Power Kite Forum

Bullet 1.5 or 2.5?

Mike - 15-2-2004 at 01:47 PM

Hi everyone,
I've been flying Delta Stunt kites for a while now and want to get somthing with a bit more pull, just for general flying or maybe scudding.

I've been looking at the Flexi Bullet, do you think the 2.5 would be worth the extra money? Would the 1.5 pull a 10-11 stone person enough? I'm not looking for air but would would like to do a bit of work.

Any other kites worth looking at?

Thanks
Mike

coreykite - 24-2-2004 at 12:01 PM

Hey Mike,
I've been stuggling to find a suitable metaphor to help newbies understand a bit more of the relationship with size and power.
Try this: If you buy the 300cc bike today, will you wish it was the 450cc next week.

I believe that's the way we think of power until someone puts it in a better context.

Of course, in this we nicely ignore the most important aspect - Wind Speed.

Talking about land traction, more power just breaks your grip on the ground and drags you downwind.

We use faster, more efficient, airfoils and can zoom them vertically to increase power on demand.
Water users need to be constantly over-powered to maintain themselves on top of the water and on a plane.

On land, a momentary decrease of power is nothing to worry about. We don't stop or sink. We just keep rolling along.

Back to the point: A smaller kite (Bullit 1.5) will be powerful in higher winds.
Much quicker too, which is a good reason not to start there.
The bigger kite (Bullit 2.5) will have a wider power range. More opportunities to go play.

Part of this game is to learn how to be efficient.
It's not how much you can steer and muscle the kite about... It's about how little you need to.

Go Big.

coreylama :bisou:

etherbeliever - 17-3-2004 at 07:35 AM

Mike
I'm a fellow newbie to this and I have a Bullet 2.5. Like you I used to fly stunt kites and have found the Bullet 2.5 wicked fun. There's enough power in 15-20mph winds to pick you up but it will tow you around at speeds much lower than that. In terms of the manouvreability it's not too bad either, it's very predictable but *quite a lot* slower than a stunt kite. I'd be inclined to say go for the 2.5 cos it's a quality laugh. That said I'm now getting sucked into buying bigger 6m^2 kite. Be careful...it's addictive.

Andy

Scoopy - 19-3-2004 at 07:26 AM

Any newbie should be more than happy with a 2.5 bullet. Again, as said before. Its not the kite you fly in the wind, its the wind you fly the kite in. I have had a small kite kick my butt in higher wind, and I fly my 6m in lower winds with great effect. Whatever you start with you will likely end up with something bigger for lighter winds. What will happen, is one day you will fly your 2.5 in higher wind and find out what real power is, then crave it all the time. You will be dissappointed when you take your kite out in lower winds and cant get the pull you got earlier, so you buy a little bigger. Then you have the upper medium and high wind covered. Then you go out in lower medium and cant get what you want.. etc, etc, etc, until you have everything from stunt deltas to a low wind monster. This is how the power kiting bug works. We luv it :yes:

Scoop

kenny_dilger - 19-3-2004 at 12:32 PM

I am also planning on getting a Butllet. But I am trying to decide on the 3.5 or 2.5. About 5 years ago I was heavily into power kiting with C-Quads, as well as a Q2003 and Q2005. Unfortuantely I sold all my equipment when I stopped flying... (dumb)...

Would the 3 meter be the most versitle size to buggy and/or land board with in grassy fields? I obviously will get a larger and smaller kite in the future but must buy them one at a time...

I weight about 145 pounds. What winds can I buggy in safely with the 3.5 bullet?

Thanks,
Kenny

Scoopy - 22-3-2004 at 03:09 PM

Its hard for me to say for someone else what you can and cant handle. When I first started with a 3m blade 2, (started power, not flying) I couldnt believe how much power this thing produced in 8-10 mph wind. Now there is no need to get this thing out in any less than about 22-25. Being a light weight, and considering the bullet 3.5, (I have flown the 2.5 and 4.5) I would immagine you should be okay from about 8 to somewhere in the low 20s. Again, depending on how much power you can handle. I have seen light guys hold more power than a bigger guy, just from technique, and staying calm and in control. Hope this helps.

Scoop

MessianicDreams - 30-4-2004 at 04:38 PM

so if i was thinking of getting a 4m^2 as my first quad and power kite of any reasonable size, would i be over shooting.

at the start i just want to use it for scudding and jumping..

also i've been looking at the Eolo Radsail Pro 4m^2
and the PKD Buster 4m^2...anyone want to share some insider info on which one to go for? they're both pretty much the same price..

peace!

doomwheels - 3-5-2004 at 12:17 AM

A 4m kite is not too large if you are thinking of scudding or jumping. You will find it said many times on this forum that larger kites in a moderate wind is a better and safer combination that small kites in high wind. The big kite/light wind combo will offer a long and stable lift time while small kite/high wind will pop you up off the deck quickly and drop you hard.

Either way, kite jumping is the most dangerous aspect of kite traction and should not be taken lightly. You are probably destined to twist, sprain or break an ankle if kite jumping is to be your introductory sport in kiting. I suggest ankle supporting boots, pads and perhaps a knee brace.

Or as you are Swiss... head to Silvaplana for a kitesurfing lesson! :spin:

Mike - 8-5-2004 at 05:21 AM

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Almost everone I spoke to has said if I get the 1.5 I'll want the extra power pretty soon. So I've decided to get the Bullet 2.5, I'm now scraping the extra money togethor and hopefully I'll order it in a few weeks.

Can't wait!

Mike - 1-6-2004 at 04:59 AM

I got my kite just over a week ago and so far I've been out with it twice. It's awesome!

I had great fun with it, I fell over lots and had a scary moment when I was suddenly dragged along on my back. My kite killers came to the rescue though!

Again, thanks to everyone who helped me get into this brilliant pastime!

Bullet 2.5

Pull Merchant - 11-10-2004 at 06:35 AM

Good Choice Mike.
I bought the same a couple of weeks back and have for the first time experienced kiting in 30mph winds.
The only way to describe the pull was AWESOME beyond belief.

bullet 3.5

mad_bar_stud - 16-10-2004 at 04:23 AM

i bought a bullet 3.5 for my first powekite. practiced for a few days in mild winds and soon got 2 grips with it, or so i thought. Took it over sedgley beacon on a windy day (20_25 mph ) i was with a mate who is over 6 ft tall, went straight over the top of him dropped like a brick and ended up being taken 2 hospital and put on crutches with ankle ligament damage. i'll put this down 2 live and learn by the way i only weigh in at 9 stone. cant wait 2 fly again i''ll keep u posted as 2 my next injury.