What is with the sonics. Had the 11 and 14 for more than four months and both have had issues. Starting with the 11, which was one of the first batch, wearing through to the bladder until patches were provided. Chicken loop falling apart at the eye bolt until a piece of string was provided. The stopper ball is useless. Now I've noticed that both the 11 and 14 have come unstiched on the leading edge. This isn't just my kites, there are four others that I know of personally. How much testing was done on these kites before being released on the market, obviously no more than a couple of months. I contacted the person I bought them from and he told me to get it stiched myself I'll give you a tip, I won't be buying any other globe kites. If that's their idea of service they can keep them and I'll keep the money, what a joke. The rate at which they're falling apart they wouldn't even last a season.

Sonics are made at the same factory as Best kites ... it will be interesting to see if they have the same leading edge problems on the Waroo after 6 months of use, as the leading edge construction seems the same.
At least Best has good customer service ... hope my Sonics hold up!

The sonic is failing always at the same spot, the LE in the shoulder, the apex of the wing sweep back. The problem is to much deforming of the LE, that's why the fabric is getting over stressed. It is a design problem, not a stiching problem the kite is deforming while de-powered. We have additional support in that area, the Waroo bridle has the additional LE support line, which prevents the deformation.

Is it possible to be proactive and stich over these areas before they blow out? That way you won't miss any days on the beach!
Does anyone have a pic of the area affected?

Kiterpilot, because the sonic and best are coming out of the same factory are they going to be stiched the same. Was thinking of ditching the sonics and going for the waroo, but I might wait to see if they are built any better. In reards to your post chinnok, I can just about guarantee yours will come unstiched. I have not seen one that hasn't. With the 'customer service' I'm getting for a crap product I'll tell anyone that will listen that they're exactly that - CRAP -

I have 54 hours on my Sonic 11 (I keep records. )

There is some fraying on the edges of the leading edge panels (the cross seams not the long whole LE seam), and a little bit of wear on the strut end wear pads.

The upgrade wear patches on the leading edge are pretty useless. I make my own out of a little mylar sail repair tape laminated to some normal sail tape and they work fine.

I put some locktite on the cleat bolt and the eye bolt and have had no trouble with that since.

Apart from those minor issues the kite is brilliant. The build quality on the sail and the struts are outstanding.

I agree that the upgrades provided by the manufacturer are a bit "agricultural" but when you get light bar pressure, simple bar setup, short tangle-free bridles, no inversions and $400 cheaper than the competition there is a lot to love about the Sonic.

Windburn, we have up'd our quality control over the last 12 months. We have place very stricked guide lines with the factory to ensure we have the finest product we think we can deliver. We look at things as closley as how many hours has the needles on each machine have on them, thats how anal we've become.

Hilly, please find where I have sledged off the sonic ?. Please find where I have been "upset" when someone speaks out or voices their opinion about BEST products ?.

My original reply was about dont give the retailer **** as things are not always as they seem?

"Early sonics had issues ", I have many friends who purchased early models while waiting for our's to be completed. They all commented on the same thing as you have pointed out.

I must admit that I like how these kites fly but I'm disappointed with the construction, and yes both of mine are the early models and I haven't seen or flown any new ones. On a second point this could not have come at a better time and I wonder if anyone else has had the same problem. Yesterday at Altona, witnessed by five others I used a BRAND NEW bar that came with the 14. As I use the 11 bar for both the 11 and 14 the bar that came with the 14 was never used, until yesterday. Anyway I set up and everything seemed fine, launched and headed to the water. As soon as the kite was in the power zone I heard a 'ping' and the kite was pulled from my hands and headed straight toward the road but was luckily saved by Darren. I looked down and the chicken loop was still attached to the spreader bar, as was the cleat, as was the centre line rope that attaches to the front lines. After closer inspection it appears that the rope stitching has seperated from the middle lines, or has snapped As I just wound it up and got out my 'old faithful' 11 bar and got straight back out I haven't had a closer look at how the rope is supposed to conect to the centre lines. The moral of the story is DON'T EVEN TRUST A BRAND NEW SONIC [}:)]

hilly what was your issue and who did you buy it from If I had issues that were solved I would gladly stick with globe as I like the performance of them. Know any one that wants to buy an 11 and 14. One female owner only flown on Sundays after church

quote:

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Originally posted by hilly

Kiterpilot - "they will not grant any warranty on the kites" "It is a design problem"
Funny I had a warranty issue addressed staight away and have no problems since.

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Hilly for your sake, I'm stoked you got yours under warranty, thats great. However I have heard this from my mates in Melb who use to own them and guys in Perth... But like I said, above dont always take it out on the retailer as there may be extenuating issues, even though under OZ law the retailer is to be responcible for these warranty claims.

Major LE failure it was one of the first in Australia with no patches replaced through Fulltilt and Stonker who were really positive.

The new kite is exceptional no problems and my kites have been up and down WA all summer I kite heaps, teacher so heaps of holidays and house in Lancelin, got the 8m as well which is by far the best kite I have used. 4 mates have them with no issues. Niggles yes mainly with the bar setup - bar is love or hate, I like the simplicity.

I only ride waves so my kites get a thrashing, had SS fuels before these and have trashed them in a season. Sonic is not as well finished obviously (cheaper kite) but is standing up well.

From what I can see the new chicken loop and patches solved the only serious issues which in my experience only effected the first run. Have a suspicion the LE material on the newer kites is slightly heavier weight too, can't prove that though just on feel.

The Best rep on kiteforum stated there was no issue with sonic build quality after the early glitches were ironed out answering query re built in same factory. Would love to post a link to the thread but can't find it again.

If you have issues talk to your retailer and the distributer rather than bash them on a forum.

hilly,

People have every right to express their opinion on issues they've had with their kites- jeez that's why forums are great!!! They show peole's opinions. Without these issues arising no one would know that there are ANY quality issues with earlier or later sonic models. I for one don't buy new, so seeing what might be wrong is valuable to any second hand buyer.

Mal

It takes time to fix some issues

St Kite

Sorry Windburn!!!! Just got off the phone to your doctor, I didn't know you had Paranoid Schizophrenia or in layman’s terms "Ego problems", hope you get well soon xxxx
Ps. if you need someone to talk to don't be afraid to ask.


LINKS
www.ihaveanegoproblem.com.au
www.paranoidkitesurfer.com
www.tasteslikechicken.bitch.au
www.windburnneedsahug.com

I have been contacted by the retailer, who unfortunately has been caugth in the middle, and has offered to foot the bill for the unstiched leading edge, out of his own pocket, and is replacing the bar which broke. He has even offered to try to convert it so the depower strap is above the bar so it can be adjusted whilst riding, which IMO is one of it's draw backs at the moment. I'm not sure exactly how it works, but when I get it back will post review. As I said this is out of the retailers pocket not Globe. If only he sold Best kites....