New Helix titanium folding bike claims to be the world's smallest folder…

Worth noting that some UK train companies only carry bikes under their policy for folding bikes that have 18 inch or smaller wheels (pretty much only Bromptons then). If you had a pedantic conductor they could refuse to carry one of these.

I commuted on a 20 inch folder for a time and had no problems but I'm not sure I'd risk it if buying new.

Also, I agree that derailleur gears are a bit of a miss.

Is the rear triangle fixed in any way? If not, on the rough roads the chainstays will bump the seattube and the frame parts will suffer from plastic deformations as a result of impacts. And the frame will be clashing during the ride I think.

It looks elegantly executed, but the seat tube angle is scary steep. With the cranks that far back beneath me I don't think my knees would last a week if I mashed that around London everyday like I do my Brompton.

"Brompton’s range-topping S1E-X is a claimed 20.5lb (9.3kg)"

Yes it does. It also only has 1 gear.

I'd be surprised if those prices are for a complete bike. Sounds about right for the frame. The only thing that would worry me is the durability of its welds. Ti tubes last forever, but Ti welds are vulnerable to fatigue.

Great design though.

Its about time someone turned out a light folder - light on the ground and on the wallet - could shake up the Brompton brigade and who knows it might even tempt me.
Discs probably unnecessary but no doubt help it fold neater, but why oh why derailleurs which do the opposite? Surely hub gears and even belt drive is the way to go for a nice 'clean' and user friendly commuter package

Like the 'lefty' fork there!

The price really does seem god on this, if it wasn't for the likely shipping costs etc I'd be very tempted by this. I've got a tern 20" wheel bike that's great for commuting, but I do think it's a little fragile.

Looks great. Small wheels of the brompton have always put me off. I rode a Dahon xp until some bugger stole it and really enjoyed its ride with 20 inch wheels so i am very interested in this. Doesnt look like it will be easy to wheel while folded though, a brompton strength?
Incidentally i have just returned from Barcelona where cycling is huge benefiting from lots of infrastructure investment. Bromptons were everywhere and being wheeled in and out of the nicest cafes and bars with no complaints or anyone batting an eyelid.

As folding bikes go that one actually looks quite nice. Now all I need are some Canadian relatives to ship me one as a 'gift'

That is very tempting. There have been so many work situations in the past where I wish I'd owned a folder and that's a good looking alternative to a Brompton.

I think I'll calmly convince myself that I don't really need one at present, followed by accidently putting down the cash once it appears on kickstarter.

$1199 (~£780) is a good price compared to a Brompton, considering you get a lighter bike (than a standard Brompton), larger wheels and supposedly a smaller fold.

The devil is in the detail with this sort of bike though, so the specs might not tell the whole story. I hope it gets funded.

That looks better than my Brompton.