Power Kite Forum

Decisions decisions.. first kite..

bassboi - 24-3-2009 at 08:31 AM

hi guys..

i've been lurking for a while, trying my best to get the info i want, but still cannot grasp it.

i'm looking at the prism stylus p3 or p4 as my first kite, being that it can be changed from 2 to 4 line by just adding another set of lines, and it fits my budget.. although i'm a bit stumped as to the power i can expect from them. i average about 130lbs, so i'm not that heavy of a person.

although these kits ship in 2 line mode from the start, i feel that i'll quickly change them to 4 line mode to get a better feel of how the kite performs, and squeezing all the power/control i can out of the kite. not only that, another purpose i'm going to use the kite for is a source of exercise to build strength in my upper body.

what i'm wondering is, am I on the right track, or is there another kite I can purchase that'll be great for a beginner, but offer a good amount of power once I get the hang of things?

thanks in advance..

ps. this forum is great.

Bladerunner - 24-3-2009 at 08:45 AM

I may be wrong because I don't have experience with the Prism.

From what I can tell the Prism is more of a recreational kite than an engine? Your best bet is to buy a 3m kite that will later perform as your high wind kite. That means you want a kite that is built for those conditions. Most people love there 1st kite and keep it but if you do want to re-sell you will move a good kite a lot easier and get better money back.

By the time you buy a decent set of lines and handles for the prism it will end up a larger investment.

I would suggest you look through the For Sale section here and other places and buy a good quality 4 line kite that is used if your budget won't allow new. Check with us when you find one that looks good and we can tell you.

Just because you can go from 2 line to 4 line doesn't mean the Prism will exactly take you to the next level + stand the test of time!

DAKITEZ - 24-3-2009 at 08:54 AM

Don't do it. The prism was my first kite also. It appears to be a good deal, but its far from it. Dual line control is lousy so you will want to convert to quad right away. When you look at how much a quad lineset and handles will cost (roughly $100) its not such a great deal.

I would say look at the Peter Lynn Hornet, HQ beamer, or flexifoil sting.

bassboi - 24-3-2009 at 09:42 AM

i dug deeper into the forums, and it seems bladerunner is right. the stylus is more of a fun kite than power/traction...

thanks again for the replies guys... i did run over to the for sale are and noticed dakitez is selling a 2.4m flexifoil sting. I'm tempted to bite, but I feel I may want something a little larger to start off with, as I don't know when I would be able to purchase my next kite and I don't want to get bored with it rather quickly...

i do want to do some scudding, and maybe hop on a landboard after I get the hang of it..

i hope I'm not asking too much

Scudley - 24-3-2009 at 10:33 AM

bassboi,
Telling us where you will be flying would be helpful. Coastal winds are very different from mountain winds and prairie winds are different still. Another reason: there may be a group close to you that can help you by letting you try kites and teach you a bit about flying.
If you are really stoked about kiting, invest a little more money and get a smaller sized quality kite. The learning curve will be a little steeper, but you will hold on to the kite instead of wanting to sell it. You will be forced (and be able) to develop better flying skills with a more advanced kite.
If buying a beginner kite, check the for sale forum for second hand ones. Why pay full price for a kite you will be wanting to sell in a little while? Do not bother with two line trainers, relaunch when the kite is inverted is a pain in the butt. When learning, relaunch is is something you will be doing a lot of. Four lines will save you a lot of walking. Daakitez' Sting would not be a lot of money to lay out.
If you go with the advanced kite, you will want start in lower winds as the pull from small "race" kite will be much greater than that generated by a beginner kite.

S

bassboi - 24-3-2009 at 11:00 AM

well, i live really close to the gulf coast... in a small town about 10 miles or so from the gulf of mexico, in south central louisiana. the wind outside right now looks a bit gusty, as sometimes i'll see the trees shaking a lot, and then they'll die down a bit. looks like a very pleasant day to fly a kite, to be honest.

i find most of the winds that come thru here are either northerly or southerly, but that's just from general observation..

i totally understand where you guys are coming from. i want to buy a kite that i can hang on to, and have a lot of fun with until I can build enough skills and cash to try out something larger. I was thinking of something that was 3m+, although as you can tell, i don't know exactly what i would need.

i have a few u2u's to fellow louisianians, as well as an email to a kiting club around here. hopefully i'll get to meet new people, make new friends, and find something i'm happy with :)

geojones - 24-3-2009 at 11:22 AM

id get the flexi sting

revpaul - 24-3-2009 at 11:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bassboi
i dug deeper into the forums, and it seems bladerunner is right. the stylus is more of a fun kite than power/traction...

thanks again for the replies guys... i did run over to the for sale are and noticed dakitez is selling a 2.4m flexifoil sting. I'm tempted to bite, but I feel I may want something a little larger to start off with, as I don't know when I would be able to purchase my next kite and I don't want to get bored with it rather quickly...

i do want to do some scudding, and maybe hop on a landboard after I get the hang of it..

i hope I'm not asking too much

2.4m fixed bridle kite for a 130lb'er is not 'that' small. it'll scud you and such in the right wind.
for learning it's good because in lower winds it will not pull so hard and wear you out quickly. in higher winds it will fly fast and your skills/reflexes will get up to speed. a 2.4m is not the smallest kite in a great deal of quivers around here. when your ready for a larger kite you'll have a trainer/high wind kite to keep in the bag.
also Dakitez has a solid rep around here..no worries.

heliboy50 - 24-3-2009 at 04:32 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by revpaul

2.4m fixed bridle kite for a 130lb'er is not 'that' small. it'll scud you and such in the right wind.



