Cycrown Cycknight: Sub

Despite the generic design choices, the Cycknight offers fantastic performance for the price point and can handle any terrain.

Despite its bland styling and very basic, no-frills design, for under $1000, the Cycrown Cycknight stands out as one of the most affordable yet still capable Class 2 folding fat-tire ebikes we've had the opportunity to test. With a 48V 12.5Ah battery and a torquey 750W brushless motor (rated for 500W), the Cycknight delivers a governed top speed of 20mph but a rather underwhelming claimed range of up to 48 miles. While its appearance may not turn heads, we were pleasantly surprised by the bike's power and comfort both on and off-road thanks to its beefy 4-inch tires, full-suspension system, and powerful motor.

The Cycrown Cyknight is a relatively simple and bland folding fat-tire ebike, but its competitive pricing makes it worth checking out. Equipped with a powerful 750W motor, a smooth front suspension system, and wide 4-inch tires, it conquers any terrain with ease.

At its regular price of $949, the Cycknight offers a good balance between price and performance, although it doesn't boast the fancy features or tech typically found on pricier ebikes such as GPS tracking or Bluetooth. As expected, some sacrifices had to be made to hit this lower price point, notably with its sensor. While we didn't necessarily need or want to use its electric throttle as much as we did, we found ourselves using it more than we typically would to compensate for the abrupt power from its motor. No matter the power assist level, its cadence sensor proved to be jerky and delayed after you begin or stop pedaling.

However, this is something you can quickly get used to. The Cycknight's value proposition becomes even stronger when it is on sale, where it can often be found for between $650 to $750 (nearly 32% off). At this discounted price, the Cycknight emerges as one of the best-value choices in its category, making it an even more enticing option for budget-conscious riders seeking a capable folding fat tire ebike without compromising on performance.

Interestingly, despite utilizing a 750W brushless motor, it's rated at just 500W, which according to Cycrown is "to ensure a long lifespan and excellent performance". Although the Cycknight has a claimed range of up to 48 miles, you'll likely only reach this in its pedal-only mode. During our tests, we found that a more realistic range is closer to 40 miles with a mix of pedaling and throttle on mostly flat roads.

The Cycknight is equipped with a front hydraulic suspension fork and a rear under-seat suspension. The front suspension fork does an excellent job at smoothening out the ride, especially when off-roading or dropping from curbs, while the rear suspension helps minimize the rumbles of the road. Its front and rear hydraulic disc brakes are decent, but we found its front to be a little spongy, especially while riding downhill.

There are five levels of power assist with a neutral mode for just pedal-power. For its drivetrain, we find a Shimano 7-speed; though similar to other 500W+ ebikes, you'll probably find yourself riding almost exclusively in 6th or 7th gear because of how effortless it is to pedal.

The bike has a very bright LED headlight which can be toggled on or off using the controls from its handlebar. There is also a removable battery-powered rear light, which needs to be manually turned on before each ride. To keep track of your speed and riding stats, the ebike also has a monochrome display that shows important information such as distance traveled, battery level, and power assist level.

For the most part, we can summarize the Cycknight's overall design as generic and uninspired, bearing a resemblance to several other models on the market including the Gotrax EBE4, suggesting that at least the frame of these bikes are being rebranded under several different names. The Cycknight is currently only available in one style, amber and black with simple pinstripes.

On the left and right sides of the top half of its frame, you'll find the CYCROWN name and its brand logo in the shape of a black knight. For some reason, the brand thought adding its full website URL to the rear of its frame was a good idea. For a moment, I thought I could remove the vinyl decal, but nope, even below that is the same text again. It's the biggest troll I've seen in a long time, and I can't think of a good reason for doing this twice. In the future, I'll probably add some black electric tape to cover this, as it's a huge eyesore and makes the bike feel very cheap.

The bike comes completely pre-wired, which makes the setup process easier, however, almost of its cables are exposed, with the exception of the ones leading to its battery. Some users might find this complementary to the utilitarian look of the Cycknight, but I think this is another area where costs had to be cut. I like that they opted to install the battery inside its frame, rather than behind the seat post, like most bikes in this category, as it usually contributes to more balanced weight distribution. The downside, though, is that the bike has to be unfolded to access or remove the battery.

Weighing about 63 pounds (30kg), the bike is about 10 pounds lighter than most comparable models, making it surprisingly lightweight for its size. Perhaps also thanks to its more compact frame, I found it relatively easy to carry up and down stairs on my own. Don't get me wrong, this is still very heavy, and I wouldn't want this to be my main bike if I had lots of stairs on my daily commute. But side by side with the Vanpowers Urban Glide we recently reviewed, this is significantly easier to move around.

Build quality is acceptable, although it has been some time since we've reviewed a bike with welding points so prominent. Combined with its cheesy website URL, this is another giveaway that this is a more budget bike. Another milder complaint is the less-than-ideal location of the keys underneath the frame, making them difficult to access without bending down or over to see the keyhole.

Similar to a car or motorcycle, the key needs to be turned to the on position and remain inserted for the bike to operate. As you can imagine, this means keeping your bike key on your main keyring will be impractical unless you enjoy the sound of loud jingling.

One of the Cycrown Cycknight's more distinguishable features is its folding design that in theory allows for easier storage and transportation. The folding process is straightforward and can be completed in just three easy steps.

First, you lift the latch on the frame to fold the bike in half.

