Power Kite Forum

Man,... I just love that 8.6m RII, ...what's your Fav?

soliver - 7-11-2014 at 08:50 PM

I never thought I'd end up being one of those guys who always goes out and throws up the 8m, but the last 4 sessional I've had, I end up putting it up and having an absolute blast. I remember barely being comfortable with a 5m in 10mph wind, but now the 8.6m (stropped and harnessed) is becoming my go to kite for the generally light conditions here in the Metro Atlanta area. I'm actually feeling like I'm neglecting my other kites :(, but the conditions I've ridden lately, the 8.6m is all that works for me. Conditions here are rarely over 12 mph... and when they are, I'm at work or otherwise occupied.

I'm much more confident in my riding lately, and in the Stinger with the slightly higher winds I'm riding the 8.6m in, the kite is actually lifting me and the buggy a little off the ground.

So I have a new favorite as I get super comfy slingin this big boy around. I still have yet to have conditions right to buggy with the 3.5m, but I'm looking forward to it.

What lately are you finding as your favorite and why?

BigMikesKites - 8-11-2014 at 04:58 AM

The 8.6 is grand isn't it. One of my favorites. With a little more wind, the 6.9 gets a lot of use here.

soliver - 8-11-2014 at 06:06 AM

If I had more disposable income i'd give strong consideration to getting a 10m

ssayre - 8-11-2014 at 07:41 AM

Spencer, good to hear your getting comfortable being hooked in with the big one. I'm still not to comfortable being hooked in with my foils. Probably not a surprise, but my ns2 5.5m and 7m have been my most used kites in the buggy. I'm always hooked in with them in the buggy and that has enabled me to hold down more power and go faster. They continue to impress me with their speed and power on my fields. One handed flying, being hooked in, and my new backrest has completely changed what I do. Fun wise it's great, exercise wise, not so much.

ssayre - 8-11-2014 at 05:22 PM

This should be a good thread. I'd like to here what everyone's favorite kite to use is. If nobody speaks up, I'll just keep talking about my favorite and everyone has to be sick of that by now :D

soliver - 8-11-2014 at 10:28 PM

:lol:

Yea... I keep yammering about Reactors... But hey, they're awesomeness... What can I say? (Other than thanks to Angus for selling it to me :D)

Sean, I've got mine hooked in with a pulley on a QR, so I know I can bail in a pinch, or even hook the QR to the bug for auto QR... Consider that if you want to save your arms flying foils.

So come on gang,... Why d'you love whatcha got?

BigMikesKites - 9-11-2014 at 04:12 AM

Don't forget the .8 on the Reactor 10.8. its really a trimmed down 11 if you round it up.

Bladerunner - 9-11-2014 at 10:51 AM

My favorite kite is my 15m Synergy but this past season my 18m Phantom saw the most days by far due to our light winds. Really enjoying the Phanny and getting some real safe feeling air with it now that we are working together not against each other.

sand flea - 9-11-2014 at 03:52 PM

I'll never forget this past summer watching Bladerunner play with his Phantom. It was beautiful, like a child on the beach playing in the warm sunshine.

All my kites are my favorites but if I had to pick one i think it would be my 11 meter Vapor. It is just so easy to fly and will pull me in next to nothing for wind.

Glad you like your Reactor, they're great kites.

RonH - 9-11-2014 at 06:28 PM

Vapor 7.8:D

Now sand flea's 11 is nice but...

Flying the 7.8 means decent wind and doing 30+ up and down the beach:thumbup:

WELDNGOD - 9-11-2014 at 07:07 PM

It has to be my 5.5m PKD Century :cool: https://vimeo.com/77554203

soliver - 10-11-2014 at 05:04 PM

Juuuust might have a chance for the 3.5m RII on Thursday... That means get to work early & take a long lunch.

cheezycheese - 10-11-2014 at 05:08 PM

I would have to say any kite I have in the air is my favorite kite at the moment. I really like the quiver I have and would be hard pressed to choose one over the other. I'm really enjoying the Phantoms right now. Fixed bridle would have to be my little 2.5m PKD.

