Christians and my 16m Crosbows turned up Friday, I thought I'd give you guys a little info.
Construction is very good, the color designs are not too sexy but that's semantics, the kite is a delta shape very different from what we all know.The bridle is simple and not a tangle worry but it works very well.
The bar has some really slick features. There are pulleys on each end of the bar, the back lines run through them and then go to a central spot just above your center line adjuster, they are on a swivel.When you push away or pull in on your bar it adjusts the back line tension, the range is amazing. The center line adjuster is the slickest design I have seen, I used to think the airush system was the best but cabrinha has really outdone everyone.There are two lines which are plastic coated and extend down towards the rider, they are stiff so you don't have to hunt or reach for them. One has a red ball on the end the other black, pull on the red one and you sheet in, pull on the black you let it out, playing with the system I could tweak it to within 1/8 of an inch easily in or out.
The safety system consists of a ball that clicks into place 35cm (adjustable distance) from you chicken loop, there is a large hole through the center of the bar. If you let go of the bar it un clicks the ball which allows the bar to travel further away, the kite just stops and glides down out of the air, no spins or tangles. It's OFF. To restart reach for the bar pull it towards you, relaunch and then reset the ball by pulling it towards you until it clicks in place. You're back in the game.
General flying. The relaunch is so simple and easy you wonder if you are kiting or dreaming.
The kite fly's fast, let me say that again FAST, the depower range is unlike anything you have felt. You can hot launch the kite dead down,wind push the bar away and you'll only have a slow body drag for about a foot. The depower is that dynamic. And thats without the center line sheeted in at all.
The kite turns fast with a wing pivot type turn, to can take it from 12 into a straight down dive, it's capable of that tight a radius turn. There is a little more bar preassure when you sheet in, if you have flown a 4 line foil it's less preassure than that but more than most blimps, I like the feel it gives you more kite position feedback, christian said he found it a little tiring.
The 16 pulls like an 18 or small 19 standard blimp in the low end, top end I can't tell you as we did not have enough wind, impressions are it's going to be amazing. I only got powered up enough for a few small jumps, they were very stable, I'll let you know more when I get a good powered day.
My only complaint is the manual shows an optional safety leash which clips onto the chicken loop, for the money these kites are you should not have to buy a safety leash as extra. I'm sure the arguement is a lot of people don't use them so why provide it, for the money I say put it in the bag!.
Crossbow
Moderator: MK
Hey Steve, welcome to the Xbow club!! I posted a small review over at Mnkiting under a Malmotion post, for JN. But havn't posted too much because everything has already been stated on kiteforum.com, and the kite has really lived up to the hype.
ET really needs to get a demo going here on windy days, these kites would sell themselves.
Anyway....aren't they incredible!!!?? I have the 16m and the low end is just as good as my 19.5 Contra. The top end... haven't seen it yet. You will find the boost is incredible. Load up the kite and yank in on the bar as you take off and say good bye.
I think in the right hands these kites can boost huge. Take out the 16 when everyone else is on a 13 or 14. You sail with the bar half way out and then when you boost all of sudden you increase your kite size 2 or 3m's with a little tug on the bar.....it's launch time.
These should be great kites for your lake Steve, they eat the gusts for lunch.
I could go on for hours about the things I like. Bar pressure....don't like....but I'm getting used to it, and it's adds a nice sensitve feel to the bar.
Do I sound like I'm in love...? Maybe..... there's always that new '06 Rapture.
ET really needs to get a demo going here on windy days, these kites would sell themselves.
Anyway....aren't they incredible!!!?? I have the 16m and the low end is just as good as my 19.5 Contra. The top end... haven't seen it yet. You will find the boost is incredible. Load up the kite and yank in on the bar as you take off and say good bye.
I think in the right hands these kites can boost huge. Take out the 16 when everyone else is on a 13 or 14. You sail with the bar half way out and then when you boost all of sudden you increase your kite size 2 or 3m's with a little tug on the bar.....it's launch time.
