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Advice on new kites

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Created by Trigen > 9 months ago, 10 Jun 2016
Trigen
10 posts
10 Jun 2016 9:19PM
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Hi

Since there are so many to choose from and my demo possibilities are quite limited i thought id ask here.

Im 35 around 65kg 143lbs and currently flying Wainman 3.0 10.5 punch and a 7.5mr green. What i like about the kites is that the power is generally nice and smooth. What i dont like is the way they loop, if the wind picks up a bit and im slightly OP the loop gets huge and they tend to just hit the water hard, even with the 7, it really dont inspire confidence.

The kites have good depower but the last 1/4 makes the kite really slow and unruly to control.

My style as it is today would be freestyle/wakestyle. I love riding with boots and tend to spin a lot. I also love the thrill of loops. Have to add that im just starting out with that but i see myself doing this most of the time, unhooked and loops.

Ive tried the Cab FX and Switchblade, like the FX. SW not so much, jumps and hangtime is great but not really my style.
Did a short session on the Vegas 2014 but to short to make any opinion on it. Could go either way.

Ive been looking at the Fuel but its hard to make up my mind on it. Can the Fuel it do a bit of everything not included waveriding?
How would the Rpm be compared?

Conditions 13 to 20 knots on average, 30+ in the winter
Any recommendations for a intermediate rider that wants:
Tight consistent loops
stable power delivery (i dont mind riding OP, can do my 17m core gts lw to 18-20 knots)
I dont want the bar pressure to be to high
i enjoy throwing the kite around.
wants huge boosts

I know just gotta test but hah, dont have the chance.

Thanks!

Woott
WA, 127 posts
10 Jun 2016 9:46PM
Thumbs Up

Sounds like you want a do it all kite with a bit of freestyle pedigree. FX, RPM or alike would be good for that and great to progress on. For even better unhooked go C. My experience with the fuel (2014) is that the kite is quite hardcore and does loop quite slow with exception of 7 and below. A vegas or hybrid like C4 sounds better for what you are after if you want C style kites. I ride the 2016 Vegas but for waves I have a different set....

Comparing the Vegas with the Fuel, I prefer the Vegas. Better allrounder and a bit more forgiving. Both are great unhooked.

Peahi
VIC, 1467 posts
11 Jun 2016 8:04AM
Thumbs Up

my advice on buying a new kite - if you don't know what you want then don't buy a new kite

what happened to new kites anyway tic

JBFletch
QLD, 1287 posts
11 Jun 2016 10:25AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Trigen said..
Hi

Since there are so many to choose from and my demo possibilities are quite limited i thought id ask here.

Im 35 around 65kg 143lbs and currently flying Wainman 3.0 10.5 punch and a 7.5mr green. What i like about the kites is that the power is generally nice and smooth. What i dont like is the way they loop, if the wind picks up a bit and im slightly OP the loop gets huge and they tend to just hit the water hard, even with the 7, it really dont inspire confidence.

The kites have good depower but the last 1/4 makes the kite really slow and unruly to control.

My style as it is today would be freestyle/wakestyle. I love riding with boots and tend to spin a lot. I also love the thrill of loops. Have to add that im just starting out with that but i see myself doing this most of the time, unhooked and loops.

Ive tried the Cab FX and Switchblade, like the FX. SW not so much, jumps and hangtime is great but not really my style.
Did a short session on the Vegas 2014 but to short to make any opinion on it. Could go either way.

Ive been looking at the Fuel but its hard to make up my mind on it. Can the Fuel it do a bit of everything not included waveriding?
How would the Rpm be compared?

Conditions 13 to 20 knots on average, 30+ in the winter
Any recommendations for a intermediate rider that wants:
Tight consistent loops
stable power delivery (i dont mind riding OP, can do my 17m core gts lw to 18-20 knots)
I dont want the bar pressure to be to high
i enjoy throwing the kite around.
wants huge boosts

I know just gotta test but hah, dont have the chance.

Thanks!


Limited demos??

Where do you live?

daggy
WA, 527 posts
11 Jun 2016 9:22AM
Thumbs Up

Check out the videos. See what the pros are riding.
Consider the type of riding you are in to and just buy what they ride.
I know they are sponsored by their brand but the model of kite will suit that riding style you are talking about.

Trigen
10 posts
11 Jun 2016 5:11PM
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Select to expand quote
Woott said..
Sounds like you want a do it all kite with a bit of freestyle pedigree. FX, RPM or alike would be good for that and great to progress on. For even better unhooked go C. My experience with the fuel (2014) is that the kite is quite hardcore and does loop quite slow with exception of 7 and below. A vegas or hybrid like C4 sounds better for what you are after if you want C style kites. I ride the 2016 Vegas but for waves I have a different set....

Comparing the Vegas with the Fuel, I prefer the Vegas. Better allrounder and a bit more forgiving. Both are great unhooked.



