Have had this kite around a month now and wished I'd gotten it a long time ago. My summer inland winds are not very good and this kite has become my go-to kite.

What I like about it: Stable, responsive, powerful, and predictable. This kite has been so confidence inspiring I almost can't believe it! I'm only 125lbs and while this is a very powerful kite, I've found myself venturing out into higher and higher winds with this thing with respect, but no fear. What I mean is in similar wind conditions my Twister IIR 5.6 while smaller is a much scarier kite due to its lift which can be let's just say unpredictable at times. Not so with the Viper S 6.8. and its smooth power build up. I believe if you know what you are doing flying wise, it's very hard to get caught off guard with this kite, yet the Viper is one responsive, quick turning kite with brake input. I can't believe at times how easy it is to completely flip this kite on its axis with some brake input, love it!

What I don't like like: I haven't found anything yet. I understand the Vipers are known for being very good upwind so I may not find anything wrong with it once I get more experience with the buggy.
Note: I have not been on the buggy with this kite because due to youth football and other fall activities there have been too many people out on my closest field.

Lastly, what I have found is that I love to jump with this kite. Yes, that's why the "call me crazy" in the thread title. I know this is not a "lifty" kite by design and I think that is the very thing I like about it. You have to want to jump and fly it to make it lift you. No surprises and not scary (so far). Yesterday I landed a jump about ten feet from where I started and it was not scary at all, in fact I had a huge grin on my face all day from having so much fun with this kite. Lots of float for very soft landings, but of course I know some of that has to do with my weight too. Bottom line, I got the Twister 'cause I thought about jumping but found that kite can and will lift you even when you are not trying to do so at times. The Viper S 6.8 to me is my perfect all around fun kite for both traction and static goofing off and jumping. I really thought I was too old to start messing around with jumping, especially with the Twister but one thing is for sure, I just wish I had this kite at the beginning of the summer! Not sure I even want to keep the Twister at this point since I have a 5M Blurr.

I am not surprised at all in you great pleasure with this kite. The Viper series is a great kite, shame they are not making them anymore. I have a 2.6m that is my go to kite in high winds. I also use this kite at demos when going to the schools to show the kids about power kiting. I use it as almost a stunt kite. It flips and turns on a dime. Everyone I know that owns a Viper loves them. Great power, smooth delivery as you said, and very pilot friendly.

I believe the only thing you will not like about the kite is ..... when you have to pack it up and put it away. In the buggy it is very decent as well. Not quite the upwind as a Reactor, but not everyone flies Reactors.

We have most sizes in stock still available if you want another size! Get them while you can, once they are gone, they are gone.

Glad you are having a blast with it!

Ride on!

Sounds awesome
I've recently got my hands on a 6.8 viper (not the 's' version) I cant wait to take it out! However it's been really high winds around me recently, I was usin my 3m with the bug today.

How different/ similar is the original viper to the newer viper s ??

Tim

I totally agree on the Vipers...both series.... I can't tell you how many times I have had the 6.8m in and out of my quiver......

I believe the main difference is that the new Viper S has smaller diameter bridle lines.

How do the vipers (S) handle the gusty winds that we get in upstate NY.? I know I love to fly my blade 4.0 but when that thing starts picking me up in the buggy when I don't want it to, I move over to the rage 3.5 .
Hopefully I can try some other kites at WW this fall to see how I like them before purchasing...

AnnieO How is that flexifoil Blurr treating you? Are you going to Wildwood?

Quote:

Originally posted by g00fba11 I believe the main difference is that the new Viper S has smaller diameter bridle lines.

Exactly. The only changes from first gen to second gen to Viper S are:
1. Colors
2. Bridals

Each revision of the viper has brought a more refined bridal. The cut, A/R, etc have remained the same kick-@$$ kite.

LOVE my Vipers!!

