Power Kite Forum

Help me pick my ATB for kiting in the desert

logs - 23-1-2013 at 08:15 PM

Well I moved from the ocean to El Paso and I would like to keep kiting. Looking for a board that will work well for all the open desert we have around here. Everything is medium soft sand with big clumps of weeds. Any suggestions? Have a Flysurfer Speed 12 DLX, usually always some wind. Thanks

=Jason-

erratic winds - 23-1-2013 at 09:10 PM

Get a flexboardz haize from BigKid and throw some mobility scooter balloon tires on it?

43patrick - 26-1-2013 at 04:37 PM

Has any one here converted the truck of a mountain board to fit 26" or 29" MTB Bike wheels. We have tons of open prairie around here, but the Nicely groomed stuff is in short supply. Maybe even a 26" wheels with Fat Bike Tires you could roll through the desert or prairie pretty well. (my axel length is a touch short to fit through a Cartridge bearing hub).

Snake - 26-1-2013 at 07:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 43patrick
Has any one here converted the truck of a mountain board to fit 26" or 29" MTB Bike wheels. We have tons of open prairie around here, but the Nicely groomed stuff is in short supply. Maybe even a 26" wheels with Fat Bike Tires you could roll through the desert or prairie pretty well. (my axel length is a touch short to fit through a Cartridge bearing hub).


Try a dirt surfer. They have 20" wheels.

indigo_wolf - 26-1-2013 at 08:52 PM

While Dirtsurfers have 16 and 20 inch wheels they still ride fairly low to the ground and the narrow wheels will bog down in soft sand. That and with only two wheels your weight is being distributed to only two points of contact so there is more weight bearing down on the contact patches.

Better with the Haize and either mobility scooter tires (4 plies if you are going to run into ground cover that chews up rubber). Cost more, but if you can find a way to mount a hub that will accept the 9.4 inch Wheeleez that would definitely float over lose sand, but would also be more puncture prone (although they do sell a flat free version ... more money).

ATB,
Sam

Nomadic - 26-1-2013 at 09:06 PM

I have both a dirtsurfer and a Flexboardz Mehndi.. and live in South Eastern Utah Desert.

I like both the Dirtsurfer and the Flexboardz Mehndi for my terrain, which is rough, rocky and full of scrub, 5000' desert red rocks.

The dirtsurfer excels in the softer sand areas, for me. Takes on a 'snowboarding on powder' feel. It handles the scrub when needed, and I'm not worried about stabbing it with cactus or goatheads as I can rhino line the tires and slime the tubes. It lacks turn radius, so it needs wide spaces to really make it off road worthy.

I like the Mehndi alot. But I think I'm going to break mine pretty fast, the board part anyways. I might beef up with some more washers as the parts come off of it. It can take a lot of abuse, no doubt. But I'm putting mine through hell. The flexing of the arms gives the board a lot of terrain options for me, but the softer the sand gets the harder the board is to control (for me).

I have an older style Atom MTB but... I don't like it. Doesn't respond like the Dirtsurfer or Mehndi.

I'm saving up for some coyote skates to see what they can do for me on the tundra.



Nomadic

crazyherb - 27-1-2013 at 12:39 AM

Second thumbs up for the Flexboardz - But I'd go with the Haize on 9 inch tires.

I've actually recently went to the MBS T2 tires that are just a tad more agressive (and bigger) then the stock Haize tires...love it...

Either way....have fun... would love to try out a dirt surfer myself.

Rock on!!

Flexboardz Haize

jbraal - 11-2-2013 at 08:38 PM

Hello,

I have started kite landboarding in Memphis TN. I have been looking into getting the Flexboardz Haize. I have found two places online where I can order the board, but the manufacturer's website seems to be down. Do any of you guys out there with Flexboardz know if you can get spare parts? I don't really want to spend $487 on bored that I cannot fix if I break it or lose parts.

Thanks
Jaredan

zalex820 - 11-2-2013 at 08:50 PM

good ol El Paso TX. Ahhh the good old days after Ft Bliss. Is it still crime crazy over there?

logs - 12-2-2013 at 08:53 PM

Nah the crime doesn't seem to bad, just gotta know which areas you can go to. I lived here in 08, not much has changed. Some more houses on the east side and a couple more walmarts.

=Jason-

zalex820 - 12-2-2013 at 09:13 PM

I don't know budd when I was there it seemed like every single day someone was getting robbed stabbed or shot. Regardless be safe out there and enjoy your new home.

stetson05 - 12-2-2013 at 09:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jbraal
Hello,

I have started kite landboarding in Memphis TN. I have been looking into getting the Flexboardz Haize. I have found two places online where I can order the board, but the manufacturer's website seems to be down. Do any of you guys out there with Flexboardz know if you can get spare parts? I don't really want to spend $487 on bored that I cannot fix if I break it or lose parts.

