Schwinn Marshall Review: Why Did This E-bike Hook Me?
The Schwinn Marshall is a fully functional city e-bike that offers a carefree alternative all around. Its price of little under 1299 places it in the same category as well-known e-city bikes like VanMoof, Cowboy, or Tenways. In this report and in our video test, you can see how Schwinn Marshall fared in the test.
The Paderborn-based business attempts to emphasize the idea that Schwinn has been operating under the banner since the delivery. The goal is to offer a simple bike that begs to be utilized. My Schwinn was sent nearly assembled. Only the handlebars needed to be rotated into the proper position and the pedals needed to be bolted on.
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After that, you can either ride your bike into traffic or briefly connect it to the Schwinn. The first time you register using the app, you will get setup instructions and an overview of the e-bike. That was really fantastic, in my opinion.
Schwinn Marshall: Design and Build Quality
The Schwinn range now includes a new frame variation. In addition to the traditional step-through style, the Schwinn Marshall is now also offered in a diamond frame. Both models have the same features and cost the same – 1299 – without extras. The Schwinn Marshall’s base configuration includes hydraulic disc brakes, a Shimano Microshift 7-speed gearbox, and a Suntour suspension fork.
Therefore, it is challenging to criticize the Schwinn Marshall. The only unpleasant factor is the hefty weight of 25 kg. It gets sweaty trying to rapidly carry the bike into the flat or basement. To be fair, it must be noted that the majority of e-bikes are so heavy that very few of them even exceed the 20 kilogram restriction. In addition, it was challenging to use the thumb to operate the engine control unit.
The fundamental equipment is unquestionably above average for the price. The potent rear-wheel drive is made by the renowned company Bafang and is propelled by a 288 Wh battery. This is also admirable considering the price, which is slightly around 1299.
Additionally, the drive unit has a chic small display made by Bafang. There are 5 different support levels available here. These are pretty well-tuned, in contrast to many other cheap e-bikes, and each one supports varying levels up to the top speed of 32 km/h.
A pedal sensor controls the rear-wheel drive. This means that the Schwinn only supports you if you pedal, regardless of how hard you do so. However, the software is quite well-coordinated, and the driving experience is quite natural. There is also an Hi-Ten frame lock put in the works to make sure that you don’t immediately lose your bike.
The Schwinn Marshall does exceptionally well overall in the test. The frame is polished quite nicely, and the cables are neatly put inside. For instance, welding seams are painstakingly smoothed down such that they are no longer visible as such.
Regardless of whether you choose the black or white hue, the Schwinn Marshall is very unspectacular from the outside but is nonetheless contemporary. On the other hand, you will find a good selection if you look at the built-in components. For instance, the company from Paderborn added the well-liked JAK 7 disc brakes, which are common on hiking e-bikes. They do, after all, function dependably, and during our test, they consistently maintained a tight grip – even in the rain. Additionally tested, the Shimano Altus derailleur is likewise utilized on the Schwinn Marshall. There, it offers a total of 7 speeds, which, regardless of driving style, is more than enough for daily metropolitan life.
Schwinn Marshall: Motor and Driving
On the Schwinn Marshall, you can sit pretty relaxedly. In my perspective, the bike is primarily designed for city use, particularly in light of the useful GPS. But it’s also the ideal bike for a lazy Sunday morning trip to the nearby village to pick up some bread rolls. The Schwinn inexplicably urges you to stroll along its wheels, kind of like a lovely promenade or a famous pedestrian area.
The Schwinn Marshall is the ideal vehicle for spending hours traveling the world on dykes or cycling paths, as I myself am from North Rhine-Westphalia and frequently visit the Netherlands as a vacation destination. It just feels wonderfully cozy and has a little of the laid-back appeal of a traditional Dutch bike. With the minor exception, though, that the Schwinn is extremely relaxing and you are not required to operate a 25 kg heavy steel monster with three gears while standing upright.
