I just got this kite used yesterday and I took it out for the first time today. I was unsure because I hadn't heard of this brand before but I read a lot of good reviews about this kite and the price was right. This is an SLE kite and it didn't come with a manual and after taking out for the first time static today in 6-10 ish mph I have a few questions.

Firstly, I know you can change this between a 1:1 and 2:1 setup. There are two knots on all 4 bridle attachment points and two choices of attachment to the kite for the outside two attachment points. How should I set up the lines for either setup and what is the difference between setups?

Second, I was curious how much to inflate the struts. I know the leading edge is just about rock solid when fully inflated. Are the struts supposed to be just as hard? (no one pump system here)

Lastly, the rope that goes through the center has adjustable length. Is this just so you can set it for however far you can reach out or is there more to this?

Now I'll just say a little bit about my first impressions.. it's my first depower so I don't really have much of a comparison.
The kite has good construction and seemed to be put together very nicely. This company was the first to make kites without a center strut for more power, so the wind range is larger. The kite has a lot of pull (I scudded 125+ft) and the depower isn't all that massive (although I probably didn't have it set for max depower) The kite is very floaty, seemed like I was up there for ages compared to my ace. I also felt more comfortable jumping with this kite. The kite turned sluggish but the wind was light. (and it's a 15m)

Pics:









the first one might not load. right click and click 'view image' and it should load. (or if it says bad img, go to the link)

No manual on their website to download?

I was only able to find an '08 manual. I emailed them but no response yet

Hey

I'll try to answer someof your questions.

I don't know how to set up the kite or bar to change from 2 to 1 to 1 to 1. The difference will be the pulleys on the bar. In 2 to 1 you will have pulleys on the steering lines on the bar. It gives you a little more depower and it also gives more bar pressure and slower turning. In 1 to 1 you will have no pulleys on the bar and a lot less bar pressure. In 1 to 1 it will turn faster but will have slightly less depower as compared to 2 to 1.

The struts should be blown up hard enough to hold the kites shape. They don't have to be as hard as the leading edge, but should be firm.

The rope that goes through the bar is adjustable to either trim the kite or some brands have a way to lock the bar in a certain postion for constant power. So if you use it it may not depower as much as it should.
My Thruster has a clamcleat for that purpose.

Hope that helps a bit
John

now that I think of it there are pulleys on the steering lines, but the bar pressure seemed light (although I've never flown a depower so I'm not sure how light 'light' is.

thanks for all the other infos. :smug:

Hi again

If there are pulleys on the steering lines the kite is currently in 2 to 1.
The bar pressure compared to a fixed bridle is quite a bit lighter in 2 to 1, but in 1 to 1 there will be almost no bar pressure or none at all.

John

cool pics

now get on an atb and shoot some video! :roll:

yeah I didnt want to get on my board before I flew the kite static for a little..
I really only got like 20 minutes of flying in that day the wind was crappy :\
I'll probably get on the board (and maybe some vids) this week, the wind is looking great :D

The winds might have been crappy, but that's a great looking field. Around here that much open space means that someone is looking to put up a mall or golf course in the next couple of months. For a relatively small town, having 7 golf courses is just such an incredible waste.

ATB,
Sam

In CT we have far to many malls and golf courses as well. But luckly the small town I live in has just 4 stop signs and no traffic lights. Not even a seven eleven. We need to drive 8 miles to the nearest conveniance store. Doesn't get much better.

yeah I love the field. starting in march it will be open till 9 PM (right now its only 5) so I can kite much longer :D

Nice looking kite... AND it has a MONKEY on it! I must look into this...

Keep us updated on your impressions of the kite as you get more experience on it!

OK so I took another look at the bar and it's in a 1:1 setup. This is a picture I found online of my bar in a 2:1 setup and it seems strange to me that the lines going to the center aren't being run through a pulley, they are simply attached to two short lines in the center above the pulley with the rope on it (sorry the picture is kind of small this may be hard to see). I'm going to try this out next time and see how it goes.


I always thought a 2:1 bar setup was run through a pulley like this one, so there is more turning input, but I suppose It wouldn't be convertible then.

Sorry for the double post, but I tried out the bar as a 2:1 today and the kite was much better in the air. :D
Much much faster turns, and tons more depower. Makes me wonder why the previous owner didn't use it like that.
I'm definitely impressed with this kite. Good solid quality, flies nice, good power, AND it has a monkey on it.