SecondWind - 8-11-2006 at 02:10 PM
Hey guys,
I've been flying Begos and Blades for over a year now and I'm wondering if I really want a real "Race Kite" now.
Are Razor/Yakuza type kites really that much faster in a buggy? Or are they just a pain to fly inland?
My average winds are typically 10 mph and gusty. My main flying field is grass and I get to fly about 3 - 4 times a week.
My Blades (had a 4, 6.6, 8.5 & 10.5) are basically "point and shoot" kites and the Begos are quirky and like the use of brakes to get the best
performance. I'm guessing most race kites are like the Begos...
Any help would be great!
Joe
jonesing4wind - 8-11-2006 at 05:46 PM
I learned on a few razors. inland. I dont have enough experience with other kites to comment, but I did fly a samarai and felt that it topped out
way too quickly. Whereas, with the razors, I feel that I have never been at the top end of one. What I am saying is that you will outgrow other
kites but the racekites will keep on giving and matching your skill for quite a while. I am having difficulty expressing the feeling. Let me try
again:
When I fly race kites in a race buggy on a dry lake, I realize how small my skills are.
That said, razors are a pain to keep in the air and will luff at the frop of a hat. they are not park and ride.
I would say try one and see what you think, cause all this babbling wont tell YOU what to think of them. I have a few and would be happy to share
next NABX!
See ya then!
Seany
khooke - 8-11-2006 at 09:00 PM
hey joe - I have buggied since about '97 on and off, mainly with Flexifoil Skytigers (a 40 and a hi-60) that I bought back then. I kept meaning to
upgrade to something 'more modern' but only just got round to buying something new. Having buggied for a few years I decided if I was going to spend
the cash to upgrade then I wanted to get something that would keep me busy for a while, and not something just 'steady and reliable', since I already
had that with my Skytigers.
I spent plenty of time reading reviews, but in the end decided to get a 4.5m Century (from Scoop). Wow, and is that an awesome kite or what. A huge
difference in terms of performance compared with my Skytigers. Like Seany said the difference with a race kite is that they just keep on giving and
giving, with seamingly no let up. I could happily park the 40 in the sky on a good wind day and cruise with no surprises, and pretty soon I'd reach a
point where the kite would not accelerate or provide any more pull, in fact I'd start to buggy faster than the kite, gradually slow down and the kite
would catch up again and pull me to that max speed again, and I'd pass the kite slightly again - you get to a point where you know you're not going to
get any faster.
No so with the Century so far - I am sure there is a maximum speed it will go in any given wind, but so far it keeps on pulling and accelerating, and
I get to a point where I back off, and I think way before the limit of the kite.
Thats my take anyway. The Century takes more effort and attention, because if you stop paying attention and you get in a gust its going to whip your
ass. The pull is nothing but incredible. And I'd defintely get another 
jonesing4wind - 8-11-2006 at 09:40 PM
I am lacking verbal eloquence (sp) after a few beers... But KHooke summed it up nicely.
A little side story:
I had been buggying for about 3-4 years. It was my second time on a dry lake. I dont recall what the wind was but may have been around 18-20mph. I
was on the verge of giving up on my razor 4.5. I was getting "close" (<.5 miles) to camp and decided to start slowing down. I start heading
upwind slightly and the razor likes the extra pull and really starts kicking in. Now I am facing about about 20 or 30 degrees upwind of my direction
of travel. The kite is pulling me sideways and all 3 wheels are slipping. Now here is the kicker: I am still accellerating! Nothing like that
rush!! This sport is as extreme as you want to make it... Anyway, by the time I got into camp at a reasonable speed, I looked at my tires and had
lost almost all the tread remaining. In maybe 20 or 30 seconds!!
I am geting a few lower AR slower kites for toodling around, but race kites deffo good are for expanding your skills! I would at least have a wide
axle if possible. Whatever you decide on, you will have new experiences and new kites are always fun!!
Seany
SecondWind - 9-11-2006 at 06:38 AM
Thanks for the all the info guys. I'm going to snag one when a good deal comes up.
Pablo - 9-11-2006 at 07:59 PM
Hey Davinch,
If you're near the DBBB, there's a set of Century's down there to be demo'd, Look for Susan. They'll also be at NABX and I'm sure Jon will be at NABX
as well with JoJo's as well. If you can wait I'd say try before you buy, You may also get lucky and find someone locally that'll let you run their
kites for a bit.
I don't think the Century's are quite as fast as the Razors or RM+, but they're the most stable forgiving race kite out there. I've had my 6.5m
Century up to 35-40mph and it's still got lots left, We were just running out of space.
One thing that needs to be said for the race kites though, they don't tend to drop back in the window that easily, and they love apparent wind, you'll
be cruising along, drop the kite a little more, then suddenly it hooks up and just keeps on pulling. And yes, your flying skills will improve
dramastically over the first little while. Also guaranteed is at least one brown trowser moment the first time you get the kite to really hook up,
Everyone does it, the kite locks in and keeps on pulling, and most people start cutting upwind and as said before, a little upwind loads up the kite
and creates even more power
eliseo - 15-11-2006 at 08:56 PM
Hi DaVinch!
Try a Bora I II or II or a JOJO RM+... :o:o
Are the best race kites... in my opinion...
Best regards!
Eli
hq_master - 1-12-2006 at 11:27 AM
:barf::karate: