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I have been amazed at the low end of the Evo 10m. I finally found its bottom today somewhere around 10-12 knots. It is so grunty that I am wondering whether it is worthwhile to get a 12 or 15m Has anyone ridden one of these kites? Are they still pretty quick for their size? I don't need another doggy big kite...

Anyone? I am in exactly the same situation!

try going for an eclipse thruster 12m very fast if thats what you are looking for, but it doesnt have the best low end on it

No replies from someone more knowledgeable so I'll add my 2c based on only a couple of sessions on a 12m and a 9m.

The difference between the 12m and 9m at the low-end is only a couple of knots. The 12m turning speed is not much slower than the 9m. A floatier board (e.g. a surf or skim board) will have a far bigger bearing in light winds. You're also on rapidly diminishing returns as the wind drops below 10 knots, if you can't get a 6' surfboard and a 10m kite planing then a bigger kite probaly won't make a difference.

The Evos have a very good low end (e.g. 10m Evo > 12m Thruster but only an average high end. I haven't tried the 15m but I saw a guy hanging onto one is 22+ knots today after lengthening the back lines. Gotta affect steering though and a small kite is always more fun if you're powered.

Simon

in short yes,twice i have tried the 15 and once the 12, in search for a replacement for my 08 waroos 11 and 15 (not enough grunt for me)i tried the 15 evo in light wind and have to say it was remarkable, low end is unreal on these kites, but as the wind picked up to maybe 15 knots it all got a bit mad, poop stance the whole thing, i always take all the depower out of the strap and put it on the throw (08 bar) even with the leader lines on the last knot it still wasnt enough depower, so came back in and put 2 front pigtails from a rebel halfed and them and fitted them to the steering lines at the kite , so in total about 4 inches, this brings your bar back to where it should be , went back out again, wow different story this time ,by now the wind had picked up to over low 20s, and yeah it was tough but it coped well only once got teabagged , i would not recomend you take them out over 20 but as i have just ordered 2 evos i just wanted to see what the real max top end was. turns fast enough for me ,maybe a bit quicker than my 15 waroo, jumps are mental in 20 knots, hang time is also floaty as hell, a few other things of note, when 1st jumping i swung underneath it badly causing major slack lines, expecting it to come tumlbing around my ears, not so it just drifts back slightly and thats it, relaunches real fast no effort at all, even at the top of its range it was still stable , no mad flapping about or anything weird, try one they really are an awesome kite, i have ordered a 10 and a 15, unfortunatly in new zealand we now have to wait 6 weeks or more for delivery, but for me i think they will be worth the wait.

hey, didnt read the post above mine, that guy hanging on was me! i was surprised ,that rear pigtail mod didnt effect the steering that bad at all, was that you on the green evo9? if so what was that like?

Sounds like I should demo the 12/15... I would never want to fly either over 20 knots anyway!

I have used the 12m Evo and at 85kgs I can't imagin ever needing anything bigger. It had huge bottom end, easily as good as Rebel 08 14m. Turned/looped very nicely. I only tried it in very light wind.

Hi Richard,

Yep, that was me on the green 9m and at times I was over-powered too!

I like the kite a lot; far and away the most stable I've used, lacks a little bit upwind and jumping but more than adequate. Unhooked is very good because it's almost impossible to back-stall. I tried relaunching it off the 5th line and managed to invert it so the four line bar or suicide is the way to go. Pop is not as extreme as some kites but on the plus side you don't get your arms yanked out of their sockets

Simon

hey simon was that your own kite or loaned ? richard.