The budget e-bike market is pretty cutthroat. New models are released almost daily, each with its own set of unique features and compromises to keep the cost down.
Very few companies succeed at producing a budget e-bike that’s worth the money. Cyrusher is one of those rare success stories.
The company made it its mission to produce fun yet budget-friendly e-bikes. The Bandit is a perfect representation of Cyrusher’s mission.
This e-bike comes with a double suspension, fat tires, a powerful motor, a decent battery, and it is foldable to boot.
The only thing that’s going against it is its cumbersome size. Even when folded, the Bandit takes up quite a lot of space.
But, if you have the space, this e-bike will become one of the first things you pack for camping trips and weekend nature getaways.
Credit: cyrusher.com
The rider features a foldable frame built out of durable, lightweight 6061 aluminum alloy. The overall frame design is pretty aggressive and is dominated by the thick middle tube that houses the battery.
The frame is also pretty thick, so it can withstand all the stresses involved with offroad riding. The welds are pretty solid and just as thick as the rest of the Bandit.
Unfortunately, the biggest gripe I have with this e-bike is its weight.
With the battery installed, this e-bike weighs a whopping 72 lbs. If your building doesn’t have an elevator, I wouldn’t recommend getting this bike. I can’t imagine lugging this e-bike up the stairs.
Of course, adding to the heft of this bike is the double suspension. The front suspension has around 80mm of travel, while the rear suspension allows for around 100 mm of travel.
So, what does this all mean? It means you won’t feel any bumps or shocks coming from the road beneath you. I was able to run over a speed bump at 12 miles per hour and didn’t even feel a slight bump.
When it comes to riding comfort, I’m happy to report that the Bandit is pretty comfy for riders of all heights.
I’m a pretty tall guy, and most folding e-bikes aren’t too comfortable since they tend to be pretty sort. The Bandit, on the other hand, can be adjusted so even riders over 6’3” can ride in a comfortable position.
Unfortunately, this came with a trade-off. This bike is gigantic even when folded - measuring 37.7”x44.8”.
To make things even more cumbersome, the handgrips and the pedals aren’t foldable. I hope you have a large car, otherwise, you’ll need to install a bike rack so you can transport this e-bike.
Motor
Credit: cyrusher.com
Cyrusher uses BaFang motors for most of its e-bike lineup. However, this is not the case with Bandit.
With that said, the motor it does come with still kicks ass. It’s rated at 750W with 1000W of peak power output. But that’s not the most impressive part. What is pretty impressive is the amount of torque it produces.
The second you turn that pedal or twist that throttle, you’ll feel 80 Nm of torque propelling your forward.
Having this much torque is essential for having fun on an off-road track. This means you’ll be able to accelerate to the max speed of 26 MPH the second you come out of a difficult turn or an obstacle.
Motor Controller
The controller on the Bandit is pretty advanced for a budget-friendly e-bike. You can configure every aspect of your ride, from the amount of power used for starting to max speed and acceleration.
All this is done with just three buttons, which can be a bit frustrating.
This is why I recommend you study the manual religiously before making any adjustments to the settings.
Battery
Credit: cyrusher.com
The battery on the Rider is pretty beefy. It has a capacity of 816 Wh which can take you anywhere between 25 and 60 miles.
In my test, I managed to ride for around 30 miles before the battery finally died.
I was leaning on the throttle a bit, so I guess you could squeeze another 10 miles if you only used pedal assist.
The recharge time is pretty long. It will take you anywhere between 5 and 7 hours to fully charge the battery.
If you’re planning on using this e-bike for daily commuting, you should get a spare battery. Unfortunately, the spare battery on this e-bike is pretty pricey. Currently, it’s on sale, but its full price is half as much as this e-bike.
Still, 30 miles is more than enough if you’re going to use this bike for occasional off-road fun.
At least the battery is well-protected from any hazards since it’s integrated inside the frame. You can easily remove it when you fold the e-bike by simply sliding it out of the middle tube - no tools needed.
