I rode a 12 RPM the other day.. very nice kite... seems like a very small 12.. go the 12-8 option the 8-10 is way to close..

Im in the same boat....

had a 9m REV last year, but i am wanting both more top and bottom end for this season, so its a two kite quiver for me. (im 75kgs and ride a 132tt)

I have had a 8m RPM for a couple of months now and had it out in some of the stronger winter fronts, love it. So stable in the gusts, heaps of power in the turns, the SS chart for me is pretty spot on with it at 18-30 knots, however it did seem though it could handle more than 30. It has lost a couple of knots over the 9m rev as you would imagine.

I know im mixing my quiver(I ride the RPM on the setting most like the REV) but for the lighter days i ended getting a 11rev2, I'm hoping that i should be able to get out in around 14-15. I didnt get to try the 12RPM but quite a number of people have said that the lower end is not great, and since its the reason i'm buying it, it didnt make much sense.
I also dont want to be stuck on the 12 in the lighter seabreezes (17-19) when i will be under powered on the 8m.

I have 12,10, and 8 RPMs, only weigh 65kg but where I kite is not as consistently windy as Perth in the summer. The low-end difference between the 12 and 10m is tiny, 2 knots at most. I hardly ever use the 12m, the smaller RPMs are way more dynamic and fun.

If I lived in Perth and could only have two kites I would personally go 10/8 or 10/6 if I went to Geraldton or Margaret River heaps. The 8m is an awesome kite with a huge wind range.

I forgot to say that these kites are very adjustable. I can't decide whether wake-style actually improves the low-end or simply makes it feel more grunty. My personal preference is wakestyle on the 12m and probably the 10m, and free-style on the 8m.

You have to be really aggressive in light winds and throw the kite around. It's not like a bow kite where you want to keep things as still & steady as possible when it's light.

Simon

Thanks for the replies.

50% of my kiting is late afternoon after work, so I need a small kite. Then on weekends I dont want to have to sit around until the wind hits 18-20kts.

Anyone else from W.A have a 12m?

10m and 8m just feel to close together for me but only caught the very end of summer in WA last year.

85kg
Strapless 6'2" surfboard unhooking
8m - 10m combo
Extremely stable and predictable kite , which gives you confidence to push your self in what ever you do, whether you ride twintip or surfboard . Keen to try a 6m on 22knots pls days.

I ride a 12m RPM and 136 Misfit and at 88kgs I need at least 15 knots to get it going but has a great top end. Not that I really got to test the top end much this season as it was very average year for us

As for relaunch, pull a steering line and up she comes, extremely simple and effective!!