Slingshot RPM sizing and performance...

[Travii]

Fellow kiters,

I really wanted to buy a REV last year but I did not pull the trigger for a number of reasons (house, wife, and two little ones). After reading some reviews of the RPM, it seems that a lot of kiters prefer the RPM over the REV and even the Turbo series due to its pop, good depower, and C-kite like handling. In my four years of primarily snow kiting, I have had only one kite: a 12m TD (original). Now, to be honest, this old girl has been very faithful to me in all sorts of conditions from 10 mph to 25+ mph. For reference, I am on the lighter end at ~150 lbs so the 12m has all the grunt that I need.

How do the 8m - 12 m RPM's compare in terms of low end grunt and high wind depower to the Turbo series? Would an 8m and 12m quiver give enough range for a rider my size? I want something that handles more like the old Fuel that I learned to kite on.

Thanks,
Travis

[Tighe]

Hopefully Denis will chime in since I think that is the quiver he rides, and you guys are about the same wt. I think.

The kites fly very different than the Turbo series, but if you're looking for more C kite feel, the RPM is the way to go. It is amazingly stable, has pretty significant range (more on the high side), and has just the right amount of bar pressure. Midwest has a demo kite that Peter might let you try.

Denis?

[wings]

Hey,

I'm 200 lbs and I use a 14m for my light winder and it's a tank. It works just fine for me and, at the moment, I only have a high-wind board. I've had the Fuels (old and new) and Revs (I have a 9m now), and I like the rpm the best. It's flies a bit more like the fuel than the rev. But honestly, they are very similar. If you have a light-wind board you will be fine on a 12 on all but the lightest days and would probably find a 14 to be too big. I have never ridden the TD but I'm almost positive that the rpm rides back in the window a little bit more (like a C), creating more grunt but also making it a little more difficult to get upwind than a true bow.

good luck.

ps. I'd be happy to let you try my 14 if you'd like.

[kiteboymn]

I have the 10 and love it! Have not flown any other sizes in descent wind to comment on. I spend allot of time hitting a kicker with this kite and can tell you it's very forgiving and unhooks like a dream. It sits back in the window more than the Revs but you are more powered throughout the entire turn and not just a portion.
It really all boils down to what you're looking to do on you're board.
Todd

[johnz]

I'm a little bigger (approx 215 lbs). I've ridden Fuels (probably my favorite up until now), Rev's, Octane's, Link's, and TD's. I'm admittedly more of a lawn mower than a crazy man like Denis, but I LOVE THE RPM!!!

I like to say that it combines the fun factor of the Fuel with the range of a TD (almost). I think the RPM is very different from a Rev or even the new Octane. It isn't as lively as those kites, more grunty.

I have been riding a 14 RPM and, with a bigger board, it is a decent light wind kite. Once the winds pick up, it is really controllable (up to about 25-27 mph). I'm thinking a 14 / 10 would be a great two kite quiver for someone my size that would be REALLY FUN as well as convenient.

The RPM is a GREAT kite - it will take you as far as you want to go, IMHO.

I'm sure there will be something even better next week

Of course, you should ride it and decide for yourself - lots of good stuff out there.

[Denis]

Whoa! So I am resurrecting an old thread here. Sorry.

I have an 8m and a 12m RPM, I weight around 160lbs and I ride a 132 Lunacy. The RPM handles very differently from the TD (1st version) or the Rev. It turns in an arc rather than pivoting like the TD, so the power comes more from the sending the kite (like the Fuel) rather than controlling the angle of attack (like the TD). Great for pop, but make sure that you get used to the timing. The initial turn is a little more mellow than the Rev. It makes the kite still very reactive but not twitchy. On the range, I found that if I keep the Rev zooming in the sky, it has a better low end than the RPM.

If you fly mostly in the winter the 8m and 12m quiver will work very well. In the summer, you might need a little more power when the wind drops. If you catch me on the lake, you're more than welcome to take either my 8 or my 12 for a spin. I would definitely suggest that you try before you buy.