These should be great kites for your lake Steve, they eat the gusts for lunch.
I could go on for hours about the things I like. Bar pressure....don't like....but I'm getting used to it, and it's adds a nice sensitve feel to the bar.
Do I sound like I'm in love...? Maybe..... there's always that new '06 Rapture.
Hey Steve,
For some more power on the Xbow people (on the forums) are adding a 4th knot on the rear leader (at the kite), 2 or 3 inches closer to the kite. They say it still flys great but it powers up the kite another notch. In light winds this is where you can squeeze out that low end. I've tried mine on the 3rd knot and I was sailing it up well over 20 mph no problem, so I'm trying a 4th knot next time out.
You probably will lose a teeny bit on the total depower side, so you would want to trigger the Overide ball a few times to see if it still depowers 100% when you add a 4th knot.
For some more power on the Xbow people (on the forums) are adding a 4th knot on the rear leader (at the kite), 2 or 3 inches closer to the kite. They say it still flys great but it powers up the kite another notch. In light winds this is where you can squeeze out that low end. I've tried mine on the 3rd knot and I was sailing it up well over 20 mph no problem, so I'm trying a 4th knot next time out.
You probably will lose a teeny bit on the total depower side, so you would want to trigger the Overide ball a few times to see if it still depowers 100% when you add a 4th knot.
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
Tom, thanks for the heads up,I'm sure I shall be as psyched as you when I get some real wind in the kite. Christian felt it did not have the power of his 19.5 contra in the low end. I know it does not match my 20, there is no doubt it has more grunt than a normal 16, much more.
For me it would be nice if they came out with an 18/19, or I've got to get myself below 230lbs.
Are you going to keep your regular blimps or has the Xbow blown it for you?I know what I'm going to do but I just wondered if you had the same opinion.
For me it would be nice if they came out with an 18/19, or I've got to get myself below 230lbs.
Are you going to keep your regular blimps or has the Xbow blown it for you?I know what I'm going to do but I just wondered if you had the same opinion.
If I only sailed on places like Mille Lacs I would have kept some bucket kites but accepting the reality of our winds I have already sold everything except the Contra. I live on Tonka, and the bay I'm on gives me a fetch about a 1/3 less than Waconia. My Raptures and Xbow are the only kites that get me out on my bay comfortably. It seems like the wind is always going up or down, no matter where your sailing and these kites just cover so much more range that it means a lot more fun time on the board.
I've been using my Xbow 16m with a 159 Flydoor in light winds, which seems to work better for me than the Contra. I'm always getting overpowerd in the gusts on the Contra, and if the wind comes up I'm totally screwed on the Contra, I just don't have the depower. 2 other thing I like about the Xbow is that it is so small compared to the Contra, way easier to move around. And you can solo launch the Xbow in very light winds. Once I get the Xbow in the air I think I can ride in about 6-10 mph with the Flydoor. Have to verify that with more sessions. I'm at 160 lbs.
Windwing is supposedly working on a light wind flat kite. A flat kite designed for light wind should get you out there in no wind, and still turn like 16m. Flat kites for light winds will probably be an area ripe for innovation next year.
As Tighe says, it's all good.
I've been using my Xbow 16m with a 159 Flydoor in light winds, which seems to work better for me than the Contra. I'm always getting overpowerd in the gusts on the Contra, and if the wind comes up I'm totally screwed on the Contra, I just don't have the depower. 2 other thing I like about the Xbow is that it is so small compared to the Contra, way easier to move around. And you can solo launch the Xbow in very light winds. Once I get the Xbow in the air I think I can ride in about 6-10 mph with the Flydoor. Have to verify that with more sessions. I'm at 160 lbs.
Windwing is supposedly working on a light wind flat kite. A flat kite designed for light wind should get you out there in no wind, and still turn like 16m. Flat kites for light winds will probably be an area ripe for innovation next year.
