Electric Bikes - Looks like Schwinn got the message
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electrogreen
08-21-08, 10:43 AM
It seems they've given up on electric bikes and got into motor scooters (http://www.schwinnscooters.com/scooters/hope50.php)
They must have read the writing on the wall when it comes to electric scooters.
toyfountain
08-21-08, 12:35 PM
Where do you see they are giving up on electric bikes? To me it simply looks like they will start importing motor scooters, slap the schwinn name on them and are setting up a new distribution network to sell them.
It seems they've given up on electric bikes and got into motor scooters (http://www.schwinnscooters.com/scooters/hope50.php)
They must have read the writing on the wall when it comes to electric scooters.
From what I can see, Schwinn is still heavily promoting their eBikes:
Schwinn eBike lineup -> http://www3.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Electric/All/
They're not getting out of eBikes, they're simply expanding into other areas. Why would they give up on eBikes in a time where sales are up 500% and all eBike makers are back-ordered for months? :rolleyes:
Thank you high gas prices for making people switch to eBikes. :thumb:
Abneycat
08-21-08, 07:43 PM
Those particular higher end Schwinn electric bikes are starting to seem like a myth to me, nobody I know of has seen one in use, nor in a store. The I-zip is the one I see around, and it doesn't seem like a great investment.
PhilWinIL
08-21-08, 08:14 PM
I happened to go to the local bike shop for a tire or innertube and saw one of the Schwinn eBikes inside the doorway. I asked the owner about it, and he said it was ordered by one of their customers. They are a bit more heavy-duty in the fork, wheels and frame. Designed from the bottom up for electric assisted operation. Price-wise, the model I saw was in the $1800 range; more than I would want to spend (kid just out of college).
I was telling the owner, maybe some day, but for now I'll go on my own steam.
I did see some retrofitted bikes with a battery pack on the back when I had a flat on a local trail and had to walk it back to the car. No Schwin's spotted, but a couple of converted standard bikes.
Here's a link to the model I saw: http://www3.schwinnbike.com/usa/eng/Products/Electric/All/Details/887-S8WORE-World-GSE