Brakes
Since this e-bike is pretty heavy, it comes with some heavy-duty brakes. The Bandit features Zoom hydraulic disc brakes with 180 mm rotors.
Although Zoom isn’t the most well-known brake manufacturer, the brakes on the Bandit performed admirably.
I had no trouble slowing down the bike in all weather conditions. And since they’re hydraulic, there’s very little maintenance.
Credit: cyrusher.com
Rims
Since this is a fat-tire e-bike, the rims are pretty hefty and durable. They’re built out of aluminum and feature a double-wall design for added durability.
As is the case with most painted rims, expect the paint to chip.
Especially on a bike such as the Bandit since it’s meant for off-road riding.
Tires
Credit: cyrusher.com
The tires on the Rider are some of the best I’ve ever seen.
For my first test ride, I chose a semi-compact dirt road, and the tires performed amazingly.
Not even once did I slip or slide. I even went over some particularly muddy roads in hopes of making these tires lose grip, but to no avail.
Post Test Summary: The Pros And Cons Of Cyrusher Bandit
What do you think about the Cyrusher Bandit based on the stuff above?
I personally think this is one fun chunker of an e-bike. Sure it’s got a lot of heft to it, but it makes up for it with sheer power.
The 750W motor can get you to a max speed of 26 MPH in a matter of seconds. On top of that, the motor is pretty torquey too.
I had a blast riding my local off-road trails There’s nothing more exhilarating than feeling all that torque as you accelerate mid-turn.
I wouldn’t recommend this e-bike to someone that’s looking for a daily commuter. Sure, it can fulfill that role perfectly, but that’s like you’re using a dune buggy to buy groceries - a waste of good potential.
Read more: Cyrusher XF690 Maxs
PROS
What’s there not to like about the Bandit?!
This is one of very few folding fat-tire e-bikes tall people can ride comfortably.
It comes with a pretty powerful and torquey motor that can churn out 80 Nm of torque whenever you need it.
On top of that, it comes with double suspension. This is pretty outrageous for a budget e-bike since most models that come with this feature cost upwards of $2000.
The double suspension ensures the ride is smooth as butter. You can run over a pothole at nearly full speed without a jolt. I wouldn’t test this myself, but I’m pretty sure the Bandit could handle it like it’s no one's business.
Cons
There are two things I don’t like about this e-bike. Those are its size and weight.
The Bandit is a pretty chunky e-bike. Even folded, it takes up quite a lot of space, so if you live in a small apartment in a building without an elevator, I wouldn’t buy this e-bike. Although it’s less cumbersome when folded, it’s still pretty heavy, and you’ll break a serious sweat lugging it upstairs.
And even if you have room in your home to store it, I hope you have enough room in your car. If you’re riding a small city car, you won’t be able to fit this e-bike in the trunk. The only vehicle that can comfortably fit this bike is an SUV.
Check out our round-up review of Cyrushers excellent lineup to see how this ebike compares!
Advice To Buyers
I would recommend Cyrusher Bandit to anyone that’s looking for an affordable e-bike they can take on weekend nature getaways and camping trips. It comes with a pretty powerful motor and a double suspension, so you’ll be pretty comfortable while zooming over gravely, muddy, country roads.
Conclusion
All in all, the Bandit is a pretty decent foldable e-bike.
There is lots to like about it. From a powerful motor to its comically thick tires than have no trouble finding grip on both dirt and pavement roads.
The only thing holding it down is its size and weight. But I guess you can’t have a double suspension without making the e-bike heavy.
I hope Cyrusher makes a foldable e-bike model that has foldable handlebars and pedals. This way, the bike would take up a lot less space and be easier to carry around.
Our Rating - 93/100
The Cyrusher Bandit simply oozes aggressiveness and style. This isn’t your average fat-tire folding e-bike - it comes with double suspension, a powerful BaFang motor, and a durable 7-gear system. The Bandit is built for zooming over offroad trails at breakneck speeds with absolute confidence.