This bicycle is neither a mountain bike conceived from the mountains, a road bike nor a cross bike conceived on the circuit, nor a simple and fashionable track bike.
It is being proposed as a new genre known as the Speed Cruiser conceived on the streets that was released on the market in April 2010 through a fusion of the creativity supplied by the street-wise nari/furi and the engineering skills of Bridgestone Cycles.
In more detail, it is an urban bicycle fitted out with an original aluminum aero frame that is slightly angled to the front, a hollowed-out seat post, wheels with fewer spokes and a wider rim, a simple thumb-shifter gear changer situated near at hand, semi-block tires with a reflector line for greater safety at night, and other functions.
Two new models will be added to the existing single model line-up; the high-class H1X model with a ten-speed transmission and bullhorn handlebars, and the reasonably- priced H10 model with a nine-speed transmission and flat handlebars.
< Overview of HELMZ Sales>
Sales Area: Nationwide HELMZ dealers (specialized bicycle dealers, etc.)
Annual Sales Target: 600 units (Total)
Date of Release: April 27
Standard Cash Retail Price: H1X 179,000 yen, H10 99,800 yen
Product Configuration
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New HELMZ Features
1. HELMZ Bullhorn Handlebars (manufactured by Nitto)
The bullhorn handlebars were designed and manufactured especially for the HELMZ by Nitto, which is famous for its high-quality products. The complex and 3-dimensional bends in ten locations provide a wide range of handlebar positions that prevent fatigue even on long journeys.
*Used on the H1X
2. Ten-speed Shimano 105 Gears
The highly-acclaimed ten-speed Shimano 105 transmission.
*Used on the H1X
3. Pedals Manufactured by Mikashima
In addition to being compact, thin, light and easily rotatable, the pedals also have battlement-type protrusions to prevent slipping. High-quality pedals manufactured by the world-famous Mikashima.
*Used on the H1X
4. New 510mm size for people 161cm and above in height
A compact 510mm frame added to enable people of 161cm
and above to ride the bicycle.
*Used on the H10
5. HELMZ Wheels with a Rim Size of 30mm
New and original HELMZ wheels with a rim size of 30mm that
places the emphasis on durability and flexibility to provide a tough town cruiser.
*Used on the H10
New-shaped Rim
[Main HELMS Features]
1. HELMZ Original Aero Frame (Aluminum)
All design work was carried out with the full cooperation of nari/furi, and we adopted a special manufacturing method for expanding the specially-designed pipes known as SPF (Super Plastic Forming) to produce an aluminum frame that is perfectly matched to street riding and that personifies our design image. The tires nestling into the frame and the gently-angled "Reverse-Sloping" crossbar provide a strong sense of "aggression".
2. HELMZ XERO Wheels
The front wheel has fewer spokes a silver metallic aluminum rim with a thickness of 25mm, and the rear wheel has a black aluminum rim with a thickness of 38mm. This combined with the XERO wheels provides a completely original design using different textures and thicknesses for the front and rear wheels and a bearing-rotation performance, rigidity, strength and lightness that is perfect for road races.
*Used on the H1X
3. Semi-block Tires Equipped with Reflector Lines
The tires are 700 x 32C semi-block tires that were designed especially for street riding, and they incorporate night-time safety specifications with fitted reflector lines.
4. Simple Thumb Shifter of Near-at-hand Operations
The Thumb Shifter enables the gears on the rear wheel to be operated near at hand. In addition to simple external appearance, this allows the rider to experience a new style of operations that provide full manual control over the bicycle.
5. Aero-shaped Seat Post Manufactured by Mike
A lightweight aero-shaped seat post that is thin and hollowed out.
*Used on the H1X
6. SBAA Standards
Conforms to the "Sports Bicycle Association Approved (SBAA)" standards enacted by the Bicycle Association of Japan, which are based on the EN Standards enacted in advanced countries in Europe for sports bicycles, but that take Japan's road conditions and the differences in sizes for Japanese people into account, etc., and that use environmentally-friendly materials.
7. Etymology of the Name HELMZ
The word "helm," as in "take the helm," to represent being in total control.
[Features of the HELMZ H1X]
A high-class model equipped with a ten-speed transmission and bullhorn handlebars.
(1) HELMZ original aero frame (aluminum.)
(2) HELMZ bullhorn handlebars (manufactured by Nitto.)
(3) Simple thumb shifter near at hand.
(4) HELMZ Xero wheels.
(5) 700 x 32c semi-block tires with reflector lines.
(6) Pedals manufactured by Mikashima.
(7) Aero-shaped seat post manufactured by Mike.
(8) Shimano 105 ten-speed transmission.
H1X
[Features of the HELMZ H10]
A reasonably-priced model equipped with a nine-speed transmission and flat handlebars.
(1) HELMZ original aero frame (aluminum.)
(2) Flat handlebars.
(3) Simple thumb shifter near at hand.
(4) HELMZ wheels with a 30mm rim.
(5) 700 x 32c semi-block tires with reflector lines.
(6) Nine-speed transmission.
H10