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Helix Update?

Old 04-02-19, 04:54 PM
  #2076  
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Originally Posted by linberl
OK, it's unrelated to Helix, except insofar as I lost a bet on which crowdfunded project would launch first, Helix or ShareRoller. ShareRoller, now known as oneMotor, has delivered their first units. So close, but no banana, lol. I lost my $20 but I'm happy for the Helix backers and soon will be very happy for myself! Shareroller actually took longer than Helix to deliver. Crowdfunding teaches patience, that is for sure.
Please, post a review w/some pictures of the oneMotor when you receive it. I backed out of the campaign,...I want to see what I know I'll be missing! LoL!!!
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Old 04-02-19, 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by tds101
Please, post a review w/some pictures of the oneMotor when you receive it. I backed out of the campaign,...I want to see what I know I'll be missing! LoL!!!
I'll definitely start a thread on it, either in folding bikes or electric bikes, mmm, probably electric bikes. My bikes are folders but it doesn't have to go on a folder so the electric bike forum makes
the most sense. Early reviews are awesome, I'm pretty excited. Been a loooooong time. Having Helix backers waiting alongside really helped me, lol.
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Old 04-03-19, 03:34 AM
  #2078  
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Helix production is rolling again. Backer no.19 has received tracking details.
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Old 04-03-19, 08:42 AM
  #2079  
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Originally Posted by Jonesandrew
Helix production is rolling again. Backer no.19 has received tracking details.
Here's hoping April production hits double digits.
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Old 04-04-19, 03:10 AM
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Originally Posted by towndock
Here's hoping April production hits double digits.
let's hope you are wrong, as I can now expect my bikes somewhere in 2020. I seriously hope you turn out to be wrong!
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Old 04-04-19, 07:22 AM
  #2081  
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Originally Posted by AvnerBen
let's hope you are wrong, as I can now expect my bikes somewhere in 2020. I seriously hope you turn out to be wrong!
Actually, you had better hope he's right. If not, then you'll definitely be waiting until at least 2020.
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Old 04-04-19, 07:42 AM
  #2082  
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Originally Posted by tds101
Actually, you had better hope he's right. If not, then you'll definitely be waiting until at least 2020.
I think AvnerBen wants triple digits not double.
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Old 04-04-19, 08:28 AM
  #2083  
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Originally Posted by blakcloud
I think AvnerBen wants triple digits not double.
Oh, I understand that. But right now it's just single digits,...so double would be the correct trend to get him his Helix.
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Old 04-04-19, 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by tds101
Oh, I understand that. But right now it's just single digits,...so double would be the correct trend to get him his Helix.
The formal forecast was 100 pieces a month to start with, reaching 250 in spring. By this rate, my August delivery estimate was realistic. If we are down to two-digit month rate, then it's 2020.
​​​​​​I sincerely hope this is a temporary setback!
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Old 04-04-19, 02:20 PM
  #2085  
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Originally Posted by AvnerBen
The formal forecast was 100 pieces a month to start with, reaching 250 in spring. By this rate, my August delivery estimate was realistic. If we are down to two-digit month rate, then it's 2020.
​​​​​​I sincerely hope this is a temporary setback!
Again, I remember the projected logistics. The fact the bike is even rolling out at a possible double production rate should actually be applauded at this point. So far the Helix appears to be worth the wait. Soon those triple digits will be reached, you'll receive a bike, and the forums will be ablaze with praise for this beast. I'm welcoming the change,...I'm sooooo tired of all the dang ​Brompton threads! LoL!!!
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Old 04-04-19, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by AvnerBen
The formal forecast was 100 pieces a month to start with, reaching 250 in spring. By this rate, my August delivery estimate was realistic. If we are down to two-digit month rate, then it's 2020.

I sincerely hope this is a temporary setback!

Yes, I do hope that production ramps up substantially. I just started a REVIEW thread for actual owners of Helix that received the bike in this forum and will be adding to it including tips/tricks. I would love to hear more feedback/observations from Helix riders. So far, I've been very impressed with.
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Old 04-04-19, 03:14 PM
  #2087  
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With 10 bikes per month and 1700+ bikes to produce, the last one will be delivered in 170 months from now = 2034 !

BTW, besides production, there is also shipment to backers and pre-orders all over the world, its not easy to manage and it also takes time.

The easiest for Peter would be not to do it itself but using a specialized company like Amazon.
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Old 04-04-19, 04:03 PM
  #2088  
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Originally Posted by Ultralight
Yes, I do hope that production ramps up substantially. I just started a REVIEW thread for actual owners of Helix that received the bike in this forum and will be adding to it including tips/tricks. I would love to hear more feedback/observations from Helix riders. So far, I've been very impressed with.
thanks for your review. Very interesting!
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Old 04-04-19, 04:25 PM
  #2089  
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Originally Posted by Jipe
With 10 bikes per month and 1700+ bikes to produce, the last one will be delivered in 170 months from now = 2034 !

