The front fork evens out the bumps on the pavement and the dirt. The mountain bike shape makes it easy to ride on rough trails as well. The balance with the the battery takes a bit to get used to but then it’s all fun anywhere you go. The Marshall ebike has a throttle and 5 pedal assist levels. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out at  or via our chat. A removable battery allows extra batteries to be used, extending the range of the bike. Overall, the bike is pretty similar to its 26-inch wheel model. Below, we offer suggestions based on your height, including one bike made specifically for tall riders. This guide is designed to make the decision to buy the best e-bike for riders of all types as simple and stress-free as possible. We know an e-bike is a big purchase, and we want you to be comfortable, happy, and stoked when you hop on your new purchase. We're confident that in no time at all you'll be zipping around town, pedaling on a path, or motoring down a trail in the quiet woods. All Schwinn e-bikes are Class 2, which are the most widely accepted. When riding with level 5 assistance my pedals were free-spinning most of the time even on the highest gear. That means the motor is located on the rear hub and works by spinning the back wheel. This creates the feeling of being pushed – it’s that extra boost of energy e-bikes are famous for. If you buy one, you’ll almost certainly have to bypass the BMS. The Schwinn® E-Mendocino eBike is designed with a 250W rear hub motor. You can choose the level of assistance you want behind your pedaling, depending on the type of ride you're taking. This e-Bike is great for helping you conquer those longer rides and big hills. When the battery is fully charged, the usage gauge on the display shows five bars. But then, this Schwinn is not intended for touring or racing. But it’s a great go-to steed for commuting, errand running, recreational riding, hauling a kid in a child seat and other general purposes. The whole package is aesthetically really old-timey looking -- which will not please everybody, though we find it to be really quite charming. It's surprisingly elegant, and though one friend described it as "goofy" looking, we think that its look suits the intended rider -- but more on that below. For those not terribly familiar with electric bikes, the Schwinn's battery charges up about as fast as its contemporaries on the market, and is actually much faster than many. In addition to the 5 assist levels, there are 7 gears. On slow steep hills or trails a lower gear with a bit of assist keeps you moving. As an avid cyclist who commuted to and from the train for years in the past, I see e-bikes as a very reasonable step forward in commuting. 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. With 2.6? tires, you’ve got a lot of air and rubber under you to tackle more than just well-manicured bicycle lanes. Hitting curbs or potholes will be smoother than most pure commuter bikes, especially considering the inclusion of the front suspension fork and suspension seat post. These additional batteries extend the riding distance up to 80 miles on both our Coston and Marshall series of bikes. 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. Another consideration to keep in mind when choosing an e-bike (or any bike for that matter) is your height. Schwinn has electric bikes that fit riders from 4'8" all the way up to those who are 6'4". We can't stress enough how critical it is to choose the right-sized bike. Well-fitted bikes provide the most comfort and can make the difference between falling in love with cycling and simply struggling through mundane rides. However, because of the dedicated external charger, you will either need to bring the bike back home or bring the charger with you to top up the battery. The battery capacity is high enough for extended riding. We rode the Tailwind for an hour without discharging the battery completely. 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. To charge the battery pack, you have to take it out of the bike. It comes out easily, but this is quite annoying, given that you charge the bike pretty much every time you ride it (or, at least, you will be, with this small a pack). By modern terms, it’s a tiny system - only about 100WH (watt-hours) of capacity.