Bruce, I like the Blurr quite a bit BUT...
The Blurr unlike the Vipers I have does not handle gusts as well. Most of the time I have my AoA on the normal setting and I'll be honest, the Blurr can be a lifty kite. I'm not the first one to say this either. I wouldn't call the Blurr a scary kite, it isn't, but you have to know what you're doing. If your wind conditions do involve a lot of powerful gusts then I would not recommend the Blurr for buggying in your area. The Viper hands down would be a better choice. A Reactor would be the very best choice. I had my 8.3 Reactor out today to do some static flying and never had a problem handling it in some gusts that came along. To the Blurr's credit I do give it the edge in pure grunt over the Vipers, and yes the AoA is a nice feature which potentially opens up a broader wind range which is great unless you have really gusty conditions. There is one idiosyncrasy I've found with the Blurr that I don't have the explanation for and that is the fact that even in the normal AoA setting it can be a real PITA to launch whereas my other kites (even smaller ones) in the same winds are easier to get off the ground. Here is what I believe is my bottom line right now- I think for the most part I can confidently buggy with the Viper S 6.8 in winds I originally intended to use the 5M Blurr in. That is how confident I have become with the Viper S and how stable it is and not unpredictable like the Blurr can be at times. As you know, my kites are a mix of new and used kites purchased here on the forum. If I'm you I'd be looking for Vipers or Reactors. In fact, if more used Reactors come up in my price range I would be very interested, they are as good as others have said as buggy engines. Bruce, given your conditions I don't think you missed out on the Blurr, it is a nice kite but I would not want to buggy much with it in your conditions. I've pointed out what I think would be better options, but then again, I'm a buggy newbie. For others reading this please don't flame me because I've not said anything about HQ, or other brands. I only comment on what I own and fly & what works for me in my conditions. I know there a lot of other great FB kites out there.

Sorry to say I won't make WBB this year but I do want to get there someday soon so I can learn more and meet some of the great peeps I've enjoyed hearing from on here...

One other thing BEC. I like my Rages, they are fun kites but they do not hold a candle to the Vipers. SERIOUSLY. So if you consider going for a 4.7 or larger Rage I would say just look for something with better overall performance like a Viper or Reactor, or others. I like the Rages, you know how stable they are but they do lack some of the performance that other kites in the same general $ range have.

Great Info AnnieO...thanks...and I do hope you get to come to WW someday...It is really so much fun and there are a ton of people, kites, and equipment to see and try.
I will keep my eyes out for a viper or reactor...you need to stop buying kites though...:D

Keep in mind that Reactor II's are substantially higher performance than first generation Reactors.

You can usually tell which gen by the size, eg. first gen Reactors came in 2.2, 2.9, 3.8, 4.9, 6.4 & 8.3, Reactor II's come in 2.2, 2.8, 3.5, 4.4, 5.5, 6.9, 8.6 & 10.8

Bruce, we can probably put you on a Viper at WBB! You will love the pure power and responsivness of the kite!

Annie, can you give me an idea of the usable wind range for the 6.8 viper for static flying, and in the bug ?

I haven't flown it yet (it will be the biggest kite ive flown as well) so ill want to take it out first in really low winds, but if i find what you say to be true, and I quickly / easily learn to love this kite in higher winds ill use it in the full range

thanks

(sorry if im hi-jacking your thread too !)

Tim

Tim, I can fly my 6.8 in 5-12 mph winds. Maybe a little higher but I would want the winds to be clean and continuous to do so. I can fly it at 5mph but really want 8 mph at a minimum to get going on a buggy . You may need a little more like around 10 mph, but that's just a guess. I would say you may be good for 5-15mph if you have clean winds on the higher end. Heck maybe even more...

Quote:

Originally posted by AnnieO Tim, I can fly my 6.8 in 5-12 mph winds. Maybe a little higher but I would want the winds to be clean and continuous to do so. I can fly it at 5mph but really want 8 mph at a minimum to get going on a buggy . You may need a little more like around 10 mph, but that's just a guess. I would say you may be good for 5-15mph if you have clean winds on the higher end. Heck maybe even more...

The Viper is powerful but I've become much more confident in flying this kite in it's upper wind range than my smaller Twister II 5.6. 10-12 is the absolute max I'll ever fly the 5.6 in, and the winds can not be gusty. When it gets gusty the Twister gets put away basically. The Viper eats up gusty winds pretty well for a FB kite, which is why you may be surprised at its upper wind range given it 6.8M size.

Annie,

I just want to pop in here and reassure you that you are spot on with all your info.

I could not have said it better about the reactor,viper, blurr, etc. You might be a newer pilot, but what you have noticed about the different characteristics is spot on! Keep up the good work

Thanks Dino! I'll always be a student of the game but I try to apply what I have learned toward helping others from making some of the same mistakes I did early on. Just paying forward what so many others on here do to help me out when I have questions.

Last spring at WBB I flew my 6.8 Viper on soft sand dunes in 20+ mph winds if reports were correct. My little guy Ian 90lbs prefers them over the depower kites and jumps with them whenever he flies.