Power Kite Forum

just can't choose

jannen - 3-9-2009 at 01:32 AM

Hi guys,

I'm new here on the forum, so I guess I'll introduce myself first.

I'm Jan, 20yo, and from belgium. :wee:
(So don't mind faulty spelling or words)

My question: Witch one to choose?

PL Hornet 3.0
PL Twister 3.0
Pl viper 2.6
HQ beamer IV 3.0

My experience: years of flying delta sports, and about a year of flying a 2.0 2-line powerkite.

I find it very hard to make a decision! :sniff:

Krohn1999 - 3-9-2009 at 03:03 AM

It all dependes on what you want to do: Buggy, MTB, Jumping?

How far from Calias, France do you live?
We will be there from the 11th till the 13th. If you want you could try several diffrent kites out.

furbowski - 3-9-2009 at 04:15 AM

I've not flown these but I've heard enough about them to tell you a little about each one.

They're all good kites.

the beamer is THE beginner favorite on this forum, there are even folks who have since moved on to the water and thoe bigger kites but keep upgrading their beamers when a new one comes out. Very high approval rating. It's a very well made kite targeted specifically at beginners.

The three kites from peter lynn are all ok for beginners, but the hornet is best for those starting out, and it has a solid following. It's the most stable and least lifty.

the viper is a traction kite with a bit more speed in the profile and a bit more lift, but not so stable (only by comparision with the hornet, as far as all kites in this size range it's still one of the more stable.)

the twister is, I believe, peter lynn's liftiest fixed bridle kite. It's quite stable for a lifty kite, but no where near as stable as the viper and the others.

whatever you want to do with your kites long-term you want to get the stable kites. If you know you are going into buggying you might go for the viper, as it's the one most aimed at buggying.

But if your ambitions are more general the beamer and the hornet remain your top picks. the twister I wouldn't recommend for a first kite, the combination of speed and pull it has is best in bigger kites, in the smaller sizes it can be quite dangerous.

but to emphasize: I have not flown these, so the above is general information only -- pilots of those kites PLEASE add you impression and yes if needed corrections!!!

acampbell - 3-9-2009 at 04:53 AM

Furbs has it right, but I will amplify just a few things.

The Hornet and Beamer are both good starters. The Hornet has an aspect ratio of 3.0 and the Beamer 3.5. so the Hornet will be e bit smoother in gusty winds and the Beamer might leap off the ground sooner in lighter winds. But the designs are so similar that this difference will be subtle and maybe not noticed by the first-timer.

The Viper is an entry level buggy engine- low lift overhead and more speed through the window down low.

The Twister is meant for lift overhead and is great for recreational static flying or for a land board, but should be approached with some caution as a first traction kite, just because of its punchy lift.

In any case you have done well to slect 3.0m as a first 4-line kite. Good luck.

Drewculous - 3-9-2009 at 05:50 AM

I started with a twister as my first traction kite... and i love it. I static jump. and atb, and it does both really well. I've flown a few other kites, but it seems the twister always comes out! Out of your choices, the twister is the most "dangerous" one (pfft), but thats half the fun :lol:

Seriously, if you start slowly with the twister you'll have no problems... i didnt anyways:thumbup:

My opinion is very biased, however... acampbell and furb are dead on tho. Any of these kites will put a huge grin on your face... Go with a peter lynn tho, they rock!

jannen - 3-9-2009 at 01:47 PM

thanks for the clear explanations!

@ Krohn1999, I live 130km away from calais, but I am working on those dates... maybe next time, thanks dough!

I'm staying on the ground for now (hopefully) , but I will consider landboarding and maybe even buggying in the future.

Drewculous, you started with a twister 5.6 (looking @ ur sign) ?!
Doesn't it fly a bit different then a 3.0?

So I guess the Viper is out of the question...

f0rgiv3n - 3-9-2009 at 02:02 PM

My vote's for the PL Hornet!!

Maven454 - 3-9-2009 at 02:03 PM

I agree with f0rgiv3n, I'd go for the Hornet. I find HQ to be acceptable, but it really doesn't manage to wow me.

jannen - 3-9-2009 at 02:08 PM

Then it's the hornet against the twister...

:dunno:

WIllardTheGrey - 3-9-2009 at 02:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jannen
I'm staying on the ground for now (hopefully) , but I will consider landboarding and maybe even buggying in the future.

Drewculous, you started with a twister 5.6 (looking @ ur sign) ?!
Doesn't it fly a bit different then a 3.0?

So I guess the Viper is out of the question...


The Twister is the lifty one not the Viper. The Viper is a fast beginner traction kite.

jannen - 3-9-2009 at 02:28 PM

Excluding the viper was based on the other explanations. :)

Just looking for the best static flying/landboard kite.

Twister is the most lifty, I know. I've seen the comparison between the hornet, twister and viper on the PL website.

based on the Pl website, Hornet and Viper are the best static flying/landboarding kites for beginner/intermediate kiters. Twister is more professional I guess.

Could a Viper 2.6 be more powerful than a hornet 3.0? It's more expensive too.

f0rgiv3n - 3-9-2009 at 02:36 PM

according to a review in the review section Yes to your question. The viper seems to be a bit more crazy in the air.

here ya go:
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=9097

jannen - 3-9-2009 at 02:53 PM

You guys make it harder to choose!

Damn you! :P

Is a Viper 3.9 too brutal for a semi-beginner like me?

My weight is 80Kg/176pounds, normal build.

f0rgiv3n - 3-9-2009 at 03:49 PM

haha... i'm a little biased to PL....

jannen - 3-9-2009 at 03:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by f0rgiv3n
haha... i'm a little biased to PL....


true true... can't find any bad comments on those PL kites.

