Pixar M9 and Forge Fat-tyre retro and folding e-bikes
Two fat-tyre e-bikes sold direct in the EU at roughly half their list price, with large battery claims that dealers repeat only in part, no independent test and a 3.1 Trustpilot score.
Big batteries at low prices, with range and spec claims that nobody independent has tested
Our earlier review covered the Cruiser and the C1 Pro. This one looks at the M9 Retro, a 49.5 kg dual-battery fat-tyre bike with two seats, and the Forge, a 39.2 kg folding fat-tyre bike, both sold by Pixar Bikes direct to customers in the EU.
On the store's own pages the M9 carries two 48 V 17.5 Ah batteries for 1,680 Wh and a 240 km maximum range, and the Forge a 900 Wh battery and 140 km. Those are best-case figures from 10 km/h at the lowest assist level; the same pages show 100 km and 65 km at the top assist level. An Irish dealer sells the M9 with the same battery size but quotes 130 km, 120 kg maximum load and IP54, against the store's 350 kg and IPX6. We found no independent test of either bike, Trustpilot shows 3.1 out of 5 with 49% one-star, and a personal-reason return costs EUR 100.
Right for
- Buyers who want a large-battery fat-tyre bike at a low sale price and accept seller-only evidence
- Riders who can handle a 39 to 50 kg bike and will inspect it carefully on arrival
- Anyone who will use the 14-day window as a strict test period
Wrong for
- Anyone who needs an independently tested e-bike or lab-verified range
- Buyers who want a long battery warranty or a fee-free return after a longer trial
- Riders who plan trips around the 240 km or 140 km maximum figures
+What it gets right
- Detailed spec sheets. Pages give battery capacity (1,680 Wh and 900 Wh), weight (49.5 kg and 39.2 kg), motor, gears, brakes, tyre size and folded dimensions.
- Range shown by assist level. Each page lists a range per pedal-assist level, with the test conditions of an 80 kg rider on flat road at 33 degrees C.
- Low sale prices. The M9 is €1,249 and the Forge €1,299 with VAT included, with a rack and fenders on the Forge and free accessories listed on both.
- Policy text is specific. The return page states the 14-day window, the €100 fee, the repack fee and the used-bike rules in plain terms.
- Company replies on Trustpilot. The profile shows replies to 65% of negative reviews.
−Where it slips
- No independent test found. We found no professional hands-on review of the M9 or the Forge, only dealer pages and the brand's own.
- Dealer and store figures differ. The dealer quotes 130 km, 120 kg load, IP54 and a 15 degree incline for the M9, against 240 km, 350 kg, IPX6 and 50 degrees on the store.
- Heavy bikes. The M9 weighs 49.5 kg and the Forge 39.2 kg, which matters for carrying, stairs and loading.
- Short battery cover. The warranty page gives the battery 12 months while the motor, frame and fork get 24 months.
- Return costs. A personal-reason return is €100 deducted from the refund, a repack is about €150, and a used bike is accepted only under 10 km on the odometer with a 20% to 30% depreciation fee.
- Mixed Trustpilot. 3.1 out of 5 from 45 reviews, with 36% five-star and 49% one-star.
Weighted for evidence, warranty and returns, and what customers say
With no independent test, the quality of the spec sheet, how the dealer figures line up, the warranty and returns terms and customer feedback carry the most weight. This is a desk-research score: we have not ridden either bike.
The long version
What the two bikes are, how the store's claims compare with what a dealer publishes and what the terms say.
What this review covers
Pixar Bikes sells electric bikes direct from pixarbikes.com to customers in the EU, with VAT included in the price. Our earlier review covered the Cruiser and the C1 Pro city bikes. This article looks at two others in the range that share fat 20 x 4 in tyres, a 250 W Bafang motor and a 25 km/h limit: the M9 Retro and the Forge folding bike.
