Just thought I'd pass on my thoughts of a newbie on the 2 kites.

I bought a new 11m 2012 Rebel used it about 14 times. Liked the kite and got up and riding pretty easy. I was sold on the safety of the 5th line and believe its a good thing. I self launch it in the water as ride a Weyba on the sunny coast and there is no beach.

What I didnt like was often the lines would get hooked around the upper bauble where the bridle was closest to the kite. I always felt it was a weak point as the lines were chaffing. This wouldnt be a problem launching off the beach but was present in my situation.
Ultimately i launched last week and it got twisted and i should of ditched but didnt and the line parted. Partly my fault but also i feel a design fault.

I decided then and there I didnt want a 5 line kite and traded it for a 11m Bandit.

Im really happy with the bandit. No more tangles but it also turns faster, is also easier to launch, has more power. I was definitely going for depower where i wouldnt of been on the rebel. The only down side would be I say it was slightly harder to go upwind, but I think this is because it had more lift and power. Funny because i would or ridden the rebel fully powered in another 5 to7 knots fully powered and not had a drama.

Both good kites but i feel the bandit is better.

A bit off topic, but D133ta, what size Reos are you getting? And how much do you weigh? I want to cover the entire wind range, and trying to avoid having to buy 4 sizes.

I am almost praying that the 2014 Reo will add some odd sizes so I can go 6/9/12 or something similar. I think I prefer a larger gap in my kite sizes. More than 2m that is.

Dl33ta said..

Interesting, I had been looking at the Bandits for a bit, they look pretty well made. They are lower aspect than the Rebel which probably explains the lack of upwind and more pull. The five line thing is something I go back and forwards on, when its windy and I'm along the beach trying to self land I love it. When I stack it with a following current and the kite wants to roll itself into a bow tie, I hate it.

I'm going to go to Reo's this season but I reckon I'll keep the Rebel's. The 9m is an awesome bit of kit when the wind is right on the TT and I've trashed my 11m so much I'd be too embarrassed to sell it to anyone.

I like the term 'bowtie' Dl33ta, you should patent it. I took my brand new 12m rebel out last weekend and made a pretty bowtie out of it. Ensure you (over? - see other thread on kite pressure) inflate it to a good pressure seems to reduce the risk of the bowtie. But sometimes, when it's your turn, its your turn.

My old 4 line was much more forgiving than the rebel 5 line. Doesn't seem to be an issue on 'normal' days when everything goes right, but crappy gusty days seem a little more challenging/gives one chance to practice their swimming and kite towing...

Dl33ta said..
... Usually though if you make sure your kite is moving when its in the 11-2 zone it won't happen at all...sometimes though ya just forget

Yeah, I hear that. Got caught out both times with my new kites... I guess I was taking it more slowly than I would normally. It's the same, incidentally, with mountain biking. When you're new and riding over the rough stuff, you tend to go slow, so you hit every bump, down every ditch...

I've been watching more or less every kiteboarding dvd out there, I just want to get out there again!

My kite is still a little wet from it's last outing so can't wait to air it...