Power Kite Forum

looking to upgrade...need some help

thrasher - 20-7-2011 at 04:30 PM

ok so i have been flying my rush 300 for quite a while now. im great with handling and all that stuff. i want to upgrade to a kite that has a big amount of pull but still be able for me to handle it. i weigh 170 and im looking for a kite that will pick me off the ground. ive been looking and i narrowed it down to a 4m or 5m kite maybe the hq scout or the prism tensor but those cost some money, and possibly the beamer or a magma idk .i dont really know what would be better, 2 line with a bar, 4 line with a bar, or 4 lines with the handles. thats where i need help i would preferably want the sizes that i said above. i just want to know, if anyone has a suggestion as to what kite would be the best to get with the best price. preferably 300 or lower. i could go a little higher with the price but would need good reasons as im only looking to spend 300. so anybody who has suggestions, please reply!

Bladerunner - 20-7-2011 at 04:49 PM

I like your approach.

It is good you are not wanting to go too big too fast but now is a good time to decide what you want to progress in to.

Do you want to move to static jumping only or do you have hopes of riding something ?

If your goal is getting lifted off of the ground a 4 kite will do that . It will also drop you like a rock ! Something 5m or bigger is a better idea. Neither of the kites you suggest ( Tensor , Beamer ) are lifty kites . Not sure why you are attracted to them for learning to jump?

Believe it or not a larger kite in lower winds is safer for jumping than something too small.

It sounds like money is an issue for you ? If so second hand is the way to go !

thrasher - 20-7-2011 at 06:52 PM

money isnt an issue really. i just dont want to spend a hell of alot of money on a kite that i wont like or that wont do the job for me. i dont know what "static jumping" means due to i am fairly new to flying. im not really attracted to the tensor or the beamer its just that i see some of those names being thrown around alot and firgured they were good quality kites. im just taking my precautions really so im not regretting it later when i drop 500+ down the drain due to lack of satisfaction. any suggestions on what you call floaty kites. or kites that you would think fits my standards would be really helpful. any kite is in my budget really. i just need some help to pick a kite so ik i will have some guaranteed satisfaction. im looking to get some moderate air while still being able to control.

shehatesmyhobbies - 21-7-2011 at 03:33 AM

Have a look at the PL Twister II. I would go with at least the 5.6 m. Nice kite for jumping at a decent price in your price range. Depending on your winds you may want to go for the next size up. And don't forget your safety year if you are going to start jumping.

ragden - 21-7-2011 at 05:27 AM

Something else to consider is your long-term goals... Would be silly to drop a bunch of money on a fixed-bridle open-cell kite if you are considering kitesurfing sometime in the future... So, what is it that you see yourself doing down the line?

Static-flying (you & the kite, nothing else)
Buggying?
Land-boarding?
Snowkiting?
Kitesurfing/kiteboarding?

All of these could affect your kite choices... ;)

Bladerunner - 21-7-2011 at 06:31 AM

Ragden has asked what I did in a better way.

+ 1 for the Twister II 5.6m . Get it with handles.

It serves well for most of the rides you might progress in to + is a lifty kite to entertain you with no ride at all.

DAKITEZ - 21-7-2011 at 10:06 AM

thrasher,

I would really recommend you do your home work as much as possible. This is a good thread for you to get good recommendations from others. I have seen you ask how to connect your lines to your kite ... then inquire on a crossfire 5m. Honestly this just really scares me. The crossfire will be a horrible choice for you. It is a very picky kite and needs a fair amount of skill to keep the kite in the air. this is not something you want to deal with when your trying to learn how to jump.
Also remember your rush is just a trainer kite. It does not have the same type of power a true traction kite has. So when you move into something in the 4 - 5m size to jump it is going to have a whoooooole lot more power than your rush. So whatever you get be sure to take it out in light winds at first to get a feel for it.

+1 for the Peter Lynn twisters .... they will fit your budget and do exactly what you want to do with them.

flyjump - 21-7-2011 at 10:18 AM

i like what bladerunner said as well...."jumping with a bigger kite in lower winds is safer" a lot of these guys jump with 4 and 5 meter kites. the way to go is depower on a 15-19m kite. they are really floaty. also if it is a closed foil kite you don't have to worry about the air getting pushed out and it collapsing on you. plus when you are ready you can also buggy, ATB, kitesurf, or snowkite on a depower.

definatly do your homework like Dino said. don't want to get a "suprise" while you are in the air

viperkid181 - 21-7-2011 at 10:34 AM

If your looking for pull the beamer does just that. In winds around 15-20mph you could get some air but it's not safe in my opinion. If your looking for a kite that will lift you quite a bit look into blades. My 6.6 is fun but my 10.5 is funner! If your interested in getting a blade let me know I could always part with my smaller one.