Thanks im leaning towards the Vegas and i can get some good deals on the 2015 version, Thinking a 12, 9, 7 quiver


Select to expand quote
JBFletch said..

Trigen said..
Hi

Since there are so many to choose from and my demo possibilities are quite limited i thought id ask here.

Im 35 around 65kg 143lbs and currently flying Wainman 3.0 10.5 punch and a 7.5mr green. What i like about the kites is that the power is generally nice and smooth. What i dont like is the way they loop, if the wind picks up a bit and im slightly OP the loop gets huge and they tend to just hit the water hard, even with the 7, it really dont inspire confidence.

The kites have good depower but the last 1/4 makes the kite really slow and unruly to control.

My style as it is today would be freestyle/wakestyle. I love riding with boots and tend to spin a lot. I also love the thrill of loops. Have to add that im just starting out with that but i see myself doing this most of the time, unhooked and loops.

Ive tried the Cab FX and Switchblade, like the FX. SW not so much, jumps and hangtime is great but not really my style.
Did a short session on the Vegas 2014 but to short to make any opinion on it. Could go either way.

Ive been looking at the Fuel but its hard to make up my mind on it. Can the Fuel it do a bit of everything not included waveriding?
How would the Rpm be compared?

Conditions 13 to 20 knots on average, 30+ in the winter
Any recommendations for a intermediate rider that wants:
Tight consistent loops
stable power delivery (i dont mind riding OP, can do my 17m core gts lw to 18-20 knots)
I dont want the bar pressure to be to high
i enjoy throwing the kite around.
wants huge boosts

I know just gotta test but hah, dont have the chance.

Thanks!



Limited demos??

Where do you live?


I live in Trondheim Norway JbFletch so my closest demos on the rare occasion that we have wind is about 5 hour drives away, excluding what the other kiters have. They are mostly just casual freeriders and the ones that does any tricks are on Flysurfers.

Select to expand quote
daggy said..
Check out the videos. See what the pros are riding.
Consider the type of riding you are in to and just buy what they ride.
I know they are sponsored by their brand but the model of kite will suit that riding style you are talking about.


Thats my thinking also and its why im thinking mostly of the C kites, leaning to the Vegas as it seems like its the more forgiving one over the more hardcore Fuel.

That said my brother just invited me to a kite festival about 6 hours from where i live in a couple of weeks with some new kites coming out so ill be investing in a trip there. Hopefully i can find a good deal after demoing everything i can. Just want to get as much info as i can before deciding, unfortunately im one of those impulsive dudes that can never make op their mind if you got to many choices :)
Select to expand quote
HighzaKite said..
my advice on buying a new kite - if you don't know what you want then don't buy a new kite

what happened to new kites anyway tic



Good advice ye but i pretty much know what route i am taking now which is freestyle/wakestyle and lots of loop fun and need something that inspires confidence. The more i think about it, it seems to be the C kites. Bying used or 1-2 year old models for a good price though, the prices these days are just insane.

Other peoples views are always helpful to reinforce ones own :)

Thanks all.

Kozzie
QLD, 1451 posts
11 Jun 2016 10:50PM
Thumbs Up

trigen the wainmens you have been rideing are very blocky low aspect ratio kites. thats why they have that good depower and also why your not likeing how they are looping. what you need to effectively do is ween yourself onto a mid range AR kite.

so deflated right now your kites are a bit like squares.... now you dont want the super skinny long snake like the fuel but something inbetween maybe an rpm? the cab fx and chaos are also good and same with your vegas that you tried.

personally if i were you rideing boots learning some freestyle and wake etc i think you should go the rpm or chaos which ever you can get a better deal on honestly.

do yourself a bit of a favour have a little google on aerofoil aspect ratios and how altering that changes the performance of the aerofoil, its nice to see thru the marketing and heresay of some other goon

Puetz
NT, 2172 posts
11 Jun 2016 11:29PM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
Trigen said..
Hi

Since there are so many to choose from and my demo possibilities are quite limited i thought id ask here.

Im 35 around 65kg 143lbs and currently flying Wainman 3.0 10.5 punch and a 7.5mr green. What i like about the kites is that the power is generally nice and smooth. What i dont like is the way they loop, if the wind picks up a bit and im slightly OP the loop gets huge and they tend to just hit the water hard, even with the 7, it really dont inspire confidence.

The kites have good depower but the last 1/4 makes the kite really slow and unruly to control.

My style as it is today would be freestyle/wakestyle. I love riding with boots and tend to spin a lot. I also love the thrill of loops. Have to add that im just starting out with that but i see myself doing this most of the time, unhooked and loops.

Ive tried the Cab FX and Switchblade, like the FX. SW not so much, jumps and hangtime is great but not really my style.
Did a short session on the Vegas 2014 but to short to make any opinion on it. Could go either way.

Ive been looking at the Fuel but its hard to make up my mind on it. Can the Fuel it do a bit of everything not included waveriding?
How would the Rpm be compared?

