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. For that ride, just getting the feel of the bike, I headed for a local paved rail-trail. The bike offers a seven-speed gear range, with a derailleur and double-trigger shifter from Microshift. The rear hub motor offers assist levels of 0-5, with 0 being no assist and 5 being the maximum assist. Of course, I wanted to try the assist, and when I did, I found that I never needed more than level 1 to roll at a comfortable trail speed. The gear shift for the rear hub is integrated with the right handlebar grip. Graphics on the control unit illustrate going up hill, riding on a flat surface, or going downhill. 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. 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. The MicroShift components offer great value at this price point, as does the KMC chain and 42T crank. Overall, given the fundamental shift I have seen in my personal bike riding habits this past summer, I very much enjoy having an e-bike. The Coston e-bike is a good example of that in a much more approachable price range than some others. The bike is powerful but also discharges very quickly. The LED controls are nice, but also missing some functionality. That is not the case with this e-bike and I think it comes down to a question of power management. Red LEDs show which mode you have selected and indicate how much charge the battery has left. The best bike for you depends on how you will be using it. You'll need to consider the type of terrain and style of riding you prefer, as well as how far you want to ride before recharging the battery. But it's one of the least expensive ones you can buy from a bike company. Respectfully, most of the e-bikes you find online come from companies with alphabet-soup for names that may sell just as many portable batteries as they do e-bikes. 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. Your sales taxes will be calculated at check-out and vary per state. Meanwhile it is possible that you don't see any sales taxes applied to your purchase. Indeed, Upway being a brand new business in the US, we are required to charge sales taxes only as from a determined level of revenue collected per state. 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. Because of the way the motor engages, after about five seconds of pedaling, the electric assist can come on unexpectedly, at least the first few times you ride this bike. After a while you get used to the timing of the assist. But the motor doesn't have nearly enough power to pull the bike along by itself, and you will find you are getting some exercise while riding it. Fill the rack up with a day's supplies and head out on an adventure. Take it on holiday and explore the places you can't get a car, without breaking much of a sweat. The front suspension mellows out the bumps but the 700c wheels and 32 tyres roll efficiently, so it's good for distance. Best ridden on paved surfaces or light offroad like gravel or rail trails.