Power Kite Forum

Mac Para Bego news

SecondWind - 17-8-2007 at 07:14 PM

I found out today that Mac Para is no longer going to produce the Bego.

So if you have some - you may want to hold onto them!

The only good news is that they had some 600s and 400 & 600 Neptunes leftover.

tridude - 17-8-2007 at 08:17 PM

BRoc and Divadoris still have theirs I believe! Where have those two been? Stacey bugs with a 400, Sunset Jim a 200. Anyone else own one of these gems?

archkiter - 17-8-2007 at 08:20 PM

I thought that might be the case.... I checked out their website about a month ago and noticed that they didn't show any kites :no:

The 400 is great fun in the buggy and I've gotten my top speed with it.

Maybe a Chinese company will reverse engineer them and sell them cheep :rolleyes::evil:

tridude - 17-8-2007 at 08:27 PM

Bego 400 is the toughest hombre Ive flown. Its alot of things (good of course) and does them all quickly except for that lovely float! Stace, did Sunset get that zenith issue figured out on the 200? I told him you should be able to help if needed!

archkiter - 17-8-2007 at 08:41 PM

Last I've heard the 200 was flying better for Jim. I haven't seen it in the air in a good strong breeze though.... been rather light here lately.

Jim would be the one to ask though

AirH0g - 17-8-2007 at 10:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by archkiter
I thought that might be the case.... I checked out their website about a month ago and noticed that they didn't show any kites :no:



I was wondering the same myself, couldn't find any recent info on the begos. Luckily i just bought a brand new 600 not even two days ago.

I wasn't going to get it for a while, but it was my birthday and i was able to get it for $300 so i grabbed it. VERY happy i did after hearing this.

Still a bummer though, i was hoping to get a gold and black one sometime:no:

SecondWind - 18-8-2007 at 05:59 AM

AirHOg - you are going to love that kite!

AirH0g - 18-8-2007 at 11:10 AM

After reading all the great reviews I'm hoping my expectations aren't to high, know it can take a while to get it dialed in so I'll be patient. But all in all it sounds like the perfect kite for my situation.

One thing i don't like about it is the color scheme, looks like some late 70's early 80's track suit, what were they thinking:puzzled: But for $300 i can live with it...
i hope.

SecondWind - 18-8-2007 at 11:17 AM

I heard that they used leftover material from the Paragliders to make the Begos - maybe that is why the colors are so random :lol:

B-Roc - 18-8-2007 at 06:37 PM

I still have my 400 and don't think I'll be parting with it any time soon.

I too heard they made the kites from left over paraglider material. Personally, I think the design is cool but the color schemes can definately be funky, but that black/gold/red one that you see pictured every now and again was one of the coolest around.

Sad news they are no longer going to be in production. Great kite with a cult like following. Seems most go for the blade but if you learn to fly this kite, you'll love it.

-Tridude, what became of your Air Evo? I know you were selling it and I assume you did as its not in the sig anymore.

-DaVinch - nice work with the new website. If I decide to move the bego and others to go the depower route this winter, I know where to start.

tridude - 18-8-2007 at 06:39 PM

Air,

Make sure you use ronstan pulleys for your power rings! Once you get it dialed it is awesome. Your gonna get a serious forearm burn with that 600! If you remove the leader that connects the power bridles you increase the projected area of the kite giving it more low end grunt and overall power!

Bego 400

Primordial Wind - 5-4-2008 at 07:10 PM

Hey guys i was wondering since most of you here have flown a Bego 400 if you can help me with mine. I just got this great looking BEGO 400 from Aaron of Washington on an awesome deal through this forum but i have no idea where to tie in my main power lines. This kite has some sort of ring attached to the main bridles that i assumed has some purpose to it. I was going to ask him about it but i lost his number and i'm planning on hitting the beach tomorrow. Please enlighten me on this ring, thanks.

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tridude - 6-4-2008 at 07:01 AM

pass your brake leaders thru the power rings, then connect your brake lines. Connect your power lines to the power line leaders. Basically, all thats different is the brake leaders pass thru the power rings before you attach your brake lines.......... You want a slight crease in your Begos trailing edge. This is done by adjusting brake LINE length. Tapping the brakes then releasing them gives the Bego a nice turbo boost so be careful......................

