Power Kite Forum - Flexboardz review

Flexboardz review

stetson05 - 7-11-2010 at 11:48 PM

I am not a big jumper or even good at tricks on an ATB but I can ride just fine. I have only ridden MBS boards and so can really only compare them. (just wanted to get that out of the way)

I was able to try the Flexboardz ATB thanks to BigKid. Thanks!

Deck - The deck is a nice wide deck. The whole surface is covered with black grip tape. Less flex than other boards but still a little. The only drawback I see is there is no place to put a suction cup mount for a camera on the deck. If it was my board it would be pretty easy to mount a camera with a little modification.

Tires - I like the tires! They are 10 inch on plastic rims. The bearing size is different than either MBS or GI so you would want to know that before hand. The tread is aggressive but is in a uniform pattern that seems to roll with less resistance on surfaces like pavement. The pattern still grips well enough but was only tested on gravel, grass, and pavement. The bearings out of the box roll very smooth.

Trucks/suspension - These are much less trucks and more an independent suspension. I thought there might be more of a spring system but there is just rubber to absorb impact. The casting looks good and seems strong enough for me at 200lbs. The whole system seems to have enough flex, not as much when compared to my core 95 but that is without jumping with the kite, which would probably be a better test. One of the most interesting things was the ability to adjust the camber(right word?) of the deck to at an angle while keeping the wheels straight, more like a kiteboard or snowboard would be when riding. This might be more helpful to those who kiteboard/snowboard, if they are not as used to neutral foot position required for other ATB's.
One other thing about the suspension, when I carve hard on other boards especially on hard surfaces, the friction really slows me down. The Flexboardz didn't have the same problem. They seemed to roll fine no matter what.

Bindings - Nothing special about the bindings at all. They are functional. I did ride most of the time without the bindings which works fine but seemed a little harder to go far upwind.

Ride - SMOOTH! It rides very smooth. The combination of the bigger tires with the suspension makes thick, bumpy grass feel a lot more like hard pack sand. It was amazed at how much smoother the ride was compared to my Core 95 and how much easier it was to get rolling in thick grass. I wondered with the design if I would be able to steer as sharp of turns as my other boards and was surprised that it did just fine

What I liked- very smooth easy riding and easy carving board, Loved the tires. Is there any way to get them for my MBS boards?

What I didn't like-heavy board, simple but effective bindings, it is a little out of my price range but the way it rides has me thinking.

stetson05 - 7-11-2010 at 11:58 PM

I will answer any questions if I can. I wanted to shoot some video from the deck but didn't want to mess anything up.

bigkid - 8-11-2010 at 12:02 AM

Thanks Gabe, sounds like a new addition in the future :lol:

Flexboardz review

flexboardz - 1-12-2010 at 09:36 AM

Sorry guys, I didn't really had time to follow up the Flexboardz Testing Tour (btw, thanks for organizing it!!) nor to answer to some of the remarks of the testers (Flexboardz being quite a different design, it needs to be understood and adapted to the ride needed)...

For instance, Bigkid noticed the height of the board : in fact, a Flexboardz does not have a specific height (nor roll/pitch angle). We deliver the board set with an "all-round" height suitable for all places (incl. bumpy)...if needed (for flat area/beach), it just takes 4 rubber washers (and 10 mn) to lower the board (and/or adjust roll/pitch angles). I will put some explanation about it on our website

Turning radius : Flexboardz does not turn the same way than a mtb. It needs to be more "leaned" into the curve (more like a snowboard) so the feeling is different from a regular mtb : it's less reactive at the beginning of the turn (also the reason why it is more stable vs wobble) but actually turns more tightly...it needs to get used to it

Last, if you have some pics of the Testing Tour, I will greatly appreciate (sort of proxy trip

)

van - 1-12-2010 at 09:51 AM

flexboardz,

I currently have the board in Houston. I will post some pics. I am trying to squeeze more test time this weekend to get a better review.

flexboardz - 1-12-2010 at 10:02 AM

Great ! Thanks !I hope that you enjoyed the board...

bigkid - 1-12-2010 at 10:18 AM

Van, keep the board until someone signs up for the pass around.
Any one interested?

