Power Kite Forum - Flexboardz Downfall

Flexboardz Downfall

ikemiester - 25-7-2012 at 11:54 AM

First off, let me say that I think I am going to catch a lot of flak for this, but I believe it needs to be said on this forum. I recently was home for a couple of weeks and had the opportunity to try out a flexboardz haize. I was very kindly offered to try one out by BKK (thank you very much, great guy, great customer support). I hopped on and had probably around a half hour on it. My first thought when I looked at the board and positioned myself... it is HEAVY! .... like holy cow heavy. Nearly double the weight of my core 90.

I took off and was able to hold a very good line with the board, with much better upwind ability. That was very nice. However, as I went to go back I tried sliding into my return, and was held back by the weight and grip of the board. My riding style requires sliding, as I have said many times early. I love sliding transitions and doing the backroll type spins on the ground that CarlTB and Dan Smith (my inspiration) do (they were discussed about a month ago in the atb forum). I headed back toward the dry sand it once again held a great line upwind and was very stable.

Yet, as discussed on the forum, I could see this board breaking a speed record, although I don't know if I'd even consider it a mountainboard... it's almost a different category. So, speed, stability, and upwind are great. I would go as far to say unparalleled. This could even be improved more with better footstraps which are on the same level as my old MBS ambush warrior.

I just don't understand where flexboardz is trying to go with their product. It's too expensive for an entry level board if someone doesn't want to get in too deep into a sport that they aren't even committed to yet. I could see it for people who just like to cruise, but that's about it. A part was also broken on crazyherb's (Steve) board, and I was very impressed yet again with BKK replacing the part for him on the spot.

But, back to the point. In my opinion this is not a board to 'further the sport' which is what I have seen it portrayed as. An intermediate rider (in my opinion) should be looking at getting a trampa or the MBS pro 90 if they really want to up their game. Both of these boards are in the same price range as the flexboardz. I'd like to someone try inverted tricks on it.... not happening consistently... period dot. My abs are strong, and it's hard enough to do them on something half the weight. Just jumping on the thing alone stretched my back a little bit, I wasn't about to try to spin.

So in short, here's what I think. From an engineering standpoint, it's a great idea. The board is extremely stable and fast. However for right now it is too heavy to do much jumping and spinning with. Maybe we'll see a speed record that will blow our minds. But for now, I'm sticking with my far lighter board that can slide, make going inverted far easier and that I'm more comfortable with.

sunset-Jim - 25-7-2012 at 12:10 PM

But will it help you remember your kite bag? (inside joke) :bigok:

flyjump - 25-7-2012 at 12:18 PM

I'd agree with you on that. I think they are great carve boards but they require a lot of force to powerslide with them.

The only rider i've ever seen throw one of those around in the air is Phreerider. he let me try his board at Jekyll and i felt the same way about the boards. they ride upwind really well and they carve like jack the ripper. Im not saying freestyle and big airs cant be done with them because it is possible. I had a few jumps with it as well. i thought it was going to stretch me out and make me a few inches taller because of the extra weight of the board.

I think if you are looking to go fast and carve around this could be the board for you. If you are looking for something light and nimble you might check out trampa mbs or the high end of GI boards.

erratic winds - 25-7-2012 at 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyjump If you are looking for something light and nimble you might check out trampa mbs or the high end of GI boards.

TRAMPA or MBS only, GI's dead can't recommend them anymore. (Love mine, but can't recommend a brand that is now unsupported)

flyjump - 25-7-2012 at 12:49 PM

GI is completely gone now eh? What happend to them?

shortlineflyer - 25-7-2012 at 01:11 PM

I heard they got seued for patent infringement. The last truck they came out with looked like an mbs truck. but i am not sure.

ikemiester - 25-7-2012 at 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sunset-Jim
But will it help you remember your kite bag? (inside joke) :bigok:

Maybe :roll:

Also, I'd like to hear Phree's take on the freestyle side.

bigkid - 25-7-2012 at 02:28 PM

Wow, pull out the big guns and blast away. :thumbup:

Well the ikemiester is right, almost. It is heavy, but sadly not twice as much as your Core 90, not even close. And a half hour on the board? I better check my watch.

I am not aware of anyone pulling the wool over anyone's eyes, or trying to make the board into anything but what it is. I asked if you have ever had a chance to try the board. I never said it was better than the others.

I could really go off on the subject and sling quite a bit of mud about that day, but what good is that going to do?

As far as Steve breaking the board, good for him! Thats his job. After he breaks the next one, he gets another one to replace it.

Like I said when I gave you the board, try it out and let me know what you think of it. 5 minutes on the board was more than enough time for you to decide it wasnt set up for you or your type of riding.
You are so right, it was set up for speed and big jumps at NABX.

If you want to try one of the boardz set up to be light and slide, I have one set up that way. You don't test drive a new truck and tell everyone it doesn't handle like your sports car. Thats a no brainer.

And where is Flexboardz going with this board? I guess it's going the same place your board came from and is going.
I am not giving you any crap about your post, just think it would be a bit more interesting next time to compare apples to apples. But I could be wrong.

Anyone wanting a Flexboardz will hear the same questions and have to answer them before I will send out the board. I have said no to quite a few people who were hoping for something it isnt.