As Tighe says, it's all good.
Hey guys, congrats on your cutting edge acquisitions. Can the Crossbow be drift launched like a traditional LEI?
These guys seem to write some pretty objective reviews:
http://www.ikiteboarding.com/article_detail.aspx?id=163
These guys seem to write some pretty objective reviews:
http://www.ikiteboarding.com/article_detail.aspx?id=163
Yep,
It lies very flat on the water, and does not cause much wind drag. I just put it LE down in the water and let it drift back as I unwind my bar, not too much pull on the lines. I've tried in pretty strong winds. I was worried that due to the shape the LE might get some air under it and take off, but that does not seem to happen. Self land same way. Just park it at the edge of the window then pull hard on upside front line, lays it down nice and easy, wind up the bar with the kite straight down wind.
It lies very flat on the water, and does not cause much wind drag. I just put it LE down in the water and let it drift back as I unwind my bar, not too much pull on the lines. I've tried in pretty strong winds. I was worried that due to the shape the LE might get some air under it and take off, but that does not seem to happen. Self land same way. Just park it at the edge of the window then pull hard on upside front line, lays it down nice and easy, wind up the bar with the kite straight down wind.
wow that sounds really slick.
Rookies beware! This technique is unique to this type of kite. If drift launching a traditional LEI kite you will want to wait till you have completely unwound your lines before letting go of the kite. If the kite were to launch you would have no way to control it if you lines were still wrapped on the bar.
Rookies beware! This technique is unique to this type of kite. If drift launching a traditional LEI kite you will want to wait till you have completely unwound your lines before letting go of the kite. If the kite were to launch you would have no way to control it if you lines were still wrapped on the bar.
Tighe
Tighe,
That is only with my 16. I was doing it at Milly with big waves lifting the LE up like 2-4 inches and it still never started to lift. I think I mght be a little more worried with a smaller version in heavier winds. I also made sure the canopy was nice and wet when I did this.
The best way to test the concept is do an assisted launch and then self land it, and let it float LE down at the end of the lines and watch what happens. That way if it does a nose up, hot launch you are in a position to control it.
If it ever happened to me while I was unwinding I think I would have to ditch bar.
One final note......mainly for Steveb in case he tries this. I have the bar wound up with the lines in a completely depowered configuration, before I do the drift launch.
That is only with my 16. I was doing it at Milly with big waves lifting the LE up like 2-4 inches and it still never started to lift. I think I mght be a little more worried with a smaller version in heavier winds. I also made sure the canopy was nice and wet when I did this.
The best way to test the concept is do an assisted launch and then self land it, and let it float LE down at the end of the lines and watch what happens. That way if it does a nose up, hot launch you are in a position to control it.
If it ever happened to me while I was unwinding I think I would have to ditch bar.
One final note......mainly for Steveb in case he tries this. I have the bar wound up with the lines in a completely depowered configuration, before I do the drift launch.
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steveb
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 3:31 pm
- Location: sblain@frontiernet.net
I put the kite over my head so the lei is resting on the back of my head, unwind my lines while walking up wind, take the kite off my head put it in the water and give one side a spin so it will turn quickly into the standard bladder down back wards position. Relaunch. Much easier than a 5 line, no worries.
Landing I just release the bar, the kite falls out of the sky, pull the kite to me with one of the front lines, put the kite over my head, rewind the lines ( no b.s due to the extra length of a 5th line)bow to the adoring crowd, search for the hot chicks on the beach and then trip over my feet walking up the bank and make a total ass out of myself.
From my practice launches figuring out the kite and practice safety releases the xbow is the easiest drift launch, landing I have used. I think the only brand I have not drift launched is airrush, apart from their kites I'll take the xbow if you have to drift launch and self land. This was one of my most happy features of the kite after my initial days using the 16m.
