery pack removal lever. If you have a key on an electric bike with an expensive, exotic battery pack, it might make sense to lock the pack into the bike somehow. You have to turn the switch on first, then turn on the bike from the handlebars.
The front fork evens out the bumps on the pavement and the dirt. The mountain bike shape makes it easy to ride on rough trails as well. The balance with the the battery takes a bit to get used to but then it’s all fun anywhere you go.
This button is located on the underside of the downtube near the cranks. Use the included charging cable to connect the battery to a standard household outlet. The 250 watt motor could be bigger for this bike to use the throttle regularly and give a better boost on hills. The battery fits inside the bottom tube of the bike which gives it a sleek look. A 7-speed transmission from Microshift also adds to the commuter street-cred, giving those in hilly areas the ability to run through the gears on hills.
The Schwinn Coston CE falls in the middle of its e-bike model line, offering a slight upgrade over the Schwinn Marshall but without some of the features found on the higher-end Coston DC. The star of the show is its connectivity and functionality with third-party training apps like Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY. Additionally, this bike comes with loads of user-friendly features that help to enhance your workout experience. If manual workouts aren’t exciting enough for you, you have the option of connecting your device via Bluetooth and using apps like Peloton, Zwift, and JRNY. These apps all have a monthly fee but are well worth the cost to have access to thousands of live and on-demand studio classes on Peloton or the interactive virtual training world of Zwift.
That it’s also one of the more inexpensive e-bikes on the market makes the Monroe 250 an excellent choice for anyone buying their first e-bike or looking to add to their lineup. The Monroe 250 is also quite heavy at nearly 45 pounds. For comparison, my main bike — the REI Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 — is bigger and weighs just over 30 pounds. The added weight makes the Monroe a pain to lug into my basement for storage. Fortunately, when riding, I can’t tell that it weighs more than my other bikes. Some of the added weight is attributed to the battery, which checks in at about six pounds.
A higher level of assistance requires less pedaling effort. The Coston and Marshall include an integrated light, which are powered by the main battery, just like the motor. The Coston models have fully integrated head, tail and battery lights; while the Marshall model’s taillight is battery operated and must be turned on separately. While it could use a little boost to a 500 watt motor to help on the hills, the smaller motor keeps the price lower.
I am what is politely known as a “budget conscious” person. Shipping took a little over a week, but soon enough the UPS truck was at my door and unloading my first ever e-bike. Attach the quick release front wheel, handlebars, and seat, then plug in the battery to get it charged up. The next morning, all was in readiness, so I set off for my first Schwinn e-bike ride. The AIR power pack simply clips onto the handlebars via mount provided (which fits ANY handlebars), and can be instantly attached or removed providing discreet and lightweight power as you ride.
If you’re already highly motivated, you may not need the added inspiration that live streaming, on-demand, or virtual training can provide, but we think it’s nice to have the option. Unlike the more expensive competition, the IC4 does not come with a high-tech console for streaming workouts; you’ll have to use one you already have or purchase one for that purpose. It does have a device holder where you can dock your device for easy viewing, and it has a USB port to keep it charged while you ride. It also comes with a Bluetooth heart rate armband to monitor your pulse during your workout. The included kickstand is also nice because it mounts near the back wheel so it doesn’t get in the way when you need to back the bike up while the kickstand is down. Anyone who has tried to back up a bike while the pedals are locked with the kickstand will appreciate what I’m talking about.