Power Kite Forum - WHY is your buggy the best?

WHY is your buggy the best?

bigkid - 18-11-2011 at 02:40 AM

What is it that you like or love about your buggy?
Why is it the best, Or worst.

Everyone is talking about the cost and I would like to know what is it that makes or breaks your bug to pay so much one way or the other?:puzzled:

csa_deadon - 18-11-2011 at 03:53 AM

Mines the best because it fits me!

And the wife would kill me if she found another kite related item show up in my (opps) our garage.

Seriously, my hardcore is well suited for my beaches here. Big, heavy, comfy.
And for those days that there is no wind, it makes one heck of a beach chair.

rocfighter - 18-11-2011 at 05:53 AM

Because I look damn good sitt'n in it :smilegrin:

RedSky - 18-11-2011 at 06:03 AM

My Tornado and Dominator are the best buggy's in the world because...

The T3 is and out and out race breed machine. It's seriously responsive and light on it's feet and now fitted with it's GSX 400 discs it has less rolling resistance than super conductivity and slices through water like a blade. I would liken it to a nimble supersonic jet fighter. The T3 gave me my PB in 70mph winds and never once gave me cause for concern. It's my weapon of mass destruction.

Popeyethewelder has produced some of the worlds most beautiful bugs. The most recognizable being the mighty Dominator's. I'am the very proud and privileged owner of the latest and most technically advance to ever roll out of his workshop. The Dominator 4 looks like nothing else. Even people who know nothing about kites or buggy's will come up to me and ask about it.
Leading link suspension makes for a controlled ride over ripples at high speed. It's a very big, ultra stable and comfortable high speed cruiser and I'd love to get a new PB with it.

Ok Carl, I posted what you told me to say, now send me the money you promised. :p

Bladerunner - 18-11-2011 at 07:31 AM

I am a little disapointed with how tough it is to tear down my Ivanpah , move + store it and keep it looking good.

This is mostly my own fault. I knew I would have these issues before buying.

It truly is a buggy best suited to those who can transport + store it complete.

Donaldgould - 18-11-2011 at 07:32 AM

I like mine because it fits me . I feel safe in it at speeds . Whin I sold my xr+ I was looking for something big that I could heavy theat fit tight so I could hit 70mpr and still fell safe

bigkid - 18-11-2011 at 08:21 AM

csa...I think we married the same woman..HaHaHa
big and heavy keeps you from being blown down the beach when your sitting around talking LOL

Rock...I have to disagree, I was told you don't look so good in a bikini. :dunno:

Red...I have wheels like that on my MG, works like a charm till I hit anything but hard pack.
All of PTW's bugs are desirable.

Blade... I know, I know.

Donald...let me know when you hit 70, and then tell me you feel safe.

thanks guys

I have had 5 different bugs that have gone to other people and now I have 2 more. One I got that was totally rebuilt and redesigned, the other I have different wheels and tires. One that I sit on and one I sit in. I don't like the MG cause when I get lofted the buggy stays glued to my a** and we go for a nasty ride. but is other wise a great bug
The other is big and heavy and my QR system works great, but is a pain to break down.
So?

Donaldgould - 18-11-2011 at 08:27 AM

It won't be for be sometime but whin i do it will make my day

BeamerBob - 18-11-2011 at 09:28 AM

As many know, I anticipated making Popeye's Hero buggy mine after nabx 11. All the chatting about the buggy and if it would fit me along with helping prepare Popeye for his trip to nabx went on for months and months. Then the day came that me and the Hero were there on the playa together. While I wasn't willing to admit it right away, I knew when I sat down in it that it just wasn't meant for me. I am too tall and too wide to fit the snug compartment that Popeye made to fit him.

I started wondering what I would buy next for me to ride since my Ivanpah was sold and needed to ship when I returned home. I had heard that Arie and Ozzies Apexxes were for sale and that Dino had already purchased Arie's buggy. I went to sit down in "Ozzies Ride" H140 and said out loud "Oh!". I find that many times when someone sits down in my Apexx, they also say "Oh!". Some think its just the siderails that make it a nice buggy but its everything from stem to stern. It's the footpegs with built-in heel straps, the adjustable angle pivot point where the siderails meet the downtube, those wonderful hip hugging, body engaging side rails that are complimented by a seat that has support in all the right places. On back you have the X brace that eliminates twist between the rails, and a weight bar if I needed to add weight to further balance the buggy. Then in the big picture is the ability to fit the buggy with any tire combination from barrows to disc wheels to beachracers or eurotrax. Your seat level can be adjusted to the same height, your footpegs are the same width and height, the buggy will feel the same no matter what tire/wheel combo you are running.

So it's not just a particular feature that makes the Apexx such a good buggy for me and many others, its the total package, the way it all comes together with all the features in one buggy. Ruudje and Ozzie have done their homework to make this buggy as nice a package as it is. I haven't found any limitations in the buggy yet and I'll keep pushing my limits every chance I get.

Oh, and my yearslong lust to own a PTW buggy got the best of me. Knowing that my family and I were about to move to the Vegas area, I knew I needed 3 buggies for when both of my sons went to ride with me, so I bought Popeye's Hero buggy as well. I had to sell a kite or 2 to finance both of them and then add in a little lunch money too. I'm glad I did. I get to admire the Hero from afar while my boys are riding in it. Smiling the whole time.

Donaldgould - 18-11-2011 at 09:43 AM

Well said bob it's not about the money it about the right buggy for you and what you plan to do with it let's buggy tonight

bigkid - 18-11-2011 at 11:41 AM

Is the reason we buy a bug is to show others? How many people understand the design of the buggy? I know of a few people and they have the expertise to show for it.
Build a buggy that looks cool and thats what you got, a cool buggy.
A buggy that you sit to far back has a problem of spinning out of control when you turn. Same with being to far forward. I hope no one writes a 29 page answer on the subject, 9 pages will suffice.
So with your thinking cap on why is your bug the best?

