Unfortunately, I can't try before I buy where I live so I have to rely on reviews from other people.
Any one ridden the 2014 14m NRG? I'd love to know how it compares to other light wind kites on the market in terms of low-end power, relaunch, and upper wind range. (I already know it goes up wind well and is a good jumper.)
I've got 16m 2013 NRG and took it for a ride first time yesterday. I'm 60kg. Was 12-15kn.
It's big. Slow up turning, fast down. Couldn't dial in jumps yet, was quite light with some 19m on the water + some race boards. Was using a TT.
The bar is somehow difficult to depower. But the rope was on the under side, might try when is above. The swivel really works, which is great. Down looped a few times.
This kite reminded me of Cab X-Bow 13m in similar wind. Truck load of power.
Re launch was at first difficult coz was struggling to keep a board in the other hand. Than somehow a kite looped once on the water (was light?!), than went on the edge and relaunched. One hand operation. Not bad:) Didn't take long and would be much faster with two hands.
I like one pullie only, although the protective plastic slipped off. Like the overall quality, and what I like the most is no effort of pumping at all. Effortless. One hand pumping (well sort off:). Takes around 120 strokes (yes, I'm counting:)
Have HiFiX 9m 2009 as well.
Hope you like it!
D.
Last edited by downunder on Tue Oct 08, 2013 2:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
I own a 10, 12 NRG 2013 and 16 NRG 2014. The 16 meter weight is 5 Kilos. The kites is a lot better than 2013 on turning, launching and materials. The power is not the same. I think the 2013 has more grunt. The 1st day I used it was below 8 knots.Easy reverse launch before the kite got wet. The kite did pull downwind on a Oxygen board from Epic Kite. The wind died and could not fly it any more. The next time was on a above 10 knots gusting at 15 knots. The kite was amazing... nice pull, quick turning for a big kite, easy jumping (like always) I was able to turn the kite using one hand. I always fly hook. I purchase the kite to be use for light wind from 8 Knots. I hope it will pull me upwind on 8 knots if not then it will be for sale or trade in for a ozone 19 meter Zypher 2014.
Ciscokitesurfer: When you get more time on the kite and can report on the lowend, make sure to share your experience. LF says on their website that the 16m is OK in 6 kts and the 14m in 7 kts. Not sure if that is in fact the case, but that's what they say...
No brand can do that I recon. Maybe with a race board but if you drop it no way to relaunch...Reports saying 2013 more powerful than 2014. So no. No way on TT:(
I'll check the weight as well. If the materials are lighter for 2014, than 2013 16m is more than 5kg.
Not to get off topic but seeing the weight of the 16m NRG made me go weigh my 2012 Switchblade 16m; it's 10.10 lbs or 4.58kg. I can barely get it up in the air at 6knt. I thought the NRG was lighter.
I have a 2013 14 m lb have used it 8 times in the last month i have been kiting for about a year i use it with a crazy fly cruiser 154 the kite sits and parks no work required to fly this kite just cruises plenty of power i have used in i would say 8 knotts up once 19 .at 13 to 15it felt fully powered but can fly this kite when i cant launch it last time i kited for an hour when comming to shore with kite at 12 walking it was back stalling and falling so the wind was about 8 to 10 could not believe the light wind i could fly it in love the kite great upwind bit slow to turn once powered up and cruising as seems to have plenty power and wants to keep going great cruising kite only thing i did not like was the depower hard to pull on when riding but plenty depower on the bar have flown up to about 19 knotts dont think i will sell her for a long time great kite