PHREERIDER - 10-11-2014 at 05:19 PM

using gear that fits your spot can yield a mountain of sessions, learning to make it produce is just the best , right on man!

too many favs to pick one , maybe one of every design!

TEDWESLEY - 12-11-2014 at 04:54 PM

Love my Reactors, but which one depends on what wind is happening.
The kite with the greatest number of hours on it is an old Beamer 2.5 the first kite I owned. This despite the other kites (10) in the quiver. We all preach to the new kiters to buy a kite like this and it's true. There's always a gnarly day during the year when I get it out for no other reason than I know it (and I) will survive.
The current darling is my new Peak 6m it's been great in the buggy and snowkiting is on the way!

kiteballoon - 12-11-2014 at 07:05 PM

Currently enjoying the 12m Charger 2, but my favorite session(s) of all time happened on a 12m phantom and a 6m phantom respectively.

So hard to pick any single kite, but the right kite in the right conditions is simply amazing and you know it when you have it. The key is to find that kite for your prevailing winds and then never put it down :-)

soliver - 13-11-2014 at 06:32 AM

Sustained winds in the teens today,... massive cold front hit GA last night... I came into work early today so I'm taking a long lunch for a short session at the park... hopefully my first go with the 3.5m RII in the buggy.

woop woop :o

skimtwashington - 13-11-2014 at 07:22 AM

Ted..

Do you fly any other depowers beside your Peak? Curious..

ssayre - 13-11-2014 at 07:24 AM

Get some video spencer. :cool2:

robinsonpr - 13-11-2014 at 10:10 AM

I've not got a big quiver (ooerrr) but I'm loving my new 6m Peak. It's been great to get me up and running on an ATB.

I REALLY want to be saying the 15m Synergy is my favourite like Bladerunner, but having spent 30 minutes with it static flying and ending up with broken bones (OK, only a thumb :D) it's staying in the bag for now!!

soliver - 13-11-2014 at 11:39 AM

Just got back from an hours worth of lunch-break-buggying. First time with suitable wind for the 3.5m RII so it was the first time I've bugged with it. WOW what a little powerhouse!!! That thing was pretty awesome. According to Windfinder it was a blowing 12mph gusting over 20mph... but the sustained stuff felt like more than that. Maybe it was more gust than not... anywho, it was awesome!!

Sorry Sean, no video... it was all I could do to get out there, set up, rock and roll, pack up and be back at work in 1 1/2 hrs... didn't wanna add a camera to the mix.

Such a good kite made buggying super easy and very very very fun. In my rush though I decided not to use the harness,... that might have been a mistake :o

ssayre - 13-11-2014 at 11:50 AM

Harness, no harness, who cares, the main thing is you made it out and got buggy with that kite at lunchtime. :thumbup:

BeamerBob - 13-11-2014 at 11:57 AM

The 2 kites I have the most confidence in are the 8m Montana VIII and the 5m HQ Ignition. I had an epic day with the 5.5 vapor at SOBB a few months ago too. Location and conditions make different kites shine for sure. I need a few kites to fill in above the 5.5 to the 10m HQ Prodigy for trips to the coast.

ssayre - 13-11-2014 at 03:18 PM

Starting at goalie and fullback today was the 5.5m and flexdeck



flexdeck.jpg - 40kB

WELDNGOD - 13-11-2014 at 03:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by soliver  
Just got back from an hours worth of lunch-break-buggying. First time with suitable wind for the 3.5m RII so it was the first time I've bugged with it. WOW what a little powerhouse!!! That thing was pretty awesome. According to Windfinder it was a blowing 12mph gusting over 20mph... but the sustained stuff felt like more than that. Maybe it was more gust than not... anywho, it was awesome!!

Sorry Sean, no video... it was all I could do to get out there, set up, rock and roll, pack up and be back at work in 1 1/2 hrs... didn't wanna add a camera to the mix.

