Power Kite Forum

What's your favorite flavor?

soliver - 30-1-2012 at 08:18 AM

Answer this my more experienced kite folks...

What kite out of your quiver is your favorite?

As a newby, I am really only familiar with the 2 brands I own. An HQ beamer V, and a PL twister IIr... 2 great kites which I enjoy.

While I'm aware of Flexifoil, and have heard of Ozone, and seen a Pansh, what's the story on those that I don't know cuz I haven't flown them? What else is there that I haven't heard of? What do you have that you like?

I like the grunt and pull of my beamer when it hits the power zone, and I like the strength, speed and lift of my twister (though as I've said it freaks me out with my lack of experience).

Help us newbies out by telling us what you have in your quiver that is your favorite to fly and why. What are its best applications, what do you do with it?

Buggies and Boards too,... whatcha got that you like?... we're curious!

Mostly, ... why do you like it so much?

WELDNGOD - 30-1-2012 at 09:27 AM

I started with a2.5 Flexifoil rage Then got a 4.7. They are great kites,exspensive, but GREAT. You get what you pay for with them.
I have flown a few beamers,they are good too. And I have a PL reactor II 8.6m that was an awesome kite,it just wasn't buggy proof.(long story) I have owned a few Pansh's, they are ok to learn on,some of the older models lack refinement. But, they have gotten alot better in the last few years.In fact it was the 2 pansh sprints that got me liking racekites. Now I fly PKD Combats and Cents. Combats are full on racekites ,that need to be flown hard. The Century's are not as full on race ,but are really great buggy engines. I love all my PKD's, they are built very well and best of all ,FIXED BRIDLE ONLY! And all I fly are FB's.
I don't want no bar,lever ,button,pedal on my rig. Those things are just to make it easier for the masses to use it. I like the idea of the power being controlled by where you put the kite and what you do w/ it. Not just because you pulled some bar , to me that is TOO akin to driving a car. I like the danger! The adrenaline rush ! That is why I got into this sport. Not tryin to start the old FB vs DP war here ,just exspressing why I only fly FB's.:wee::ninja: As far as vehicles go, my board is a TRAMPA, that I picked out ALL the parts for.( if you go to their website,you will see what I mean) I ride TRAMPA cause they are hands down the most bad a$$ boards available. And I built all my buggies ,aluminum and stainless as well as tandem trailers. So all I can say about them is" custom rules"! And then there is the custom KYTBYK... that I can never seem to get the right wind ,tide ,sand density or flatness of beach to ride very often The one place where it was all good ,I'm banned from...:mad: Dude ,I could talk for days about kites. Time to let someone else have a go . WG:ninja:

DSCF0931pkf.jpg - 205kB

WELDNGOD - 30-1-2012 at 09:29 AM

awindofchange - 30-1-2012 at 11:09 AM

Right now, the kite that seems to get pulled out of the bag first is the Ozone Method. I have really fallen in love with this thing.

wheresthewind? - 30-1-2012 at 11:32 AM

i have 70 something kites and i love them all--just depends on the day and my goals --one day its a blade, the next xxl 7.1, then a frenzy, maybe a stunt kite or a single line once in awhile,they are all great......

BeamerBob - 30-1-2012 at 11:49 AM

I have to say right now the Reactor II is my favorite fb kite. HQ Montana would be my favorite depower in a buggy. I'm all set up for some time on Vapors and an HQ Prodigy if the wind is right next time out.

shehatesmyhobbies - 30-1-2012 at 04:39 PM

I started with a Pansh Ace 5m. I then moved over to HQ Beamer, Montana, and Crossfires. Now I have almost a complete quiver of Phantom's. I fly them almost always now. I do pick up a demo kite from time to time to give them a whirl, but usually I go for my Phantoms! I have a custom buggy made by a good friend of mine and myself. My wife did the side rail covers and seat! She did an awesome job. The buggy is low, wide and very stable. I modeled after Popeye's famous Cougar.(similar in looks, but just not the same as his). I love it and so does anybody who takes it for a spin.

Enjoy the rush of the sport! More important, live to fly another day!

Scudley - 30-1-2012 at 05:30 PM

Sky Country Reflex
S

Kamikuza - 30-1-2012 at 05:31 PM

Speed3 21 :lol:

Bladerunner - 30-1-2012 at 05:57 PM

For riding + jumping , my 15m Synergy arc. No doubt.

For static flying, my Rev' SLE.

The 2 Brands you mention are sort of opposite ends of the available kite brands.
Ozone is a paraglider company. One of the 1st into the kites and they build to paraglider standards . They aren't cheap.
Pansh is a company out of China that tries real hard but comes from a different place when it comes to quality and safety. They try to make as good quality a product as they can while keeping costs rock bottom. Pansh has been around a while now and is constantly improving.
If fixed bridle foils are your choice then there are a many companies out there. Look also at, Peter Lynn, HQ kites, PKD, Gin, SkyCountry, Libre and Zibre. There are more.

You get what you pay for in this sport !

soliver - 30-1-2012 at 08:32 PM

Hey guys, more than what is your favorite, WHY is it your favorite,...

What does your favorite do for you that the others in your quiver don't?

