Is that Warrior 16.5 for sale still? How much do you weigh (if that's not too personal a question), and how do you figure it would have done in Saturday's small wind? What's the strongest wind you've flown it in comfortably?
Does the Warrior perform like a tube or a true foil? I'm trying to get a comparison going between that and my 4m foil, because I definitely need something with a little more oomph for days like yesterday. I've a feeling that as my skill progresses [i.e. by winter 2009], the 4m will be sweet in 18+ mph conditions, something like the Warrior would be good to about 12 mph, and I'd need something for "in the middle" with some overlap at each end. I'm really leaning towards the Peter Lynn Guerrilla 13 or 15, but those are understandably scarce used.
Anybody else with an opinion on this kite, feel free to chime in. I notice Real Kiteboarding has some phenomenal deals on used LEI's- pretty much everything is $300; may not be such a great deal when one factors in the usage (training beginners), but then I'm a beginner and would hate to trash a $1200 investment.
Cheers, and the monkey on my back told me "oooh ooh, aah aah." I think that translates to "yesterday was awful, buy a bigger kite."
James
Stillwater
Rudeboy, is your Flysurfer still for sale?
Moderator: MK
James, I sold the foil to Rudeboy, so I can tell you a few things about it. It flies like a Huge foil, but with one major difference from smaller foils-- Stability. It is almost impossible to collapse the 16.5. It pulls about like a 22m inflatable, so it will get you going about as early as anything. Its advantage over a big LEI is the safety/depower and setup. It does not turn as fast as an LEI though. It may not go upwind as well either.
Be careful about buying used from Realkiteboarding. They do not look over the used kites very carefully, so it is quite possible that what you buy will be more worn than you expect. That is my experience with them.
Good luck!
Be careful about buying used from Realkiteboarding. They do not look over the used kites very carefully, so it is quite possible that what you buy will be more worn than you expect. That is my experience with them.
Good luck!
-
rudeboysaude
- Posts: 246
- Joined: Fri Sep 19, 2003 9:14 am
- Location: Sandstone, MN
- Contact:
Cavebat.
I am holding the warrior for another. He's promised to take it so it's pretty much gone. I weigh about 200 pounds. At least I know I do with all my winter garb on. The warrior is a pretty big kite and did have a totally differnt feel then say my 6m ozone. Obviously. It's a lot of kite. But I have no doubts that it would totally kick butt in the the right hands or a patient beginner. Mike is right when he says stable and safe. It just floats in the sky and it does pull nice and steady. There were times I had it in the air when a lull would come with no wind at all and it would just hang with no pull. The only thing that as a beginner I had difficulty with was that you almost need to have the feel where you can predict it a little. So you begin your turn before you actully would on a small kite. It only makes sense when you turn that much kite in light winds. I know that after trying to fly my tube solo that as a beginner who flys alone, I need to go foils with depower. You can stake them out, set them up, hook in and when you're ready grab the bar and go. That's about all I can do at least till I find a friend who I can lure into the sport. Sounds like you ride solo too so a kite like this might be the ticket. How do you other people setup your tubes solo and take them down? I suppose the fifth line might work huh, but what about take down? I'm sure it might be possible, but I still haven't figured it out.
I am holding the warrior for another. He's promised to take it so it's pretty much gone. I weigh about 200 pounds. At least I know I do with all my winter garb on. The warrior is a pretty big kite and did have a totally differnt feel then say my 6m ozone. Obviously. It's a lot of kite. But I have no doubts that it would totally kick butt in the the right hands or a patient beginner. Mike is right when he says stable and safe. It just floats in the sky and it does pull nice and steady. There were times I had it in the air when a lull would come with no wind at all and it would just hang with no pull. The only thing that as a beginner I had difficulty with was that you almost need to have the feel where you can predict it a little. So you begin your turn before you actully would on a small kite. It only makes sense when you turn that much kite in light winds. I know that after trying to fly my tube solo that as a beginner who flys alone, I need to go foils with depower. You can stake them out, set them up, hook in and when you're ready grab the bar and go. That's about all I can do at least till I find a friend who I can lure into the sport. Sounds like you ride solo too so a kite like this might be the ticket. How do you other people setup your tubes solo and take them down? I suppose the fifth line might work huh, but what about take down? I'm sure it might be possible, but I still haven't figured it out.
I agree with Mike, be careful buying Kites online. The guys are Real are good guys and they have a great organization out there. What I have found though is that fair,good, excellent rating system changes depending upon the area. Areas where people are kiting all the time, a kite is in great shape even with a few repairs, where around here repairs are rare. Most repairs won't effect the flying of a kite. Most are cosmetic. If done by a qualified person repairs usually make the kite stronger in that area. So you're probably ok with a repaired kite. Be sure to ask though. Here are some good questions to ask when buying a kite online:
Has it been repaired? By whom? what was the extent of the damage? How was it repaired ( sail tape isn't as effective as stitching) Did they replace a panel or stitch the tear? Did a strut or LE need to be disassembled? Was the bladder replaced or repaired.
Are all the velcro tabs in place?
Have any of the bladders been replaced?
Are there any visable wear areas?
Any modifications to the kite?
Are the pigtails original?
I'm sure there are more though this should give you a start. Also, see if you can have them send you the kite and if it is as you expected you pay, else you send it back. I've done that with personal parties, where I send them the check, they send out the kite, I call them when I get the kite and inspect it, and they cash the check. There are other ways as well.
I also highly recommend buying a new bar and line set with any kite older than a year, or if it has been at all modified. The new bars have so many new safety systems.
I don't mean to discourage buying used, there are great kites out there, just take some caution.
Has it been repaired? By whom? what was the extent of the damage? How was it repaired ( sail tape isn't as effective as stitching) Did they replace a panel or stitch the tear? Did a strut or LE need to be disassembled? Was the bladder replaced or repaired.
Are all the velcro tabs in place?
Have any of the bladders been replaced?
Are there any visable wear areas?
Any modifications to the kite?
Are the pigtails original?
I'm sure there are more though this should give you a start. Also, see if you can have them send you the kite and if it is as you expected you pay, else you send it back. I've done that with personal parties, where I send them the check, they send out the kite, I call them when I get the kite and inspect it, and they cash the check. There are other ways as well.
I also highly recommend buying a new bar and line set with any kite older than a year, or if it has been at all modified. The new bars have so many new safety systems.
I don't mean to discourage buying used, there are great kites out there, just take some caution.
Tighe