Conditions 13 to 20 knots on average, 30+ in the winter
Any recommendations for a intermediate rider that wants:
Tight consistent loops
stable power delivery (i dont mind riding OP, can do my 17m core gts lw to 18-20 knots)
I dont want the bar pressure to be to high
i enjoy throwing the kite around.
wants huge boosts

I know just gotta test but hah, dont have the chance.

Thanks!


... Go to your nearest dealer,,,, do not go pass go, do not collect $2oo,,,, seriously, go to ya local dealer and ask them,,,, he ( or they ) will know what you need!!!!!!

dyyylan
72 posts
11 Jun 2016 10:45PM
Thumbs Up

The great thing about Fuels is you can pick them up rather cheap 2nd hand because their resale value is terrible, I ended up getting a quiver of 3 kites 13/9/7 and 2 bars for just over $1000 US, all in near mint condition. I paid more for one of the bars than I did for the 7m :D Maybe it is different in Norway though, there probably isn't as much c-kite action there.

If you just want to dedicate yourself to wakestyle, the kites really can't be beat if you have somewhat steady wind. But if it's a little gusty they are not as great -- they depower just fine by being pushed to the edge of the window but you'll tire yourself out faster having to edge harder. Not a big deal though. But if you are not 100% committed to throwing handle passes every session, I think there are other kites that you can do just as well on and they are generally more fun to ride and easier to handle in more conditions. One of the bridled C's like the RPM, FX, Dice are probably a better choice.

If you really want to commit to loops, c-kites are amazing for them, but tbh once I got fuels I stopped doing them because they are so scary haha, they pull really hard compared to something with pointy wingtips!

I'm currently riding the Switch Nitro. The new version feels very similar to the fuel to me, since it's kind of a similar shape and no pulleys on the bridles make it really direct. The kite generates power in a similar way, just with a lot more depower at the bar. Not nearly as much slack after the pop, but of course there are compromises with everything.

Trigen
10 posts
12 Jun 2016 3:41PM
Thumbs Up

Thanks guys, helps a lot

Seeing as pretty much everyone think the RPMs are great and in general you can get a lot better deal on those than the FX (i also hate the cab bars) that will be the most likely choice. Looking at some good deals on 2015 models. I think i will still end up with bying say a 9m C kite, the fuel perhaps if i want to keep one bar.

Any experience with other bars on the Slingshot, i got a Core sensor pro bar which is great for the changeable line lengths and bar length and the Wainman, High V and low V The slingshot bar looks quite good though so it might be worth the upgrade, just wish it had changeable width adjustment

Gonna be testing the Core Impacts and the new Core gts 4 coming out around the 20th at a kite festival real soon, very much looking forward to that, should be worth the 6 hour drive!

Trigen
10 posts
21 Jun 2016 5:04PM
Thumbs Up

Decided to go with the Core GTS4. Had a great session on my brothers GTS 3, that kite is like a rocket compared to my Wainmans. The light bar pressure is actually quite nice and i know where the kite is, + it helps the joint on a couple of fingers.

The distributor here will give me the GTS4 for what i believe is pretty close to his own cost. How he earns money i dont know, but its great for me. He also gives you a little for your old kites should you choose to hand them in. All in all a good deal. Should be said I've bought all my stuff with him so we have a good relationship.

Have a nice and windy day!

mypassingwind
VIC, 27 posts
25 Jun 2016 4:08AM
Thumbs Up

Select to expand quote
dyyylan said..
The great thing about Fuels is you can pick them up rather cheap 2nd hand because their resale value is terrible, I ended up getting a quiver of 3 kites 13/9/7 and 2 bars for just over $1000 US, all in near mint condition. I paid more for one of the bars than I did for the 7m :D Maybe it is different in Norway though, there probably isn't as much c-kite action there.

If you just want to dedicate yourself to wakestyle, the kites really can't be beat if you have somewhat steady wind. But if it's a little gusty they are not as great -- they depower just fine by being pushed to the edge of the window but you'll tire yourself out faster having to edge harder. Not a big deal though. But if you are not 100% committed to throwing handle passes every session, I think there are other kites that you can do just as well on and they are generally more fun to ride and easier to handle in more conditions. One of the bridled C's like the RPM, FX, Dice are probably a better choice.

If you really want to commit to loops, c-kites are amazing for them, but tbh once I got fuels I stopped doing them because they are so scary haha, they pull really hard compared to something with pointy wingtips!

I'm currently riding the Switch Nitro. The new version feels very similar to the fuel to me, since it's kind of a similar shape and no pulleys on the bridles make it really direct. The kite generates power in a similar way, just with a lot more depower at the bar. Not nearly as much slack after the pop, but of course there are compromises with everything.


Shhhhhhhhh !!!!!!

SaveTheWhales
WA, 1869 posts
25 Jun 2016 5:21AM
Thumbs Up

This bloke is definitely Female in a handbag store



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"Advice on new kites" started by Trigen