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I hear that the 2013 Rally is a slower kite than the 2012 Rally, but does that mean it is a slow kite in general? How does it compare in terms of speed to the RPM for example? Cheers

not having flown the newest one, it is pointless for me to make this comment, however:

what are talking about "fast"?

the new rally appears to be a lot flatter, skinnier and more rigid canopy shape in the air. those characteristics are typically fast. the new rally is probably a lot faster than the old ones.

it probably doesnt turn as tightly as the old one, and likely has heavier steering resistance (steering bar pressure).

so it probably isnt as maneuverable, but it looks like it is a whole lot faster. (and hopefully wingtips done buckle anymore)

Having flown the 2012 and 2013 Rally I can say: Though not as quick as the RPM they are, by no means, slow kites.

and what do you mean by quick.

that sounds like a handling/maneuvering characteristic (most likely that it is responsive and sensitive to steering input, but could also refer to outright, straight line riding/flying speed

confusing or overlapping speed characteristics with handling or maneuvering characteristics has been a long standing point of confusion in the kiteboarding world. kind of like poor / ambiguous / random made up terminology.

might as well work on clearing that up around here.

speed is speed.

turning radius, sensitivity to steering input, steering resistance or steering bar pressure, speed through the turn, and consistency of pull through turns of varying radius are all handling characteristics.

Having used the 2012,2013 and now the 2014 model Rally's, the 2012 does have different turning characteristics than both the 13-14. It has been discussed in previous threads regarding 2012 and previous models ability to pivot when turning. The 2013 and now the 2014 do not share that feature. The do a more arcing turn with power. There is and increase in turning speed of the 2014 Rally, but with the same arcing power that was featured in the 2013. So.. IMO the Rally is not a slow kite at all,it never has been. It has evolved from a fast, light on the bar feel to a more powerful moderate bar feel.
The 2 mini struts have stiffened up the wing tip area.
I fly RPM's as well, but really enjoy using the Rally on Surf and freeride boards. Both (RPM , Rally) have a very different feel. The best thing would be to give one a demo. There are still some 2012's around,which many enjoy for surfing.

Was the wingtip buckling issue on previous models only experienced by bigger riders?

Is it something that lightweights on small kites need to be concerned about?

that was solid review! thanks.

i havent heard of, seen, or experienced wing tip buckling on the 2013's, mostly on the older ones. ('10 '11)

a lighter rider will always have less of an issue with instabilities in a kite, it is a performance drawback more than a safety concern (to a point). it is however, the kind of issue that will generally worsen over time. LE pressure is not likely to "fix" this type of thing, however can sometimes make it a little less bad.

Zeek wrote:Was the wingtip buckling issue on previous models only experienced by bigger riders?

Is it something that lightweights on small kites need to be concerned about?

I ride the Rally 2011, which has the buckling problem.

I flew the Rally 10, 12 from 2011, and could not get them to buckle. I have flow the 10, 12, 14 from 2012 and 2013 and have not been able to get them to buckle.

My Rally won't buckle if i use the pigtail furthest from the end of the wingtip. I weight round 185lbs, ok, maybe closer to 190lbs now.

maybe it is '09 '10

its this one and the model before.

backing the outside line off the wingtip may solve the issue, i dont know (it sounds like it does). i know it definitely helps it for some kites.

Zeek wrote:Was the wingtip buckling issue on previous models only experienced by bigger riders? Is it something that lightweights on small kites need to be concerned about?

When I first got my 2012 Rallys 6 - 9 - 12, I could occasionally get them to jelly fish if I loaded really hard. Then I added an extra pound of air, and never saw it happen again. I've always been a little bit lazy when it comes to topping off the last few pump strokes. Friends would comment that my kites were soft. Now I am hard and happy. ww

**At 175 pounds mostly strapless. The 2012 is the Perfect wave kite for me !