Posted a while ago but didn't get many responses with respect to wether the montana 5m would be to big for a first kite. It was on ebay but didn't sell starting price was $265 no bids.. what would be a decent price anyway ? I think it was an 07 model. I know the montana has had several generations; I II III IV but not sure which one the one on ebay was. It had a pic colors yellowblack and white. Seemed like agood price to me but I chickened out worried I might be biting off more than I could chew w/a 5m ??? Greatly would appreciate any advice from montana users and anyone else. thanks.....

Ernie

Is this your first kite? any kite experience, 2 line, quad? how much you weigh?:tumble: I got a couple Montanas..

A 5m Depower kite is like a 3m fixed bridle , sort of , in power.

I'm not familiar with Montanas 1st hand but I know they improved with each generation so knowing the year would be of some value ? Others can comment on quality 1st hand.

5m is a good size to cut your teeth on. It is about as small as fixed bridles get and so will become your high wind kite as you progress. It will need a pretty good wind before it comes in to it's rated flying range but will take you in to ever higher winds as you grow. About 10mph winds will be ideal to get started . Below that you will struggle with it. That is the nature of depower kites !

Most often people start off with a fixed bridle foil but it isn't a requirement. If you know you want depower kites then you might as well learn with one ! Try flying it unhooked with the trim strap about 80% at 1st if you need to figure out the very basics like wind window and such.

Hey thanks for the quick response ! Yea this is my first real kite-I learned to fly on a little trainer back when I was planning to learn to kitesurf but decided that I'll stick to land for now. Looks like a really cool sport on land but I think I want to learn to use the depower system that way if I do eventually go to the water I'll have a good grasp of the system used with water kites. I'm also planning to board rather than buggy and heard depower is preferable for ATB. I weigh 150 lbs. and was worried the 5m was to big but I think Bladerunner convinced me it should be ok as long as I start in light winds. not sure which generation montana the one on ebay was but colors were yellow ,black and white. Maybe dgkid78 might know what model that was? Thanks for the good advice and taking time to respond. You guys have a great site here ! Glad I found it...

Ernie

I'm pretty sure it's the first gen montana 5m that was yellow/black/white.

In general, I would purchase newest kite you can afford. From what I've seen kites have made huge strides in terms of technology in recent years, so the difference of a year or two can be a big difference.

I also think the 5m would be a perfect kite to start with. And you won't be like me after a year wanting a small depower for those high wind days. I am also new to the sport, since 2007 . That 5m is the same color scheme I think for the first 2 generations and switching to Gray instead of black in the 3rd gen. . I don't think there is a 5m in the 4th generation. same color scheme but they look really different. I only have depower experience with these kites soo of course I love them. great price and great kites. I have never flown the first gen. but researching for my first depower the 7m Montana 2....It was greatly improved over the the 1st. And now that i have the 9.5 Montana 3....I find it Leaps and Bounds more user friendly and easier to handle and just a great kite all around. I can't imagine what the 4th gen can do. I went straight for the 7m . I flew my 2.4m and 4m Crossfires (Fixed Bridal) for 6 months before deciding to switch to depower. LOL over ambitious? Hells YA!!! I broke some bones. Now I just find the 7m a tiny kite haha. I never use it. It conflicts with the 9.5m.

I was totally discouraged the first time i tried depower. I came here asked tons of questions. the People are great here and before i was on my 10th try i was already moving on my board.


Good Luck!!!! Go For it!


Here is the Montana 1 5m



And here is the Montana 2 5m




Hope this helps distingish the Gen.....Also on the kite it says the Gen right on the kite near "Montana"

I have limited experience with ours but in smooth strong winds it is flawless. It doesn't like the stop/start winds I get so often living inland. With an onshore smooth wind 15-20 it is pure bliss though. I'd be worried about the quandary of getting a small depower because it is your first and the issue of needing a stiff wind before you can get a 5m depower to work like its supposed to. I tried a 7m Montana III before getting our 9.5 that Dgkid adopted. The 7m just wanted more wind than we get lots of time. The requirements of the 5m will be even higher. Like Bladerunner said, get the newest you can, and maybe get a 3m fixed bridle (Beamer for instance) to learn the basics on is the way I'd lean.