Kamikuza - 1-12-2010 at 05:17 PM

Yeah me :lol:

g-force junkie - 1-12-2010 at 06:57 PM

I really liked stetsons review on this board, sounds perfect for my conditions, anyway to send it to Colorado before it goes to Japan?

van - 1-12-2010 at 09:30 PM

Kamikuza,

I don't think I can afford to send it to Japan..:P

I'll send to G-Force and he can forward to you...hehehe :singing:

van - 1-12-2010 at 09:45 PM

I did take some pics of the board when I first got it to compare against my Scrub Rush. My wife also snapped a couple pics of me on it at DBBB. I can tell you it sure rides differently than the Rush. This was the first time I actually enjoy riding a board while flying a kite on handles. I always felt awkward with the Rush so end up using a depower on a bar. It's a blast with the Flexboardz since you can lean on the board and ride with the kite real low.

enjoy the pics..

Flexboardz and Scrub Rush comparison

Huge tires.. perfect for sand

Future Flexboardz team rider

stetson05 - 1-12-2010 at 11:13 PM

Lots of nice pics!

Kamikuza - 1-12-2010 at 11:53 PM

I'd pay for the shipping to and from Japan if I really wanted it ... but I don't want to try it cos then I KNOW I'll buy it :lol:

3 landboards I don't need!

flexboardz - 2-12-2010 at 05:24 AM

to Van : Wohhh ! I really didn't expect so many (and so nice) pics !! thanks a lot for it and for your feedback ! I am really glad that you appreciated the ride ! May I use these pics for our website (including the one below)...

To Kamikuza : don't want to be tempting but there are Flexboardz in Japan (importer is in Hamamatsu city, Shizuoka prefecture http://www.kiteboarding.jp ) ... so if you want to make a test, you are welcome (not necessarily a destruction test

van - 2-12-2010 at 09:48 AM

Flexboardz, you can use the pics .. my son loves the board. It's very stable so he likes to jump on it and try to move it around the beach. I need to teach him to fly my beamer!! I should be able to get more pics at the next session.

bobalooie57 - 2-12-2010 at 10:13 AM

Ya Van, excellent photo's of that board, and it looks like your son loves it too!

van - 2-12-2010 at 10:31 AM

jeff,

There's a couple others here in houston that would like to test out the board also. Dylan diddn't get to fully test the board out during DBBB. Dan (heftyharness) from San Antonio ( coming down to houston) would like a chance to test the board also. As soon as the 3 of us gets a good feel of the board, we should be able to pass it on. So far, it really fit my riding style. It's like the BigFoot version of a landboard.

bigkid - 2-12-2010 at 10:38 AM

Van,
Keep the board as long as you need, just remember that when it's time to send it on you may have to explain to Jr. his is coming at Christmas:D

bobalooie57 - 2-12-2010 at 10:56 AM

lol I was thinking the same thing, how to explain that it had to go! Looks like you had fun with it van, the bigfoot of landboards! To me it looks like a Cadillac, or maybe a Hummer!

van - 2-12-2010 at 01:41 PM

hehe ... I can convince the wife to get the flexboard for me and junior as a joint present :smilegrin:

bigkid - 2-12-2010 at 01:47 PM

Only 22 more shopping days left. You could have a new board under the tree in only a few days

flexboardz - 2-12-2010 at 04:33 PM

I am really glad that the test ride convinced you ! and thanks to make it testing by your friends...

Can you tell me where the test ride has been performed?

Here is the report in our website. Your son might be a star tomorrow !

van - 2-12-2010 at 07:50 PM

So far it's been down at East Beach in Galveston , TX during the DBBB event. I will be down there again tomorrow with 2 others that want to see it. If Dylan and I can find a nice park we might try it out on grass. More pics to come!!

flexboardz - 3-12-2010 at 06:52 AM

Van : Thanks a lot to organize testing by your friends...
I am looking forward for feedbacks and (beautiful ) pictures...

van - 11-12-2010 at 10:40 PM

I took it to the park yesterday but the wind gust was too strong. The grass wasn't smooth enough for the board either. I noticed that there is an advantage and disadvantage to the board's heavier build. It's very stable but it also takes alot more power to get it going. I couldn't get it to budge in thick grass and uneven terrain. It had no problem going over rough terrain once you are up to speed. It rolls right over the uneven sand very smoothly due to the suspension setup but if you stop , it was harder to get going. I tried a couple jumps but my feet came right out and up. The board was still on the sand.

Here's a few pic from the park with a Nasa Wing.

