Almost There!

shrooms · 05-01-16, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jur

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.

Would you please share or PM me the pictures? Thanks a lot in advance.

shrooms · 05-01-16, 08:11 PM

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.

mconlonx · 05-02-16, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhkyte

Re Birdie compromises.
Well all folders make concessions. Even 4k ones. .

Wheel size 18" - OK, true, tires and tubes usually not in stock, anywhere... but foresight helps...
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!

sibkey · 05-28-16, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrooms

Would you please share or PM me the pictures? Thanks a lot in advance.

and for me too, please!

downtube · 05-29-16, 07:38 AM

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

Joe Remi · 05-29-16, 10:17 AM

October 2017? ;-)

BruceMetras · 05-30-16, 09:05 AM

Probably not far off Joe, one of my customers just got his new, updated, "delivery projection" .. Feb 2017

downtube · 05-30-16, 09:37 AM

Really? I got an email that said October. I assumed this October.

Thanks
Yan

BruceMetras · 05-30-16, 10:06 AM

Yan, you may be ahead of him in line..

BruceMetras · 05-30-16, 10:17 AM

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..

downtube · 05-30-16, 11:38 AM

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.

downtube · 05-30-16, 11:42 AM

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

jur · 05-30-16, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downtube

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

They have the hubs, they posted pics of boxes of hubs, lots of boxes.

downtube · 05-30-16, 05:23 PM

Jur,

What date did Helix give you?

Thanks
Yan

jur · 05-30-16, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downtube

Jur,

What date did Helix give you?

Thanks
Yan

October.

xraytech · 05-30-16, 06:27 PM

I'd be very interested If they had an Aluminum or Chromoly version.

Joe Remi · 05-30-16, 06:50 PM

I'd be very interested if they ever produce a titanium version...

Abu Mahendra · 05-30-16, 06:55 PM

i'd be interested if they made a bamboo version

bhkyte · 05-31-16, 02:51 AM

Which will get to market first?
The helix or the Chinese copy?

Azreal911 · 05-31-16, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhkyte

Which will get to market first?
The helix or the Chinese copy?

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.

towndock · 07-19-16, 04:45 PM

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.

shrooms · 07-19-16, 08:37 PM

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.

jur · 07-20-16, 02:12 AM

There's been a good update couple of days ago.

towndock · 07-20-16, 03:19 AM

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.

Joe Remi · 07-20-16, 08:15 AM

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.