Krohn1999 - 3-9-2009 at 09:33 PM

Don't forget to take a look at Elliot Magma and Wolkensturmer Ventura. Both are good allarounder kites that you can use for a long time. I still fly my magma's when the wind is really strong and choppy.
To bad you can't make it, you could have tried both of the above mentioned kites plus others.
Chris

furbowski - 3-9-2009 at 10:12 PM

Flying for a few hours with a vet pilot will teach you more than a few days flying on your own...

No matter what you end up getting, do try to meet up with Khron!!!!

:bigok:

also make sure you catch this review: (hornet vs. beamer by akulakat), just what you need read!

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=10713

Drewculous - 4-9-2009 at 06:55 AM

i started on the 5.6 twister, yes... i have a decade and change experience with the wind and kites, i flew stunters for a long time before i took the jump (harhar) to power kiting. I knew the window well, and i knew the winds in my area well, so it was just the crazy pull of these things that was the x factor.

I'm a bigger guy (230ish lbs) and im always broke ( i blame my fiance lol ) so seeing as how i had one goal in mind... to jump... the 5.6 twister was my best bet. Was it my smartest call, prolly not. Its a great kite, but it was a little too big for a 'first kite.' The 4m would have been a better bet, simply because it would have less pull... and i would have had a few less 'oh crap' moments...

i have no problem reccomending a 3m twister as a first kite... if you take it slow, go out in soft slow winds, and get a feel for it, they are good kites. The easier you take it to begin with, the less painfull lessons you will have to learn....

Its a great boarding kite, and a great jumper (3 is a tad small for jumping, but ive read a lot of posts where guys are talking about some crazy jumps on 3's) But if you go with the hornet or the twister, you'll be happy.

The viper is just more of a buggy kite... you can board with it, but jumping is not this kite's strong point...

get twisted now, then come to the D'arc Side down the road... it's a good time :evil:

furbowski - 4-9-2009 at 09:31 AM

ok, I bet you're really confused now!

if you are going to be flying a lot of gusty and wiggly inland winds, the hornet would be a much less frustrating kite to learn on, and would be the one to go for.

if you are planning on going to the beach to fly onshore winds with lots of room, then get the twister: inland it would be very frustrating to fly. on the beach it will be on its best behavior and will be much easier to learn on.

maybe that will help...

another thing is that jumping kites are best in the larger sizes, and everybody who digs this sport will get lots of kites anyways, so you could get the hornet now and then a bigger twister later...

or maybe you decide you want to buggy... who knows??? lots of buggiers in your area.

jannen - 4-9-2009 at 10:24 AM

Yes I am a bit confused. But hey, I like it when my research and your helpful comments result in a great choice and so much fun...
So it's worth the confusion :P

I'm focusing on going to a board or maybe a buggy in the near future, so the Hornet isn't the best option here.
And maybe, a 3.9 or a 4.0 is more appropriate ?!

So... Viper/Twister.

Isn't massive lift a bad thing when riding (learning how to) board/buggy on a recreational level?
I understand that lift is a good thing when you want to jump / go freestyle.

And yeah, I wish I could make it to Calais.
Really want to meet up with some guys here in Belgium to learn how to fly like a pro and get the most out of the kite.

Man! I'm amazed how helpful you guys are over here! :tumble:

furbowski - 4-9-2009 at 10:31 AM

yeah lift is bad when learning buggy. But if you have good kite skills it is manageable from what I hear and also not all winds are lifty.

buggy freestyle adds a big level of danger because then you are strapped to the buggy and the kite.

landboarding is risker than buggy, but safer than freestyle buggy.

the lift helps you when landboarding, tho, if it is not too much.

I'm helpful yes but bear in mind i am a static jumper doing research on everything else to do with kites, so there's a big limit to what I can help out with.

getting together with the locals is by far the best thing to do, one of the many weird things about the land crowd is their universal friendliness, much better in person when kites are involved....

acampbell - 4-9-2009 at 11:18 AM

Quote:
I'm focusing on going to a board or maybe a buggy in the near future


Pretty ambiguous, but there is nothing wrong with not being sure yet, so no worries. Stay with an all-arounder for now, like the Hornet or Beamer. Later when you have an idea of what you want to do (maybe you can try someone's gear by then), then you can specialize your kites.

I've done 40+ mph in the buggy with a Beamer III 3.0, so it's no slouch in the right winds.

Maybe if you find yourself trying both board and bug, you can get an advanced all-arounder like the Core.

Grad something and fly!! You are going to end up with more kites anyway by hook or by crook; just the law of the jungle.

Good luck!

jannen - 4-9-2009 at 11:31 AM

I think I'm going for the Viper 3.9.

Not so good at lift but more stable, fast turning and good power.
And maybe more forgiving then a rather professional Twister.

I know it sounds ambiguous, but boarding is a sure thing (just not right now), buggying I dunno...

Was looking at the Core, but I find it too expensive for a starting kite :yawn:
I am sure I'll get more kites overtime... Just need to pick one right now.

Bad choice? :-/

Drewculous - 4-9-2009 at 11:37 AM

i've heard the viper described as a gnat on crack... there was a guy on the boards for a while, mougl, that got a twister 5.6 like me to start with, and found it to be too much, and ended up with a small viper and a twister... i think he was pretty stoked when the smoke cleared... :smilegrin:

if you are set on a PL, you'll have a blast... and like everyone said, you'll get more kites eventually... the only people with 1 kite, are just completely new... i got my second kite after about 2 months...

Anyway, get one, and get flyin'!!!!