Most places are fine with class 1 e-bikes, but different municipalities have different rules pertaining to class 2 and above. Others have a traditional pedal chain and a series of brakes, so you can still learn how to pedal. If you’re a bit further along the track, you can choose a pedal-assist hybrid that will help you get back up to speed. Either way, it’s easy to get on and off of these bikes, so there’s no need to worry if you need to change positions or directions. You can brake the same on an electric bike as you would on any other bicycle. Some e-bikes come with disc brakes which have extra stopping power, so you might not have to brake as hard. You also have some extra options regarding the speed and choice of appointment. Shipping generally starts at $99 but depends on the model (some bikes are not eligible for 85% assembly). Your sales taxes will be calculated at check-out and vary per state. At the same time, you may not see any sales taxes applied to your purchase. As Upway is a brand new business in the US, we are only required to charge sales taxes as from a determined level of revenue collected per state. I had already decided I wanted one, so I said I would take the gray one. Despite my weight and the strain it put on the motor, I found that the bike really does have a 45-mile range on a single charge. I didn't have a chance to precisely time how long the battery takes to charge from empty but it recharged completely overnight or during a full workday. When I pedaled hard, the bike was able to get up to 20 mph in about 10 seconds on smooth, flat surfaces. Pedaling uphill was a bit different, maxing out at roughly 15 mph. Lighter people may be able to get it going a bit faster, though (I weigh 250 pounds for context). Overall, I think Schwinn needs to better balance its approach when it comes to the motor and how hard it pushes, especially when it has a full charge. The manufacturing equipment and the building were sold and the last remaining seven employees were laid off, each with a “little severance,” Schwinn said. However, one member of the Schwinn family remained at the helm of a U.S. bike company. Richard Schwinn ran Waterford Precision Cycles out of the same plant in southeastern Wisconsin previously owned by his family. It has 5 assist modes instead of three and a throttle that lets you use the motor to get started from rest without pedaling. All that, plus the six-pound Toshiba battery housed behind the seat, makes the bike quite heavy, and, in some ways, a bit clunky feeling to move around when you're not riding it. Where an average bike weighs about 35 pounds, the Tailwind, as we mentioned, weighs 58 pounds.