I know we were asked not to share too much from the backer portal, but I think the issue of weight has been so tediously over-discussed here that having anything other than the full quote from Peter regarding weight is doing him a disservice. Here it is (this is just a small portion of the update):
The weight
I wanted to quickly address the weight of the bike one more time to lend some insight so that anyone who wishes to reduce the weight will know what to do.
The weight comes from 3 specific areas. One is the frame which for the time being will not be changing. The other is the custom parts specifically the dropouts, the swingarm feet and the wheel to wheel connector which may see about a 1/2 pound reduction in the overall weight of Helix. Lastly, there are three components that have become available in the last year, specifically lighter saddle, cranksets and rims. These will further reduce the weight of Helix by about 1 pound.
Of course, for anyone wishing to build an ultra light version of Helix, the possibilities are only limited by your willingness to spend as there is a huge aftermarket of standard components that are compatible with Helix. Everything from light weight stems, handlebars, pedals, cranksets, hubs, spokes, cassettes etc. With some loose calculations a 20 pound 10-speed Helix is well within reach.
One important note when comparing to other bikes is to consider that Helix has 160 mm disk brakes, has a normal drivetrain, accommodates riders up to 6'6", has 24" wheels and does not leave out any conveniences on the fold such as staying together when folded, standing, rolling, not dropping the chain, proper cable management etc. Future iterations will of course be a bit lighter but Helix is very rideable and functional in its current state.
Sounds to me like he first identifies a couple of areas for weight reduction that may be possible in the future, then mentions for those with more money than sense there are further possibilities if you are willing to spend on replacing standard components with currently available light weight parts. If I recall correctly, he also mentioned in a previous update that he went overboard with the Ti tube wall thickness when ordering it, and that they could get away with a thinner tube. Personally I don't really care, I just want to get my bike one day
