This one is Blue and Gray and is one sweet kite. I spent the day with it at Ivanpah 2 weekends ago and loved the performance and stability it offers.
With the speeds available on the lakebed, I'm ready to make the leap to a similar size vapor so this fine kite is on the block. Ripsessions is
trying to move some out and I could use the Vapor in that size so I'm trying to help him out as well.
This kite has been hand tuned by the designer himself. He made some very small adjustments that dialed down the lift and increased the kites speed
and moved it more forward in the window. Ripsessions hooked us up at NABX 10 and Michel started taking my bridles apart. A little concerned that
maybe he only stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night, I asked some question as to his experience doing this. His response started with "When I
designed this kite............" I just smiled and started trying to learn all I could from him.
I hit 37+ mph with this kite last weekend and that wasn't it's limit, just all I could get with the winds I had.
Retail is $475 and $550 respectively.
Kite only with bag - $360 shipped lower 48 Now reduced to $350
RTF with Vector lines and PL handles - $410 Now reduced to $310ripsessionkites - 20-10-2011 at 12:48 AM
+1BeamerBob - 20-10-2011 at 09:22 AM
For those not sure of the wind range for this kite, it would start to work at 8-10 mph and take you up to 18-20 in the buggy. This and my 4.9m
Reactor before it were my go to kites when I lived back East. I've only flown this kite 3 times in the last 2 years since the winds in California were
usually too strong for it. I bought this kite about 6 months before moving from GA to CA.BeamerBob - 21-10-2011 at 08:11 AM
Prices reduced. Shipping via Fedex ground included.
KO - $325 (now reduced to $310)
RTF - $360 (now reduced to $350)BeamerBob - 23-10-2011 at 04:10 PM
I think we might've actually become the dePower Kite Forum! Between my kite and Big Mike's that have been laying here even longer it's obvious that
interest in fixed bridle kites has taken a dive. I really like aspects of both and as mentioned I'm replacing this kite with another fb. To me,
these Reactor IIs represent cutting edge performance of non-racekite performance traction kiting (no insult intended to any other mfrs). Barely a
nibble on this one at a price point that always moves them out fast. Any insight?flyjump - 23-10-2011 at 05:18 PM
The market is definatlt really bad right now, I was talking about it last week. Kites have been sitting on here for a long time at low pricesBigbear97e - 23-10-2011 at 05:20 PM
sometimes its straight economics (and skill set) .... I'd love to have the reactors you and Mike have but, (1) my flying ability doesn't justify the
big purchase (yet ... *wink*) and ....... (2) ya I've heard alot of the "you get what you pay for " stuff, but fact is I got my newbie pansh quiver
for less than this one kite......BeamerBob - 23-10-2011 at 05:48 PM
Yeah Adam I get the economic thing. With Mougl's XR+ sitting so long for so cheap, it's evident.
BigBear, I wish I could spend an afternoon with you and these kites. For me, I don't get to kite a tenth as much as I'd like to, so when I get the
chance to ride, I want the time to be as fun and rewarding as it can be. Using kites that are primarily chosen for their price might not deliver that
for everyone. I'm sure that after 15 minutes with one of these, you would see the light about 1) Wow, I do have the skills to fly these and enjoy
what they offer. and 2) Wow, these really are more fun to fly than my "cheap" kites.
Again, my affection for Reactor IIs in no way is a slight toward other kite mfrs, just my opinion about how great the RIIs really are. If I lived in
Georgia still, I wouldn't consider selling this kite.swyper - 23-10-2011 at 07:08 PM
Gotta agree with Bigbear on this one. I'm a new kiter, I check this forum here almost every day to see if there are any deals...and I agree used
prices on here seem generally too high.
After comparing the quality of my Legend and Ace with a buddy's Beamer and Blurr...well they're pretty close. Sure the handles are lower quality, but
add some 0.50 foam tape and they're cushy. Sure the lines are lower quality, but they still lift my fat butt off the ground. A little extra setup time
to tune the kite the first time. The kites & bridles themselves are surprisingly similar. What's left...the bag? stickers? the name?
Instead of paying $360 for one high-end kite, I can get a "pretty good" Legend 5.5 for $150 shipped and still have $210 left over for a sweet pair of
goggles or new helmet and gloves. Say what you will about certain mfrs, but their kites are selling like hotcakes for a reason.Bigbear97e - 23-10-2011 at 07:26 PM
I did something similar swyper ... took my pansh kites and added vector lines and some HQ handles and killers for reasonable cost ....