You sit quite erect on the e-bike, as can be seen in the images of the Schwinn Marshall. Despite not having a very sporty appearance, it is incredibly comfortable, which is further helped by the lovely handles. But don’t be fooled by appearances; the Bafang motor propels you onward. The Schwinn drives enthusiastically despite having “limited” torque, and we made light work of the 32 km/h mark before the engine shut out. Additionally, we primarily used the lowest of the five support levels while driving. Knowing that you still have power reserves in case you ever need them is a pleasant sensation. For instance, we easily overcame steep slopes just pressing a button without even shifting gears. That was a lot of fun.
The bike also has contemporary, strong hydraulic disc brakes that are simple to operate and have excellent traction. The suspension fork also adds to overall comfort, makes trips into the countryside enjoyable, and effectively absorbs urban potholes. However, due of the little flex in the stanchions of the suspension fork in this instance, the cost is clearly visible. However, this is more common and the usual with less expensive versions.
With the Shimano shifters, the circuit responds fast, consistently, and with ease. The drive is ready for any situation and has enough power even on climbs with a 45 Newton meter torque.
The handles are likewise very well constructed and most likely leather. Additionally adjustable, the stem makes it simple to match the stem to the appropriate seating position.
The Schwinn Marshall uses flat, narrow tires, like the majority of city and e-trekking bikes. On paved surfaces, this demonstrated its strength, and we always had a firm hold. Of course, to push the pedelec to its limits, we also tried it on trails through the woods. The bike performed admirably in this area as well, with the suspension fork in particular absorbing some jolts. However, the fact that Schwinn dislikes such surfaces may not come as a surprise. On a tour, though, you won’t have to worry about your bike breaking down if you have to travel across rough terrain.
Schwinn Marshall: Battery and Range
Additionally, there are no sacrifices with the Schwinn Marshall’s battery life. The bike includes a large 288 watt-hour battery from the Paderborn business, which is unique for a bike in this price category. With the energy, we were also able to pedal without motor assistance for about 50 kilometers, which was a decent daily range and incidentally worked well. Because the e-bike handles like a bicycle even without a motor, and the pedal resistance can be customized to your needs with the aid of the gear change.
Every city dweller and commuter in the nation should be able to get through the day, if not even the week with 50 kilometers. You can charge it overnight in your own home or at work because the battery can easily be taken out. Everything is therefore sensible.
We must point you, too, that the Schwinn advertises a maximum range of 65 kilometers. We weren’t able to reach this figure, albeit that’s not rare. While our test sample was still a pre-series model, there are a number of variables that can affect the range, including the weather, road conditions, the driver’s physical condition, and driving technique.
Schwinn Marshall: Conclusions
Finding the best e-bike can take weeks of research and listening to various perspectives. If you don’t want to travel as far, you should read on right away. Because that is exactly what the Schwinn Marshall offers.
The Schwinn Marshall is a wise choice for anyone searching for an expensive, high-quality bike for carefree daily use. A worry-free sensation is provided by the extra features, which include insurance and return service in the event of theft. Overall, the Schwinn definitely caught me off guard. Considering that it is a quality e-bike that wasn’t built on a shoestring budget. At Schwinn, the service and support continue to be effective after the sale.
A person who doesn’t want to think too much about their mode of transportation and doesn’t want ostentatious equipment can be content with the Schwinn Marshall when combined with the optional. On the Schwinn website, you can combine the two models with whatever optional additions you like.
Schwinn Mendocino eBike Review: A Step-Thru Model for Throttle Lovers
The first look at the Mendocino from Schwinn doesn’t give that e-bike vibe that we are used to. When reviewing it, I found that this must have been their plan for their target market right out of the box.
What Does Riding the Schwinn Mendocino eBike Feels Like?
People who are used to traditional bikes will quickly take a liking to this one. If you are just starting with bicycles too, the Mendocino is a fine hybrid experience that gives you the best of both electric and non-electric worlds.
Here are some of the things that you should care about as they impact your daily commutes and experience with it.
Build and design
Perhaps the first thing that stands out is how it looks like a non-electric one. For those that see it as an eBike, you would also find the battery placement interesting.
The brand made this fairly tall model look like a standard one. They only carried a battery as cargo – and they nailed that look.
I suppose they are trying to appeal to traditional bike lovers who would like an extra push whenever they need to climb a hill or make a quick run.
