Helix Update?
01-09-19 | 12:34 PM
#1426
Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Stop Complaining
Yes, and no. He can make sufficient material changes to his design that it would be very easy to make a case that it is not the same as the project bike; he can claim he abandoned that concept because he ran out of money. He could then take the concept to investors and come back with something else. Not saying he would do this at all....so far he seems pretty honorable. But crowdfunding developers HAVE done this and gotten away with it. Bottom line: if you back a crowdfunded project you should not expect to receive anything other than the warm fuzzy feelings of spurring development. I'm not aware of any devs that have sold their items outside of crowdfunding but not delivered to backers so that's a non-issue at this point. I would just encourage caution as our legal system is not going to do much to help in this situation without an incredible amount of legal fees which would be prohibitive for anything but a massive group (many thousands of backers).
Last edited by StanSeven; 01-11-19 at 05:47 PM. Reason: Removed profanity
01-09-19 | 03:16 PM
#1427
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 453
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Now: HPV Gecko FX 20 w/ assist.. Old: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
01-10-19 | 02:00 AM
#1431
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 53
Likes: 40
I'm trying to decide if I keep my 10 speed derailleur or change it to an 11 speed Alfine.
Derailleur: less weight, less $$, fairly reliable. I think it can be fairly easily replaced / upgraded in the future.
Alfine: more weight, more $$, can shift while stopped. Reliability for light use? Maintenance?
I would appreciate feedback from our resident experts.
For background: I use my Brompton for air travel to Europe and hope to do the same with my Helix.
Derailleur: less weight, less $$, fairly reliable. I think it can be fairly easily replaced / upgraded in the future.
Alfine: more weight, more $$, can shift while stopped. Reliability for light use? Maintenance?
I would appreciate feedback from our resident experts.
For background: I use my Brompton for air travel to Europe and hope to do the same with my Helix.
01-10-19 | 10:22 AM
#1432
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 229
Likes: 8
01-10-19 | 12:40 PM
#1434
Widely Despised
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 174
Likes: 8
From: Revoltistan (in SE MI)
Bikes: Dahon Helios, Dahon P8, Bike Friday tandem, Ingo, Trek, Columbia, Helix
I'm trying to decide if I keep my 10 speed derailleur or change it to an 11 speed Alfine.
Derailleur: less weight, less $$, fairly reliable. I think it can be fairly easily replaced / upgraded in the future.
Alfine: more weight, more $$, can shift while stopped. Reliability for light use? Maintenance?
I would appreciate feedback from our resident experts.
Derailleur: less weight, less $$, fairly reliable. I think it can be fairly easily replaced / upgraded in the future.
Alfine: more weight, more $$, can shift while stopped. Reliability for light use? Maintenance?
I would appreciate feedback from our resident experts.
I can work on those. I can't even see inside those geared hubs.
(They could be filled with hamsters, spiders, & prefamulated amulite for all I know.)
I am now checked out & paid up.
Alas, my delivery date is in July.
I was hoping to have it for a big June Coolspring Power Museum engine show.
(It's my transportation around that sprawling complex of asphalt, crushed stone, grass, & mud.)
Last edited by Revoltingest; 01-10-19 at 01:19 PM.
01-10-19 | 01:21 PM
#1436
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 34,324
Likes: 8,478
From: Hudson Valley, NY
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
I’m going to ask you guys to please calm down in here, all this hostility is unnecessary. 
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
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01-10-19 | 01:23 PM
#1437
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
Checked out
Checked out my two bikes. Now have to wait till July and August (at least). I selected both 10 speed for the same reasons above - reliability, maintainability, bike touring abroad. Cannot wait to hear from one of you guys who gets it early how it rides...
01-10-19 | 02:25 PM
#1438
Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
I am very excited for the people who are checking out. The Fat Lady seems indeed to be gearing up and I wish the first and last and all inbetween current buyers to finally feel the grain of sand-blasted titanium under the palm of your hand, as you quirkily fiddle around with he front fork for the first unfold...
i wish you a pleasant a safe ride too, so i can order my own little titanium deathmachine when the money and time allows.
thank you for sharing too!
i wish you a pleasant a safe ride too, so i can order my own little titanium deathmachine when the money and time allows.
thank you for sharing too!
01-10-19 | 03:37 PM
#1439
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 190
Likes: 175
From: Alberta, Canada
New to the scene here but have been monitoring this forum and Helix's updates for a while now. Recently checked out my order for two bikes but was hoping for an earlier delivery date than July to coincide with my wife's annual trip home to Japan in March. Would have been nice to take these along with us on the trains. Went with the 10 speed versions for the same reasons as others have posted here.
01-10-19 | 05:35 PM
#1441
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 78
Likes: 3
My bike is also scheduled for July. Kinda wish I took on the risk of a backer position for the earlier ship date, upgraded components and lower price because I really wanted to ride it this Spring, but I'm still excited that I'll be getting my bike finally (let's assume it actually arrives this year) and it will be fun watching the backer reviews start to appear before then. At least I can get a refund if it turns out to be crap, but I don't think it will 
I sincerely hope the July date doesn't slip to a later month, as pretty much every other announced date has. I was originally told the insanely optimistic shipping date of July 2017
I sincerely hope the July date doesn't slip to a later month, as pretty much every other announced date has. I was originally told the insanely optimistic shipping date of July 2017
01-10-19 | 06:11 PM
#1442
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 453
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Now: HPV Gecko FX 20 w/ assist.. Old: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
01-10-19 | 09:46 PM
#1443
Full Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 349
Likes: 40
Site only mentions that the company will start taking people's money(again!) in 2019.
But does it say anywhere when they will deliver 1 bike? Year? Decade?
Real weight of a real bike. Available now; for a few decades actually.
2013 Brompton S6L-X by 1nterceptor, on Flickr
But does it say anywhere when they will deliver 1 bike? Year? Decade?
Real weight of a real bike. Available now; for a few decades actually.
2013 Brompton S6L-X by 1nterceptor, on Flickr
Available since 2 years ago I think
01-10-19 | 10:06 PM
#1444
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,539
Likes: 453
From: SF Bay Area
Bikes: Now: HPV Gecko FX 20 w/ assist.. Old: Trident Spike 2 recumbent trike w/ e-assist
The Helix thread has been a massive lesson in patience, roller-coaster emotions, and an education. And that's just as a bystander, lol. Super excited for you guys and can't wait to read all the great reviews and see real life pics. Good things do come to those who wait =)
01-11-19 | 09:41 PM
#1445
Seems the excitement is getting people riled up
01-13-19 | 10:08 AM
#1449
Widely Despised
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 174
Likes: 8
From: Revoltistan (in SE MI)
Bikes: Dahon Helios, Dahon P8, Bike Friday tandem, Ingo, Trek, Columbia, Helix
During checkout, there was an option for a spendier Wolf Tooth chainring.
I can't verify it after checking out, but I recall that it was around $50 or so
more, & that it weighed a little less.
Pay that much to save an ounce or less? Nah...I passed on it.
Anyone have thoughts about this option?
I can't verify it after checking out, but I recall that it was around $50 or so
more, & that it weighed a little less.
Pay that much to save an ounce or less? Nah...I passed on it.
Anyone have thoughts about this option?
01-13-19 | 10:35 AM
#1450
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 229
Likes: 8
Not just lighter but larger and prettier. I think it depends on what gearing will suit you best and the rest is nice to have. All the upgrades are standard on backer bikes - one of the reasons I chose to buy out a backer rather than go with a pre-order - so i don't have the comparisons to hand.