its a prick to relaunch from what i've seen. they are heavy

The Niash Torch is one of the best freestyle kites out there .
Easy relaunch once you learn how..
Nice stable predictable kite..
Heaps of depower..

SaveTheWhales said...


some kiters have gone soft and forgoten it takes about 20 seconds longer than bows/sle's

Those 20 seconds can make ALL the difference with a double overhead set bearing down on you.....but there again, unlikely that's where you'd use a Torch.

ridden torches for past 4 years & tried various others...

Best quality kite....PROBLEMS? NEVER had a problem (which speaks for itself) except once: after 2years of dropping it HARD from kiteloops/unhooked/bails etc & getting dragged by +6ft waves...the stiching came upart on small section of the LE & resulted in the bladder almost popping... BUT that is after A LOT OF RIDING in 2yrs...& when I crash....it's those fully powered 'rib-cracking close-your-eyes' kind of ones

BTW -jammerhead incorrect - obviously he has never tried relauncing himself. I've seen the best of us taking more than a couple minutes getting the kite back up. happens to everyone once in a while.
The Torch is easy as with the 5-th line.

It will last you the longest, keep you happier the longest & it won't be hard when you wanna upgrade 'cause everyone wants one...


U won't be dissapointed!

Why would you buy a torch when you can get a fuel that has a better bar, better inflation system and better quality layout and stiching??? and it probably cost less to.

Depends which bar you get you can get one that has the old style loop if you want so bearing isnt an issue.
The fuel bar itself i feel is a much better shape for gripping and unhooked riding, it is far less bulky and the ends are more streamlined and out of the rode. if you want to cut the fuel bar down it is also alot easier.
As for the layout the fuel i feel has a better structural layout and better placement of the struts, the leading edge is tripple stiched and double overlapped at joins which is not the case with the torch, i also feel that the cloth is of better quality as well from what i have seen but i cant be sure of that.

p.s. fuel flys on 4 lines.....

p.p.s. no octopussy system is the real winner though. Good luck being stuck with that nightmare.

Lazarus

The only bad think about Torch - especially small sizes is Octopus system. It works sweet until you have a leak in a tube and god forbid in a valve between leading edge and struts. It is a pain in the ar()se to figure out where you have leak as it might be that everything will seem to have leaks. Unless you are Vietnamese 14 year old girl smaller than a squirrel tail - there is no way you will be happy changing bladders. Your hands will not fit through.

Apart from that - Torch 1 was my first love and will always remain in my longing for a C heart. DONT LISTEN TO IDIO_TS saying that C variations from slingshot or any other currently available on the market C kites are better - what a total load of blubbering bollo c ks. Just because princess len10 is riding on them doesnt mean that they in any way superior. I bet you any money that all the grey kiting matter screaming slingyy slingyy are just afraid of the shear power or Torch....in a decent stylie loop. F16 9m in 25+knt - nothing exciting on a slingy but on a Torch - eeeehaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

i owned a torch once... it wasnt anything special just another C.

torches are losing power as each year goes by, 07 is where it was at, 08 lost it then 09 is like a bow in a c's body lolol.

i dont even ride slingshot.

common 2868 said...

and one more thing. If you don't know how to quickly relaunch 2, 4 or 5 line kites then I suggest you put on your warm and cosy slippers and sit with tea watch Top Gear or better - Neighbors cos you can't seriously consider yourselves kitesurfers. Yeah bows might relaunch faster than 2 and 4 lines but 5th line kites?? are you barking mad?

What drugs r u on? how many lines do bows have! 5 line kites need to fall on the backs before relaunch. Bows/hybrids/deltas, just pull outside line and up she goes.

Thanks for the responses. I rode Fuels in 04 and 05 through to 07, then Cabrinah (that was a mistake), now on Rev 2's, but everyone raves about the Torch and since I would like to move to a c (strapped surfboard in the waves) and I am not happy with the ss bars (although i believe the canopy construction is supreme), thought I might give the torch a go. I would probably keep my rev 2s for the moment any way.

I never hear anyone ever say anything bad about the torch - great depower and range with heaps of power - so I wanted to hear what the forum had to say. The relaunch should not be an issue. As with all kites, it is just technique and having riden fuels for so long, i guess I am used to it. Not having a 14 year old Vietnamese girl available for bladder changes is a concern, but perhaps one can make a plan.

I am sure the Fuels are great, but I am inclining to the Torch and will probably demo them head to head to see which i like.

yes.

sir ROWDY said...

sounds to me like you already knew what u wanted.

well sort of, but before I buy I want to know the problems. Riding 2009 Rev2s at the moment and I have had some issues with the bar, but had such good kiting today (hollow, glassy 6 footers with steady 15-18 knts cross, slightly off) and yesterday and when those Rev's sing, boy do they sing! I changed the setting on the 9 today (more responsive, more bar pressure) and the kite was quicker and better for me and the bar pressure was not a problem. So didn't go pick up the torch demo. Will post if/when I compare torch/Fuel.

It is amuzing to hear everybody pimp their kites, like 10 year olds - pointless BS.

The fact is that there are premium brands (A) and there are B-, C-category brands. Like in every other industry in the world. Also the fact that nothing last forever, everything degrades in time - it just depends in what conditions you ride and how you ride it. I have seen bladders explode, bars broken, ripped and teared kites from almost all major brands on the market. No need to talk this childish BS.

I personally think that the construction of all major kite brands is very good. They use the same materials and almost the same tehniques putting kites together. Many companies even to their manufacturing in the same factories.


There is no doubt that Naish is a premium brand, with 30 years of experience and riders input backing it up. From my point of view Naish has upgraded the kites constructions every year, adding some reinforcements and additions.

Strut construction 2009



Construction of Naish kites is very good and their investments in R&D, innovation give you upgrades that really make difference. I personally buy only premium brand kites, because i know that in doing so i help to keep the R&D and innovation going in the sport. I'm not saying that cheaper brands are bad, but they copy they don't innovate.

Nothing is wrong with Torches, PERIOD.

The fact is that - Torch is probably one of the most perfected and tested C-kites on the market.


So i suggest you try it out.

Lazarus said...

Thanks for the responses. I rode Fuels in 04 and 05 through to 07, then Cabrinah (that was a mistake), now on Rev 2's, but everyone raves about the Torch and since I would like to move to a c (strapped surfboard in the waves) and I am not happy with the ss bars (although i believe the canopy construction is supreme), thought I might give the torch a go. I would probably keep my rev 2s for the moment any way.

Sounds like you already have it sussed out, I have heard the smaller torches work well for surfstyle although I havn't had a chance to try one yet, Reo seems to have it sorted out and rips on them.

Another one to consider could be the Airush Generator, especially if you want to unhook which I would assume is your main reason for going back to a C? Go as small as possible and you'll have heaps of fun.

Thanks
Matt