Tipping the scales at around 50lbs (23 kg), the decision to use a step-thru aluminum frame on this bike paid off. That doesn’t mean you would be carrying the bike around anytime soon, but it shows that you won’t have a weight-pull problem when taking corners and conquering curves.
Not to leave it without some extra flair, this model features functional fenders to prevent splashes when riding while also adding to the aesthetic appeal of the bike.
How do the battery and motor compare?
Schwinn has a 313Wh battery on this unit, which is slightly different from what I see on similar models in the industry.
Considering they only pair just a 250W motor, though, that choice of battery seems justified. Now, I say sparingly since the bike still has enough power to improve the quality of your ride and even haul a truckload of cargo behind you; at this rating, the cycle is promised to offer as much as 45 miles (72 km) on a single charge.
Note that getting this range will be dependent on factors such as:
– Weight of the additional cargo that the rider is pulling;
– The pedal assist level has been used;
– The terrain you are riding the bike on; and
– How well your battery can hold a charge, among other things.
In real-world usage, this bike can reliably get up to 35 miles range with each charge as long as you don’t put too much load on the motor and you are not at the highest pedal assist level.
Riding the Mendocino model
Like I said in the opening parts of this review, this electric bicycle feels like a direct crossover from the traditional world into the electric scene.
Riding it reminds me of what it was like to use a traditional version, but the motor helps to make your commute easier.
That said, this is just what the bike does: it makes your commute easier.
If you were looking for an off-road / mountain-capable bike, this is not the one for you. If you do, I recommend looking at the Specialized Turbo Levo SL eMTB 2022.
Its wheels are not designed for any serious off-roading, and the rest of the build is not in line with such activities either.
You might struggle a little with hills on this one too. If hills were a problem for the 750W TurboAnt Fat Tire eBike on throttle only mode, you should know that the Mendocino version won’t fare any better.
This is not all bad news. If you only commute to and from work, the grocery store, nearby parks, or just go on neighborhood bike rides, this one is more than enough for you.
Another reason why you won’t want to take this off-road is the obvious lack of a suspension system, especially on the front. This leads to poor vibration and stress management, transferring any feedback from bumps and uneven ground into the bike itself, as well as your arms and body.
When commuting on even land and tarred roads, you would barely notice the vibration though. That provides a strong argument for Schwinn’s target market in class when coming up with this design.
Speed and mileage
This model promises you a speed of up to 20mph (32 km/h) with pedal assistance, which is plenty enough for most bike rides anyway.
To keep the speed at this level, the rear hub 250W motor will cut out once the top speed is reached (so that it maintains its class 1 ratings).
You can pedal to get higher speed levels, but the motor won’t assist anymore.
If you would be doing city riding and commutes, I don’t see why you need to go past that speed range anyway.
You can get better speed and navigate different terrain by changing the gears as needed. If you are coming from another electric bike with a gear system, you should quickly be familiar with the Shimano 6-speed shifter.
Most e-bikes use an 8-speed system from Shimano, but the 6-speed option is no slouch either.
As long as you don’t overload the 50lbs bike nor run it at the highest pedal assist for too long, you should get between 35-45 miles on it per charge.
If you are using the highest pedal assist level, you might be seeing mileages in the range of 20-30 miles per charge.
The good news is that you can continue to ride it normally once the battery drains, so you are not stranded without a charge.
How easy is to operate it?
I like a reasonably easy bicycle to use and handle, and this version ticks those boxes.
For the price, I would have loved to see an interactive LED screen. Instead, we get a control console on the left handlebar, which houses the following:
The company also throws in a walk-mode assist (the 6km button) if you want to walk alongside your bike as it trudges along.
On the right handlebar is the 6-speed Shimano gear system with an easy-to-access thumb shifter. Once you ride it a few times, you might not need to look down to locate the gear shifter anymore. On top of that, you can always tell what gears you are running from the device’s screen.
Battery
Most of the bikes that I have seen in this range usually opt to have their batteries below the seat (usually packed to the headtube). This placement also puts the battery away while protecting it better from the rain.
A rear storage compartment placement makes it easier to remove and replace the battery in the Mendocino. Still, I doubt that it keeps it safer from splashes and accidental contact.