The bikes
Pixar M9 Retro
The M9 is priced at €1,249 against a listed price of €2,449. The page lists a 250 W Bafang motor with 60 N.m of torque, two 48 V 17.5 Ah Samsung 21700 batteries (1,680 Wh), a 49.5 kg weight, a 100 mm spring-hydraulic fork with rear shock springs, hydraulic disc brakes, a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain, NFC unlocking, a 100 dB alarm and a two-person seat. The page headline range is 240 km, with a table that falls to 100 km at 25 km/h on the top assist level. The test note says the figures come from an 80 kg rider on a flat road at 33 degrees C. The page shows 104 reviews, with a star icon of about four and a half stars rather than a number.
Pixar Forge
The Forge is €1,299 against a listed price of €2,299. It uses a 250 W Bafang motor with 55 N.m, a 36 V 25 Ah Samsung 21700 battery (900 Wh, 5.5 kg, quick release), mechanical disc brakes, 120 mm of travel, 20 x 4.0 in tyres and a Shimano 7-speed. The bike weighs 39.2 kg and folds to 85 x 40 x 75 cm. The store claims 140 km at the lowest assist, falling to 65 km at the top level. The page shows 58 reviews.
What independent sources found
We found no independent review of either bike. A search for the M9 returned dealer pages and marketplace listings, not a magazine or rider test, and a search for the Forge returned nothing under that name. What dealers say is therefore seller information.
The Dublin dealer Inner City Scooters lists the M9 at €1,049 on pre-order, describes the same 1,680 Wh Samsung pair, and quotes a 130 km range, IP54, a 15 degree maximum incline, a 120 kg maximum load and 18 on-site reviews. The dealer adds a note that all specifications are provided by the manufacturer and are for reference only. A Spanish listing seen in search excerpts claims up to 180 km. We could not open that page, so we do not rely on it.
Where the claims do not line up
- Range. The store says 240 km, a dealer says 130 km for the same battery size. The store's own table gives 100 km at top assist, which is the more realistic reference for fast riding. 240 km from 1,680 Wh implies about 7 Wh per km.
- Load. The store shows 350 kg capacity on the M9, the dealer 120 kg.
- Incline. The store shows a 50 degree maximum gradient, the dealer 15 degrees.
- Water rating. The store gives the batteries IPX6; the dealer lists the bike at IP54, which may describe different parts, so ask.
We cannot tell which figures are right, and the differences may come from different units or different marketing copy. They are worth asking about before you buy.
What customers report
Trustpilot shows 3.1 out of 5 from 45 reviews: 36% five-star, 13% four-star, 0% three-star, 2% two-star and 49% one-star. The company has claimed the profile, invites reviews and replies to 65% of negative reviews. The most recent reviews we saw were positive and about delivery and the bike running well; Trustpilot says it does not fact-check reviews. The split between many five-star and many one-star ratings is similar to the 3.0 we recorded for the brand earlier in the week.
Warranty, returns and delivery
- Returns. You have 14 days from receipt and must contact support first. A return for a major defect is at Pixar's cost; a return for personal reasons costs €100, deducted from the refund.
- Opened or used bikes. A bike you assembled must be disassembled and repacked, and a repack by Pixar costs about €150. A used bike is accepted only if the odometer shows under 10 km, with a 20% to 30% depreciation fee after inspection. Clearance items and promotional gifts cannot be returned.
- Warranty. The warranty page gives 24 months on the motor, frame and fork and 12 months on the battery and most other parts, with tyres, seat and pedals at 6 months. It is valid in the EU, not Malta, Cyprus, the UK or Switzerland.
- Delivery. The product pages state delivery of 5 to 10 days across the EU, and accessories ordered with the bike may ship separately in about two weeks.
Buying advice
Treat the 14-day window as a strict trial. When the bike arrives, photograph the box, check the battery label for capacity and cell brand, assemble it and ride it before the window closes. A replacement M9 battery is listed at €400, which is worth knowing if the battery warranty runs out after 12 months.