BeamerBob - 30-1-2012 at 09:15 PM

Reactor II because I can feel the power without having to pay a price for it.

Watch this if you haven't and you'll see what I mean.

barnes - 30-1-2012 at 10:11 PM

For me, cost has always been the deciding factor sadly...so unless your on a budget, my advice isn't great.

I love my Peter Lynn Scrop 16m when it flies for me, but I've found myself fighting it more then flying it recently. (Light winds and broken spars kept me grounded my last 2 sessions out.) It frustrates me, but every time I get moving, I remember why I love the beast. Its got a ton of power and insane depower thanks to a friends clever custom bar. I've taken it from 13mph-25mph+...once I've got a better grasp on the light wind side, I'll love her even more. (Sidenote: I've also left her dormant for a solid year, so I'm not as much of an expert with her as I'd like to be.)

wheresthewind? - 31-1-2012 at 01:29 AM

i will say that my xxl 7.1 delivers the smoothest transfer of power when a gust hits, its like somebody hit the turbo button, but its so smooth and predictable..... otoh, the blades are completely violent and unpredictable, but they too, have their place in the quiver.....

lunchbox - 31-1-2012 at 07:28 AM

As far as FB's go, I love the Peter Lynn Vapors. Their powerful, fast yet stable as far as race kites go. The 16.1 I have will allow me to kite in next to nothing. With that kite, I'm really starting to appreciate the finesse and skill it takes to kite in such light winds and the feeling you get of getting a pretty fast tack and looking at the trees not even moving. I'm also a big fan of the Reactor II's. They're very stable and more forgiving than a race kite but give you almost the same amount of power and speed at a nice price. I also love the Ozone's and Flexifoils for their outstanding quality.

For Depowerables, my Peter Lynn Charger is my favorite at the moment. Also love my Flysurfer Speed 2 19m for the light wind and the Psycho 4.

There are exceptions of course, but it seems like you really can't go wrong with most of the major brands out now....viva la differencia!!!

Scudley - 1-2-2012 at 04:25 PM

If you care to sit through this video of Dirtslide, it pretty much shows why I am stuck on Reflexes. It is long, but watch how the kite flies.

Drewculous - 1-2-2012 at 04:52 PM

Favorite FB kite: My Twister2 5.6m .... i have yet to fly a kite that can match that one... big enough to throw me around, snappy enough turning for a jumper, decent float if you can work it. not too many overflys or luffs... i atb with it, i buggy, i static... smooth power delivery, bulletproof kite... pretty affordable

It will always be my go-to fb

Fav Depower-- Phantom 15m... Eats gusts, goes fast, looks awesome... atb, buggy, static.... hooj wind range, great pop.... love that one

only rode on two atbs, my flexdeck and my mbs... i like the mbs more... little better feel, better control

only 1 bug and its great lol

shaggs2riches - 1-2-2012 at 06:57 PM

For me they are all my favorites. Somedays I have a bad day on a kite so I seem to subconsciously put that one on a time out the next time I fly lol. The one kite in my quiver, which has never gave me hassle is my hot pink 6m 2010 access xt. If had underpowered days with it, but it's always behaved well both on the ground and in the air. Crappy winds might drop it from the sky, but I can have it back in the air in seconds. Some days I wish I had its 10m big brother!!! I almost bought one instead of my 9m Frenzy, just because I know how user friendly it would be. Probably one of the best beginner depower kites out there. Expert riders still keep a 6m with them in case the weather turns ugly. That way they still have a ride home when the winds are nuking. So in some ways you can say that is my favorite kite, and that's why.

wheresthewind? - 2-2-2012 at 12:52 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob
Reactor II because I can feel the power without having to pay a price for it.

Watch this if you haven't and you'll see what I mean.

wow, my 7.1 xxl flies almost exactly like that, except mine has a super turbo boost, but it is smooooth...... no wonder everybody wants to hit nabx, that looks nice out there, tons of room, which is why i dont buggy more often, id be out every day if we had miles of room like that.......

indigo_wolf - 2-2-2012 at 06:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by shaggs2riches
For me they are all my favorites. Somedays I have a bad day on a kite so I seem to subconsciously put that one on a time out the next time I fly lol. The one kite in my quiver, which has never gave me hassle is my hot pink 6m 2010 access xt. If had underpowered days with it, but it's always behaved well both on the ground and in the air. Crappy winds might drop it from the sky, but I can have it back in the air in seconds. Some days I wish I had its 10m big brother!!! I almost bought one instead of my 9m Frenzy, just because I know how user friendly it would be. Probably one of the best beginner depower kites out there. Expert riders still keep a 6m with them in case the weather turns ugly. That way they still have a ride home when the winds are nuking. So in some ways you can say that is my favorite kite, and that's why.


Exactly what the designer had to say about the kite @2:06



ATB,
Sam

soliver - 2-2-2012 at 08:41 PM

Not that I'm interested in it, but I've heard a lot about "the widow-maker"... Any flexifoil blade fans out there

What makes you love that scary guy?

wheresthewind? - 2-2-2012 at 09:11 PM

im a danger junkie, so blades are no problem--awesome kites......