When you load anything onto the rear rack, it might get punctured or be in the way of liquid leaks, among other things.
Frame size
One of the things that I love the most about this ebike is the ride height. Allowing for users from mid-five feet to 6 feet tall, the majority of adults won’t have a problem mounting and enjoying this model.
Even though it looks tall off the ground, you would soon find out that it is not all that intimidating to ride at all.
Braking system
This Schwinn model ships with industry-standard mechanical disk brakes, which do a great job.
These are the same kinds of brakes found on fat tire e-bikes (like the Ecotric Dolphin and TurboAnt 750W fat-tire eBike) so you know that they will get the job done.
As always, I recommend spending some time with the bike to understand your brakes better.
Schwinn ships this unit with OEM brake lights to alert others on the road to your presence and tells drivers behind you to slow down when you are doing so. The lights will also add a safety element to your ride in low visibility.
You don’t get front lights from the manufacturer, which is rather saddening, but you could install some aftermarket options.
Is the Schwinn Mendocino eBike Worth Your Money?
If you are looking for the ultimate eBike experience, this might not be your bike. If you are shopping for something that does off-road and handles city commutes simultaneously, I would suggest you check out the Super 73 S2 instead.
However, this one is more than ideal for those who love what they can get from a traditional bike but need to take some of the pedaling stress off.
What it doesn’t have in extra power and off-road capabilities, it makes up for in its mileage, comfort of commute, and natural bike riding appeal, among other things.
Schwinn S1000 Stealth 12V 7Ah Electric Bicycle Replacement Battery
We want you to be 100% satisfied. If for some reason you are not happy, return it to us.
We stock low cost, high quality batteries and here to help ensure you make the right purchase.
Free shipping on orders over 99, including freight.
If our product isn’t performing as it should, don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service team.
About Electric Bicycle Batteries
Sealed Lead Acid Battery Care
- Recharge batteries after each use to prevent performance decline.
- Avoid complete discharges.
- Periodically check terminals for signs of corrosion or other wear which might cause failure.
- Always store battery fully charged.
- Store battery in cool, dry place (~68°F).
- Recycle batteries, do not dispose.
Frequently Asked Questions
All we do is sell replacement batteries, we are very good at that!Manufacturer’s are not able to process smaller orders quickly and efficiently.BatteryClerk specializes in processing any size order accurately and fast.
All AJC Battery orders placed Monday-Friday leave our warehouse the same day if placed before 2PM EST.
If your order is placed Friday after 2PM through Sunday, your order will be shipped out Monday morning.
We stand behind our products with 30-day easy returns and a 12 month warranty. Lawn and tractor batteries have a 6 month warranty.
Please enter the brand and model number of your device or battery you need to replace in the search bar at the top of this page.
As long as the voltage, terminals and dimensions match, then you will be able to use this as a compatible battery replacement option.
Schwinn X-CE 12V 18Ah Electric Bicycle Replacement Battery
We want you to be 100% satisfied. If for some reason you are not happy, return it to us.
We stock low cost, high quality batteries and here to help ensure you make the right purchase.
Free shipping on orders over 99, including freight.
If our product isn’t performing as it should, don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer service team.
About Electric Bicycle Batteries
Sealed Lead Acid Battery Care
- Recharge batteries after each use to prevent performance decline.
- Avoid complete discharges.
- Periodically check terminals for signs of corrosion or other wear which might cause failure.
- Always store battery fully charged.
- Store battery in cool, dry place (~68°F).
- Recycle batteries, do not dispose.
Frequently Asked Questions
All we do is sell replacement batteries, we are very good at that!Manufacturer’s are not able to process smaller orders quickly and efficiently.BatteryClerk specializes in processing any size order accurately and fast.
All AJC Battery orders placed Monday-Friday leave our warehouse the same day if placed before 2PM EST.
If your order is placed Friday after 2PM through Sunday, your order will be shipped out Monday morning.
We stand behind our products with 30-day easy returns and a 12 month warranty. Lawn and tractor batteries have a 6 month warranty.
Please enter the brand and model number of your device or battery you need to replace in the search bar at the top of this page.
As long as the voltage, terminals and dimensions match, then you will be able to use this as a compatible battery replacement option.