They feel like they’re almost in your lap while riding, which is a weird feeling. This is the front light (a Lumotec Oval Halogen) and reflector. I’m not really sure what it’s point is since it’s not very useful at night, but it does have a front light.
They really thought out the balance, accessories and drive modes to make it simple and practical to use. The price was great and the components were built to endure. I like that they included little things like water bottle mounting points that so many ebikes skip (in part due to midframe batteries).
Fundamentally, this bike seems like a bunch of parts bolted and ziptied (yes… literally ziptied) onto an otherwise standard Schwinn city bike frame. Of course, as some of my regular readers might know, I bought one. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio.
Great for pavement and light trails, the Marshall features pedal assist and throttle up to 20 MPH, and up to 35 miles per charge. Powering this bike is a 26.6 volt 10 amp hour battery pack that uses Lithium Polymer cells. For the time period it was released, this was a pretty awesome battery and that shines true today with bikes still on the road.
The motor driving this bike offers 180 watts nominal power and up to 250 watts peak. It’s a planetary geared design by Protanium and it offers good torque while keeping weight down. The motor is quiet during operation and blends in with the rest of the bike. One downside to a front mounted hub motor is that it increases the steering weight and changes the ride quality a little bit but the impact is minimized here due to the smaller size of the motor.
One of the valid concerns raised by riders of e-bikes is the ability of their e-bikes to hold a charge and provide pedal assistance when they’re out for rides of longer distances. Keep in mind that e-bikes are built for all different types of riders, from casual cruisers to high-octane adventurers. schwinn ebike 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. The IC4 is made for serious indoor cycling, and it comes with a race style seat.
Sure, I could have bought an electric bike for thousands, but I like my original bike and this kit was a breeze to install at a fraction of the price. You can re-position the velcro straps anywhere on the power pack, allowing it to fit to a wide variety of bicycle types. Add the optional LED display to your Kit to unlock extra power modes, track your battery level, plus turn the power off while riding. Unfortunately, Schwinn doesn’t outfit the Monroe 250 with any accessories you’d typically want for commuting, such as fenders or racks.
This keeps the rear wheel attached, and also prevents someone from biking off with it. It’s no substitute for a chain, but in a friendly community (such as a retirement community on a lake somewhere), it’s probably good enough. Downsides include complexity, lack of repairability, and adequate braking at best if you have hills. The braking feel is also very springy – there’s no real feedback in the lever, just an increasing force that goes all the way to the bars, and increases braking effort.
If they’re steep hills (Seattle style), get another bike. Wrapping the front wheel is a decent enough fender, though it terminates a bit higher in the rear than I’d like for the wet Seattle winters (road spray). I live in Southeastern Ohio, amid the Appalachian foothills, so most of the bike rides in my area are hilly. Thus, for my next ride, I first headed for a local cemetery that sprawls over the top of a high hill and is accessed by a steep road. In fact, the graveyard provides a favorite vantage point for photographers wanting a shot of our town. Schwinn are now in their second generation of ebikes with the Marshall, Coston CE and DX.