This is my friend Barry trying the board for the first time with a 5 meter NPW in about 3mph wind gusting to 3.5 mph :lol:

I couldn't resist the fun he was having so had to try it out myself

Ran into Darren at the beach so he gave the Flexboardz a go. He thought it had alot more stability than his MBS board.
He's a member of the forum so hope he will chime in with his thoughts.

What I love about this board is the ability to ride real low while you lean over. Look like I was taking a dump but you can go crazy fast :lol:

I am still processing the video. I will post as soon as I get a chance to cut out the part when I landed on my ass.

stetson05 - 12-12-2010 at 12:40 AM

Van, thanks for adding so many great pics to the post. I miss the board a little.

flexboardz - 12-12-2010 at 02:05 AM

Thanks a lot Van !
It's really a great pleasure for me to see riders appropriating the Flexboardz and exploring others way to ride it !

I specially appreciate the Nasawing/short lines pics ! It remind me the test I made with short lines rigged in a Paraskiflex way to be able to tack/jibe in order to ride small parking lot !
I wasn't really successful but I managed to make some acceptable jibe (at the end of the video)...I will have to test it with a Nasawing !

I am looking forward for the video !

Kamikuza - 12-12-2010 at 02:54 AM

Yeah that tracks nice through turns eh!

van - 12-12-2010 at 08:51 AM

I wish I can jibe like that. My riding skillz aren't that good yet :lol:

The nasawing was fun to play with since you didn't have to mess with lines. We were riding on the jogging track at the park since there wasn't enough wind to get going on grass. It was about 2mph - 3mph wind speed at ground level. I bet it would be good in a parking lot.

Jeff, who's next on the list? I am loving this board but feel bad about keeping it so long. I will definitely put it on my 'to get list' but it might have to wait until after the holidays...hahaa... i just got me a TIG welder so my budget is depleted :no:

bigkid - 12-12-2010 at 10:01 AM

Van, I have enjoyed the pics and the review of the board, almost as much as your son. I think the Karrika would fit him a little better. :D
U2U sent on next address.

Just a friendly reminder, the day after Christmas is the busiest shopping day of the year. You could have a new board by the new year. :lol:

flexboardz - 12-12-2010 at 02:55 PM

To Van : it's not a really a matter of ability but simply getting used to the way the Flexboardz ride and how far it can be pushed... I am only the oldest Flexboarder :no:

you will discover it with a bit more of practice : you lean and the board does the rest ...
Thanks for your feedbacks !

bigkid - 12-12-2010 at 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flexboardz
I am only the oldest Flexboarder

Just how old are you? past 60?:o

van - 12-12-2010 at 09:49 PM

He ride that board like he was 16. My joints makes funny noise everytime I lean over. I trust the board, just not my old body ...haha :bouncy:

flexboardz - 13-12-2010 at 01:34 AM

Over 70..but Flexboardz makes you younger, your wife nicer, your kids smarter and even reduce your income tax !

I just meant that I am the one with the longest riding experience on a Flexboardz and it makes me feel old (I am in the mid 40')

kalaigor - 30-3-2011 at 08:10 AM

Can anyone make a comparison between this (Flexboardz) and a Dirtsurfer? Preferably somebody that has used both? :-)

I would like to get one or the other for use with a newly acquired Kitewing and don't know which way to go. I am primarily interested in the performance/use as I am aware of the pricing...

Thanks!!

bigkid - 30-3-2011 at 04:02 PM

Well first off 2 wheels/4 wheels, did I say some thing about 2 as opposed to 4 wheels?
The flexboard is more built to resemble a snowboard, and the way you ride one.
From watching the dirt surfers, one of them is here at NABX, he more or less goes back and forth.
best thing to do is get on youtube and look up the subjects and see what happens. Could be a possibility of passing the flexboard on to you if you send me the right info.

kalaigor - 31-3-2011 at 02:44 AM

Oh, that would be GREAT - please U2U me to let me know what info you need.

That being said, as I am a complete novice (and not a "spring chicken" to boot - in my 40s), I think I would really benefit from some riding descriptions from riders that are experienced in both. The thing that attracts me in the dirtsurfer is the brake, given that with the Kitewing one tends to want to go fairly fast in order to "catch air", etc.... Also, with a Kitewing, I am not sure the ability to make sharp turns and "carving" is that essential, as fun as it may look - and that seems to be the forte of the Flexboardz.

Still, I am on the fence as the Flexboardz really does look like a really great piece of engineering.... :-)