DAKITEZ - 21-7-2011 at 10:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by viperkid181
If your looking for pull the beamer does just that. In winds around 15-20mph you could get some air but it's not safe in my opinion. If your looking for a kite that will lift you quite a bit look into blades. My 6.6 is fun but my 10.5 is funner! If your interested in getting a blade let me know I could always part with my smaller one.


Seriously???? you would recommend to a guy who has a rush 300 to get a blade??? I think I need to step away from PKF for awhile.

viperkid181 - 21-7-2011 at 11:10 AM

Firstly the beamer and the blade are the only kites I've owned which is why I commented on them. Also he is the same weight as me and flying the blade isn't any more dangerous then flying a beamer in 20 mph winds. I moved up from a 5 beamer to a blade 10.5 and then the 6.6 and I don't think its a whole lot different when comparing the beamer to the 6.6 blade. But this is just from my experience.

shehatesmyhobbies - 21-7-2011 at 12:57 PM

Big difference between a 5m Beamer and a Blade 6.6! Like comparing a Geo Storm to a Porsche 911!

Drewculous - 21-7-2011 at 02:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by viperkid181
I don't think its a whole lot different when comparing the beamer to the 6.6 blade. But this is just from my experience


:puzzled:

...wow

overpowerd beamer jump:



light wind blade jump



all i gotta say on that



ANYWAY>>>>
+1 for the 5.6 twister.... take it out in low winds to start, pad/helmet up, and have a great time! Be safe and take it slow.... injuries aren't as serious if your taking baby steps... its those blind leaps that'll get ya!!

Looking_Up - 21-7-2011 at 02:38 PM

The guy with the blade had no clue ouch
The beamer wasn't much better the jump was mostly with the legs
If you are really serious and impatient 5.6 twister will do u less bodly damage if you stay out in low winds taking small steps up in wind speed till u get the hang of it
But you should really spending a few months flying the crap out of that rush like every day before u move up
My 2.5 Sammy has yanked people down in just ten miles per hour just to give u an idea that a really well designed kite is not to be taken lightly the fixed bridle kites command respect or they will punish your arrogance

Don't mean to rant but to many try to bite of to much to soon
Despite all of the great advice offered up hear they know from experience that is why most advice offered here is worth listing to
Be patient and this sport will reward you don't and learn the hard way :embarrased:

mougl - 21-7-2011 at 02:58 PM

Thrasher: please do yourself a favor and don't even think about the blade. That kite is for expert/professional level pilots only. Going from a rush 300 to a blade of any size is begging for an injury. As for 20 mph winds, no. 20 mph is a LOT for any kite to be flown static in the 5m or greater size unless you have logged several successful hours on the kite previously. I say go for the twister II 5.6 and start in 10-12 mph. It will surprise you in even that kind of wind. Pulls like a truck and has plenty of lift. I know. I had one.

It's beyond me why blade was even mentioned here. Twister II for the win.

flyjump - 21-7-2011 at 03:15 PM

Could you learn jumping on a flexifoil blad........yes. should you learn on it, probably not. people offer advice just to keep you safe and to keep the sport in a positive spotlight. it doesn't mean that you cant learn on a big kite, it just means that you'll hve to take more percautions.

when i first started my first kite was an 8m pansh ace lol. definatly not the kite to learn with, but i was able to learn and jump on it. i took it out in low winds to begin with and worked my way up till i was overpowered. had i taken it out in medium to stronger winds in the beginning i probably wouldnve broken both of my legs haha.

i used to get so mad at the buggiers in america because i felt like they were giving me bad advice and stunting my growth. after awhile i learned they were just trying to keep me safe. i remember my first big jump. i went from the pansh ace to a 13m guerilla, i took it out in 27mph winds and i went HOOJ! had i not learned out to redirect on the fixed bridle kite first i wouldve been dead. Good luck man, there are some great kites out there and you'll learn the way yo learn, juust be safe and realize these guys with experience want to help you! they aren't your enemies.

if there is someone close maybe you can demo some kites to see exactly what you like and where you want to grow towards. i recommend depower because its safer and you can use them for all of the kite sports. but since you are on a tight budget i COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND! hope you learn well and get exactly what you are looking for

viperkid181 - 21-7-2011 at 04:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Drewculous
Quote:
Originally posted by viperkid181
I don't think its a whole lot different when comparing the beamer to the 6.6 blade. But this is just from my experience


:puzzled:

...wow

overpowerd beamer jump:



light wind blade jump



all i gotta say on that


Just so you know that was a 10.5 blade. Maybe my 6.6 blade is defective because I'm familiar with that kind of jump (you can find my post on another thread somewhere about me being dropped 10-15 feet on my heals) and I don't get those with the 6.6. But ya different strokes for different folks.

