Schwinn Monroe?
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 162
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Bikes: 1977 Raleigh Super Course, 1993 Trek 8000, 2016 Diamondback Haanjo Comp, 2018 Marin B-17, 2018 Specialized Roubaix
Don't know anything about that bike. Just looking at the ad, though, Schwinn certainly didn't try to throw too much stuff in so that they'd cheap out on the parts. That said, there's also nothing "premium" on it. Tektro mechanical brakes, single speed, 250 W Bafang... you might do worse—you might do better, I just don't know. One point I would make, however, is explore what you can get serviced locally. Any bike you have to wait six months for parts to arrive from China to repair is just a very clumsy paperweight.
When I looked around here, I was surprised to find 3 shops within driving distance that sell and service electric bikes.
When I looked around here, I was surprised to find 3 shops within driving distance that sell and service electric bikes.
#3
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2020
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With the single speed and generic frame parts, there doesn't look like a lot of components to fail. The controller and hub motor are also pretty simple. I do a lot of riding in my area and see quite a few e bikes, but have not seen one of these, plenty of the schwinn sidewinders,
#4
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,227
Likes: 6,612
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Schwinn is not known for quality anymore. Hopefully Wally-Mart will want to service that thing when it has issues, they can't and won't but for the high price they charge for it you might as well dream. I guess they took a cheap single speed and slapped an old school hub kit on it and said let's see how high we can price it.
I would save some money and get something of quality, Bosch, Brose Shimano or even Yamaha make excellent quality motors with good support behind them on generally decent enough bikes. Sure there is some cheap low quality bikes using those motors but most of it is at least decent enough that a normal shop might consider touching it, You will be happier you spent a little more and got a much higher quality bike with better warranties and support.
I would save some money and get something of quality, Bosch, Brose Shimano or even Yamaha make excellent quality motors with good support behind them on generally decent enough bikes. Sure there is some cheap low quality bikes using those motors but most of it is at least decent enough that a normal shop might consider touching it, You will be happier you spent a little more and got a much higher quality bike with better warranties and support.
#5
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 314
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Schwinn is not known for quality anymore. Hopefully Wally-Mart will want to service that thing when it has issues, they can't and won't but for the high price they charge for it you might as well dream. I guess they took a cheap single speed and slapped an old school hub kit on it and said let's see how high we can price it.
I would save some money and get something of quality, Bosch, Brose Shimano or even Yamaha make excellent quality motors with good support behind them on generally decent enough bikes. Sure there is some cheap low quality bikes using those motors but most of it is at least decent enough that a normal shop might consider touching it, You will be happier you spent a little more and got a much higher quality bike with better warranties and support.
I would save some money and get something of quality, Bosch, Brose Shimano or even Yamaha make excellent quality motors with good support behind them on generally decent enough bikes. Sure there is some cheap low quality bikes using those motors but most of it is at least decent enough that a normal shop might consider touching it, You will be happier you spent a little more and got a much higher quality bike with better warranties and support.
I know what you mean with some of this low end stuff, it's usually built for a specific life cycle, and if it makes to that time frame (usually not as long a a high end piece), the manufacturer has done what they set out to do. It always amazes me when people buy tools from Chinese distributors, and complain on the quality. Did they actually believe they were going to last as long as commercial grade mechanics gear? I have had luck with low end products, and some actually have pretty good parts support ( I don't like to rely on shops to work on stuff for me) and others it's a disposable item, or parts bin materials.
#6
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Joined: Jul 2015
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From: Chicago Suburbs
Bikes: GT Transeo & a half dozen ebike conversions.
I been following a Walmart e-bike thread on another forum. The customer just broke a spoke, complained, and Walmart sent him an entire wheel/motor. That's not bad for a $2 spoke, getting a whole new drive assembly under warranty. Stupid me, I'd just put in a new spoke.
I'd feel bad if I owned WMT stock. That cannot be good for the bottom line.
I'd feel bad if I owned WMT stock. That cannot be good for the bottom line.
#7
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 314
Likes: 268
I been following a Walmart e-bike thread on another forum. The customer just broke a spoke, complained, and Walmart sent him an entire wheel/motor. That's not bad for a $2 spoke, getting a whole new drive assembly under warranty. Stupid me, I'd just put in a new spoke.
I'd feel bad if I owned WMT stock. That cannot be good for the bottom line.
I'd feel bad if I owned WMT stock. That cannot be good for the bottom line.
#8
Clark W. Griswold




Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 18,227
Likes: 6,612
From: ,location, location
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
I know what you mean with some of this low end stuff, it's usually built for a specific life cycle, and if it makes to that time frame (usually not as long a a high end piece), the manufacturer has done what they set out to do. It always amazes me when people buy tools from Chinese distributors, and complain on the quality. Did they actually believe they were going to last as long as commercial grade mechanics gear? I have had luck with low end products, and some actually have pretty good parts support ( I don't like to rely on shops to work on stuff for me) and others it's a disposable item, or parts bin materials.
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,055
Likes: 1,283
From: socal
Bikes: DIY
Looks like a solid bike, and the "bicycle" components are easy to procure. Bafang produces about a million motors a year and I haven't heard anything bad about their quality (my three have been superb). That said, I think the bike is overpriced ($1499 when I looked).It seems more like a $799 - $999 bike to me. Trek stores have an Electra with a good warranty for about tha same price last time I looked.
#10
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 314
Likes: 268
Looks like a solid bike, and the "bicycle" components are easy to procure. Bafang produces about a million motors a year and I haven't heard anything bad about their quality (my three have been superb). That said, I think the bike is overpriced ($1499 when I looked).It seems more like a $799 - $999 bike to me. Trek stores have an Electra with a good warranty for about tha same price last time I looked.
#11
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,055
Likes: 1,283
From: socal
Bikes: DIY
Look closely at the two models since there's a chance the motors are identical (maybe the controllers differ). The lower price is fair especially with the Walmart guarantee. If you decide to buty I would "ride it hard and put it away wet" in the warranty period. Many electrical problems are "infant mortality" and if they don't occur in the first month or so, you'll be OK for a long time. Just don't overheat the motor riding up hills. Rule of thumb is don't let the speed go below half of top speed for any length of time (few seconds IMO).




