Schwinn Bicycles Still Exists, Drops Rather Affordable Vantage Fxe e-Bike

Believe it or not, folks, this grandfather of bicycles is still in business. These guys have always been known for building affordable bicycles for all and today, they still play that game. They’re even playing the e-bike game, and quite well, might I add.

Honestly, this team doesn’t need much of an introduction. What does need an introduction is the newest urban e-bike from the team, the Vantage Fxe. This little road demon isn’t just a beast once you get to know the components mounted on it; it also comes in with a very affordable price of $3,499.

Whenever I take a look at a new bike, or anything for that matter, I like to strip away the branding the product may come with. That said, if we are to leave brand history behind, this e-bike offers one of the best price/component ratios on the current market.

One of the main reasons why this e-bike comes in with such an affordable tag is because of the frame. Instead of using carbon for the frame’s construction, resulting in some over-priced but capable piece of hardware you’d never fully harness, Schwinn chose to stick with 6061 aluminum. This helps keep the price down as well as the bike's abilities in line with what it will be doing. Even though the team is using aluminum, internal cable routing is in the days work.

Being the urban bike that it is, you won’t find any traditional suspension systems on the frame or fork, but that doesn’t mean it can’t handle some light bumps and vibrations. Keeping it all current and up to today’s standards, this frame does include a decoupler that uses elastomer units between the seat stay and seat tube and allow for 15 mm (0.6 in) of travel.

But what about the motor and battery? I thought I'd never ask. Personally, I like how this crew managed to keep up with the times. On the Fxe we find an up-to-date, mid-mounted 250W Bosch Performance Line Cruise motor with a max 20 mph (32 kph) of pedal assist.

The battery to make all your components work smoothly is a Bosch PowerPack 400 mounted on the top side of the down tube. How long those 400Wh of juice will last you is hard to say as road conditions vary from one ride to the next. But, if it doesn’t give me at least a 3-hour run on low consumption mode, I don’t want it. Not for that price anyway.

The next component system that needs our attention is the drivetrain. Here, we're given an 11-speed SRAM Apex setup with thumb shifters; everything else is SRAM too, except for the KMC chain and TRP mechanical brakes with 160-mm (6.3-in) rotors.

As for everything else, such and wheels and even seat post, they're all-aluminum. That's another reason this is such an affordable bike, even though top-shelf components are being used.

If you happen to start getting a feeling of nostalgia regarding this modern Schwinn e-bike, just click here and take a trip down memory lane this 2021.