Orders for Helix
 

.... Of what hemisphere!?

In some countries, spring never comes...or is it winter never goes? I always get them confused.

Conspiracy theory #128 : Creator delays releasing product for several years in order to have backers so grateful to receive anything that they don't complain about deficiencies. Now in all seriousness, my ShareRoller bike motor is also very late (started early 2016 if I remember correctly) but it appears to be very close to fruition although tiny incremental delays still occur. I just think the whole process makes it clear that bringing a product to market is no easy task and I've a new respect for those that succeed.

Releasing a product is no easy task, you sir have got that right.
Even in an established company, even releasing just a hardware update to an existing product can be a daunting task.
My dream as a kid was always to build something cool that works and is then successful. And I very effectively devised, doodled and built proof of concepts and working prototypes. Then proceeded to design for manufacturing with already the first failures or shortfalls appearing. And even when that succeeds there's then deployment, acceptance and field operations.
I've seen how difficult the whole process is when working with a reduced team and moderate ressources. I cannot imagine doing it mostly alone and from scratch. Then again what I build isn't a bicycle.
​​​​

That's clever and funny. Thanks for amusement in a time of uncertainty.

Gosh, has it REALLY been 3 years?!

New 12 minute video up!
 

Video details main parts of the bike and up close folding. Peter also explains the manufacturing of certain parts.

Yes, it looks like more delays because of the custom parts coming from Taiwan. Far from being able to modify this bike with off the shelf parts, Helix’s parts are becoming way too specialized a la Brompton. Can’t wait to pay $400 for a little plastic bit. But this time, it’ll be in titanium! Ack!

The custom parts made in Taiwan seem like they are causing most of the delays, but at least the locally made parts are apparently on schedule. I hope there aren't any more delays, but I've become so used to them now, I wouldn't be surprised if there are more problems. I just hope Peter tells us quickly instead of leaving another gap between meaningful updates. I hope that the custom parts are not going to wear out (I think they are mostly Ti, right?), because as spambait11 says, it's going to suck if we can't get hold of replacements or have to pay through the nose because they are so exotic. I would love for Helix to became a popular bike like Brompton, so getting replacements isn't that hard.

Video is pretty good though, and is by far the best look we've had at the bike yet. I wish Peter had shown the folded bike in a bit more detail, but it was great to see him fold it slowly, showing how the mechanisms work.

We've opened the hatch, now we're watching a video. None of this will make sense at the end of Season 6.

Then there's the economics. The more delays, the greater the loss. The company will have to sell a lot of bikes and quickly to get close to breaking even.

Then there's the problem of the market reaching saturation point. Does the world need another folding bike? They're a dime a dozen as it is.

His biggest problem at this point is there just isn't much of a market left for Helix to enter. This bike needed to happen at least two years ago, not during a massive transformation in the bicycle market from non-assist to ebikes. The future is here.

I predict the world will need this one. I've considered many, & this
is the best candidate to replace my aging creaky Dahon Helios.
For a small folded size & light weight, this one will best handle
the dirt paths & bad roads I ride on.

It looks like turning it into an ebike will be much easier than
developing the original. It's a prime candidate for a rear hub motor.

Good to see there are still true believers out there :)

This bike isn't yet in production so effectively doesn't exist. You have no idea how it will perform. No matter, the crux is It needs lots of new sales to those who don't have folding bikes, and that's the market where the problems lie. There are just so many models out there.

If he ever releases the bike, manages to not go bankrupt providing the existing customer base (pre-orders and backers) AND if the bike performs as intended and provides entire Ride/Fold/Feeling satisfaction, then IF I were him and IF I still had money for such frivolities, i'd launch a heavy, balls-out marketing campaign all around. That could save the whole thing.

...notice a pattern?

Sounds iffy.

You didn't pay the one time subscription price of $1,200 on The Kickstarter Channel. All episodes, including the recent extended length episode of The Helix Show are only available to subscribers. A subscription to the The Helix Show provides exclusive access to a story arc that still has at least two more years of surprise episodes! Each episode is a heart wrenching story of The Creator's battle against self inflicted problems, delays and common sense. Viewers will follow along with The Creator as he travels a soul searching path leading to an inevitable realization of defeat and subscriber frustration.

The Helix Show. Season 3 available now. Only on The Kickstarter Channel.

yrs. At the bottom of the latest post on the activity stream.

I think the only question is whether it will ever come to market.

The only question?

No reason to suspect that.

FYI, I've been talking to Santa. He promises that everyone who has posted on the Helix thread is getting a pony for Christmas.

Idiomatic English I'm afraid, Abu. It means all the other questions pale into insignificance, so important is that one.

So yes, indeed the only question :)

I don't know, man. Ponies are a lot of work.