Everything on paper
Figures from pixarbikes.com product and policy pages, a dealer product page and Trustpilot, checked 14 Oct 2026.
Range figures are the brand's maximum, measured at the lowest assist and low speed, and will be lower in normal use.
M9 Retro against Forge
Both are 250 W, 25 km/h bikes on 20 x 4 in fat tyres. Prices are pixarbikes.com sale prices on 14 Oct 2026, with the listed price in brackets.
| Bike | Price | Battery and motor | Weight and range claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pixar M9 Retro | €1,249 (€2,449) | 250 W Bafang, 2 x 48 V 17.5 Ah, 1,680 Wh Samsung | 49.5 kg · up to 240 km, 100 km at top assist |
| Pixar Forge | €1,299 (€2,299) | 250 W Bafang, 36 V 25 Ah, 900 Wh Samsung | 39.2 kg · up to 140 km, 65 km at top assist |
Choose the M9 if battery size and a passenger seat matter and you can live with the weight. Choose the Forge if you need to fold the bike into a car boot or a flat, and plan on the lower per-assist range figures.
Questions people actually ask
Is there an independent review of the Pixar M9?
How far will the M9 really go?
Why do the dealer and store specs differ?
What is the Pixar warranty?
Can I return a Pixar bike?
Is the Pixar M9 road legal?
Visit Pixar Bikes
Check the battery size, cell brand and load rating on the exact unit you order, photograph the box on arrival and test the bike inside the 14-day window. Pay with a protected method and keep all emails.
Pixar Bikes
City, retro, folding and touring e-bikes with VAT included and EU delivery.
Visit Pixar BikesPIXAR M9 Retro
1,680 Wh dual-battery fat-tyre bike at €1,249. Find it on the store.
Find it at Pixar BikesPIXAR Forge
900 Wh folding fat-tyre bike at €1,299. Find it on the store.
Find it at Pixar BikesPrices observed 14 Oct 2026 and subject to change. This is an affiliate link.
A lot of battery for the price, with every figure still resting on the seller
The M9 and the Forge offer large batteries, fat tyres and detailed spec sheets at sale prices around €1,250 to €1,300. For riders who want a cheap, comfortable bike and accept the weight, that is attractive on paper.
What is missing is outside confirmation. No independent test exists that we could find, a dealer's specification for the M9 differs from the store's on range, load, rating and incline, the battery warranty is 12 months and a change-of-mind return costs €100. Buy only if you will test the bike hard inside 14 days.
Consider it if you
- You want a large-battery fat-tyre or folding e-bike at a low sale price
- You will inspect the bike and test it fully inside the 14-day window
- You accept that range and load figures are seller claims
Skip it if you
- You want an independently tested e-bike
- You want a long battery warranty or a fee-free return
- You plan long rides based on the 240 km or 140 km maximums
How this review was put together
This is a desk-research review. We have not ridden or tested either bike. Product details, prices and policies come from pixarbikes.com product, return and warranty pages (checked 14 Oct 2026). Trustpilot figures come from the Trustpilot profile for pixarbikes.com, which we loaded directly: 3.1 out of 5 from 45 reviews. We searched for an independent review of the M9 and the Forge and found none; the M9 dealer figures come from the Inner City Scooters product page, which we opened. Marketplace listings at Decathlon and a 180 km claim on a Spanish listing appeared in search excerpts only and we could not open them, so we do not rely on them. We wrote our own text. The images are our own screenshots of public pixarbikes.com and Trustpilot pages, taken on 14 Oct 2026 and shown for review and commentary; the content and branding belong to their owners, and we will remove them if asked. We did not download or reuse image files or logos, and we did not review the brand's affiliate programme terms.
Big Time Bikers is independent and is not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by Pixar Bikes. The link to Pixar Bikes is an affiliate link: if you buy through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and this never changes a score. We did not receive payment or a free product for this review.