I had a sb2 for about a year and loved it, I flew a demo sb3 for a session and found it to be different but not majorly different. I found there to be slightly less bar pressure and slightly better turning ability but I think the Switchblade has very little to improve on. We'll see what the sb4 brings but much like the Fuel, i think Cabrinha has a spot on product that they will struggle to improve on from year to year.

If you can get a cheap second hand sb2 in good condition, I personally would go for it. Especially when the sb4 comes out, you should be able to get a 2 for a good price.

SB3...good fabric.

........... but they do have a "seam" of stitching which runs across the canopy about 1ft in from the trailing edge, this was not on the SB2 and it does make the canopy look like it is being stretched in an obscure way. Could this be what he is refering to.

they do have a tendency to tear down the second strut from the leading edge [sb2 and xbow2] my xbow2 had this happen and the sail maker said that this is very common. it cost me $140 to fix and i had the le reenforced so it wouldn`t happen again.a week after i split my kite i saw a rev do the same thing .
don`t let this put you of though they are awsome kites and if your buying one second hand you won`t loose out on resale anyway.

good answers to choose frommaybe i have made a choice which is the sb2..i wouldn't worry about the fabric anyways and bar pressure and all..i have a weird way of connecting the lines and here is it without the kite ever touching the ground and water well 80% of the time: i've taught a local pedicab driver to be a kite tender and since i have mostly flat kites, we lay the lines down opposite first then pump the kite up on grass and ping it with my fingers till it reaches a peak sound then i know it's just right invert it let it fly on the wind till we get to the end of the lines and while he is holding the kite i attach the lines and doesn't put it into launch position till i tell him..as for landing he catches it the normal way and immediately inverts it unto the wind and i wind the lines towards him and put on grass, seems odd but for 2yrs. now the leading edge seems to be still in very good conditionthanks mates why go sb3 now when the sb2 is being tendered for 350us$ regards....

The SB3 is a little lighter and stronger. It has one less pulley per side on the bridle. It is a little less stall prone and has a little bit better bottom end. It is a little more powerful and has slightly less top end.

The LE seams are folded under in the outer third so the fabric is less likely to catch on the ground and fray. The SB2 seams are all flat and can fray a little.

The SB3 has neoprene clip covers and little leaders to keep the pulleys properly aligned.

When you use the SB3 the difference at first is subtle but the more you use it the more you notice how much better it is than the SB2.

I would happily buy a used SB2 but the SB3 is better.