Helix Update?
#2126
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I'm asking about the Ti-Swift; I want to know about the original model that is no longer made. I did spend time reading the threads and was unable to find out about the original model; I did find out about the clones people made.
#2127
Junior Member
You can read about the Swift here: Story
Peter Reich still sells Swifts, using either steel or aluminum frames. Xootr, which used to sell aluminum versions, no longer does. There is a long thread on the Swift here: Swift folders
Neither Reich nor Xootr ever made titanium frames. A poster on this board who goes by "jur" designed a titanium version and had it made in China by an outfit called either Titancycles or Titanproduct. There is a long thread about the ti version here: Titanium Swift frame, anyone interested?
Eventually, Titan made the frame (and other parts of jur's design) available on aliexpress, and you can see that here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Gr-9...c-453489cf8e1f
That version, which you can buy now, is the only titanium Swift there's ever been (as far as I know).
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#2128
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I briefly considered the Ti Swift a few years back. Until the Helix showed up. Looking at the price of the Swift frame on Aliexpress makes the Helix a bargain in comparison and it is a better bike by a mile in my opinion though I have not ridden a Swift due to the larger wheels, and smaller folded dimensions among other things.
#2131
Full Member
#2133
Senior Member
I'm sure there are other folks interested in the Helix now that it's an actual, real bike. Since this thread appears to be the only public place seriously talking about the Helix, I would suggest that its a perfect place for current backers to offload their pending bikes.
It would also be helpful to know what options remain available for those who are looking for a Helix... as @anga's question above implies... non-backers don't know much about the order finalization process.
Good luck!
It would also be helpful to know what options remain available for those who are looking for a Helix... as @anga's question above implies... non-backers don't know much about the order finalization process.
Good luck!
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#2138
Newbie
Afline and 1 / 10 speed have different drop outs, those dropouts can be changed, but then you will need to rebuild the wheel, if you're thinking of taking over a single speed, see if the seller can contact Helix and change the order to Afline or 10 speed (and pay the difference) so when the bike is built, it's built to your desired choice.
#2141
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Anyway, 4 bikes a day ~= 300 days until they reach my bike I hope there are still gains to be made in the production speed, and I hope they mean 4 bikes a day average over 7 day week, not a 4 bikes per work day. That's probably hoping for too much, though :/
#2142
Widely Despised
That sounds much better, but Peter should really stop making time estimates and promising updates at certain times or intervals, because somehow he is almost always late
Anyway, 4 bikes a day ~= 300 days until they reach my bike I hope there are still gains to be made in the production speed, and I hope they mean 4 bikes a day average over 7 day week, not a 4 bikes per work day. That's probably hoping for too much, though :/
Anyway, 4 bikes a day ~= 300 days until they reach my bike I hope there are still gains to be made in the production speed, and I hope they mean 4 bikes a day average over 7 day week, not a 4 bikes per work day. That's probably hoping for too much, though :/
I can live with that.
(Latest update is 65 biked shipped. I'm #1405 . [1405-65]/4=335 days)
#2143
Senior Member
If they can maintain that rate, I should get mine by June 1, 2020.
I can live with that.
(Latest update is 65 biked shipped. I'm #1 405 . [1405-65]/4=335 days)
I can live with that.
(Latest update is 65 biked shipped. I'm #1 405 . [1405-65]/4=335 days)
The video reviews of the Helix are very positive. My only info is what I read on this forum (Helix's own web site has not had updated info in two years.)
One still has to wonder how the Helix story will (no pun intended) unfold. The original business plan would not of accounted for years of delay or even the current slow rate of production. Some part (or the assembly) must be very difficult. While Helix is making bicycles, and apparently really nice bicycles... at this slow rate of delivery it has to be at a loss. Likely a significant loss.
Years ago, Helix rather brilliantly sold a lot of titanium bicycles at an aggressive price. Only a tiny fraction of those bicycles have been delivered. At some point, well before the number now on order, do they run out of money? If I had order #200 I'd feel OK. If I had order #1 ,400 - I'd have to wonder if that will actually happen.
Could they take more orders (to bring in more $) when delivery is at best a year out? Or is there investment money that could cover up the near term losses?
I really like the look of the bike. Here's hoping it becomes a real company.
#2145
Senior Member
#2146
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The demand for the bike is mostly based on a titanium frame.
Thanks
Yan
Thanks
Yan
__________________
Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
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Designer of Downtube Folding Bike
Ph.D. Temple University ( Math )
Biked across the USA twice
Semi-active chess player ( two time Bahamas National Champion )
Sivananda ( Bahamas ) Trained Yoga instructor ( 2013 ) and ThetaHealer since 2013
Bicycle delivery worker for Jimmy John's. Delivering is the best workout I have ever had.
#2147
Senior Member
And also, based on the description of the bikes as being a bit over-engineered, I'm not sure what sort of price savings there would actually be with Aluminum. After accounting for the difference in materials, the bike might need entirely different solutions to the issues and opportunities encountered with the existing design. (I'm not an engineer... so please feel free to correct me on this). All of that trouble with no guarantee that anyone would actually want an Aluminum version of the bike... because as previously stated, the whole point is Titanium.
I would think that a Steel version would make more sense if you wanted to make a cheaper one. However, I would still argue that the whole point of the bike's popularity is that it is designed from the ground up to be Titanium.
I would think that a Steel version would make more sense if you wanted to make a cheaper one. However, I would still argue that the whole point of the bike's popularity is that it is designed from the ground up to be Titanium.
#2148
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I hear from a backer that Helix is not producing 4 bikes a day and for various reasons involving titanium problems and labor issues may not be able to hit this mark in the short term.
#2149
Senior Member
#2150
Senior Member
Yes, titanium is a big selling point for Helix. But I don't think it's "the whole point". For me (and I suspect for some others too), the titanium is just a bonus.
I think a lot of people might be interested in the Helix design (big wheels, small folded package) in steel or aluminum. Probably heavier, probably cheaper, but with most of the benefits of the original titanium bike.
Or would moving away from titanium make it necessary to do substantial redesign?
I think a lot of people might be interested in the Helix design (big wheels, small folded package) in steel or aluminum. Probably heavier, probably cheaper, but with most of the benefits of the original titanium bike.
Or would moving away from titanium make it necessary to do substantial redesign?