Primordial Wind - 6-4-2008 at 10:14 AM

I will be heading out today to try the set up you told me tridude. Low tide is late in the day with wind forecast between 20-30 mph. Yesterday it was crazy with wind gust up to 35 mph so i didn't venture out. The line that hold both rings to the main bridle is only 3 inches long so i just wonder how it'll affect the braking at all.

B-Roc - 6-4-2008 at 12:31 PM

Mixing 20 - 30 mph with a Bego 400 is not a good combination. This is not meant as an insult, but based on your questions about how and where to attach the lines, I'm assuming your kiting experience is quite limited. Unless you weigh about 250 pounds, I would suggest you start flying that kite in about 10 mph and work your way up.

Its a very aggressive kite and super lifty. You could get hurt real bad real quick.

The power ring lengths are short because they are meant to reduce pressure on the trailing edge of the kite caused by drag and slack in the brake lines. They don't affect braking, they affect performance and stalling.

Primordial Wind - 6-4-2008 at 02:30 PM

Thanks for the warning i do believed you based on what i have read about this specific kite. I weigh about 160 lbs with 3 years of on and off experience flying traction kites. I have some kites that i use to buggy (3 M Ozone Haka, 7 M Flexifoil Sabre 1, 6 M Jojo Rage) but not a regular buggyer like most of you here on the forum. So far the wind is averaging between 10 to 15 mph with gust of up to 20 mph and climbing as the day progress. I'll keep an eye on it i may have to wait another day.

B-Roc - 6-4-2008 at 03:08 PM

Just to give your a reference point... I weigh 145 lbs and consider myself very compitent with my kites. I've skied with the 400 in winds approaching 20 mph but really find its sweet spot to be somewhere between 10 and 15 mph depending upon how smooth the wind is and what surface or gear I'm riding. It is super efficient so it will get you going sooner than you think but it can be a real handful in the wrong conditions and catch you out quick.

Its not a fun kite to fight with but it is a great kite to fly once you've got it dialed. Launch the haka first and if you are comfortable with that and feeling a little underpowered than go with the Bego.

Bego 400

NorthWestKiter - 6-4-2008 at 04:26 PM

PW

I found that Bego took alittle time to get fully dialed in .
Its a nice kite ,u just need to find the sweet spot. It likes a little brake to fly . so just spend some time with her ,and once tuned in youll be very happy.Im glad your happy with the sale....


NorthWestKiter
Aaron

tridude - 6-4-2008 at 04:36 PM

SAY WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

30mph will be hairy/insane! 20 a serious eye opener! Remember, the only 4m FB kite that can hang with a Blade 4.9 is the Bego 400. IMO. Hope you reconsidered or the winds layed a bit lower. Im 185 lbs, and never flew my 400 over 25mph. Indeed sweet kites and if you dont get on with her, shoot me a U2U :D! Begos dont like a little brake, they like alot of brake (input). If youre a push pull flier, or dont like tinkering, this is not the kite for you..........................

Primordial Wind - 6-4-2008 at 09:19 PM

After some hesitation today i decided to head out to Ocean Beach and fly the BEGO. The Fort Funston station had the wind speed at 13 to 20 mph gusting to 24 mph so i thought maybe it should'nt be too bad. Tridude you're right about this kite being an eye opener above 20 mph! B-Roc i think you're also right about the sweet spot on this kite around the 10-15 mph on clean wind. And Aaron thanks again coz i think this kite rocks.
The wind was very unpredictable today the BEGO stalled on me a few times just when i thought i had it in control when it was above the power window and at one point when i was able to recovered it below the power zone it launches me almost 15 feet in the air! I still have to fly it more to get it dial in according to my taste. It doesn't overfly as some had stated but it do likes to fly directly above me and lift me off the ground all the time... I wonder if it has something to do with my brake line adjustment. I set it up so as there is no crease visible on the trailing edge. If i shorten the brake line more will this help on reducing the lift? I can't wait to fly it again on decent wind condition.

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tridude - 6-4-2008 at 09:32 PM

Wont hurt the lift and will help you control the kite. Remember two things,,,,,,,,you need that slight trailing edge crease and you have to fly these kites. You know you have the brakes right when you apply then release and the kite explodes with power/speed.