WELDNGOD - 18-11-2011 at 11:58 AM

mine are one off customs that I built just for me. There are no others like mine.One even converts into the KYTBYK! One is stainless the other is alloy. Didn't cost me anything but time and paint ,wheels ,tires,and a few burns. That pretty much makes mine the bestest! :smilegrin:

ragden - 18-11-2011 at 12:20 PM

My buggy ISNT the best. But it works for me. Sure, there are more comfortable ones out there. And I would love to own one. However, for the number of times I ACTUALLY buggy each year, it just does not warrant the cost of getting a new one.

In the mean time I'll just keep borrowing other people's buggies when they aren't riding them...
:evil:

bigkid - 18-11-2011 at 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ragden
In the mean time I'll just keep borrowing other people's buggies when they aren't riding them...
:evil:

Anytime your out west, look me up and you can try out an MG, an Ivanpah II, or a Libra Sprinter.

BeamerBob - 18-11-2011 at 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid

Quote:

Originally posted by ragden
In the mean time I'll just keep borrowing other people's buggies when they aren't riding them...
:evil:

Anytime your out west, look me up and you can try out an MG, an Ivanpah II, or a Libra Sprinter.

Ivanpah II? That's the first I've heard of a model change. What's different?

ragden - 18-11-2011 at 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid

Quote:

Originally posted by ragden
In the mean time I'll just keep borrowing other people's buggies when they aren't riding them...
:evil:

Anytime your out west, look me up and you can try out an MG, an Ivanpah II, or a Libra Sprinter.

Not sure when I will be out that way again, but I definitely appreciate the offer...

sunset-Jim - 18-11-2011 at 12:58 PM

Because it's MINE :thumbup:

And I enjoy the hell out of it.

bigkid - 18-11-2011 at 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeamerBob

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid

Quote:

Originally posted by ragden
In the mean time I'll just keep borrowing other people's buggies when they aren't riding them...
:evil:

Anytime your out west, look me up and you can try out an MG, an Ivanpah II, or a Libra Sprinter.

Ivanpah II? That's the first I've heard of a model change. What's different?

I get the unfinished buggy from Kent and do a few mods to it and have it painted and there ya go.
I put a stiffener from the back axle to the bend under your leg on the siderail, stirrup footpegs, wider fork, and a longer down tube.

bigkid - 18-11-2011 at 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sunset-Jim
Because it's MINE :thumbup:

And I enjoy the hell out of it.

The truth be told :thumbup:

shehatesmyhobbies - 18-11-2011 at 02:18 PM

I built my buggy with a good friend of mine. I even consulted with popeye a few times to make sure we had all the angles right. The Geometry works great on my buggy and those who take it for a ride really like it! It is comfortable, big enough and low enough to handle speeds very well. The fact that I put in my time and with the help of a friend built a pretty darn good buggy is what make mine the best for me! I only have about $350 total in the build and it has lasted three hard ridden years! It is easy to take apart, no bolts to undue for the most part. I can take my axle off in about 5 seconds. The tires come off just as quick.

While not completely perfect, it is mine and I made it! Hopefully my son will be the next owner of it!

nocando - 18-11-2011 at 02:31 PM

Have just added an extended axle amd midis to my Libre Sprinter

It travels better now, all I need next is a side rail mod.

awindofchange - 18-11-2011 at 03:07 PM

Well, I have been busy here in the shop for a while but I do have plans for bring out an official Ivanpah II that will have some pretty awesome features that I hope will be received well by everyone. Some of the features will be upgrade-able for those that have purchased the original Ivanpah buggy, some will be totally new.

I am hoping to have something finished by NABX '12.

The original Ivanpah buggy was built for speed on our dry lake beds here in Nevada. It is heavy, it is bulky - but it is rock stable and will never break on you.

All of the high end buggies on the market are so far superior to anything that was available 10 years ago. It is a real blessing to have so many different choices now days. Way back when, you had PL or Flexi and that was pretty much it...and even then you had to mix n match n modify everything if you wanted anything special.

bigkid - 18-11-2011 at 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by awindofchange
Well, I have been busy here in the shop for a while but I do have plans for bring out an official Ivanpah II that will have some pretty awesome features that I hope will be received well by everyone. Some of the features will be upgrade-able for those that have purchased the original Ivanpah buggy, some will be totally new.

The name Ivanpah II is all yours Kent, I used it to let people who try it out that it is a modified Ivanpah. I will be happy to call it something else.
I look forward to the next generation buggy.

RedSky - 18-11-2011 at 05:50 PM

I have to agree, the Apex bugs are impressive with lots of well thought through details. I'd love to own one, although I kinda miss the old days of adding upgrades to my PL and the difference it made to the ride. Gran Turismo style.

Sand-Yeti - 20-11-2011 at 10:29 PM

I like my home made buggies because I can beat the hell out of them and they don't break.
Check out how brutal I use my buggies on:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SandYeti1#p/u/13/nyjCNkegTfI

It starts about 14 seconds into the video.
Note that vid. is two years old & I still ride that buggy every weekend in the desert (except for a 3 month gap after I smashed my wrist during a particular nasty OBE in the dunes).

rocfighter - 21-11-2011 at 08:36 AM

Who ever said I don't look good in a bikini was just jeleous. (most likely Pokitrash!) 6'3" 200lbs of sexy and hair!! :lol:

awindofchange - 21-11-2011 at 02:20 PM

Sand-Yeti, your conditions are brutal. My back twinged just watching you take air over that dune! LOL Be safe and nice buggy!