Thread: Helix Update?
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Old 02-26-19 | 04:41 PM
  #1837  
berlinonaut
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Joined: Mar 2016
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Originally Posted by Joe Remi
Right now a 10-speed Helix - which should benefit from an all ti frame and not having a heavy IGH - weighs more than a 6-speed steel/ti Brompton, not itself a notably light bicycle.

I'm sorry, if you're going to go after Brompton with a titanium frame, you gotta beat 'em on weight.
The naked 10speed Helix is at 11,38 kg. A Brompton S6E (steel, six-speed IGH-derailleur-combo, no blades, no rack) is listed at 11,27 kg in the Bromoton configurator (and at 1020 GBP). So surprisingly a comparable Brompton does not need to be the ti-version to still be slightly lighter than the Helix with it's ti-frame. This is no doubt a little bit disappointing and comes a litte as a surprise but for me it would not be a killer as I personally consider everything below 12 kg light enough in my daily practice. The lighter the better of course.

What is interesting to use another 24" folder as a comparison. The entry level Airnimal Joey Sport seems pretty comparable: 9-speed casette, disc brake in the front, 520 wheels, no blades, no rack. The frame is made of aluminium, it has a list price of 1290 GBP and a listed weight of 11kg (probably w/o pedals). Same ballpark as the Helix, no ti at all. It rides very well but folds worse than the Helix as you have to take out the front wheel for folding. I am not sure if the folded size is that much bigger for the naked version. The better comparison would be the (higher ranked) Joey Raptor as it has 507 wheels, 10-speed derailleur and dual disc brakes, so very comparable to the Helix. Unfortunately with this model there's no weight listed. I'd assume it could be a tad lighter due to the carbon fork and the higher speced components in comparison to the Joey Sport.

The Joey is a very robust bike, using standard components all the way and it is light too - I used to own a naked Elite Drop version and it was a pleasure to carry. So I'd assume for one that Helix pays a price for the additional and more complex hinges in comparison to the Joey and second that there might be additional potential for weight saving in future iterations - cannot judge. But it also means the weight of the Helix would at least to me not be an issue in daily practice - though again lighter would be nicer.
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