Thanks
Jaredan


Get one from here http://www.pkdkitesusa.com/ You can get spare parts from there too. Keep the shipping spacers and use them to reinforce the deck if you like a stiffer ride. I have a video somewhere to show how to do it. I need to get that video to nomad too.

logs - 13-2-2013 at 09:09 AM

what's people's opinion on MBS boards? Looks like I can get one of those fairly cheaply.

stetson05 - 14-2-2013 at 01:05 AM

Entry level are fine. Nice ones are really nice and get really expensive too. If you are looking to ride in the desert and thus are likely to need bigger wheels I would think they are not the way to go. The problem would be when you turn. The next problem would be finding ones that fit on hubs that would work. I realize the Flexboardz are expensive too but I think there are some ways to make them work better for you. Your best bet it to try to connect with someone with a board and try it out. Better if they have several boards like me so you can try both types. Maybe you can try and connect with Van or someone there in Texas. It is a big state though so hard to know.

logs - 17-2-2013 at 11:20 AM

I can get a MBS 95x for pretty cheap new and it has 9 inch wheels. I would take the brake off of it. Just wanted to know people's opinion if the flexboardz would still be better. The prices doesn't concern me that much, just want to pick what's best. What does the flexboardz have over say the 95x? Wish there were people around that I could demo their boards but there's noone here in ELP.

=Jason-

43patrick - 17-2-2013 at 02:46 PM

I have never ridden a flexboard but I like my MBS. I am currently running 8" tires but 9's will fit on my rims and I think that I will go with those the next time I buy tires.

stetson05 - 17-2-2013 at 06:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by logs
I can get a MBS 95x for pretty cheap new and it has 9 inch wheels. I would take the brake off of it. Just wanted to know people's opinion if the flexboardz would still be better. The prices doesn't concern me that much, just want to pick what's best. What does the flexboardz have over say the 95x? Wish there were people around that I could demo their boards but there's noone here in ELP.

=Jason-


One of the first things to look at is if you are heavier than the board is rated for. I had a core 90 and a core 95 and they were good boards. Turning some times the wheels would contact my boots and required adjustments. That is pretty normal until you the the bindings adjusted correctly and get used to the foot positioning. There is more limitation on tire size in that respect because they can contact the board eaiser. The Flexboardz wheels are out in front and back so don't have that problem. I am still looking for larger tires than 9 inch but haven't found great options yet.

crazyherb - 17-2-2013 at 06:59 PM

I have both the Flexboardz Haize and Comp 95x both on 9"
I ride my Flex about twice as much as the Comp...(if that means anything)...

BigKid is great for parts support if something goes wrong with the Fxbz...

Either one, works....and only a couple pounds difference in weight....but I go MUCH faster (in comfort) on the Fxbz... at about 25 mph the MBS board gets freaky...but I'm still carving away in style on the Haize at that speed.....

Here's a pic before I "blinged" out my Haize...along side Comp 95x


Proletariat - 22-2-2013 at 08:53 PM

I will be ordering a trampa board to ride in the desert, but I gotta admit, that flxboard does look sexy. I didn't realize only a few pounds difference. The FB looks MUCH heavier than the MBS boards I've ridden, but I guess that's just an illusion.

logs - 1-3-2013 at 01:16 PM

Proletariat, why are you getting a trampa board over a MBS/Flexbrd? Which one are you looking at? I would like to buy something within the next week or so. Can't stand not using my kite.

=Jason-

Proletariat - 2-3-2013 at 01:11 AM

Amen... Well, this is my "entry-level" board, so I bought one that Ted cut a little short for a custom jobby (he charged me slightly less than a regular board). It's a 35 deg deck with skate trucks (good for air, bad for fast) that are at the correct angle due to angled risers. I got the 14 ply, but my next will be the 15 ply.

My real deck, once I deserve it because I'm riding awesome (and if money was less of an object) would be either a 35 deg holy pro on channel trucks or a 15 deg holy pro on skate trucks. This one will be about $500.

Anyway, everyone in the UK rides Trampa and I just like the Trampa materials better than MBS. Flexboardz look heavy to me, but I'd like to ride one to check it out. I'm not a speed freak, but I do want to catch the occasional controlled air, so weight matters. I've ridden a few MBS boards, and they're all really nice but they feel a little cheap to me for a $300 - 500 board. With the kind of abuse I intend to put this board through, I wanted something SOLID. Plus, they look awesome.

I have another thread in this topic that has a pic of the new board. It's quite the pimp. :) Incidentally, both Ted at Trampa and the guy at MBS were incredibly nice and helpful. MBS gets extra points because it's in my state, but I really wanna see more Trampas in the US to keep 'em honest :) Hope that helps.

Proletariat - 2-3-2013 at 01:16 AM

Ah... here's a pic:




Incidentally, it arrived today, but I have to sign for it and I wasn't home. Going to go pick up tomorrow!!! Wooohoo! Will be riding it Sunday! erm... woohoo?!