The part I have the most trouble with is the fine-tuning, which is one of the most important aspects of the set-up process. The Schwinn Monroe 250 gets its 250 moniker from how many watts the hub drive puts out. This power level proved more than enough for me and my lifestyle, though there are models from other brands with 500 watts should you need even more. I’d been hesitant to test an electric bike for years. 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?
A few participants began designing and building small numbers of mountain bikes with frames made out of modern butted chrome-molybdenum alloy steel. Using the standard electro-forged cantilever frame, and fitted with five-speed derailleur gears and knobby tires, the Klunker 5 was never heavily marketed, and was not even listed in the Schwinn product catalog. Unlike its progenitors, the Klunker proved incapable of withstanding hard off-road use, and after an unsuccessful attempt to reintroduce the model as the Spitfire 5, it was dropped from production. The Coston CE is a hybrid e-bike with several frame sizes available in both step-thru and stand over styles.
The motor assist on this bike is purely pedal assist, though it’s more fair to call it “pedals are moving, motor is on” – since that what it seems to be. Start pedaling, and the motor will chime in at some power, mostly dependent on what you’ve set on the handlebar control. It pretty much does that until you stop pedaling or hit a brake lever. Do recall that this bike was designed around 2008, so a lot of the more modern stuff didn’t exist. However, BionX was around, with their I2C torque sensing motors, so there’s at least some better stuff available. The Tailwind was announced in late 2008, and came out in early 2009, retailing for a rather high (at the time) price of $3,199.
Despite that initial impression about the size, my first ride showed me that the Schwinn was eager to roll, and nimble in the way that a large athlete can be quick on his feet. Locate the button on the back of the seat and push in. This will release the latch, allowing you to lift it up and open the seat compartment. It looks just odd enough for drivers to take a second look in a “what the heck is that thing?
High-torque motor wheel with no drag so you can cruise freely with the Power Pack on or off. Upgrade to our LED or OLED display to view battery level, unlock settings, and up to 5 power levels. 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).
However, the support process was slow and it took a long time for them to respond to my queries. Even after receiving an automated response with a ticket number, I had to wait for days, sometimes even weeks, to get a response from them. Just click the 2-part magnet disc onto your pedals, and stick the sensor to the frame to detect when you are pedalling.
I did notice some speed wobbles at higher speeds when riding with no-hands (be careful not to let this get out of control or you may crash). One upside to a front hub motor is that it reduces the complexity of the rear wheel which usually has cogs and a derailleur already crowding the space. One thing I would have liked to see on the schwinn beach cruiser front wheel with this ebike is a quick release as this is offered at the back and also on the seat tube and it just makes servicing easier.