Such a good kite made buggying super easy and very very very fun. In my rush though I decided not to use the harness,... that might have been a mistake :o


So have you broken that PB yet????? Wind like that should have had you going pretty good.

soliver - 13-11-2014 at 04:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by WELDNGOD  
Quote: Originally posted by soliver  
Just got back from an hours worth of lunch-break-buggying. First time with suitable wind for the 3.5m RII so it was the first time I've bugged with it. WOW what a little powerhouse!!! That thing was pretty awesome. According to Windfinder it was a blowing 12mph gusting over 20mph... but the sustained stuff felt like more than that. Maybe it was more gust than not... anywho, it was awesome!!

Sorry Sean, no video... it was all I could do to get out there, set up, rock and roll, pack up and be back at work in 1 1/2 hrs... didn't wanna add a camera to the mix.

Such a good kite made buggying super easy and very very very fun. In my rush though I decided not to use the harness,... that might have been a mistake :o


So have you broken that PB yet????? Wind like that should have had you going pretty good.


You'd think I would, but unfortunately, I don't have room to build up speed to get much over 18mph before I have to turn around... Mostly just fun.

I didn't have my GPS on me today, but I'm sure I probably was somewhere close to 20mph at my peak.

ssayre - 13-11-2014 at 04:31 PM

Breaking into high 20's in an inland field is tough to do imo (probably not impossible). I've only been up to 24 at my fastest. Between not getting a sustained wind, running out of room, and high rolling resistance are big obstacles to overcome. Oh, I forgot, there's also 240 lbs plus buggy to overcome for me as well :)

soliver - 13-11-2014 at 04:55 PM

My 26.6 mph run was on Jekyll Island... The JI park 'n' ride :smilegrin:

If I had a good easterly (not common in Atlanta) I might could break 27mph at my new spot, but it's about 30 min from work, so it wouldn't be a lunch break kinda deal).

BeamerBob - 13-11-2014 at 04:57 PM

I got to 26.5 at OOBE field once and thought my hair was going to catch on fire. Felt like 50 for sure. That's a big field as well, so I had a little room to run. Breaking 20 on a grass field is doing pretty good.

ssayre - 13-11-2014 at 05:07 PM

I'm working on it bob. I have been obsessed with going faster in my fields. The funny thing is my fastest days have been on my nasa wings. I'm convinced I can hit 30 with them on the right day. Soccer season is over and they have taken the goals down. I just need time and the right conditions.

soliver - 13-11-2014 at 05:13 PM

Edited my post above... I know what you mean Bobby, my first PB over 20 was at OOBE as well, and I experienced the same sensation... "Wow, that split rail fence is coming up mighty quick"

Like I said in the edit above, I believe I could get over 27 mph at my new spot with a good 13-14mph easterly, but Atlanta wind is primarily westerly.

ssayre - 13-11-2014 at 05:16 PM

I will race you to 27. You can't let a nasa beat you.

You've got plenty of time. I hit my fastest the first week I got them and haven't got past 20 since then. :lol:

soliver - 13-11-2014 at 08:08 PM

I'll take you up on that,... but my wind is major suckage, and the spot close to work is pretty small... At least those are my excuses for now :lol:

I only can get to the big park once a month, so Sean, you have the advantage in that respect.

Anybody have a 16m Vapor I can borrow :smilegrin:

TEDWESLEY - 13-11-2014 at 08:09 PM

I fly a Neo2 11m as well as the Peak, mostly snowkiting. My wife refers to it as the kite of death due to an accident I
had while launching it. The kite and I have made up but it was touch and go with Holly for quite a while...

soliver - 13-11-2014 at 08:20 PM

Uh oh, Sean:

ssayre - 14-11-2014 at 07:04 AM

Wow, that's some decent wind. Looks like some of it borders between the 2.6 and the 3.5

soliver - 14-11-2014 at 08:28 AM

It's a work day and I'll wan to keep my underwear clean,... I'll probably use the 2.6m