SS Link?

Tim S. · Post by **Tim S.** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 11:33 pm

Has anyone had more time on this kite?? At $699 for a kite and bar, seems like a pretty good deal, however lots of negative press. I'd like to hear what mid-west riders have to say.

Thanks

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:11 am

It is an extremely well built kite....almost over built. Split strut, one pump, 7-9 struts, battens, etc.

It flys very uniquely. It pivots more than it turns. You can spin it on itself with minimal pull. Not the best kite for inexperienced hands though.

Get the Red Bridles. The first batch of black bridles had some issues. The Red bridle fixes most of them. It relaunches super easy on the red bridle as well. Stock red bridles have minimal bar pressure. I like to lengthen the front lines to get a bit more bar pressure. Personal preference.

Love the smaller sizes. Haven't flown the 15m w/ red bridles but in the 5 line mode it wasn't stellar...decent but not as good as the larger bows. The 10.5 is the money size. I love that size. They fly a bit big so the 10.5 is more like a 12 or 13. I have many sizes for demo. I'd say fly one, see what you think. Depends upon what you are used to and what kind of riding you want to do.

ice_kmauve · Post by **ice_kmauve** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:16 am

I'm very tempted to pick up a link myself, especially at 699.

I've flown the 9, the 10.5 and the 12. I think bridle mode and 5th line mode are very similar. I might prefer 5th line mode for jumping. All the old crap bridles have now been shredded and all kites are coming with the correct bridles. Tighe correct me if I'm wrong.

The link is a very fast kite. Try one and you'll see what I mean. Very responsive and no flutter or other weird crap.

They jump well.

To me, the 9, 10.5 and 12 all fly (turn/jump) pretty much the same. The 12 link is a good 20% faster than my 12 Waroo. They have a lot of quick depower which is essential here.

Relaunch is easier with the bridles. Pretty much rolls over jumps into the air like a Waroo. with the 5th line it's a bit trickier to relaunch but not all that hard --you just have to have _some_ kite skills.

I disagree about the size business. a 12 is a 12. a 9 is a 9. They have a bit less low end than a Waroo. Obviously a 12 Link is going to be more powerful per size when compared to C kites. Good luck.

Tim S. · Post by **Tim S.** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:53 am

Thanks guys.

Hunter Welles · Post by **Hunter Welles** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 12:09 pm

I love my links! I fly a 12 and a 9, 12 being my favorite of the two. They are plain out sweet kites, I dont know why they have gotten such bad press. Give them a shot you wont be dissapointed, and I think they are a big reason I learned a lot of the tricks that I did over the winter(especially kite loops!).

Denis · Post by **Denis** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:03 pm

Yeah, the kite is alright I suppose.

Seriously though, when I first tried it, i didn't like the kite that much. Could stall easily, hard to relaunch. But it jumped really well and made tricks easier. After figuring the kite out, now I love it. The red bridles definitely make it easier to relaunch, and adjusting the trim strap took care of the stall. I actually still fly mine with 5 lines without any problems. The kite allows you a lot of control, which is great if you know what you are doing, but might be challenging for a beginner.

Tim S. · Post by **Tim S.** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:59 pm

Wow, just tested out the cabrinha omega. Lot more bar pressure than the waroo which is what I'm used to.

How much bar pressure does the link have??

Thanks again!

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:20 pm

You can dial in the bar pressure on the Links. Stock they seem to come with very little, if any at all. By lengthening the front lines ( or shortening the back lines you can get more bar pressure, more like a C kite. Not heavy and not too light.

Again, give them a try. That's always the best way for you to figure them out.

Dave Z · Post by **Dave Z** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 10:22 pm

Tim - did you test it in 1:1 or 2:1 mode? I"ve heard that makes a pretty big difference.

Denis · Post by **Denis** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:28 am

I haven't heard much complaint about the Omega bar pressure yet. When I was at the snowkite Rodeo, Claes Lundin was riding one and seemed pretty happy with it. I'd try adjusting the trim strap first.

On the link, if you dial it right, the pressure is pretty light. I must say that in general, C kites that I have flown seem to have less bar pressure than bows or hybrids.

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:16 am

Tim,if you want less bar preassure give a call and you can try one of my Instincts, they're lighter than the waroo.( According to Avery)

avery · Post by **avery** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:23 am

Bar Pressure from heavy to light on kites I have flown.

Turbo1 and 2
Link
Waroo 07/Bularoo 07
Waroo 06/Yarga 07
Instinct

I love to ride with little to none...
That was the main reason I switched to Waroos in 06. That and the pirce.

Denis · Post by **Denis** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:14 am

Hey Avery,

Do you know where the Cab's Xbow fall in the category? Before and after the mod? Haven't flown a Xbow for a while so I can't remember exactly how it feels.

avery · Post by **avery** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:26 am

have not flown one. Mike W. would have a better thought on this. Mike?

avery · Post by **avery** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:26 am

have not flown one. Mike W. would have a better thought on this. Mike?

Tim S. · Post by **Tim S.** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 11:52 am

Thanks for all the info!

RobH · Post by **RobH** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:20 pm

Hey Avery

The SB2 has less bar pressure than the waroo, havnt had a chance to fly the Ozone but I assume they will be very close. Hit me up next time we are on the water together and you can take it for a ride.

Rob

avery · Post by **avery** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:24 pm

good to hear, is with out the pullys in the bar?

RobH · Post by **RobH** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:59 pm

No Pulleys on the bar, the kite needs to be really on the powered side to be fun, but when its powered I enjoy flying it more than the waroo in the same 14m size. Very foregiving as I can mess up and create slack allot of slack line and the kite just falls back in the window and waits

steveb · Post by **steveb** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:10 pm

The xbow without the mod was probably at the top of the "heavy list".With the mod it was right in the with the tds and links. The o7 xbow has the mod as standard, 2 pulleys on the bridal, so it's reasonable.

I now think bar preassure is what you're used to, if you ride a pullied kite your feel meter calibrates to the weight and you learn to interpret where the kite is. If you ride a lighter bar preassure kite you're meter recalibrates and after a little time on the kite you know where it is. I've gone from a heavier to one one of the lightest preassures. At first it felt weird, but after a couple of hours the kite has the same intuitive feel every kite I've ever used has. The only difference is if I ride a pullied kite now I find myself looking up at the kite convinced the blocks are jammed or somethings broken. It feels so heavy.

I do think it would be harder to go from light to heavy rather than heavy to light. Once you're calibrated to the " Light" I think most of us would come to prefer it. I must emphasise the same thing cannot be said for beer, I could never recalibrate and get used to Light.