I am excited to fly the reactor I bought off g00fba11 ... it's still in the mail though .... it's a little older (4yrs I think) first gen reactor, but
hey.... seller is reputable and price was right so we'll see how she goes .... maybe after flying it I'll have some pansh for sale *wink*BeamerBob - 23-10-2011 at 10:13 PM
That 8.3 was originally my kite! As long as you guys are happy with and having fun with the kites you have, that's all that matters. At least you're
flying. I had 2 panshs in the beginning myself btw.markite - 23-10-2011 at 11:33 PM
I'm not being condescending but I can tell right away that some people have relatively little experience when it comes to kites and really
understanding there are far more complicated factors in pricing. I have friends that only buy kites new and spend a lot of money on kites and I have
some friends that only buy used and are always looking for deals. There are absolutely fantastic deals on used kites but it sometimes hard to argue
one used kite is higher priced than it should be compared to another. Like buying used cars, they both look like cars and drive like cars but big
differences. If your used to skimming ads for base models and then look at sports cars but know nothing about them of course you are thinking prices
are too high. Material alone, the nylon can range from 1.00 /yd to 10.00/yd on manufacturing. The bridle lines can be of different types of line and
cost varies widely, reinforcing and bridle tabs and single stitch vs zigzag stitching and folded hems and a huge number of things that can double the
manufacturing time. Also differences between making a kite in a factory that doesn't invest in much R&D and doesn't have the best quality control
and doesn't spend anything on advertising etc etc - all add up to huge differences. yes you can get a handful of kites cheap - and starting off it's
great bang for your buck. And it's only once you get to a point where you have truly pushed your gear to it's limits and you are making that kite do
what you want it to do instead of it letting it do what it wants - at that point you'll know the limitations of what you have and what you want to do
next which might be looking at something different. Even people with experience don't always push the gear to the level it will take them and can
probably get away with something cheaper. The bottom line is having fun with with you got, we all start somewhere.BeamerBob - 24-10-2011 at 07:34 AM
Mark I was thinking all that but if someone is thrilled to have a car at all and loves their Toyota Tercel, it's hard to tout the performance
advantages of a 458 Italia . If money comes up early in the conversation, the other stuff won't matter. Most anyone that sticks with this for some
time will grow in what they want out of their equipment, along with increased pride of ownership.flyjump - 24-10-2011 at 08:36 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
if someone is thrilled to have a car at all and loves their Toyota Tercel
hahahahahahaha my first car was a toyata tercel, and my first kite was a pansh ace.........i'm a poor man stereotypecheezycheese - 24-10-2011 at 10:23 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by flyjump
Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
if someone is thrilled to have a car at all and loves their Toyota Tercel
hahahahahahaha my first car was a toyata tercel, and my first kite was a pansh ace.........i'm a poor man stereotype
But look at you now... rocfighter - 25-10-2011 at 03:58 AM
Man my first car was a Volvo, now I drive an S-10 pick-up. What am I doing wrong?:ticking:BeamerBob - 25-10-2011 at 11:46 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by rocfighter
Man my first car was a Volvo, now I drive an S-10 pick-up. What am I doing wrong?:ticking:
And what's worse, you obviously aren't impressed with the accelleration/deceleration capabilities of the 458 Italia! Lol.g00fba11 - 30-10-2011 at 07:05 PM
After you did this......
Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
Prices reduced. Shipping via Fedex ground included.
KO - $325
RTF - $360
I can't believe no one has snatched this up yet........
but then again..... it takes .... HOOJ BALLZ ....... to fly this kite...... you know you have to meet the 3 steps..... BeamerBob - 30-10-2011 at 08:08 PM
Too late. This one stays in the stable. I've had 2 awesome days with it and envision many more.Donaldgould - 31-10-2011 at 06:36 PM
That is a good kite I will get one next .BeamerBob - 14-12-2011 at 11:40 AM
I offered this for sale in another thread and decided to open it up officially again. I've added a 5.4 Vapor since taking this one off the market and
while I know the vapor is more kite size for size it is still enough overlap that I can let this one go. At Ivanpah, its as stable as any kite I've
flown around and it packs in the power as well. This is the one that I noticed my strop had heated up from working it for more power at speed. My
forearm brushed the strop and I wondered what that hot feeling was. I've been
using my strop in a regular hook but just received a Prodigy roller spreader to make things smoother, so no more hot strops.
End of year special price -
$350 shipped RTF in lower 48.
$310 shipped Kite and PL bagg00fba11 - 14-12-2011 at 02:11 PM
Someone grab this before he changes his mind again..... bobsalinas - 14-12-2011 at 05:45 PM
Wow, lots of chatter on this kite. I used a 3.5 Reactor II on the beach at SPI TX and was uber-impressed on the first blast.
I'll take it, KO package. u2u me with details.BeamerBob - 14-12-2011 at 06:02 PM
Kite is sold.
Thanks Bob!
Bobfusion - 15-12-2011 at 03:41 PM
I just want to add that markite is a hyundai kinda guy....but he flys cadillacs. how do you like the vapour beamerbob?BeamerBob - 15-12-2011 at 04:33 PM
I haven't had an opportunity to fly since I got these 2 vapors. Another is on order. I'll give them a ride next time out.