Very true. I'm 200 lbs get get yanked all over the place by my 2.5m profoil. I also second what Scudley said about buying a quality kite that would be a little more advanced. Start at the smaller end of the spectrum (like a 2.5 or smaller) and work your way up. You will probably never give up your first kite. I know that there are much better kites than my profoil, but I still love it.

BeamerBob - 24-3-2009 at 05:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by heliboy50

Very true. I'm 200 lbs get get yanked all over the place by my 2.5m profoil. I also second what Scudley said about buying a quality kite that would be a little more advanced. Start at the smaller end of the spectrum (like a 2.5 or smaller) and work your way up. You will probably never give up your first kite. I know that there are much better kites than my profoil, but I still love it.


Don't kid yourself, your profoils are pretty good kites. At a recent kite event on Jekyll Island, one of the attendees (kullas I think) was using a 4.5 or 5m profoil and at times he was the only one flying when the wind really dropped down there. Downside is I think they aren't available any more new. Maybe find a used one from time to time though. I haven't spent alot of time with my 2.5 yet so can't comment on how good a trainer it would be. My 2m was pretty fidgety.

Bladerunner - 24-3-2009 at 05:12 PM

I have the 2.5 profoil for high wind and as a trainer. They were a very good bang for buck . It works well and packs small so does the jobs intended. I have seen kites of better quality but the 2.5 profoil is a great place to start. 2.5 in almost any quality kite would do. They still fly and pull all the way to the edge like larger kites. Smaller than 2.5 and the kites behave like you imagine. Fast with jerky power.

heliboy50 - 24-3-2009 at 05:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BeamerBob

Don't kid yourself, your profoils are pretty good kites. At a recent kite event on Jekyll Island, one of the attendees (kullas I think) was using a 4.5 or 5m profoil and at times he was the only one flying when the wind really dropped down there. Downside is I think they aren't available any more new. Maybe find a used one from time to time though. I haven't spent alot of time with my 2.5 yet so can't comment on how good a trainer it would be. My 2m was pretty fidgety.


No intention of dissin' the profoil at all- just that there are kites of higher build quality. It was a great buy and the first quad I ever flew. I wish I could get my hands on a 3.5. The thought has crossed my mind more than once to contact Ted and find out what he wants for the profoil designs and manf. rights. As a trainer, I think it would take some patience. The 2.5 doesn't like inland gusty stuff (kind of luffy) but if you keep it in the window and keep it moving, it kicks a$$. Fast and handles well, too. Like Bladerunner said also, bang for the buck they're great.

bassboi - 24-3-2009 at 05:49 PM

http://www.dakitez.com/servlet/the-58/Beamer-III-3m/Detail

how about this? i like the price/size.

also, i was wondering. does the length of the lines really matter that much? it comes with 65ft, but 100ft lines would seem like i'd have more room to play with...

heliboy50 - 24-3-2009 at 06:29 PM

Although I don't own one, these are quite popular for good reason. Good quality, and great price. As to line length, 20m and 25m are the most common line lengths and somewhat dependent on one's intentions and flying style. 100' lines on a kite this size might make control feel mushy, where as 65' would probably give you a more connected feel without giving the kite room to "get away" or develop too much unexpected speed or power. IMHO, this wouldn't be a bad choice at all. Dakitez is a great guy too, so that helps. He could tell you more specifics about the Beamer.

indigo_wolf - 24-3-2009 at 07:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by heliboy50
The thought has crossed my mind more than once to contact Ted and find out what he wants for the profoil designs and manf. rights.


$3,500 was the price he had quoted.
http://www.kiteinnovations.com/FOR%20SALE.htm

Would include all the patterns, logos, trademarks, current software being used, and current stock.

ATB,
Sam

heliboy50 - 24-3-2009 at 07:36 PM

Hmmmm.......

revpaul - 24-3-2009 at 08:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bassboi
http://www.dakitez.com/servlet/the-58/Beamer-III-3m/Detail

how about this? i like the price/size.

also, i was wondering. does the length of the lines really matter that much? it comes with 65ft, but 100ft lines would seem like i'd have more room to play with...

i think, generally, longer lines give access to more power but also more slack/mushy handling.