12m lithium versus 12m Bandit V

Enable JavaScript to get the best experience.

Create new topic

Search Subscribed Active Create new topic

> 10 years ago

General Gear Reviews Newbies The Hookup Foiling Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

eppo

9793 posts

eppo

WA, 9793 posts

22 Jul 2012 9:30am

Hey guys your help for my light wind post has restored my faith, just brilliant feedback.

I have narrowed it down to these two kites. (although I am considering the 14m TRX on the side).

Has anyone used these two kites or even one of them?

Interested in low and top end as well as throw fast they both turn.

They have similar DNA and I have already worked out the flying idiosyncrasies of both.

Appreciate this specific feedback, again awesome help on the light wind post, heaps of help.

Eppo

mc

NSW

357 posts

NSW, 357 posts

22 Jul 2012 10:37pm

bandit 5, smooth delivery of power , predictable, drifts well, very like a ss RPM with far better low end in the 12, turns slightly faster than the rpm, build quality like an SS , i.e. the best on the market , find a post that says there rubbish, (you won't) .

Sorry only flown this kite out of the 3 mentioned but have a trx, haven't flown it yet as its been rubbish wind (although it's also a 17).

I spent ages playing between the rally 12, rpm 12 and just couldn't get the right kite that offered the feel of a c with the low end I needed as im 87kg, the bandit 5 solved all my concerns and yes I tried it after someone on this site spent allot of time explaining why it's such a good kite.

Please no negative pimp posts after this, eppo has asked a question, ive provided an answer, if you want to abuse this post think again before wasting readers time

suimike

QLD

45 posts

suimike

QLD, 45 posts

22 Jul 2012 11:03pm

Bandit V was the worst kite I flew this season. Slow turning, lots of bar pressure. Strongly advise to test fly one before buying. I couldn't believe how **** this kite was. Really hope for F1's sake that there was something wrong with the kite I tested… Bandit 4 however was a nice kite.

eppo

9793 posts

eppo

WA, 9793 posts

22 Jul 2012 9:04pm

Cheers MC, I have heard very similar stories from a number of different sources so I can vouch that your comments on the Bandit are not BS at all. Infact i have been very surprised at how consistent they have been and how most of them were in the same boat. Wanted a c feeling kite but needed some decent bottom end. Yeh I noticed they are right up their in price as well.

MC i know why you made that comment about people giving you sh1t about the post, but I have been remarkable impressed with the last post I made, really civil, really informative and I hope useful for others.

Let's hope this continues.

So to repeat, your argument are extremely consistent with 6 other sources (one person i know personally and trust), must be something in it. Yeh the Bandit is the front runner right now.

Spoke to soon it seems ^. LOL. The other 7 guys must be wrong hey! They all commented on the fast turning to...lol

mc

NSW

357 posts

NSW, 357 posts

22 Jul 2012 11:16pm

eppo

i dont write much on here any more as you get some strange attacks for being
honest , ive kited for 10 years and flown many kites , i liked the bandit V that much i bought 2 more, i now have a 12 , 10, 8 with the 17 trx.
its funy last time someone on here said the bandit was rubbish i asked them to re check it was a bandit 5 they were talking about, sure enough it wasnt it was a bandit 4. very different kite .

like they always say try before you buy but for me it works, i only fly in waves , i dont use my TT any more and i need bottom end as im not so light .

it fits the bill in all the areas for me .

good luck.
look on international e bay ive just seen a few on there , kite only for a grand , most sizes , the bar is $300 ish.

by the way , if you have trouble the importer is amazing , ive just ordered a new 6 foot board with them as there are none here in oz at the moment , fantastic customer service , contact M8 in queensland , Mat posts all the reviews on the bandit 5, he is a fantastic rep for f one.

VB MAN

1156 posts

VB MAN

1156 posts

22 Jul 2012 10:11pm

Lithium. Straight out of the bag and go for it.
Hey Eppo, have you ever had a prob with Airush ???

eppo

9793 posts

eppo

WA, 9793 posts

22 Jul 2012 10:41pm

mc said...

eppo

i dont write much on here any more as you get some strange attacks for being
honest , ive kited for 10 years and flown many kites , i liked the bandit V that much i bought 2 more, i now have a 12 , 10, 8 with the 17 trx.
its funy last time someone on here said the bandit was rubbish i asked them to re check it was a bandit 5 they were talking about, sure enough it wasnt it was a bandit 4. very different kite .

like they always say try before you buy but for me it works, i only fly in waves , i dont use my TT any more and i need bottom end as im not so light .

it fits the bill in all the

good luck.
look on international e bay ive just seen a few on there , kite only for a grand , most sizes , the bar is $300 ish.

by the way , if you have trouble the importer is amazing , ive just ordered a new 6 foot board with them as there are none here in oz at the moment , fantastic customer service , contact M8 in queensland , Mat posts all the reviews on the bandit 5, he is a fantastic rep for f one.

Funny enough that's who I am talking to. Rather stay at least in aus if I could support the Aussie retailer and all that. Although I am aware of the international deals going on. Have been talking to them as well.

eppo

9793 posts

eppo

WA, 9793 posts

22 Jul 2012 10:47pm

VB MAN said...