Next, you lift the latch on the handlebar stem and fold that in half.

Lastly, the pedals can be folded upwards for an even more narrow fully folded profile. This folding mechanism makes the bike compact and takes up less space when not in use.

To assist with maneuverability, a handle is built into the frame, located below the seat. This handle is intended to help you move or lift the bike, preferably with the assistance of another hand or another person helping out. However, it's important to note that the bike can be challenging to push or move on your own due to the folding design. With the bike folded, you effectively only have one wheel to balance the entire weight on, making it similar to an awkward and heavy unicycle. This limitation makes it less practical for pushing or moving the bike without additional support.

The bulkier folding design of the Cycknight is best suited for storing in smaller spots such as a bike shed or the trunk of a car. It can provide convenience in situations where space is limited. However, it's worth considering that as a larger fat tire ebike with a thicker frame, the folding design may not be as practical unless you specifically benefit from its smaller length for frequent transportation in a vehicle or storage under a desk. In such cases, the folding feature can be very advantageous. Otherwise, with how thick and awkward the Cycknight becomes when folded, you might be better off with a regular non-folding fat tire ebike.

The Cycknight provides a comfortable and relaxed upright seating position. Its wider seat with dual springs underneath offers a good amount of cushion, and even during extended rides, I experienced minimal fatigue. Equipped with its 4-inch fat tires, the Cycknight excels in various terrains. I had confidence and felt very stable while riding over loose gravel and sand at 10+ mph, as the bike's tires provide ample traction. More casual off-roading on dirt and grassy surfaces also feels good, although you'll probably want to stand on the pedals when encountering harder bumps and angles to avoid taking the impact directly.

Despite its lower frame, the bike has a relatively high riding position, even when the seat is set at its lowest position. This makes it better suited for riders who are between 5'3" and 6'3". That said, shorter riders are in luck. My partner who is 5'0" also tried this bike out, and she wasn't too discouraged by its height.

To make this possible, I removed the rear bracket for its tail light, which allows the seat to lower about another 0.5".

This allowed her to touch the ground and come to a full stop more easily.

The Cycknight's throttle proves to be a must-have feature. It is responsive and accurately corresponds to the degree of twisting applied. Its motor provides ample power regardless of the terrain or incline you encounter.

However, as mentioned earlier, the cadence sensor is its Achilles heel. There is a very noticeable delay when both starting and stopping pedaling. It can make precise maneuvering while pedaling difficult, especially at slower speeds, as the bike is less predictable. Because of this, I found using the throttle to be more of a necessity, especially with tighter turns. I also almost always defaulted to using the throttle for quicker and smoother acceleration from a standstill to offset the jerkiness of the motor. Once I got to speed, I fully transitioned to pedaling with power assistance.

The gearing system on the Cyknight shifts smoothly, but this is a bike that would have benefited from higher gears. We rode in seventh gear exclusively unless we were in one of its lower power assist modes or completely disabled power assistance. The bike's motor makes climbing steep hills, bridges, and slopes a breeze, requiring minimal pedaling effort. Even on 30-45 degree slopes, its throttle-only mode can maintain and even accelerate past speeds of 15mph and more without any issues. The bike can also start from 0mph and climb these steeper challenges, but if you want speed, you'll need to get a rolling start first.

Battery life is another story. The battery level indicator on the Cycknight proved to be unreliable and heavily influenced by riding intensity and quick acceleration. Climbing steep hills and quickly accelerating seems to significantly impact the battery, causing it in one example to drop from 72% to as low as 30% in just a few seconds. However, I noticed that after a brief period of less strenuous riding, the battery level would gradually return close to its previous levels.

With the constant fluctuations in its battery percentage, I found myself experiencing more range anxiety compared to other ebikes I've tested while riding a similar route. Tensions got high when the battery level suddenly dropped to 30%, and I still hadn't even gotten to the halfway mark of my trip. This situation took away some of the fun from the ride and made me more conscious of how quickly I was accelerating and how much pedal-assist or throttle I was using for the rest of the ride.

Considering the nature of this ebike, which is heavy and equipped with small yet thick tires, it's important to set realistic expectations for its range given how inefficient it is to propel these bikes forward. While the claimed range of 48 miles is feasible, that's with minimal battery assistance. During one of my test rides, which covered approximately 16 miles and involved a mix of hills, crossing bridges, pedaling in different assist modes, throttle-only acceleration, and averaging 12-15 mph speeds, I finished with about 40% battery remaining. If that estimate is to be trusted, that suggests I would have achieved an estimated total range of around 40 miles if I kept going. A bit shy of its claimed range, but still acceptable.

The Cycrown Cycknight proves to be a compelling option in the growing segment of fat-tire ebikes. Despite its somewhat generic design and some of its awkward quirks, it offers good value for under $1000. With its powerful 750W motor, comfortable ride quality, and capable performance on different terrains, it can handle everything and is super fun to ride.

While its daunting battery life fluctuations may cause some range anxiety, it's one of the compromises you'll have to expect at this cheaper price point. Speaking of cheaper, keep an eye out for its deep discounts, making this one of the best bang for your buck bike choices of 2023.

Paul is a seasoned tech writer with a focus on reviewing camera, audio recording, and smart home products. Since 2016, he has shared his love for practical yet innovative tech through his work, drawing on his experience as a professional videographer to provide a unique perspective on the latest gadgets.