Ok so...

Getting the urge to take the plunge into the race kite world. I know that each race kite is different so asking a generalized question may not be the best way to go but I am still undecided which race kite I am going to go with. Obviously the Vapor is the world record holder, but the Prodigy, Zebra, Yakuza, etc look good as well. Price point is an issue for me as well. My biggest concern with making the switch to race kites is the wind here. Inland winds, often lumpy, and low. Anyone have any seat time in similar conditions with a race kite? Any advice is very much appreciated!

No buggy, so no seat time.

If price is a consideration, in addition to the Zebra, you might want check out the MG Sniper and the Cooper kites. I believe Dino (Dakitez) could help you with both.

While not full-on race kites, you might want to throw the Flexifoil Blurr and Ozone Method in as candidates for your inland, lumpy winds. The Method will be cheaper than the Yakuza, but still pricier than a mid-a/r kite and chances of finding something used aren't high. Used, good condition Blurrs are more likely. Two from firewirepl languished on the forum last year, until I finally gave in and snagged one. I think the other one went to Argentina.

If you post up the size and price range you have in mind, I might be able to point you to some deals that have gone unclaimed (oohhh the dangers of unsupervised, late night internet wind shopping :saint: ).

ATB,
Sam

What, no Combat or Century Soulfly's?

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid What, no Combat or Century Soulfly's?

Those fall under etc lol



Indigo: Not sure about size either....winds during the summer here are typically in this order:

0-5 mph (blah day)
5-8 mph (average day)
8-10 mph (good day)
10-12 mph (awesome day)
12-15 mph (epic epic epic)

yes, summer winds suck here

If you wanted new, Jeff could probably get your sorted for a Combat or Soulfly in whatever size your prevailing winds suited.

If your wallet whimpers at that thought or if used was your preference for testing the race kite waters, I think Dylan hade a Vapor 5.4 that no one ever bit on.

Looking back, it also looks like Rip posted a whole bunch of Vapors and Combats that were never snagged (ranging from hardly touched to dusty to NABX pinholes).

For size reference, Bob sold me his Combat 4.2 because he felt that it overlapped too much with his Reactor 5.5 in the buggy. No buggy to test that with, but the Combat definitely starts building power at a prodigious rate a heartbeat after it builds up any kind of speed at all. It launches fairly sedately but it wants to go looking for greyhounds on the first powerstroke.

ATB,
Sam

I think Angus has a set of Combats that have been floating around, if not I think I could find them. Used, but still full of life. The price is by far less than new.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid I think Angus has a set of Combats that have been floating around, if not I think I could find them.

Someone's been sipping the pachyderm juice :o

Demo Buggies and Kites Available (3rd post)

EDIT: Link fixed. Spelling counts with hyperlinks?!? Whooda thunk.

ATB,
Sam

gah! link isnt working lol


I remember getting my arse kicked by a certian 3.5m Combat

I do have a bit more skill with kites now though lol

get your check book ready. you will need 2 -3 race kites to cover the range of one of your de-powers :wee:

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ get your check book ready. you will need 2 -3 race kites to cover the range of one of your de-powers :wee:

oh, I know...but theres only SO fast I have been able to go with depower. I have the need for SPEED!!!!

I'm going to be letting the Century's go soon here at a bargain price but after flying the (stunningly powerful) 1.8 and seeing how horribly BAD they were set up I want to make sure I get them out and get them right. I bought them to cover my small kite region of the quiver for NABX but never needed to unpack them (and good thing based on the power it hit me with! I woulda wound up in California for sure!). Old models but solid and in great shape.

I've flown the GT's, vapors, combats all in >6m, never seemed to have an oppty to fly the smaller ones. I'd love to be able to fly them all back to back, maybe SOBB I personally love the vapor in the larger sizes, the 11 and 16 are sweet. Lots of speed and not too much lift. I also found the GT suit my flying style but felt lifter to me. The 14 is hella-lifty I think an 11 would cover you in to 15 well, but the 16 fills in the bottom end. I'm not sure how low the 11 goes, I've flow in in 8ish and was moving quite nicely.

Dunno your size but that wind range for me would be a Vapor 11m and 16m

However you'll need to move away from the XR+
If changing to race buggies is an issue than I would say 9 and 13m the low end on the from the 16 isn't noticeable at all but the 13 is faster.

