Helix Update?
#51
Full Member
That's not so. Factory setup is almost finished down to making some final tooling jigs. Parts have arrived. Rims are done anodizing. Rear swingarm final prototypes suitable for mass production are built, and looking downright amazing.
That's a heck of a lot further than "no sign". If you aren't a backer then you wouldn't have caught these updates as it is a closed court.
That's a heck of a lot further than "no sign". If you aren't a backer then you wouldn't have caught these updates as it is a closed court.
#52
Full Member
Jur you are the best. The swingarm looks really really nice with the 3D printed fittings. My wow indicator goes through the roof when I imagine the whole bike is going to look like that.
#53
Steering stability due to front fork design. It does help it fold and yield nice anti drive characteristics. - never thought stability was an issue, certainly was better than some other smaller-wheeled bikes I've rode.
Folding size limitations, its tiny to pack with wheel removed however. - if I wanted smaller, I'd have gone for a different bike, willing to put up with Birdy dimensions for benefits
Touring rear panniers must be small to aviod heel strike or mounted far back meaning the rolling wheels need to be removed. - ah, never tried panniers on a Birdy. Or a rack, for that matter.
Hard to set up vbrake noddles at front. - different, patience needed, granted
Chainwheel clearence is minimal on frame when folding and rings can get bent. - never had this issue
Clearence issues on wide tyres at back. - stuck with 1.5" tires, so not an issue
Old chain cather can wedge in transmission breaking draillers even. - yikes! Never had that happen
Flawed but genius. And enjoyable. - like most folders...
OK, I see where you're coming from, but since most folders have some compromises, I see all these issues less as compromises and more just the price to be paid for that particular design. Thanks for the explanation!
#55
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FYI they pushed delivery back until October.
The swingarm looks great, and I think everyone will be happy soon....except Thor I'm joking.
Thanks
Yan
The swingarm looks great, and I think everyone will be happy soon....except Thor I'm joking.
Thanks
Yan
__________________
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Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
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Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
#58
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Really? I got an email that said October. I assumed this October.
Thanks
Yan
Thanks
Yan
__________________
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
#60
Senior Member
May be old news to some (I haven't been following the Helix thread closely), but his recent email also said "After several design iterations we have decided to use cast nodes at every joint and forgo robotic welding altogether" .. hence a delay.. again, I don't know how early my customer committed..
#61
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I got an email on Thursday. It said...
Amongst all these great things, the clock has been ticking away and we find ourselves in May – two months after our projected delivery date. The burning question remains: when we will get to ride Helix?
October.
Amongst all these great things, the clock has been ticking away and we find ourselves in May – two months after our projected delivery date. The burning question remains: when we will get to ride Helix?
October.
__________________
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
#62
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I think I understand the ambiguity. Your customer must have ordered an internal hub model. My IGH orders take about 5 months to arrive. I guess they ordered the hubs late.
Thanks
Yan
Thanks
Yan
__________________
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
#63
Senior Member
#64
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Join Date: Sep 2005
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Jur,
What date did Helix give you?
Thanks
Yan
What date did Helix give you?
Thanks
Yan
__________________
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
#67
Senior Member
I'd be very interested if they ever produce a titanium version...
#68
Senior Member
i'd be interested if they made a bamboo version
#70
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Chinese copy needs a full working bike to copy off of first
just copying parts that aren't fully tested would end in wasted money and effort which these pirate guys just don't do. But also the Helix guys pricing is pretty damn good already so i'm not sure how much cost cutting is actually safe to do on a copy.
just copying parts that aren't fully tested would end in wasted money and effort which these pirate guys just don't do. But also the Helix guys pricing is pretty damn good already so i'm not sure how much cost cutting is actually safe to do on a copy.
#71
Junior Member
Curiosity brought me back to their web site. They haven't posted on their blog since January. The January blog post announced "pre-orders" starting February 1.
But... the site says are taking "pre-orders." Starting August 1st.
Reading the above that some Kickstarter orders won't happen until Feb 2017, one might presume that August "pre-orders" woould be delivered after that.
The Kickstarter effort, the design, the initial marketing on this bike were extremely impressive. Brilliant work.
The communications since, wow. The opposite.
I hope all is well, because this looks like a bike that could really add to the folding bike world.
But... the site says are taking "pre-orders." Starting August 1st.
Reading the above that some Kickstarter orders won't happen until Feb 2017, one might presume that August "pre-orders" woould be delivered after that.
The Kickstarter effort, the design, the initial marketing on this bike were extremely impressive. Brilliant work.
The communications since, wow. The opposite.
I hope all is well, because this looks like a bike that could really add to the folding bike world.
#72
Full Member
Personally I will wait till next year if nothing comes up in term of titanium folders I will order a Cinese mini velo ti frame and that will be it. It's shame that nobody can produce one for a descent price yet.
#74
Junior Member
Is the update visible to just Kickstarter participants?
Last post on their web site is January 28. Last post on their Facebook page, Sept 30, 2015 (the day their Kickstarter funding drive ended). On their Twitter account, Sept 30, 2015. To the non Kickstarter world, they have vanished.
Last post on their web site is January 28. Last post on their Facebook page, Sept 30, 2015 (the day their Kickstarter funding drive ended). On their Twitter account, Sept 30, 2015. To the non Kickstarter world, they have vanished.
#75
Senior Member
I'm on a mailing list from them. I haven't seen an update for this bike in months. They clearly are incapable of producing it at anything close to the priced they advertised, and I'll be shocked if it ever appears at all.