NEO 7m Wave Kite - Review (Quick Test first ride feedback)

Ok so i was interested to try the latest Wave kites out and so I popped into Action Sports where they stock. Slingshot, Duotone, Ozone and Core Kites. So I have road tested the SST Slingy and also the Nexus quite extensively. It was time due to popular demand to get the NEO in the air.

About me- I have a Dad bod around 95kg and still hate long walks on the beach. I ride Perth year round and outa town for last 10 years mostly on surfboards unstrapped and can go upwind.

So I get the 7m NEO from Action Sports (oops forgot to drop back that demo board again loops.dang puppy doggin me I will prob end buying it lucky I don't have a mrs to kick my ass for incidental buys)

Wind is light should prob be on a 9m (15KN gusting to 16kn)
The Pump up - You really notice the high visibility colours which is great if you are like that guy who got lost off coronation overnight because the kite is so bright they can see you from space. Moving right along.construction as you would expect from North fk I mean dildo tone is superb. There is something tricky going on with the 2 way pump valve but it inflates quickly. Theres scuff pads and enough grab handles to go hang gliding but all good.

Got to say this click bar is a neat toy.very tidy with the lines but I am dyslexic trying to use it the first time. Again market leading engineering going on here. The bar throw felt very close on the beach but seems not an issue when riding. Good for short arm fokkas anyhoo.

Hows She FLY??
Been watching the NEO in the air for a while seeing what it does so I was keen to feel it for myself. First impression is WOW this is smooth and low end grunt I am gliding across the wave faces with smooth power on tap. Remember I am 95Kg on a 7m in 15 knots. I can see why James Carew is loving the NEO you can turn off its power base at all times. Its reminding me of the Lithium. A refined delta style power with perfect pitch in the window. (as in it doesn't fly to far forward or to deep in the window either. Full respect to the kite designer here they have nailed what this kite should do. Most good wave kites were born from beginner kites that were smooth and not volatile and this fits the bill easy. Turning speed isn't fast or slow.but very smoooooth. With this style kite you don't need whippiness because power delivery is smooth and constant which means less kite flying and more surfboard rail in the water. So that's all good!!

What's there to complain about ??? My only slight whinge on this is there's a slight stall when changing directions on this kite similar to the SST but its more than manageable.

NOTES - Also I think you would want to ride 1-2m down on your normal kite coz this thing will get powered quick. Look its going to suit bigger riders with anger management issues (don't worry we have plenty down winding in WA). Its got a nice steady float characteristic also so if like the DUO WHIP team you like ariel acrobatics you will be happy with the Zeplin like float you get while trying tricks. It really married up nicely with the 5'2 Whip too. Its like that board responds perfectly to the smooth pull of the kite..more than Nexus. Didn't try unhooked but being more Delta style its prob not its strong suit. I will kite this some more and try the bigger sizes but I can imagine not touching anything over 9-10m.

Drift 8.5/10
Construction 9/10
Upwind 8.5/10
Responsiveness 8.5/10
Turning on Wave 9/10
Ease of use 10/10
Low End 10/10
Wind Range TBA

Conclusion- I am impressed beyond expectation I kinda wanted to bag this kite for some reason but I can see why NEO users all rave about their kites. I would too. It could be the best Plug and Play wave kite for ease of use Entry level through to expert progression. Hats off to the designers and road testers at Dildo Tone....its impressive. I didn't try it in cross on shore wind yet but you can tell it would really suit variable conditions/low wind /gusty crap. Good for off season or variable east coast locales.

KEY WORD is smooth like Chef from south park (MUst Watch)


PS. Will be on the OZONE REO next can't wait to get a feel for this kite and then will probably get a head to head review up just breaking out the differences between these kites. On any given day you can Froth on one of these kites..we are so lucky now that the designs are so good.


Disclaimer- Before any of the Peanuts on here start on about sales and bla bla bla. I choose to support local businesses that have been positive advocates for the kite community. AND YOU SHOULD TOO these guys have been doing it tough in the retail space so I won't apologise for giving our retailers props.

How did it compare to the Nexus?

Need to fly a 7 in more conditions than just 15 knots for a meaningful review but good read nonetheless for what's it worth

CJ2478 said..
How did it compare to the Nexus?

See below CJ for quick answer...I will do a more in depth review of the kites back to back once I have tried the 9m also and also the REO.

You lost me at "click bar" Andre....

As it seems your kiting preference appears to be strapless SB in waves, have you or do you plan to review RRD kites, in particular the Religion.

No doubt, with my limted downwinders, the RRD Religion is about the most prevelant kite I see being flown

My interest comes from being a heavier rider (100kg's dry weight), I recall your SST review recommended riding a kite size up.

For the Neo in this review, you are recommending a kite size or two down. I do struggle to be able to fly anything smaller than a 10 metre even around 18 to 20 knots, so I seems I miss out on the quicker turning surf/wave oriented kites.

I was interested to hear in your opinion, when you felt the Neo has low end power simialr to a Lthium, which seems what I need, so it would be good to see another option, say between the Neo and another brand ie: Religion.

I do accept my riding style may have alot to do with things as I cants switch feet yet, ride a wave natural footed and in Perth DW's need to ride out toeside, which for me is very power hungry.

