So here we go...

I own a couple of RII's (5.5 & 10.8) and a 2013 2.8m.

At SOBB, I could directly compare the RII and 2013 in the 5.5 & 10.8 sizes.

Both are good/great intermediate kites. They handle very well, hard to collapse in gusty wind and the 2013 model kick it up at the top end of the wind range!

The RII is a front line bias kite and does not respond well to brake input while the 2013 just keeps getting better if you use a little brake input. I had a couple of runs with K3 using our 10.8's and I was pulled sideways (RII) before Ken and scrubbed speed as a result.

This run was right at the top end for 10 meter kites, we topped out around 27mph before the side pull was too much with the 2013 a little bit faster.

Now the 2.8 2013 does not seem to top out like the RII's...
I flew mine at IBB and when the wind picked up the kite just changed gears into overdrive... Personally I only went into the high 40's but the kite did not stop me from going faster...

Good build quality, nice colors and great value for your hard earned $$$

I don't think the RTF package is the best... lines are too short at 17 meters unless you are on a beach with very smooth wind. PL should up the line length a bit in my opinion...

Oh and I would say a newb could learn on the right size and have a keeper down the road. Not sure if they can handle a ton of pounding into the ground but they are easy flyers.

I loves me some RIIs... So are you saying that the newer models are less frontline biased and more brake tolerant.

That's exactly what I am saying...

Cool!

Hey 3shot... buy one

Ok since I'm now in the market for larger kites, how did you decide how to balance RIIs and Vapors?

:D Oh boy!
That's been my only (and very minor) complaint about the coveted RIIs. Great kite, but quite fussy when using the brakes in my small soccer fields. Down turns are no problem, but some times I need good ole' brake turns and brake sines. If my local spot was just a little bigger, and I had just a little more room to run, I would have kept my 6m. I found the RII was most happy when it could flat out run with minimal input other than the push/pull of the power lines. Maybe I didn't give it enough time. I don't know. But that was my experience when buggying in a restrictive spot like soccer fields with the RII.

I've been eyeballing another good 4m-ish buggy kite. Sounds like I need to look into the 2013 line of reactors again.
Thanks Ron for the comparison!!

And totally OT Soliver, but the 13mVII handled the gusty-lull janky pretty well. Twinskin is awesome!!!

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob

Ok since I'm now in the market for larger kites, how did you decide how to balance RIIs and Vapors?

If I was to start over, I would have reactors up to the 5.5 and vapors 5.4 and up. I think wind conditions would dictate slightly different choices.