We had a great weekend riding up and down sunset 4 vapors (grant, bill, sunny J and myself) covering miles and miles miles miles. Shipwreck and beyond!!!! Jetty!!! Epic epic epic!!!

The others Sniper is some what racey, but maybe Coopers are a little faster

Zebra Z2 and the Spirit handle gusty a little better

The GTs need to size up one compared to others due to the extra stability

Combats and Nitrosamines are out dated still fast but if you have time wait for the Shamal and Xenon.

No matter what race kite you get it comes down to the pilot. Getting a race kite doesn't put you in first or the fastest. Learn it fly it tune it.

Agree with Rip aboutt the XR+. Weight equals speed. The heavier buggy will be able to hold the line much better then the lighter PL .
Most of the bigger buggies (Libre, Apexx, MG, etc.) you sit in the buggy, and not on top of it like you do in the XR+.

As far as race kites go. Don't discount the RII's. Great price point, great kite. I hit just shy of 50mph with a 3.5m this year at NABX. But the RII line stops at 10.8m. If you want bigger then you will have to look at the Spirit, Vapor, or GT.

I think the Cooper is a fantastic kite. I have trouble with race kites. Tip tuck etc. Magnifies my bad flying !

The Cooper is a contender yet has very little of that race kite finicky nature. At about 1/2 the price of a vapor!

Awesome info! I'm not pulling the trigger too soon, just tryin to plan out which way im going. Upgrading the buggy is definately happening, just a matter of time. Not trying to set world records here....yet but I do want to go faster I know myself too well, and if I settle for less than race kite level, I won't be happy down the road. So yes, this will be a long process for me. Should be a fun one though!!! Maybe I can get dino to sit on my axel till I can get the new buggy

If Angus still has something in the demo fleet, I would definitely check with him. It would probably help a lot to fly something like the Combat or Century and have it fresh in your mind as points of reference.

ATB,
Sam

Agree on the buggy, you'd just get yanked out of an XR+ or you'd have to be Herculean. But you also can't overlook tires! I've got slicks on my Libre Hardcore and race kites can quickly overpower my buggy. Which I find fun cause I like sliding sideways, but most people are as masochistic as me. But I'm planning on getting a nice set of grooved or textured tires because flying sideways does get old.

I am going to chime in here

I have an XR+ & coopers / vapors and reactors ( all kites suggested here )

In smooth wind the coopers & vapors are great

In lumpy wind the reactors are great

Now, you can fly the race kites in lumpy wind but you need to be ready (quick) on the brakes.
At my home field, I fly my coopers with the brakes a little tight and at nabx, I went the other way with very loose brakes to let the kites just go. So it all depends on the conditions you fly in.

I can also hold down the reactor II 5.5 in way more wind than the cooper 5.6 - different kite - same wind, the cooper is faster if you can hold it down.

XR+

Nice buggy for tooling around in. Scared the **** out of myself at nabx after 40. Cruising at 30 wasn't a problem.

30 is fast in a XR I found it starts to shutter around 25... 40 must be some record :bigok:

I have the kinked downtube from BF - helps by changing the angle of the fork

Long side rails and the 120mm axle help too. That's it for an XR+

Quote:

Originally posted by csa_deadon Agree with Rip aboutt the XR+. Weight equals speed. The heavier buggy will be able to hold the line much better then the lighter PL . Most of the bigger buggies (Libre, Apexx, MG, etc.) you sit in the buggy, and not on top of it like you do in the XR+.

I think this is a real quality bit of advice !

My big lesson brought back from NABX was that I felt fully in the buggy for the 1st time in K3's Apexx. Frankin'buggy has the old original straight side rails. Talk about feeling like you are "on " a buggy rather than in it ! I came home knowing that if want to buggy is a serious manor I need to go bigger so grabbed Jeff's Ivanpah for the price of a good race kite ! I am betting that the better buggy will make way more difference than faster kite !

Now I Have to figure out how to store and transport this beast. Frankin'buggy is honestly so small it once lived under the bed !

BB, you can use the Ivanpah to sit in the living room and watch TV in place of the recliner:D

Quote:

Originally posted by arkay 30 is fast in a XR I found it starts to shutter around 25... 40 must be some record :bigok:

I've done 46 in a P/L comp buggy. It wasn't that unstable, but you sure didn't want to screw-up!