Hello guys and girls, I am here to talk about the Schwinn IC2 and the Schwinn IC3.
I will try to answer some of the questions you might have:
– Which one is better?
– What are the differences?
– Why should I choose this bike over another one? (which other ones?)
– Can I upgrade the components?
– How good are they on hills?
So let’s jump into it!
Things to consider before buying Schwinn IC2 vs. IC3
Price
First of all, let’s start with the price, which is definitely a big factor for people. The prices of both bikes can differ from shop to shop but I am going to base my comparison on a conservative average:
Schwinn IC2 = € 550,-
Schwinn IC3 = € 599,-
Color & Grip
The differences between these two bikes are very marginal. The only difference might be between the handlebar grips and grip shift gear changer of the Schwinn IC3. This means that you pay an additional amount for those small changes in this model. So why would you choose one over another? Because of the color scheme. The Schwinn IC3 is available in a dark red and black scheme while the Schwinn IC2 is only available in the dark blue and silver scheme. That’s basically why you would choose one of these two models.
Electric or not
For people who like to upgrade their (electric) bikes:
yes, both bikes do support some components that can be upgraded! You could say that they are almost alike.
Other features:
– Both models support front and rear fenders for increased comfort on rainy days!
– Both of them have a Shimano gear system which means shifting gears will never be a problem!
– Front LED lights for increased visibility when cycling at night are available as an upgrade option for so both models.
– Front and rear mudguards (fenders) for protecting your bike and clothes from splashing water and dirt on rainy days are available as an upgrade option for both bikes.
– With the addition of a front basket these electric bikes will never fail you when going shopping! The basket is available as an upgrade option for both models.
– All in all, both models support about 80% of the same components which means that all upgrades that work for one model will also work for the other model!
Difference between Schwinn IC2 vs. IC3
Having said this, let’s talk about the differences between these two bikes:
Negative Aspects:
Schwinn IC3 comes with a hub dynamo that charges a powerful 36 Volt Lithium-Ion battery while you cycle along so basically you are generating your own electricity when cycling! Schwinn IC2 does not have a hub dynamo, so the only way for this bike to generate electricity is by pedaling.
This difference can be seen in the amount of power that is generated while you cycle along which means that it might take longer for bikes with hub dynamos to charge up their battery. But don’t worry, both models will get fully charged within 6-7 hours (for both the rechargeable 36 Volt Lithium Ion Battery AND the front LED light) but it definitely has an impact on how fast they charge up.
Something else that I want to say is something I haven’t told you yet: most electric bikes DO NOT support an upgrade to a double-sized front basket (which is for shopping for instance). The only time I saw a double-size basket on an electric bike was on the aforementioned Schwinn models!
If you live somewhere in Holland where there are many hills, then these bikes might not be the best choice. This does not mean that they won’t do well on hills but if you’re looking to exercise and go uphill while biking, then this bicycle mightn’t be your first choice. However, if you live somewhere flat or there aren’t any steep hills around then this should not be a problem at all!
Positive Aspects:
Let’s talk about something positive again: speed! Both bikes will get up to 20 km/h so these electric bikes can definitely reach speeds that regular pedal bikes can’t.
The (optional) front and rear LED lights will ensure that you are visible from pretty long distances during the night and rain, so this is a very important selling point as well because both bikes also come standard with mudguards for increased comfort!
One more thing: these electric bicycles DO qualify for discounts on your insurance policy if your insurer offers such discounts – which most do nowadays. This just makes it even more attractive to choose one of these two amazing electric bikes over regular pedal bikes!
So why should you spend € 599,- on a Schwinn IC3 bicycle? Because this model comes with a hub dynamo and has the option to upgrade the front and rear fenders and mudguards. These upgrades alone cost around € 100,- so basically you are getting these upgrades for free by buying the Schwinn IC3 – definitely a good deal for this model!
The only thing that might bother some people about these bikes is that they DO NOT have a throttle on them. This means that you HAVE TO pedal in order to start moving, it will not move on its own if you just shift gears. However, if you shift gears properly then the bike will have no problem at all starting up even on very steep hills.
After reading this article I hope you learned more about both of these great electric bikes and now know how they work and what benefits/pros/cons each one has to offer. If you want to learn more about either one of them (or both), then please check out the links below!
Schwinn IC3: http://goo.gl/k6lhNd (Amazon NL)
Schwinn IC2: http://goo.gl/zktuRE (Amazon UK)
If you’d like to read more about electric bicycles in general, then feel free to click on any of the links below!
FAQ’s for Schwinn IC2 vs. IC3
Ques. : Can I charge the battery while pedaling?
Ans. : No, you can’t.
Ques. : Does this bike use a throttle?
Ans. : No, it doesn’t. You NEED to pedal in order for it to work (or at least shift gears).
Ques.: Is this electric bicycle heavy compared to regular ESP’s (Electric Sport Bikes)?
Ans. : Yes, but only slightly heavier! Check out my other articles for more information about weight differences.
Ques.: What is the difference between hub dynamos and front generators/batteries with “sensors”?
Ans. : Hub dynamo’s are far better than all the others because they do not have any moving parts so there are fewer parts that can break. They are also more efficient in generating electricity compared to the other types.
If you have any more questions then feel free to contact me!
If you are interested in learning more about bicycles in general then please click on one of the links below!