Yea, the consensus seems to be, get the latest generation you can. Thanks dgkid for the pics. It was definitely the gen. I on ebay. Also thanks for the encouragement about going for the depowers. the broken bones has me a bit concerned though. LOL !! Do you use the montanas on the water too ? Thanks for the input from beamerbob. will definitely take into consideration your exp. with small depowers and required wind. I thought about going with a beamer to start, just wasn't sure i'd like the handles-seems a bit cumbersome to have both hands up in the air while on a board ??? do you like the depowers for a buggy ?

So much of the time when I buggy, I'm in close quarters, and therefore appreciate the handling advantage of handles. But if I have 300 feet and no obstacles like soccer goals and light poles, I'm quite happy to shift over to the Montana or Phantom. Depower in the buggy is still relatively new to me though. I still need lots of time learning the nuances of depower in the buggy and think it definitely is a tool you need in the toolbox.

The Montana doesn't relaunch off of water. For that you need a closed cell system. The Hydra and Neo are HQ's .
Flysurfer and Skycountry also have closed cell foils. Peter Lynn has closed cell twin skin arcs that cross over.

The broken bones thing can happen no matter what type of kite you have. Pads help but are not sure protection either.

Happy to have you intrested in progression ernie

i am just getting into using the kites for traction not just static so i am just infront of you my experiance with depowers are great but you do have to get out in higher winds not as confinence building

I have been kite skateboarding waiting for funds to finish my buggie and land boards both home made

I weigh 300 w/ all of my gear so my kite usage is a little differnt ( i can hold down a little bigger kite) I use a Little Devil 4.5m and it pulls a ton and goes upwing great

i think that a 3 to 4m flow would be right up your ally it comes on a bar but is a fixed bridle would be perfect intro to landboarding and also be a rocket on higher wind days

It is extremely durable and IMO the best starter kite for a bug or board

this is just my Opinion ozone has never let me down and has great equipment (lines, handles, and kite killers come with the kite) Or the bar if you prefere. :bigok:

also my winds are pretty light when i get out the 4.5m LD 5 to 12 mph after that it gets pretty strong.

Hey looking-up, thank for the advice. I'm gonna check out the flow like you said. the fact it comes on a bar is interesting. I might start out on a fixed bridle as has been suggested by a few people here. It's probably better for static flying while learning, than a depower anyway. then move on to depowers. I'm amazed that a big guy like you can get going on such a small kite ! Must be damn powerful, and you use it in quite light winds. I'm gonna check it out now to see what the cost is. Maybe can find one on Ikitesurf or ebay. You say you are kite skateboarding-do you mean a standard type used on pavement ? I have a mountain board w/inflatable tires that I plan to use on the beach. Is the little devil a depower ? Best of luck w/the buggy and board you're building.

I couldn't say anything bad about Ozone or the flow, but I just bought a Scout from HQ for those days that my son Wexler is blown out from using his 9.5 Montana IV. It comes with a bar and I just bought a set of handles for it as an option. The crossover bar is really intuitive. It is a stable kite that seems to generate some power but I haven't hooked it up to wheels yet. It is certainly worth considering. Probably not any used ones available yet since its relatively new on the market.

i think we're on the same page Bob. I was just checking out the scout on ebay. A good compromise between buying a depower or a fixed bridle w/handles. There's someone selling a beamer TSR which is on a bar. for 200$ on this site. do you think thats a good option-the price sounds great-as opposed to the more expensive scout ?

The Scout is an improved model that replaced the TSR. The TSR doesn't have the crossover bar either. But money talks and the TSR holds a title for most kites sold in some category. HQ has sold boat loads of them. Buy the newest kite you can, but the TSR would be a great place to start if that fits your budget.