Power Kite Forum

De power or Fixed Bridle

eleddo - 8-7-2015 at 03:12 AM

Im looking at upgrading from my 3.5m fixed bridle and wandering whether to go for a second hand depower (Ozone 05 7m) or stick with a fixed bridle and get a new PL Twister III 5.5m?

Use it mainly for landboarding and want something to be able to use when the 3.5m is no good.

I like the idea of a cheap depower but as its now 10years old, thought perhaps Im better off sticking with a new kite but still fixed bridle.

thanks


Bladerunner - 8-7-2015 at 03:45 AM

Depower kites don't deliver up power the same as Fixed Bridle. A 7m depower will almost completely over lap your 3.5m FB.

Depower is usually the kite of choice for land boarding. That 05 isn't a great choice. You can find a better depower used for equal price to a new Twister.

Feyd - 8-7-2015 at 04:06 AM

I think it depends on the model. Blade's right, the depow won't offer up the raw power of a FB but that's the point. The depower will cover roughly the same wind range as 2-3 fixed bridles. I'm not sure I agree that a 7m 05 Frenzy would overlap much with his small fixed bridle. The 7m was my first depow and it was more like my 5m fixed bridle. Trimmed out, sure it would be close to a 3m FB. In went from Samurais to the Frenzy and never looked back. My 7m Sammy pulled like my 9m Frenzy for scale.

If its an 05 Frenzy, that thing will offer up nearly as much power as FB but with a safety system a d the ability to trim. Mostly because its old and was made early in the depower game. IMO, Damn nice kites those 05 Frenzy's. Tough as nails too. Every single rider in my area either owned or still owns one and learned depower on them.

The wing is a workhorse. If its in good shape it can be a great little addition to ones quiver. I miss flying mine some days.

abkayak - 8-7-2015 at 05:29 AM

welcome eleddo, nice to have you aboard...dont look at this as upgrading from your 3.5...look at it as building a quiver
i learned dp w/ an 04 7.3 Frenzy i picked up a few years ago, no regrets here...of course make sure its in decent shape no cells blown before you buy it then go have fun...absolutely doesnt have the safety set up of the modern stuff but it works fine...landboarding just works better dp...imo

Bladerunner - 8-7-2015 at 03:56 PM

My only point of reference for the 05 7m Frenzy would be a LONG time ago. I was scared as a newbie trying to ride with a 3m Brooza while a much more experienced pilot was happy as could be on his 7m and didn't want to go down to his 5. Winds were in the high 20's and we were snow kiting.

Frenzy does have a good rep' but I thought that the depower + safety improved greatly shortly after 05? I may have been hasty in saying you should pass. I would defer to Feyd's experience and he seems to think it's OK.

eleddo - 9-7-2015 at 12:55 AM

Thanks for input. Definitely adding to my quiver rather than upgrading you're right. Initially I wanted a bigger FB to use when the 3.5 was too small, as it's mainly land boarding I'm interested in I thought a de power would be the way to go and I just happened to be offered the Frenzy 7m for a reasonably cheap price as opposed to a more expensive new FB around 5.5m.

De power seems to be the advice here but worried I'll still be limited to the same winds as my small FB anyway and will have regretted not getting the Twister.

eleddo - 9-7-2015 at 01:05 AM

Thanks for input. Definitely adding to my quiver rather than upgrading you're right. Initially I wanted a bigger FB to use when the 3.5 was too small, as it's mainly land boarding I'm interested in I thought a de power would be the way to go and I just happened to be offered the Frenzy 7m for a reasonably cheap price as opposed to a more expensive new FB around 5.5m.

De power seems to be the advice here but worried I'll still be limited to the same winds as my small FB anyway and will have regretted not getting the Twister.

Bladerunner - 9-7-2015 at 03:49 AM

7m is a very good place to start building your depower quiver. Yes, it will overlap your 3.5 some but odds are you will stick with depower and it will serve as your high wind kite. You can really throw a 7 around to create power. Learning to do so only makes you a better pilot.

How good a deal are you talking? I wouldn't call much more than $200 a good deal for that old a model?


abkayak - 9-7-2015 at 06:06 AM

yea...imo a good beginning for dp...250$ tops...i dont know if that thing safety's to your wrist like mine did, but i got rid of that and put on a regular leash ...still not sure if that was wise but didnt like the wrist thing at all

robinsonpr - 9-7-2015 at 07:14 AM

I bought a 3m Twister as my first kite when I got back into flying following a long time off. I quickly wanted more for lighter wind days, and like you I considered a bigger Twister. Advice I got on here took me down the depower path and I got a 6m Flysurfer Peak (which is awesome by the way!). That thing has plenty of power even in fairly light winds. My Twister hasn't been out of the bag since I got that kite. I thought the Twister would serve as my high wind kite but I found that in 20mph+ the fixed bridle was a bit of a handful because the higher winds also brought higher gusts. After more advice on here I recently bought a 6m Ozone Access for those higher winds. Another awesome kite and it took me to 38mph on my little buggy (can't wait to try it with the new beast :cool:)! Even though it sounds the same size as the Peak they don't overlap that much. The 6m Peak is bordering on overpowered at 20mph and the 6m Access is only just waking up.

Sorry, I've rambled a lot. Bottom line personal experience for me...I haven't looked back since getting depower and I'll definitely not be buying another fixed bridle. Doubt the Twister will be flown again until my kids have outgrown the little 1.5 Pepper!

Feyd - 9-7-2015 at 03:24 PM

6\6 quiver FTW!!!!:D

Great pair of kites.