A Classic Schwinn Kid’s Bike Just Resurfaced as an Affordable, Super-Fun-Looking E-Bike

The original Hurricane debuted way back in 1978.

Published October 31, 2024

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Updated October 31, 2024

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“Just be home by sundown.” For GP readers of a certain age, those words ring true. Spoken by the polar opposite of helicopter parents, they permitted many a suburban tween to head off with friends for hours of unsupervised troublemaking, often aboard a go-anywhere bike like the Schwinn Hurricane, a staple of the 1980s.

The new edition is not only modernized but also aimed at a slightly older audience — teens — with specs that indicate small- to medium-sized adults could have a blast on it, too.

Now the Hurricane is back with a vengeance … and a motor! Meet the new Schwinn Hurricane Compact Electric Bike, packed with vintage vibes, modern tech and the promise of sweet freedom.

schwinn hurricane beauty shot — The new edition resembles the original but adds a number of new features, most significantly a 250-watt motor.

History lesson

Before checking out the new bike, let’s remember where we came from: 1978, specifically, the year the Hurricane launched with a bevy of state-of-the-art features.

We’re talking Positron II Stik-Shift gear control (for moving through five different gears), a 20-inch Schwinn-built cantilever, electro-forged steel frame, forged steel front fork and chrome-plated tubular steel rims.

schwinn hurricane 1978 — Shout-out to bikehistory.org for having images like this shot of the original 1978 Schwinn Hurricane in the archive.

Ready for all kinds of action, the Hurricane also boasted a 20″ x 1 3/4″ front tire, a 20″ x 2.125″ rear tire, a BMX-style handlebar and grips, a ribbed motocross-style seat, front and rear rim brakes and a featherlight weight of just, er, 40 pounds.

But hey at least one thing really was light, the price tag: $141.95.

Electric youth

Times have changed a bit in the 46 years since, and so has the Hurricane. The new edition is not only modernized but also aimed at a slightly older audience — teens — with specs that indicate small- to medium-sized adults could have a blast on it, too.

The new Hurricane features a 250-watt motor delivering up to 17.5 miles per hour, which can be reached (and probably topped) via the throttle on the right-side handgrip or with pedal assist.

schwinn hurricane throttle — Keep tabs on your bike’s battery life via the LED charge indicator right next to the throttle.

Like its predecessor, this new bike is ready to jump off-road, thanks to wide, grippy 14″ x 3″ tires, built-in fenders and the superior stopping power of front and rear mechanical disc brakes.

There’s also a wide, foam-padded moto-style seat that’s long enough to accommodate a range of heights, up to we’d guess about six feet, which seems to track with the weight limit of 260 pounds. (Again, it’s aimed at teens, but a lot of adults fit those allowances, too.)

schwinn hurricane kids — The new Hurricane’s long seat can accommodate a range of human heights.

Charge time for the battery — using the included charger — is five hours, and it’s good for up to 30 miles per charge. There’s an LED charge indicator next to the throttle to help you avoid running out of “gas” far from home.

Like the original, this frame is real steel, as is the fork, while the rims are aluminum. The overall weight of 56 pounds isn’t that much more than the 1978 model — especially when you consider the fact it has, you know, a motor. The price isn’t that much more either: $599.99.