Lithium. Straight out of the bag and go for it.
Hey Eppo, have you ever had a prob with Airush ???

No I haven't VB man hence why I now fly the varial X sweet machine, seems to have so many diferent dimensions to it But my criteria for a bigger kite is pretty specific and the bandit seems to stack up. Looked at every review possible on the Internet and spoke to many people as well. Just about every retailer in Australia and quite a few international ones. very thorough, maybe over zealous some may say. Couldn't go wrong with the lithuim for sure, but th ebandit ticks more boxes for my specific need me thinks.

One thing I have found is that airush is as tight a a proverbial nuns you know what with their distribution. Real 20th century sh1t, they gotta ease up and get into the 21 st century man.

eppo

9793 posts

eppo

WA, 9793 posts

23 Jul 2012 3:34pm

I need to clarify my comments above.

The actual airush dealers have been nothing short of really helpful when it came to advice. I am talking about their adopted mode of distribution(airush) although take into account this comes from a pretty naive perspective.

gcdave

534 posts

gcdave

534 posts

23 Jul 2012 4:01pm

I can't comment on the lithium personally, but i think MC has hit the nail on the head with the bandit V. Sweet kite, and far from being slow. B4 has more bar pressure then the b5, and the 4's turn slower compared to 5's same size. More lower end on the 4, but a more upwind on the 5'. Big step up power wise from the 11's to 12's on both years.

Confused? Go demo a bandit

suimike

QLD

45 posts

suimike

QLD, 45 posts

23 Jul 2012 9:44pm

Just because the other 7 guys own a bandit does not mean they are right… This is my personal opinion and I only wanted to share it as I was really not impressed. (I also have no association with any brand). Other kites I have tried this year: Evo, Rebel, P-Series, Torch, Park.
Let me clarify the slow turning: I tested a 12m Bandit 5 in +- 15kn. The kite might turn reasonably quick once it actually starts turning. I found that the kite responds very slowly. The bar response is very linear which means it's hard to feel the kite. If you pull hard enough the kite might turn/pivots actually thigh (which leads to a quick turn –not fast turn). Call me what you want but this kite does definitely not have much C feel.
All that said the kite has a lot of power for its size and a good bottom end. Maybe I was a bit harsh but I just got a bit too excited after MC comment. When I tested the kite I had no opinion about the kite and was truly excited to test. After 30min I had to come in and pump up my kite. Enough said: try it and let me know what you think.

eppo

9793 posts

eppo

WA, 9793 posts

23 Jul 2012 7:48pm

suimike said...

Just because the other 7 guys own a bandit does not mean they are right… This is my personal opinion and I only wanted to share it as I was really not impressed. (I also have no association with any brand). Other kites I have tried this year: Evo, Rebel, P-Series, Torch, Park.
Let me clarify the slow turning: I tested a 12m Bandit 5 in +- 15kn. The kite might turn reasonably quick once it actually starts turning. I found that the kite responds very slowly. The bar response is very linear which means it's hard to feel the kite. If you pull hard enough the kite might turn/pivots actually thigh (which leads to a quick turn –not fast turn). Call me what you want but this kite does definitely not have much C feel.
All that said the kite has a lot of power for its size and a good bottom end. Maybe I was a bit harsh but I just got a bit too excited after MC comment. When I tested the kite I had no opinion about the kite and was truly excited to test. After 30min I had to come in and pump up my kite. Enough said: try it and let me know what you think.

Yeh fair enough, interestingly the kiteboarder reviews did comment on this, 'stall' before the turn. I think that is what you are referring to. Thanks for the clarification.

Addikt

553 posts

Addikt

WA, 553 posts

23 Jul 2012 8:10pm

Eppo, I have flown the B4 this year and the thing I liked most about it was the bar feedback and the force that it rips you off the water I like to ride powered up, if the B5 "I have not tested yet" has lighter bar pressure it might it be a bit kinder on the elbows but most reviews indicate it still has the mega boost just slightly different timing.

As with all kites you need to have a good session and decide if you want to adjust your riding to the feel of the kite most times you have to get it dialed in a bit. Some kites just feel good straight off the bat but then if they do, they normally feel similar to the kite you are used to flying so then you need to test the boost, float turning speed and relaunch etc to see if the other characteristics are better and worth moving to.

Oh and they are so forgiving even when you stall them they float back into the window even after you have gone under the kite.........

eppo

9793 posts

eppo

WA, 9793 posts

24 Jul 2012 7:59am

Yeh sound like they put a bit of race in the B5, more forward flying characteristics which always take a better technique to jump, but if you get it right you boost. My rebel was so easy to boost, floaty big jumps. The high performance VX I'm riding now takes good flying technique but the rewards are outstanding. Some kites a plug and play, others require you to use all your experience to actually fly them, but as I said what you get back is outstanding and it also tells you when you don't get it right!

alex6681

NSW

7 posts

alex6681

NSW, 7 posts

24 Jul 2012 2:10pm

In light wind the weight of the kites make a huge difference,,check the weight..the heavier kites will fall out of the sky and your are dead..get a lighter kite and you will have mush better chance of generating your own power in supper light and gusty conditions...happy kiting.

Please Register, or first...

Topics Reply