they were a decent and good kite to learn on.......but in 2005. compared to a kite these days........probably a very difficult kite. if you are learning, then u are going to make your life a lot more difficult. which is probably why you wouldnt get $10 bucks on ebay for it.
never flown the diesel but they where a more entry level kite than the 05 fuel which was an awesome kite in its day. If you have never flown a c-kite give it a go and experience what kiting was like before it went gay. The diesel was hardly a kite of death - very mild mannered compared to the fuel
Ill go against the crowd and say they actually were a good kite, except they had very little depower. I would just modify the bar to have a little more sheet out to give it a little more range.
The 9m 05 fuel/diesel is a **** hot kite. If you are a kook who needs to be wrapped in cotton wool, forget it. If you want a hard pulling, fast turning weapon, then get on it in 20/26 knots and you'll have a ball. The weak link of these kites is the valves coming unstuct from the bladders. Chuck in a backup kite just incase.
i probably have a 2002/3? cabrinha C02 under the house you can have if you really want to make your life difficult (2 or 4 line option if you really want to go nostalgic) or F%#k yourself right up!!
Pair it up with a directional solid epoxy stonker 5 fin (someone gave the yellow 4 fin a burial at sea when the wind died and then went offshore and away it went) just in case the cab doesn't maim you the then the stonker surely will ...
i am surprised no-one rode one of the original five fins in the leighton bash...heavy ,fast and near impossible to turn without catching an edge (early course racing board?)
the diesel was slower/country cousin to the fuel both good in their day... Launch with a friend
@ Prawnhead - a burial at sea... i like to think the yellow Stonker washed up somewhere and is now in a happy place. Like when I was a kid and my cat went to the 'cat nursing home'
I think we still have some in stock :) AN they were a wicked kite in there day :) An I liked them better then the turbo diesel.. Did you say what size?? AN what weight rider ability you were?
We so need an old school comp have to ride a kite 03 or older but modified with a safety added..
I had a couple of them in a 7, 9 and 13m. Thought they were awesome kites.
Plenty of grunt, turned fast but did lack some depower. Didn't bother me though as I just got used to depowering the kite with my board rather than a pully!!
The Slingshot Turbo Diesel was crap. I don't know anything about the Diesel.
