In this paper, experimental and theoretical investigations of the effect of the mean moment on the response and collapse of circular thin-walled tubes subjected to cyclic bending are discussed. To highlight the influence of the mean moment effect, three different moment ratios r (minimum moment/ maximum moment) of -1, -0.5 and 0, respectively, were experimentally investigated. It has been found that the moment-curvature loop gradually shrinks with the number of cycles, and becomes stable after a few cycles for symmetric cyclic bending (r = -1). However, the moment-curvature loop exhibits ratcheting and increases with the number of cycles for unsymmetric cyclic bending (r = -0.5 or 0). In addition, although the three groups of tested specimens had three different moment ratios, when plotted in a log-log scale, three parallel straight lines describe the relationship between the controlled moment range and the number of cycles necessary to produce buckling. Finally, the endochronic theory combined with the principle of virtual work was used to simulate the relationship among the moment, curvature and ovalization of thin-walled tubes under cyclic bending. An empirical formulation was proposed for simulating the relationship between the moment range and the number of cycles necessary to produce buckling for thin-walled tubes subjected to cyclic bending with different moment ratios. The results of the experimental investigation and the simulation are in good agreement with each other.