Landing I just release the bar, the kite falls out of the sky, pull the kite to me with one of the front lines, put the kite over my head, rewind the lines ( no b.s due to the extra length of a 5th line)bow to the adoring crowd, search for the hot chicks on the beach and then trip over my feet walking up the bank and make a total ass out of myself.
From my practice launches figuring out the kite and practice safety releases the xbow is the easiest drift launch, landing I have used. I think the only brand I have not drift launched is airrush, apart from their kites I'll take the xbow if you have to drift launch and self land. This was one of my most happy features of the kite after my initial days using the 16m.
Cabrina vs. Globerider
Have been mousing around the net. There's a Globerider distributor in Chicago, but it looks like they haven't released the product yet...Also lists Phillip in S. Padre as a dealer. Nice to know Windwing is joining the fray. Maybe their pricing will be less. Having a hard time swallowing $1750 for a freakin' kite, even if it does replace two in the quiver! 
Also am having a hard time finding pricing for Naish's version. Does Coach still have the inside track @ Naish? When will it debut & who has pricing? J.N.
P.S: Did you order through E.T?
Also am having a hard time finding pricing for Naish's version. Does Coach still have the inside track @ Naish? When will it debut & who has pricing? J.N.P.S: Did you order through E.T?
Jim:
I'm in the dark on any crossbow-like Naish offerings. They stay pretty tight-lipped about that stuff...
I hate to sound like the antagonist here, but I'm still not terribly sold on the concept. It's just me, but from the sound of things I wouldn't ride one.
However, the one feature that would be killer is the depower range. That seems to be the only real advantage over traditional LEI kites, and it's a rather large one. Everything else I've heard and read smells of hype.
If I were Steve Blain, I would ride one... (Hey - if I were Steve I would have already ridden one!
) For a big guy, the range would be a huge factor. And, Steve is representative of most of you in being only a year or two into water kiting. The kite sounds nice for those progressing up the shred ladder.
It's unusual for me to not chase the latest and greatest... I'll probably have a crossbow-like kite by next season, after I'm healed up.
-Coach
I'm in the dark on any crossbow-like Naish offerings. They stay pretty tight-lipped about that stuff...
I hate to sound like the antagonist here, but I'm still not terribly sold on the concept. It's just me, but from the sound of things I wouldn't ride one.
However, the one feature that would be killer is the depower range. That seems to be the only real advantage over traditional LEI kites, and it's a rather large one. Everything else I've heard and read smells of hype.
If I were Steve Blain, I would ride one... (Hey - if I were Steve I would have already ridden one!
) For a big guy, the range would be a huge factor. And, Steve is representative of most of you in being only a year or two into water kiting. The kite sounds nice for those progressing up the shred ladder.It's unusual for me to not chase the latest and greatest... I'll probably have a crossbow-like kite by next season, after I'm healed up.
-Coach
So does Joe Doe:
Moon Beach video:
http://www.sarahowenlondon.co.uk/video/moonbeach.mp4
http://212.67.202.47/~tonyshep/newforum ... 677359ede8
Moon Beach video:
http://www.sarahowenlondon.co.uk/video/moonbeach.mp4
http://212.67.202.47/~tonyshep/newforum ... 677359ede8
Yeah, Sam was on the Crossbow (9 & 12) all week and was ripping. If anyone has any doubts whether or not you can do all the new school tricks on this style of kite, then Sam should have put your doubts at ease.osiris wrote: wrote: was that a crossbow i spotted in a couple of the shots there?
Nice to see it in some proper action.
Now where can I find that £900???.
Geez, Tom - Did you buy stock in Cabrinha or something?
Seriously, I don't doubt that it is a decent kite. It just seems that there is a "mana from heaven" euphoria surrounding the kite and that seems to be a derivative of it being a new product more than anything else.
Don't get bent out of shape if everyone doesn't go gaga for it.