There must be a reason why I personally see more RRD' on downwinders than any other make??

davinchi said..

AndreC said..
What's there to complain about ??? My only slight whinge on this is there's a slight stall when changing directions on this kite similar to the SST but its more than manageable.

I just tried a 2018 neo 6 and noticed some over exaggerated back-stalling... the problem disappears with correct trimming but really did require more trimming tha i have ever noticed or needed in my limited experience (gastraa pure/spark and naish slash/pivot). At the time i was using a naish torque bar with 24m lines however friends north click bar showed similar back-stall characteristics.

- wondering if this is a feature? or problem with the neo?
- would a north trust bar with 22m lines potentially reduce the difference noticed from a naish torque bar with 24m lines?

Yes there is a slight stall at the top of the turn which I mentioned but yes trimmed wrong could become more like back stalling. I dont think the line length would have mattered much on this kite. Some kites it does affect more like when I put shorter lines on a REO it didnt like it. But my old lithium on 20m lines was best ever. I would 100% was a tuning issue as the 7m i flew was very stable.

davinchi said..

AndreC said..
What's there to complain about ??? My only slight whinge on this is there's a slight stall when changing directions on this kite similar to the SST but its more than manageable.

I just tried a 2018 neo 6 and noticed some over exaggerated back-stalling... the problem disappears with correct trimming but really did require more trimming tha i have ever noticed or needed in my limited experience (gastraa pure/spark and naish slash/pivot). At the time i was using a naish torque bar with 24m lines however friends north click bar showed similar back-stall characteristics.

- wondering if this is a feature? or problem with the neo?
- would a north trust bar with 22m lines potentially reduce the difference noticed from a naish torque bar with 24m lines?

I've been riding a 2018 6m neo on 22m trust bar for over 18 months and can't say I have ever noticed back stalling. Not even really sure what it is to be honest! I almost never use the trim adjustment now unless wind is super strong like over 35 knots. The kite does respond a bit less crisply the more it is trimmed, but doesnt matter if you are in survival mode winds.

When does it back stall? Is this like slack lining when you over run the kite down a wave?

Cheers

Gave the new v5 7 and 9 to a dedicated wave rider who rides neos
His words, it shidts all over the neo for riding waves, it allows you to ride like a surfer or as close as possible, he wished he'd had them on his gnaraloo trips, one thing I noticed is size difference visually, he reckoned he'd go with a 1-2 mtr bigger option if changing so certainly take that into account especially if your a bigger bloke

That's a line Tuning issue. Not the kite.

eppo said..
That's a line Tuning issue. Not the kite.

good to know... cheers!

eppo said..
click bar is a great bit of gear actually...(I to was very cynical for a very long time)....its been true tried and tested by now. great to change trim on the fly as you hit a wave..even on the wave.

Hey eppo walk we through this one mate - why do you need to "click" to adjust trim on a wave? Doesnt pulling the bar in /out do that in a much more straightforward way??

Unless maybe you are a midget and can't set up enough easy to reach throw I just don't get it?

Bara said..

eppo said..
click bar is a great bit of gear actually...(I to was very cynical for a very long time)....its been true tried and tested by now. great to change trim on the fly as you hit a wave..even on the wave.

Hey eppo walk we through this one mate - why do you need to "click" to adjust trim on a wave? Doesnt pulling the bar in /out do that in a much more straightforward way??

Unless maybe you are a midget and can't set up enough easy to reach throw I just don't get it?

Well ... obviously you can increase the back line tension easily to get back up to the mark, can do that with a normal trim but this is very quantified.

Just before wave let it out easily, and if the wave is long enough you may find you need a bit more or less to hit a certain section well

. Some breaks we hit have wind shadows in certain points and also there may be a small section of no surf then it reforms.

All this dan be done witnout reaching up and all is quantified.

Also helps people with Tyrannosaurus rex arms ...

but yeh I'm only shooting the **** really so fair call on the question.

The only criticism I have of the bar is when looping a lot down the line then with sharp turns that square plastic depower line can stick a bit.

On the thread question ....reckon if you are a really active kite flyer in the waves and you want to also really really shut off power quickly then I'd go the Reo myself.

Also if you are wave riding right at the margins of wind power and you need your kite to stay in the air in critical sections I'd go the Reo to ... its a very very light kite like all ozone kites.

Which make them such great foiling kites to.

Had a kite yesterday on the NEO and Nexus back to back.. that was good ....got a real nice snap shot of each kite to compare. Will update review later this week. Then demo the REO when I get time.

Weta said..
After dropping some serious coin on a bar you'd have to justify your purchase to yourself and everyone else.

I choose what i think is the right kite for the conditions and dont adjust the trim. That's my personal preference.

I don't own nor have a bought a click bar if that is what you are saying. I've just used the bar over time and I'm just relating what I've found and what I've heard from those that I know can actually ride.

And yeh Weta I'm the same re trim... it's flat out or flat out, but the mechanism of the click bar does allow fluid and easy trim change. That's a fact. Let's stick to the facts shall we rather than personal preferences that no one really gives a Fck about.

My boy enjoyed it for freestyle as well for the same reason and he has bloody short arms.

yeh ya probably right... that's all that matters...