BTW, besides production, there is also shipment to backers and pre-orders all over the world, its not easy to manage and it also takes time.

The easiest for Peter would be not to do it itself but using a specialized company like Amazon.
I'm afraid with 10 bikes a month he might also not be able to earn his operating expenses. Let's just assume every bike was 1.500$ (US) and one third of this is parts + material. This roughly means there is 10.000$ a month for employees, rent, gas, paying off machines, ... Not sure how high wages are in Canada but here in Germany this would be barely enough for just 2 qualified employees.

So I think success of the project very much depends on being able to upscale the operation.
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Old 04-04-19, 04:28 PM
  #2090  
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We shouldn't estimate future production by figures achieved while still designing & debugging the process.
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Old 04-04-19, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Revoltingest
We shouldn't estimate future production by figures achieved while still designing & debugging the process.
Exactly,...you've come this far, be patient for a little longer,...
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Old 04-04-19, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by tds101
Exactly,...you've come this far, be patient for a little longer,...
I'm pleased waiting for a better bike than expected because of Peter's obsessive attention.
Still....I'd be very happy to get it soon.
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Old 04-04-19, 08:55 PM
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As I remind myself (about my pending drive kit) six months from now you won't remember how long you waited if you are out enjoying the extra effort that went into the Helix and appreciating it. Whilte it would be great if crowdfunded projects delivered on time, better late due to perfectionism rather than delivered on time but poor quality or not delivered at all (as happens apparently all too often).
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Old 04-04-19, 11:12 PM
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Agree about the wait. It is worth it. Obviously I'm writing as one who got my Helixes so it is easy for me to say. (LOL! I was on the KS site before it was posted and kept hitting 'refresh' on my browser as the campaign opened up a bit late.) However, Peter is slower on the manufacturing because he is setting it up right so that it can be ramped up for more production rather than settle for a non-optimized assembly process. In my opinion, here's the key to understanding the process - Peter's a perfectionist who is always keeping the long term success in view so the delays have been bunched up on the front end of the manufacturing process.

Just as Peter has been a perfectionist about the bike, I believe that he's also a perfectionist about the assembly process. We are getting very close to a completed process. I've said this before that I think Helix is rewriting the rules of high end folder manufacturing - a new paradigm. Some have mocked me for that statement (I don't mind at all) and so time will tell if I am right. I bet that I am. Once everything is set up 'just so', ,the bikes should flow much more quickly.
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Old 04-05-19, 02:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Ultralight
Just as Peter has been a perfectionist about the bike, I believe that he's also a perfectionist about the assembly process. We are getting very close to a completed process. I've said this before that I think Helix is rewriting the rules of high end folder manufacturing - a new paradigm. Some have mocked me for that statement (I don't mind at all) and so time will tell if I am right. I bet that I am. Once everything is set up 'just so', ,the bikes should flow much more quickly.
I agree about the new paradigm in folding bikes. That's what lured me in, in the first place, and for all I see in the pictures and some review published, Peter had indeed made that. As a long-time Brompton owner, I have always been frustrated by its unfinished design. The proliferating industry of replacement parts is proof. Someone even sells a special Velcro band to secure the folded bike from accidental opening! And the direction that the company is developing into seems to be completely oblivious of the basic design flaws. Let's hope Peter makes it safely through production, then.
Still, to be realistic, I cancelled my plan to make our summer bike vacation on our Helixes. We are renting. Even if the bikes miraculously make it on time, that still takes mudguards and a reliable rack that fits the fold, etc. The summer of 2020 looks more realistic.
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Old 04-07-19, 04:58 PM
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Latest update has arrived.
Production issues are being solved.
Bikes 11-30 are going out this week.
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Old 04-07-19, 09:53 PM
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yes indeed. Production is ramping up!
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Old 04-08-19, 02:24 AM
  #2098  
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Production

Originally Posted by Ultralight
yes indeed. Production is ramping up!
in response to popular request, promised to update production figures on a regular basis.
An interesting update detailing the production process is due.
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Old 04-17-19, 04:07 AM
  #2099  
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Correction

Originally Posted by Jonesandrew
Helix production is rolling again. Backer no.19 has received tracking details.
I need to correct my post of two weeks ago. Although some backers had reported receiving tracking details it appears that no bikes were actually shipped at that time. The backer of bike no.15 now reports that his bike has actually shipped, so maybe (just maybe) production has restarted again. Peter continues to give production predictions which have zero accuracy. I guess a leopard can't change it's spots.
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Old 04-17-19, 09:22 AM
  #2100  
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I think inventors have to inherently be optimists. Otherwise, they'd never persist. Perhaps that optimism carries over to shipping guidelines ;-).
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