Stay connected in the wind. This forum is for anyone who rides the wind, winter or summer, on whatever board suits their fancy. Share the stoke, find out where people are going, ask any question, share your discoveries, and discuss any esoteric idea you may have related to the pursuit of wind. Please keep it positive.
Just had my first water session on a 13 m2 2010 Octane, and was really impressed!
Definitely the latest and greatest in the Link / Rev / Rev 2 hybrid kite line.
I know there are technical details and differences you can get elsewhere, but I wanted to tell you about the feel of it. Here it is:
Smooth
Fast, but not twitchy
Very good low end
Jumps like crazy
I like to compare kites to cars. This kite is a Porsche 911 - A really fast, nimble performer. Sure, anyone can drive it, but if you want to explore it's limits, it would be good to know what you are doing, or you may end up in a four wheel slide kissing the guardrail around turn 3
Nice job, Slingshot!!! I'll have this kite for a while - if anyone wants a to demo it, just give me a call or don't hesitate to ask me at the beach.
John Z
Midwest Mountaineering/Slingshot Regional Team Rider
Ditto!!! Flew mine everyday in Cozumel with a wide range of wind. Performed great. Got lots of time on it in Padre even though most days were 9m days this kite seems to handle plenty of wind. Pulled it out last night when the wind came up on Washington and jumped myself silly. Now if I can only get those landings nailed. This is the best kite in my quiver.
Peter
Triple Ditto!!!
I think it’s a great kite too. I decided to fly me 14mT3 yesterday instead of my Octane because it seemed very gusty and the wind direction was poor for the Bear but Chad rode his 13 Octane, he was going huge and said it handled the gusts great.
Will the octane give you bigger boosts than the RPM? Which of these two are best for unhooked jumps/tricks? I know that several guys here at S P I like the RPM for unhooked stuff and riding in the surf; so what is the attraction for riding the octane?
Jim & Patty
RV Team Riders
Waconia, SPI, Hood River
952-457-8939
Very different kites. The RPM sits further back in the window and has a real steady pull. Great for wake tricks (unhooked) and waves. Jumps are very predictable which makes it great for dialing new moves. Great range.
The Octane is a very fast kite, rides far forward in the window, and boosts to the moon. If you're an old school rider and like going big, I think you'll prefer the Octane of the RPM. It can be ridden unhooked though if that's your main thing the RPM would be a better choice.
Me too. The Rev 15 was only marginally more powerful than the Rev 13m. The size difference was counteracted by the loss in efficiency. I hope to get one to demo soon
I've had a handful of sessions on the 13M Octane now, and it is an INCREDIBLE Kite! Huge, floaty jumps, very fast and predictable in the sky. The kite handles the gusts amazingly well. Sunday on the Bear was one of those typical gusty sessions and the Octane handled them easily. The low end grunt of the Kite is not quite as good as the 14M T3, but the kite is so fast and efficient in the sky it will keep you riding through the lulls. If you get a chance take one for a ride. Fantastic kite!!!!
Some of the reviews I have read suggest the Octane is a remake of the Rev and earlier reports point to backstalling issues. Have any Rev riders had a chance to compare. Isn't the T3 a totally different shape, kite? Wouldn't the Rev 13 be a better comparison?
Dean, I did not get to spend a lot of time with the 13m Rev, but I do own an 11M Rev. The new Octane handles the gusts much better than the Rev, it also floats much better when jumping. The feedback on the bar is a bit nicer than the Rev, I found the bar pressure on the Rev to be too light some days. I moved the bridle on my Octane to the middle setting and the bar feedback is really good, the kite feels like it turns a little faster as well. It might just be me. The new bar/chicken loop/swivel setup is really nice and clean as well.
The Rev II is a better comparison due to the multiple attachment points on the wing, allowing you to dial in the bar pressure, depower, turning of the kite. The Octane flies quite similar.
The reports I have heard is about it backstalling when just overhead. I did have that happen only once on me and it was gusty very light winds. For the most part I have found it very smooth, and predictable.
I've got a 13 and an 11. If you see me and want to check it out, let me know.
Oh and BTW Dean...the T3 has become the standard here in MN, that is why compare EVERYTHING to it, DA! ; )
Unfortunately I haven't had the time on the 11m that I have as the 13m. From the little time I have had it on it it seems similar to the 11m Rev 11. Generally 18-32mph. Glorious 22-28
I really like the T3 7-9-11 quiver. Predicatble, fast enough, huge range, very forgiving. I'm starting to spend more time in the surf and the 14 is just too slow. If I ride the 14 in flat water for more than 2-3 hrs the bar pressure eventually gets to me. I love the stable platform and the big floaty jumps the 14 delivers so I was wondering if there was a different/ newer platform out there that could replace most of the positives I like about the 14 T3 yet not require totally different flying techniques when switching from one to the other. Too much to ask?
I sure wish slingshot would make one more run of t3 14s. I would buy a new one in a heart beat. I think enough Minnesota kiters would buy replacements to make it worth while for slingshot. My 14 has more hours on it than all the other kites in my quiver combined. Just so much light wind in our state. This is really the case in the middle of summer when you can go out in just board shorts. The 14 was a magical kite. So much low end but you can still bleed off a 30 mph gust without getting killed. Not many kites with that kind of range.
Tom, try looking for a used one. I just nabbed a T3 14 off of classifieds, a couple of weeks ago for $650, that appears to have been used very little. Might keep an eye on Ebay.
I have one of those T3 14 elephants. It turns like a mule & fights like a goat. Revs are OK for the money, but Ozone still makes the best kites! I'm not even a team rider for Ozone. How lame is that?
" Real living begins on the far side of despair " _ Jean Paul Sartre
Perhaps you might want to unload that elephant that turns like a mule. If it is in good shape I will buy it from you so you can by an Ozone. I would like to try the zepher some time for a light wind alternative.
Tom
