Originally Posted by
Pahana
The base prices seem a little low for Ti frame bikes. As the owner of a Ti Brompton and the ex-owner of a Ti 18 pound mountain bike something doesn't add up here. The frame of a Ti bike should cost $2,200 alone. Something doesn't feel right. Also the $100 difference between the single speed and the 10 speed seems strange. I could be wrong but a Ti bike made in Canada should be more expensive. We're talking China prices here Can someone enlighten me about this?
A source of long and heated debate during the KS launch and since on this thread. Not only is the bike titanium, but it is also complex in design and manufacture. The frame and forks alone seem to have more components than a full built full suspension mountain bike. Many believe the price is too low, even suggesting Helix must therefore be a scam.
Broadly, the counter view has been as follows:
- Ti tubing is not so expensive in and of itself
- the high costs of working and welding Ti, requiring lots of time from highly skilled labour, a significant driver of the price of Ti frames, are ameliorated by in house production and templating and automation of much of the manufacturing process including all welding
- the standard components specced are not particularly high end
- if the bikes are marketed directly, there is no middle man taking a cut
- Helix is clearly priced to compete with Brompton and the manufacturing process is set to scale so the business plan may be prioritising volume over margin