I'm ready to purchase my first de-power kite. Looking at the Sabre 2 and the Montana 3. Anyone have any opinions on any of these kites? Stability, lift, ease of use, etc.? I was looking at the 9.5m range. Have winds from 10 mph - 20 mph. I've been an HQ flyer for a year now but I found a shop who is selling the Sabre 2 for less than the Montana 3. Otherwise I was going to buy a M3 because of the price.

I can't compare the two but the Montana 3 has been praised well by those that are in tune with depower kites. I had a chance at the M3 back in September at an HQ event that ACampbell hosted in September on Jekyll Island, but I was still cutting my teeth and didn't try it. But Tridude fell smitten with it. He says they really got it right on this one. I'll give it a go next chance I get.

Both are nice--Ive flown the 7m in both lines. I was new to depower whenI flew the Sabre so I didnt tap its full potential. I liked the M3, alot! Stable, loads of lift, quality build, its the total package, right up there with Sabres and Frenzys. Stability and sail fabric namely weight were the knocks on earlier Montanas but they have righted that ship. New lighter weight, and water repellant fabric, new mixer mod (extra pulleys) increase wind range and stability. ACampbell and DaVinch have the most bar time that I know of one the M3s and they were impressed. DaVinch is in Iowa and reported no problems with stability. ACampbell has a sweet coastal spot and owns a 9.5. Ask your shop to demo both and see what you think................. good luck

The Sabre 2 is a great kite with Flexifoil quality throughout, but I think I have to give the nod to the M3 in this case, especially when you look at value. If anyone thinks HQ's build quality is not tops, they havn't looked at an example recently. They have been quietly adding nice finishing touches and features to their kites with fine build quality.
As Tridude says, the M3 is very stable. You can let go of the bar when it's overhead and it will stay there with only an occasional poke and nod. In motion, this translates to park and ride stability with fingertip steering. Not that the Sabre 2 isn't stable, but I think the M3 has it beat by a bit.
It has the same 2 pullies as the M2 and Sabre, but the mixer is updated and has improved the feel in bar pressure.
Funny thing about the M3 that I had to get used to is that the top-hat safety release is in a spot on the center line where I have tripped it numerous times while reaching for the adjuster strap- especially with long sleeve shirt and cuffs. But I got over that with time, and you cannot say that the kite is not easy to dump in an emergency!

Where are you and wht type of riding will you be doing?

Hey guys

Thanks for all of the input! I'm out here in Phoenix, Arizona where I do kite landboarding. I started out with a Beamer TSR 3.6 and I've been addicted ever since, ready to progress and move on. It sounds like the M3 is the way to go. Unfortunately we don't have a local shop out here (unless we do and I have been oblivious about it for a year). I think the nearest dealer is in Las Vegas, otherwise I would test fly both kites.

Hey when i'm in phoenix you can try mine. They are the original, but i'm sure it would be good for comparison.

m

Quote:

Originally posted by matthewlavin Hey when i'm in phoenix you can try mine. They are the original, but i'm sure it would be good for comparison. m

will be good to learn depower in general.

But judging by kite shape alone, the M1 and M3 are much different!

there s alot of diff between the M2 and M3. The M2 would not be a good kite to learn depower on whereas the M3 would be.

The M2 was quite a different (improved) kite than the M1, and the M3 is better yet, so yeah, the M1 and M3 are really different. Not knocking the M1, but I would not use it to judge the current Montana line.

The Sabre 2 is OK and stable enough to learn de-power on if you have some experience with larger fixed bridle foils, but with the center 5th line (fore safety release), it is just a bit more complicated to set up. A de-power rig is intimidating enough for the first timer, and that does not help. But once in the air, it is easy to fly.
The M3 offers all the positives with a lot less complication. The safety works fine for a four line rig, effectively dumping the kite on the rear lines.