Schwinn’s line of electric bikes has expanded significantly over the last couple of years. When I first started skating on electric Schwinns, I was pretty much limited to cruising electronic bikes. But with several new electronic bikes for commuter travel, such as the Schwinn Coston CE, which I recently tested, this household bike name is making a big step in the broad market for electronic bikes.

The Schwinn Coston CE is in the middle of the electronic bike lineup, offering a slight upgrade over the Schwinn Marshall, but without some of the features found in the top-end Coston DC.

In essence, this is a version of Goldilocks, which offers sufficient performance and functionality for everyday passengers without overcharging.

It may not compete with many companies working directly to consumers, but it is a big leap for Schwinn’s e-bike lineup and may just fit the right passenger looking for an e-bike with these features.

Speaking of which, check out my video below to see bike performance and features in action, including these cool frame headlights.

Video review of the Schwinn Coston CE electric bike

Specifications of the Schwinn Coston CE electronic bicycle

Engine: 250 watts rear gear motor
Maximum speed: 32 km / h (20 mph)
Range: Up to 56 km (35 miles)
Battery: 36V 8Ah (288 Wh)
Weight: 25 kg (56 lbs) with battery
Frame: Aluminum
Tires: 27.5 x 2.6 inches
Brakes: Mechanical disc brakes
Additionally: Pedal and accelerator assistance options, LED headlights, taillights and sidelights, 7-speed Microshift transmission, front suspension fork, wings included, two frame sizes
Price: Currently $ 1,799

What does this bike offer?

The Schwinn Coston CE is a very suburban electric bike, but it’s not one of those thin wheeled electronic motorcycles.

With 2.6 ″ tires underneath you have plenty of air and rubber to handle not only well-groomed bike lanes. Riding on curbs or potholes will be smoother than on most clean commuter bikes, especially considering the inclusion of a front outboard fork and outboard seat.

And with a top speed of 20 mph (32 km / h) combined with throttle and pedal functions, this Class 2 electronic bike will help you fly around town quickly and effortlessly (if you’re counting on a throttle).

Being a commuter electronic motorcycle, I’m also excited to see some good suburban details such as fenders and great lighting. You get not only the typical headlights and taillights, but also LED frames built into the sides of the battery. This gives the bike a pleasant night glow to provide better lateral visibility – an area where most bikes are missing.

It looks weird enough for drivers to take another look at the question “what the hell is this?” a kind of way. The second look is invaluable as a racer, if we are often even grateful for the first look of the drivers.

The 7-speed transmission from Microshift also promotes suburban streets, giving those in hilly areas the opportunity to switch up hills.

That said, a small 250-watt motor will not be a powerful station on the hills. The bike accelerates perfectly on flat ground, but you will definitely need to add foot assistance if you are going to climb high hills.

The low power of the engine is combined with a low capacity battery. With a capacity of just 288 watts the battery surprised me, and not in a good way. Of course, I’ve seen a lot of electronic bikes with 288W / h batteries before. Just they are usually included smaller, lighter electronic bikes which is much less to press the needle on the scale.

So to offer a full-size electric bike with good features for suburban communication, but with such a small battery, is a bit surprising.

I’m sure keeping it at a low pedal assistance level will still give riders the stated maximum of 35 miles that Schwin promises. But I didn’t. I’m not going to turn the pedals all day in the easiest pedal assistance mode, especially since it’s not a very powerful electronic bike. So if you use liberal gas, keep in mind that you will have a limited range.

The bike itself feels well built. Nothing seems cheap, malleable or vulnerable to rapid failure. It all looks like a reliable and well-built electric bike. You also get a choice of two different frame sizes, which is a big upgrade over the only frames that are suitable for everyone that many e-bike companies still offer.

And perhaps it is thanks to the robust design and size of the frame that Schwinn takes so much for it. On a The advertising difference is $ 1,799 on the Schwinn website or the same price on Amazon, it feels a little rich for my blood when considering the pure characteristics. At this price there is a great argument in order to save a hundred bucks on something like Ride1Up 700 serieswhile getting triple the power and capacity of the battery, hydraulic brakes and other nice details.

So I can’t say that Schwinn will win in dignity here. But that doesn’t mean the bike doesn’t take place. Features such as neat integrated lighting are rare in the industry and are a definite victory. And the build quality seems to have to stand the test of time.

I just want the bike to be a few hundred bucks cheaper so I can tell you it was a bargain. Because at this price it’s not the deal I was hoping for.

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https://electrek.co/2022/05/23/schwinn-coston-ce-electric-bike-review/

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