Bladerunner - 21-7-2011 at 04:25 PM

Viperkid neglected to mention he was injured by his 10.5 Blade 1st time it actually flew and that he has only owned the 6.5 for a few days.

This might explain his opinions ?

We are all allowed our own opinions but the majority of those on here are from experienced kiters.

Believe me there IS a huge difference between a 5m Beamer and 6.5 Blade !

I suggested the 5.6 Twister because you sound like they kind of person who will respect it. Do so and it will serve you for a long time!

viperkid181 - 21-7-2011 at 04:54 PM

It was a learning experience. There is no better way to learn how not to not redirect when doing a jump then by landing on your heals and gimping around for the next 2 weeks. Wont make that mistake again.

mougl - 21-7-2011 at 05:30 PM

Bottom line:

Blades are not for those new to jumping. It's like giving the keys to a Bugatti Veyron to someone who just earned their drivers lisence. Get the Twister II 5.6, respect the kite, and live to fly another day. Once you get a bunch of time logged on it, THEN look to the blade if you want to get more bang out of a kite.

Let's also keep in mind the price point mentioned. He wants to stay under $300. Unlikely to find a blade for that. I've seen the Twister II going between $225 and $250 regularly on the used market.

Another thing to consider (at least it stands out to me) is that when we start static jumping and we are near a public traffic area, we tend to attract onlookers. Do we really want to have someone new to jumping out there with a blade knowing all too well the reputation of the "widow maker" when we are trying to promote our sport? I wouldn't think so.

I'll get off my soap box now. I just hate seeing people steered to the blade that do not have the experience to safely launch one.

windhunter - 21-7-2011 at 07:11 PM

That why this is the most awesome place to learn about this sport. These guys care... about YOU ! n about the sport.... kinda like havin a big brother lookin out for you! I never had one of them.

Kamikuza - 21-7-2011 at 07:31 PM

Guess what I'm going to say :lol:

Money no object? Get a big depower foil and a harness :yes:

thrasher - 22-7-2011 at 05:39 PM

planning on getting a twister II due to all the recommendations. i plan on doing this as safely as i can...as you all also recommend lol. i respect all your replies and thanks ALOT for the help. it helped me out more than i thought it would. could appreciate it more. thanks again

-chris

buggydanny - 23-7-2011 at 03:35 PM

Chris

I have a 5.6 Twister II and you are certainly welcome to try it and see if you like it.

I am in MA and mostly fly at Nahant, but I am willing to try other places. Nahant is a great place to fly and you should definitely check it out, but it can get quite quite crowded in the summer.

Let me know if you want to meet up, and what time work well for you.

Dan

WELDNGOD - 23-7-2011 at 03:47 PM

thrasher,Dan is an AWESOME kiter, he is one of my friends. He is deffo worth trying too hook up with. He has ALOT of experience w/ lots of kites.



see ya in Oct. Dan?.....

shehatesmyhobbies - 23-7-2011 at 04:20 PM

Danny is the man for sure! Tons of experience, one of the best pilots I know. And yeah Donnie he is supposed to be coming!

pyro22487 - 23-7-2011 at 05:47 PM

well it depends on what your doing with the kite but it sounds like you made up your mind. you did ask about flows and scouts. i recommend these if you want to buggy or snowkite. jumping you have to get the wind up there. to jump with a 5 meter flow your wind needs to be about 20 mph and you need to know what your doing becuase same wind and same kite your buggying around 30 mph maybe faster. its alot of power but not the liftyest kite around.

thrasher - 23-7-2011 at 06:00 PM

sounds good. im willing to meet anytime...hows next weekend sound?

mougl - 23-7-2011 at 09:40 PM

Definitely hook up with Danny, awesome pilot and a super nice guy! Got to meet him at JIBE and glad I did. Great buggy pilot too! Thanks to him, I win myself a PL flag :lol: