grigorib - 4-11-2015 at 10:07 AM
Living inland with gusty winds makes me value every opportunity to ride on trips, hence I really get use out of lightwind gear. Usually a 159cm door
and 16m LF NRG on 30m lines deliver what I need. Hydrofoil for me is still a project in learning stage and OBX/SPI happen to be shallow to complicate
foiling. But there are days when inflatables fall out of the sky, and when launched take you downwind. On those days 19m Speed3 Deluxe has been saving
me, staying in air in 3.5-4 knots and getting me to ride in 6-7 knots probably.
Recent OBX trip I stayed par with guys on 21m Lotus and 21m Speed3 so I'm quite satisfied with my 19m (on 27m lines). On the same trip I tried 15m
Sonic FR and was shocked that it has same low end as my 19m.
I looked at and inquired about Lotus and realized that aside newer bar and fabric they are to millimeter Speed3 kites. More sizes are definitely a
plus but overall not a groundbreaking development (especially skipping improvements that appeared on first 8m/10m Speed4 kites)
Thinking of a better, more lightwind kite, two come on my mind - the 18m Lotus and 18m Sonic FR. I don't race but I love to jump high. I like faster
kites and a smaller wing such as 15m or 18m are preferred to bigger/slower 21's.
What would you go for? Thoughts? Suggestions?
PHREERIDER - 4-11-2015 at 12:57 PM
the difference your comparing are "race ready" v. "daily driver "
ALL the race specific units will have ultra weight conscious conservation elements...hence they would be more fragile. line dimensions will be
smaller, absence of reinforcements all about unhindered motion, performance over durability .
the speed 4 lotus(15) would be choice imho, for the higher mileage alone. to get the most from a race set up, the riding has to be supremely
efficient.
and most tubes are not this finicky, you just have to go to a smaller size. size drop = less drag and less weight for higher speed, with the
foil kites the efficiency is built into the design more efficiently than tubes #1 being total weight in flight! and better laminar flow on the under
side.
my friend on his foil board MHL in light air 8-12mph is SO much more efficient with a 10m tube than a "light wind tube" (think he has a edge 15m) huge
difference. the 10 will fly faster, ample power and quick. the 15m edge(might be 17) is like high speed tractor its only gonna fly so fast and the
turns really kill it, plenty of power just not speedy in light air.
grigorib - 4-11-2015 at 01:31 PM
I do a bit of "high efficiency riding" too - I put my 6.2 lbs. 10m Rally 2012 on long 30m lines and with a door board I can ride in 11 knots or so. I
love small kites and I'm sure with a foil it'll only get better.
Do you think that Sonic would be more fragile and less durable than the Lotus?
Feyd - 4-11-2015 at 01:31 PM
Are the options strictly Flysurfer or are you open to others? I think Phree's assessment is accurate and if you want top notch light wind performance
the Sonic smokes the Lotus but as a race rig the performance comes with a potentially higher level of maintenance. I think the performance of the
21m Speeds vs. 19m is more a matter of perception than reality. They may build a bit more apparent but you can't throw the 21m around like the 19m so
turning becomes work. It is striking how much of a difference there is between the Speeds and the Sonic. Once you've ridden the a race kite the
performance is pretty addictive.
Another option I would propose would be the Chrono v.2 as it is essentially a race kite design beefed up for daily all round use. Playing with it
personally I'm really impressed so far. Feels much like the original but without the headaches that many experienced with the 1st version. Inflates
faster than the Chrono, Sonic or Lotus IMO. With ZERO preinflate. https://youtu.be/FUjkscYpNzA
Has A LOT MORE LIFT than the original Chrono I think. One of our customers is using the 13m Chrono v.2 on water with his foilboard and absolutely
loves it.
I've been flying the 17m R1 lately as my light wind option. Flies in the same maybe less that our 18m Chrono 1. In comparison to the 18m Sonic it
seems to launch and fly easier in light winds and is probably faster but the Sonic seems liftier and gruntier.
grigorib - 4-11-2015 at 01:41 PM
Flysurfer is my love at first sight, my simple/light/quick 2012 Rallys rock, I admire the Peter Lynn ARCs design.
Haven't had a chance to ride Chrono yet though 2 years ago I watched a guy on 10m Elf Joker ripping when I had troubled maintaining on 13m inflatable.
So Elf is another option I've heard good things of and been considering.
To say it again, small kites are a bliss! That 15m Sonic delivering the same low end as 19m Speed3 blew my mind.
And yes, the 21m Speeds looked to be fatter/slower than my 19m I could fly and "work" faster.
I noticed that:
- 18m Sonic is a pound heavier than 18m Lotus but has same wind range listed
- 15m Sonic is a pound heavier than 15m Lotus but delivers better lower (and higher) end than Lotus
So both 18 meters will give me an additional knot on low end side which is nice, while 15m Sonic will match it but 15m Lotus will not go as low.
Multiple choice where there are more than one correct answer...
I can't wait for a dream of Sonic2 in Lotus.....
Feyd - 4-11-2015 at 01:59 PM
Yeah that's the funny thing about all these new race wings. Very few of them are made of UL material. They get by on the quality of the aerodynamics
which is a testament to the amount of design work put into these things. I had discussed having an 17m R1 made in UL and Ozone will do it but it will
cost a couple hundred more and DOES NOT COME WITH A WARRANTY.
There apparently and not surprisingly certain headaches that come with making them out of UL.
It is odd when you pick up a Sonic or Chrono and feel the weight. Considering what they can do it seems funny that they are such pigs in the pack.
I hear you on the small kites. Last winter the 9m Chrono became my goto. It was fun as hell and once up to speed I was able to hang in the same
winds that other people were flying 18m Matrixx 2's and 15m Speeds. Sure it took some work but not much and the nimbleness was really sweet.
I bet the 13m Elf was smoking the 13m LEI. Having raced arcs against Elfs I kinda know the LEI rider's pain. :D I would have killed to have
something like a Chrono or Sonic back then.