In many cases, we get these bikes still-in-box from both manufacturers and bike shops as overstock. While you will typically not be eligible for manufacturer warranty for these bikes, this is how we are able to offer them at such a steep discount. That being said, the small-ish 250W motor isn’t going to be a powerhouse on hills. The bike accelerates fine on flat ground, but you’ll definitely need to add some leg assist if you’re going to be climbing tall hills. A Schwinn e-bike only activates extra power when you pedal and when a PAS level is turned on. Regardless, the battery seemed to be securely locked into its rack, so it's probably not an actual concern, and probably just more mounting evidence of our insane paranoia. I understand that some e-bikes have torque assist operation. They sense how hard you are pushing on the pedals and provide enough boost to offset headwinds and hills. But they tend to be higher end models that can cost a considerable amount of money. I am what is politely known as a “budget conscious” person. And, since you brake while coasting (not pedaling), there isn’t any extra power that would affect your braking. Once you get on your e-bike, hold down the power button for 2 seconds to turn it on. Press the up arrow to choose the level of pedal assist you want. You can easily increase your assistance level when you feel more comfortable using the PAS and want to try riding longer distances or going uphill. Feature rich, relatively affordable, light weight electric bike from ~2009 well suited for city use. Lithium polymer battery pack is fast to charge, easily removable and balanced with the front…... You also get two different frame sizes to choose from, which is a big upgrade over the single one-size-fits-all frames that many e-bike companies still offer. So to offer a full-size electric bike with otherwise nice commuter features yet with such a small battery is a bit surprising. The low power motor is matched by a low capacity battery. With just 288 Wh of capacity, the battery surprised me, and not in a good way. Sure, I’ve seen plenty of e-bikes with 288 Wh batteries before. It’s just that they’re usually on smaller, lightweight e-bikes that push the needle considerably less on the scale. The kids will sleep great in their tents after all that riding. 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. If you're using an e-bike to commute or run errands, or if it's a particularly hot day, the throttle might be a better way to go. The throttle is a thumb lever on the left side of the bike, next to the LED panel. 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. Some things never go out of style, kind of like our classic Krate series. These bikes have been around since the 60s, but they’re still fresh choices for a hot summer ride. I found the battery removal process to be a bit tricky. When I finally started riding, I discovered that I couldn't be completely lazy. You can't just sit on the bike and have it zoom you around town — you actually have to pedal to engage the electric motor. This plants it in the territory of pedal-assisted e-bikes rather than full-on motor-assisted. 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.