They are there, a good bit further down though. Update title 'Accessories designs', the last update in March last year I guess, includes 4 views of the bike with sundry accessories including rack and fenders.

Hopefully this weekend's update will reveal more but accessories can wait. The bike's the thing.

No, it wasn't announced and is still not confirmed by the creators.

There is also no clear information about the weight increase, they just recognize that the delivered bikes are heavier than announced during the kickstarter campaign and stated that their Vellobike+ "remains the lightest electric assist folding bike".

There are only the pictures that show the difference between the original design and the actual design.

I suppose they were forced to do that to provide a good+safe behavior to the bike because such an increase of the length of the rear triangle should improve the bike stability.

The increase of the folded bike size is an unavoidable undesired consequence of that.

From what was written in the last update sposted by the creators about the titanium frame model, it seems that the titanium frame manufacturing won't start anytime soon.

At this time, their main concern of the creators seems not to deliver the backers bikes but to establish their business.

I think you made a very good point here and I wonder if this will happen with the Helix brand? The focus of this thread has changed in different directions over its long haul but it has shifted to seeing a complete bike built. Even if a bike is built, can Helix deliver it to the backers at the price they paid or will they do something different like try to establish their brand?

Seeing all the effort put into creating manufacturing facilities, it seems to me obvious that Peter tries to create a brand and did not create all this to only produce the backers and pre-ordered bikes.

If he succeed in creating a brand, he must deliver the pre-ordered bikes which are normal sales. If he doesn't, he must at least refund all pre-orders.

For the backers bike, nothing forces him to deliver bikes but for the success of the brand, he should deliver them. Not delivering them would be a disaster from a marketing point of view.

Placeholder update is out with the full update pushed back a week.

In the video, the frame welding robot is pretty spiffy.

The almost identical completed welds are even more spiffy! Looking forward to the real update next week...

vello bike, change of hinges
 

Full disclosure: I've backed vello bike on kickstarter, so might be considered an invested fanboy. But of course,
I'm also not at all thrilled by the delays and silent weight/dimension increases in the vello campaign.

However, the main reason for the increased folding width (from 71 to 79 cms, as far as I can tell), does make sense: The original prototype (and vello bike version 2) folded the rear behind the bottom bracket, thus folding
changed the distance for the chain/belt, which doesn't really work for a belt without a chain tensioner. The current design puts the bottom bracket on the rear rather than on the main frame, and thus folds before the bottom bracket, achieving a constant tension on the chain/belt while folding. At some point they seem to have
considered putting folding hinge and bottom bracket on one axle (can't find the picture anymore), but that probably didn't work out stability wise.

2cms folding hinge behind the bottom bracket, vs. 2 cms before add up to the 8 cms increased folding width of the current design; all doubles up. Some of the reinforcements for this redesign explain part of the increased weight. One can blaim the vello bike creators for never explaining this redesign clearly, but it takes a few words to do so;)

Apparently, cutting edge folding bike design isn't that easy (look for Andrew Richie's/London Business School talk for the brompton perspective;).

Did you receive your Vellobike+ ? Are the dimensions measured on the bike you received ?

From the pictures, it indeed seems that the folding changed and the bottom braked position folded changed but also that the rear triangle length increased what also should increase the wheelbase ?

I do not think that the reinforcement of the frame can add 2.5kg (the announced 2kg + the weight saving provided by the use of Kojak instead of Marathon tires), this is a lot compared to the typical weight of a folding bike frame.

What people backing these type of projects should understand is that they are backers and not customers = they give their money to develop a product and create a brand/company, they are not buying a product even if they might eventually receive a product as reward for their funding.

I’ve been off the forum for a bit patiently waiting for helix news!

I’m confused to what comes next...is the bike supposed to be delivered to its first customer in the next week/s and that’s all we are waiting for? Or are they still testing/and pre production working???

There was a big update due last weekend, postponed to this weekend. This should include production schedule, instructions on finalising options and shopping address amongst other things.

The interim update last weekend showed some impressive pics and videos of welding consistentency but no final production bike pic still.

No fat lady yet. Charlize Theron had to eat Mac and Cheese at 2am to maintain her 50 LB weight gain. This is for the movie, Tully. Let that be incentive for Spanky Lady.

So this weekend as today or tomorrow? I will stay tuned to the forum!

"This weekend" as "Ok maybe next weekend but testing is almost done and everything is going great no worries you can count on me." 👍

Today's update has laser cutting & welding videos.
The former machine sounds like a steam whistle at times.
Official update is planned for next week (planned).
Did I say planned?
The production parts look great.

That was last week's interim update :(

I would like to transfer my Kickstarter pledge for (2) 11 Speed Shimano Alfine Helix Folding Bikes to an interested party. Send me an e-mail for additional details.

Derek

I checked, but didn't see the most recent one til this morning.
It's somewhat similar to the mid-March update (which had no steam whistle sound).

There was another update today. They are still waiting on a couple of parts from their suppliers that have gotten delayed, but everything in house seems to be going pretty well. More videos of frames getting made, some production schedule info, size and it looks like they have been prototyping accessories in the meantime while they are waiting on the aforementioned parts, and even the prototypes look great.

I hope they can get my bike shipped by Autumn, since that's pretty much peak perfect weather for riding season here, but who knows. Things are looking pretty good right now, but who knows if they'll have problems with production, or heaven forbid, need to do any recalls.

They just updated the update!

Dude. Seriously...your so close :). Why give up now??? I’d be interested...but how legit is the transfer process? Is it handled by Helix?

Wow! Never mind the spanky lady. What a spanky bike! Great update. Bike and accessories looking spectacular and manufacturing process is something to behold. Hope it sings and dances as well as it poses.

I took on a backership as a non backer a while back. A bit clunky to do but easy enough.

Helix will transfer the ownership and sort portal access on their systems but don't handle the funds side of things which I sorted directly with the backer and using an escrow service.

PM me if you want details.

The accessories must be on a different update venue....not in the account
part of the Helix website. It would be nice to know more about them.

Edit:
I see the fenders & front bag mount now.

I need the money, basically. I'll shoot an e-mail to Peter (from Helix) to see how it's done.