Just got the blade v 6.5m in today. We will be giving it a try at the Berkeley kite festival this weekend. Reviews will soon follow.

First impressions are I like the bag. it actually fits the kite like a glove. As far as the kite its the same excellent quality we are use to from Flexi.

Stay tuned ....

woohoo! Let us know!

Wow...can't wait for this this review...could it really get any better :wow:

sorry for the delay on the review ... everyone please bear with me. I have a few technical questions I'm waiting on responses from flexi before I give my review.

Flexi's website says these kites have the cross bridle for faster turning adjustment. I am familiar with this from the blade IV but the blade V's that I received did not have this. So I'm not sure if they changed it and I don't know what I'm looking for or if it is simply not on there. Those of us who checked it over this weekend could not find anything... so if its there its hidden good!

I say no!!! its not there... it doesn't have one... either it doesn't come with one or it got left out... JMO...

My lil review/comparison: fantastic kite, they (Flexi) really didn't go in reverse with this kite except for the break crossover adjustments... as far as V vs IV the IV is still better in my eyes, but add that crossover to the V and you got a deal...

The lift was the only noticeable flying characteristic change, outside the break X-over and being able to make it (the V) turn faster (it turns the same as the IV without any X-over adjustment) (IMO)...
The lift was a "TAD" more cushy, soft, comfortable, smooth, controlled (the keyword is "TAD") where the IV seems a "TAD" more snatchy, no where near what the III's where...

I enjoyed it quite a bit, but not enough to trade in the IV, it has the stability that is great (hard to shake it out of the sky) turns good with decent speed and slow enough that you don't have to redirect it too many times to stay afloat...

the handles... well... the handles are second to none!!! I can't get enough of those handles...

So I don't suggest that the IV owners go and nab one up, but if you've been wanting a IV then grab yourself a V because that's all you'll be able to get your hands on, unless you want a IV used, and mine isn't going to pry out of my hands cheaply, I'm really kicking myself in the a$$ for not getting an 8.5m when I had the chance, I kept telling myself to wait for the V's... oh well... I'll keep my eyes glues for a used one!!!

look for more to be added as I get some more time on this kite...

FYI: we flew the Blade IV 6.5m back-to-back with the Blade V 6.5m so we had the same exact conditions, and also changed the AOA to the same settings to get a side-by-side feel of them both...

I'm telling you... it's "built-in".

e

We'll it should be "built-out" so I can see it and adjust it!!!!

what's up E it was good seeing you again,

It didn't turn as quickly as my IV IMO... and I seen no adjustment to speed it up...

Quote:

Originally posted by elkiter I'm telling you... it's "built-in". e

you had to be there

I got word from flexi today that the cross over adjustment is not there! It seems to be a typo on the website. They are checking to find out if the IV cross over will work on the V so maybe it will be an add-on option soon???

As usual I agree with screwy 100% about the kite. If you own a IV no reason to sell it and get the V. There is a slight bridle variation between the two and it is slight. Like Screwy said put the crossover on the V and then you will have something to talk about.

The main thing I'm worried about these kites is the color choices ... You DON'T have one! I'm curious to see how this affects sales.

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ Quote: Originally posted by elkiter I'm telling you... it's "built-in". e you had to be there

damn,,, I missed it!!! sorry!!!:saint:

Hey,

Any info on what happened with this yet?

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ The main thing I'm worried about these kites is the color choices ... You DON'T have one! I'm curious to see how this affects sales.

:puzzled: :sniff:

Would hate to see this become a trend for them across their product line. But it definitely seems like they are dipping their toes.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf Quote: Originally posted by DAKITEZ The main thing I'm worried about these kites is the color choices ... You DON'T have one! I'm curious to see how this affects sales. :puzzled: :sniff: Would hate to see this become a trend for them across their product line. But it definitely seems like they are dipping their toes. ATB, Sam

I have mixed feelings about this. I know people like a choice on colors, but i personally don't care what color a kite is as long as it flies great. I will fly the ugliest kite out there if it flies the best. heck i don't spend much time looking at the kite anyway. But I know some people really like to have a color selection. I have had people not buy a kite because they did not like the color. I don't know how many times I heard that someone bought a pansh blaze because they liked the flames The real funny thing to me is people will make different color choices and often is the case that the colors that face the pilot are plain white anyway
As a seller it is so much easier to stock kites when they only come in one color. And obviously this carries over to the manufactures also. In this case there is only 3 different kites to stock. In the past where they had 3 different colors per size that would make 9 different kites to stock.

There are two sides to this. There is the owning, and there is the flying. When you are showing someone your kite, the graphics, and the colors mean something. Once you are out rolling along with your kite, the colors just don't matter anymore. I must admit, I get a visceral feeling about the "look" of the kite in the sky. The Blade IV always did it for me in a huge way. The Crossfire II does it for me as well as the Montana IVs. After you get past that though, it is just a tool to have fun with and color becomes less relevant. I've decided what size Charger I'm getting but need to see the colors to decide that. I've found that if I have 2 or more of the same kite, the color of the second and subsequent kites don't matter so much. On those kites, I just try not to match my Sofka buds color/size combos.

Quote:

I don't know how many times I heard that someone bought a pansh blaze because they liked the flames

Ha, that's one of the reasons I got mine from you! Plus it was a nice introduction to depower without emptying my wallet. As regards to the color scheme thing, I find it's a very easy way to distinguish the size someone is using when you can't exactly ask them (ex. when they are zipping by you on a buggy on the beach) Like with the Flow, all 5m will be blue, all 3m will be orange and red.

i am in the market for a new kite.... there are several ways for me to go.... considering the blade 6.5 (man i dont like the design) or some sort of race-type kite... i like my centuries, they are releasing a new model soon, like some of their color schemes, and design... the oxigen butan would fit my needs well also, and i like the design there.... as would the peter lynn vapors....

this leaves me in a bit of a dilemma.... buy the blade v in its hideous redness (just my opinion), and own a kite that i really dont like the look of.... or wait a little bit and see what is available in a month or so

i disliked flexis rasta colors.... so much that i declined purchasing several used kites that i wanted, due to the colors...

if the blade 6.5 were available in the bluish colors, i would own one by now.... but, as i have said, i really dont like the color scheme of the 6.5, and there are a few other kites out there that will fit my bill, so i wont be buying one

dylanj423, you have the IV so as for getting the V shouldn't matter much based on flying or color, it's basically the same difference... the improvement is offset by the turning (X-over missing)...
I personally like the color of the new 6.5 but I liked the rastas also...