After being laid off for about 2 months, I received a job offer yesterday and I told myself that when I got a job I would treat myself to a new kite...only problem is, I can't decide between the Pulse 2 or Neo 2.

I would normally go for the Pulse 2 but is the extra 500-600 dollars really worth it?

I'd be curious to know how the build quality, depower, low end grunt, top end, turning speed, length of bridles, relaunch and flight characteristics compare between the two.

Unfortunately I can't try before I buy.

I'm interested in purchasing the 14m to be used on water.

Thanks in advance.

I'm a new kitesurfer and I have a pulse 2 12, pulse 10. Build quality you will find no better than flysurfer.... The setup and takedown is riduculously easy....

Solo landing and launching are also simple....You can find a used pulse 2 for around 600$. The resale of flysurfers is much better than a neo... People cant give away used neos.....

I can get going good at 15mph on my 12, and my skills are poor at best....
Check foilzone, you should be able to find one there....

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Originally posted by borntofli Solo landing and launching are also simple....

I find solo launching and especially landing the pulse 2 (6m) to always be somewhat challenging when flying the kite in its mid to upper limit. But I doubt its any easier on the Neo (and I don't like to rely on the 5th line).

The main challenge being once fully inflated the kite has considerable pull while on the ground - not enough to pull a rider but definately enough to pop a ground stake or a pileof snow / sand.

Borntofli - Yep...gotta agree on the resale points...Didn't realize the prices on used ones had come down that much...will definitely have to check foilzone...BTW, can you comment on the bridles between the pulse 2 and pulse 1...I read they really cleaned them up (i.e. shortened them and less of them(?)

B-Roc - Curious on why you don't rely on the 5th line...bad experience?

i tried a(brand new crispy) 14m NEO and have a FS 12m Pu2 and 13m Pu.
i found the FSers inflated quicker/easier and stayed inflated waaaaay better in lower wind while resting on ground.

flysurfer every time when compared to HQ.... EVERY TIME, all the time...

the only competition is the arc, and i like both for different reasons... have you considered one of them? albeit the price is close when you take the bar into consideration

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Originally posted by lunchbox B-Roc - Curious on why you don't rely on the 5th line...bad experience?

For starters let me say once I'm flying I don't generally stop for breaks so once launched the kite is usually in the air until I'm ready to quit for the day. I find when the kite is in the upper end of its wind range and you drop it to the fifth line it collapses nicely in the air and floats gently to the ground (in say emergency deployments which I've only done 2x). However if you do want to just take a break the kite is hard to stake out in the upper end of its range and if you drop it on the fifth line and don't get down to it quickly enough (which in solo circumstances I don't as you have to drop the kite, stake the fifth line and walk/run to it) the kite will roll and that can foul the bridles. They are usually easy enough to clear but that may require disconnecting the ESCs (or whatever they're called) and leaving the kite facing into the wind, which if inflated creates the ground stake popping concerns as it holds a lot of power on the ground compared to an open cell foil.

Its a great kite for sure but in its upper wind limit I never enjoy landing it and packing it up.

The 5th line works exactly as its designed and totally depowers the kite - which is great in emergencies and for landing it. Its just not the best for anchoring it for ayn period of time.

+1 for the FS Pulse ... based on past experience with the NEO ... the FS kites are far superior

faster launch, no need to wait for pre-inflate

turns fast, and when i used BR's Pulse 7m it had me doing small jumps in its lower windrange :thumbs up:

the pulse has a huge windrange

lastly, i never had a problem self landing ... push the kite for the extreme edge of the wind window and pull both outside leaders and the kite just stalls out and lands. wrap the leaders once around the kite peg (kite stake) and its parked.

i think you need to decide more if you want the regular one or the d-e-l-u-x-e version. hehehehe =)

just my wooden nickel thought

Thanks for the explanation on the 5th line B-Roc and everyone else who has climed in and gave an opinion.

...think it's going to be the FS for me...anyone got a used Pulse 2 14m that they want to sell me ;-)

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Originally posted by lunchbox Thanks for the explanation on the 5th line B-Roc and everyone else who has climed in and gave an opinion. ...think it's going to be the FS for me...anyone got a used Pulse 2 14m that they want to sell me ;-)

you may want to research getting a 12m Pu2 instead of 14m Pu2. I here the 12m Pu2 has nearly same bottom end in lower wind but of course has more top end range.
i see you have SA 17m for low end too so 12m Pu2 makes sense to me.

RevPaul may be offering some good advice on considering the 12 over the 14.

If the bigger ones are comparable to the smaller 6 I would say they pull pretty hard for their size with better low end ranges than I expected and not as much top end as I'd hoped. But that's on a board on sand and not in the water (and I'm kind of a wussy )

I was originally thinking of the 12 just on the cost factor alone but I weigh about 220lbs with all my gear on and I'd like to be able to get out in 12-13mph...just don't know if the 12's got enough power for that...I'll be selling the Speed soon so the Pulse and the Venom 19 will be my low wind kites.

I don't think you'll get going at 12-13 on a pulse... I have a speed 17 SA and I weigh 150 and I need that to get going at 12-13... You have a 17, is it not enough to get you goin????

Skill makes a lot of difference, so maybe.....?????

P2 bridal is shorter and stopper ball adjustments for the mixer pullers much easier than fig 8 knots........................

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Originally posted by lunchbox I was originally thinking of the 12 just on the cost factor alone but I weigh about 220lbs with all my gear on and I'd like to be able to get out in 12-13mph...just don't know if the 12's got enough power for that...I'll be selling the Speed soon so the Pulse and the Venom 19 will be my low wind kites.

you got a whack of kites and i do figure you know what your talking about.
you tested your 17SA against your 19m VII for bottom end end grunt?
i imagine your not keen on breaking up the set:singing:
i really wouldn't know but i am curious to know which one would have more bottom and top end range.
i'm just guessing they would be very close in bottom end but the top end would go to the SA with 1.5 added depower range?

I like my pulse 1 10m. Agreed you need a 12 or greater for LA. I lived in Santa Monica and the wind was consistently low.
I am replacing the trimmer figure 8 with the ball as suggested by Powerzone and Tridude.
There is a lot of surf in Socal. The Pulse is supposed to be good for that.

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you tested your 17SA against your 19m VII for bottom end end grunt? i imagine your not keen on breaking up the set i really wouldn't know but i am curious to know which one would have more bottom and top end range. i'm just guessing they would be very close in bottom end but the top end would go to the SA with 1.5 added depower range?

When I originally bought the Speed I was really hoping to get out on the water in 10mph. Well I was able to get out when it was about 13mph (granted, not upwind) which is about the same as I was able to with the Venon 2 19. From what I understand now, the 5th mode (1.5) takes away from the original Speed 1's low end...I think maybe 1-2 mph. So although I love seeing it in the air and it's ability to fly in next to no wind due to the lightness of the material, I am probably going to sell it as I just don't use it that much. As far as the top end, I really don't know...but I can say, I'd probably be more afraid to fly the Speed in higher wind than the 19m.

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There is a lot of surf in Socal.

Yep...had some some good southern hemi swell last Tuesday and bigger surf is on the way...being tracked for Sunday I believe...yea!!!

for lightwind the Speed is half of the equation.........................you need a door to complete the package................10kts was no problem on my sons 17m SA 1.5 with the door.................................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhWxscpv1Uk