-Coach
Seriously, I don't doubt that it is a decent kite. It just seems that there is a "mana from heaven" euphoria surrounding the kite and that seems to be a derivative of it being a new product more than anything else.
Don't get bent out of shape if everyone doesn't go gaga for it.
-Coach
Cabrinha did no advance hype of the kite (unlike Best), any hype is from the users themselves. I own many brands of kites. Here's the beef.
Certain posters here are always posting negative comments about any new technology. I posted in June of last year that I thought the 5th line was great. That got put down (too complicated). Now that most brands offer it (i.e. Sling Shot) it’s cool. I posted that the Rapture was a great kite, that got put down. Now the Crossbow is being written off as a beginner kite. What’s annoying is that the pessimists are people who have no first hand knowledge of the product. Basically their opinions are nothing more than a guess. Mine in these cases have been based on experience.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge.
Daniel J. Boorstin
Certain posters here are always posting negative comments about any new technology. I posted in June of last year that I thought the 5th line was great. That got put down (too complicated). Now that most brands offer it (i.e. Sling Shot) it’s cool. I posted that the Rapture was a great kite, that got put down. Now the Crossbow is being written off as a beginner kite. What’s annoying is that the pessimists are people who have no first hand knowledge of the product. Basically their opinions are nothing more than a guess. Mine in these cases have been based on experience.
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance - it is the illusion of knowledge.
Daniel J. Boorstin
whoa guys. I've been reading this post and I really don't think anybody is intentionally being negative. Some may be a bit reserved about dropping $ on a new technology until it is more widely proven. But I think everyone is psyched to see all this new innovation. There are opinions here and elsewhere, and of course those who have first hand experience are best suited to provide their perceptions of the kite.
I love hearing first hand experiences on this technology. Sure rider preferences will always play a role, but when doesn't it. No one has ever said this kite or that kite is THE kite for everyone. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I think we're gonna see a lot more specialization with kites. You choose the kite type that matches how you like to ride, the conditions you ride in, and one that fits your budget.
let's keep it positive.
On a bit of a side note...I may have been the one to state that the 5th line is complex. I still think that. Relaunching with it is easier and tricker at the same time. If you have 5th line that you can trim the kite with, it provides great advantages, but is one more thing to be adjusting. This is just my opinion. If I could get the advantages of the 5th line from a 2 line kite, I'd choose the 2 line kite. You can't so I fly with a 5th line on some of my kites. One of the things that appeals to me about these new kites is what they can do with just the 4 lines.
anyway, as I said, let's keep the stoke positive. I've been at the lake on days where the person having the most fun was on a 2001 era kite.
I also think readers are aware when an opinion comes from a first hand experience and when it comes from a technical assessment of the kite specs.
it's all good.
Personally, I want to fly one of these new concepts for myself, to see what the buzz is all about.
I love hearing first hand experiences on this technology. Sure rider preferences will always play a role, but when doesn't it. No one has ever said this kite or that kite is THE kite for everyone. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I think we're gonna see a lot more specialization with kites. You choose the kite type that matches how you like to ride, the conditions you ride in, and one that fits your budget.
let's keep it positive.
On a bit of a side note...I may have been the one to state that the 5th line is complex. I still think that. Relaunching with it is easier and tricker at the same time. If you have 5th line that you can trim the kite with, it provides great advantages, but is one more thing to be adjusting. This is just my opinion. If I could get the advantages of the 5th line from a 2 line kite, I'd choose the 2 line kite. You can't so I fly with a 5th line on some of my kites. One of the things that appeals to me about these new kites is what they can do with just the 4 lines.
anyway, as I said, let's keep the stoke positive. I've been at the lake on days where the person having the most fun was on a 2001 era kite.
I also think readers are aware when an opinion comes from a first hand experience and when it comes from a technical assessment of the kite specs.
it's all good.
Personally, I want to fly one of these new concepts for myself, to see what the buzz is all about.
Tighe