Thanks for the write-up, I enjoyed it. :yes:

PHREERIDER - 25-7-2012 at 02:50 PM

my initial impressions kinda the same, grip off the charts, the power to break it loose is substantial, much more than any board i have ever ridden and a style adjustment for sure for any seasoned rider. so there is a "have to ride it" if you can't slide it element. on the dry lake its even more so. everyone on there first transition will experience this ,you are not alone and your impressions are accurate.

if freestyle is your goal it would be a poor choice, unless your 200+ with decent strength.

its labeled freeride, and "board" is more of an association with similar units of the balancing board sport of ATB's in general. i think i mentioned, a description of a riding "platform" more so than "board", and corner balancing points instead of centerline(skate) balancing points makes it so.

lacking maple(like) board pop and centerline balance points, it is really a device or "machine" of its own class.

downhill carve longboard style , slides and switches really all the same. rotations and even ground switches are all the same for ME with this board, at first certainly not, it took couple sessions to get it wired , i much prefer it solely due to the speeds i like , all my lighter atb's just shake and wobble out WAY TOO early for me now.

a race board on the water will never be a freestyle contender.
a race board for the land will meet the same fate.
a freestyle buggy isn't gonna be all grins at 70mph either.
vyron's don't haul refrigerators, right ?

its a poor match for YOUR goals ...the traction sport has ADOPTed a downhill ATB for a ride we all have benefited to the mash up. The FLxBz design i think is a better TRACTION device for the sport. and SPEED will be its forte.

smaller units are fun for sure have a stack i still ride, not downfall, just different

PHREERIDER - 25-7-2012 at 02:50 PM

now we session

ikemiester - 25-7-2012 at 05:59 PM

I had just seen different things around the forum in terms of abilities and wanted them known. I'm impressed you can do phreestyle on it in general. This thread to me was putting something to rest that I had seen.... I interpreted it as people saying the 'fix all' ... I'm glad we're all seeing the same here. Also, as far as pure speed goes, that also deals a lot with body position. Gabe Shortman has been 50+ Eli 45+ and I'm at least 40+ mph. Granted, if we were to lose that perfect position, we'd be royally screwed compared to a flexboardz, the key is we don't. And nothing compares to its upwind (aside from a buggy)

Downfall?

crazyherb - 25-7-2012 at 06:51 PM

Ike,

All good observations...and no flak from me, other then choice of topic word maybe: Downfall?? Hardly IMHO.... Having coming from the other direction (off my FxBz to trying out YOUR board for a couple minutes that same day)...Thanks BTW... I think I can see where you're coming from...
Your board was the squirrel-iest, lightest, flexi-est out there...and felt like it could do a U-turn around my board...

From what I saw in your riding, I'd consider you a Freestyle MONSTER... Jumps/spins/rolls/load and POP... I admire your skills...and appreciate you taking the time to help me "send it" that day... RESPECT!!

Now...I tried Eli's board too...and found it kind of a happy-medium of lightness/flex and turning capability....but that is strictly my opinion...thanks as well to Eli for just offering it up for me to try...

Honestly, the Sunset crew is TOP SHELF!! You guys all ROCK in my book...

Personally, when it all comes down to it, I think board selection is really all about CHOICE....
At one time I think I made a "Cadillac vs Honda Civic" analogy. Not that any one is better than the other... I think they are just different animals. (BTW - I own three MBS boards too)

If this were on the WATER...I would more consider this like an evaluation or comparison of a Race Board/SurfBoard (FxBz) with a Freestyle twin-tip (MBS Core) board?

Weight - Fxbz - 18.5 lbs / Core - 12 lbs (yup...Fxbz heavier)
- FEEL those abs when you lift/crunch the Fxbz

Wheelbase - FXbz - 40.5 in / Core - 33 in (yup...Fxbz longer)
- SPIN? ROLL?....wait for it....wait for it....there she comes around (meanwhile, Ike has pulled a 720 on his MBS)...

Tires - Fxbz - 9 in / Core - 8 in (yup...Fxbz bigger)
- Small increase in ride-able beach, more grip....but LOOK at that rooster tail when it DOES slide!! HAAA!!

As for my less than pretty landing.... I'm absolutely sure that my one-wheeled, heel-side landing from 20ft would have snapped ANY truck that was under my 215lbs of straight down (combined with my poor kite jump follow-thru) skills... :smilegrin:

I landed HARD on it....with NO forward motion....and IT gave before my ankle did... thankfully... I wouldn't blame the product on that one!!
(raising hand)
Yet...there he was...(BigKid) JEFF!! Swoops in to save the day....above and beyond, in my book. :thumbup:

KA-POW!! Back up and riding in 10 minutes...WOOT WOOT!!

I had a blast that day...and look forward to riding with ya'll soon...
(wow...long winded)

Peace OUT!
Steve

indigo_wolf - 25-7-2012 at 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ikemiester
A part was also broken on crazyherb's (Steve) board, and I was very impressed yet again with BKK replacing the part for him on the spot.

Quote:

Originally posted by crazyherb
As for my less than pretty landing.... I'm absolutely sure that my one-wheeled, heel-side landing from 20ft would have snapped ANY truck that was under my 215lbs of straight down (combined with my poor kite jump follow-thru) skills... :smilegrin:

KA-POW!! Back up and riding in 10 minutes...WOOT WOOT!!

Peace OUT!
Steve

Everything breaks.... just the nature of the beast.

If there are any pics of the breakage, I would love to see them though.

ATB,
Sam

ikemiester - 25-7-2012 at 09:50 PM

I've had a truck break as well, but that was after about 1000 hours of HARD freestyle riding. I'll give flexboardz a break as they will continue to figure everything out just as others have done in the past. It just scared me a bit and I figured I'd note it considering it was one of the things I saw from my one day around flexboardz.

And Steve, I think I've rethought your analogy... it's more like a Nascar (flexboardz) vs a souped up dirt bike (trampa/MBS)

crazyherb - 25-7-2012 at 09:57 PM

Nice...
NASCAR vs Dirt Bike...

Love it!