Hi,
Got me a Bandit 7m, 8th edition (2015) which I crashed into some prickly bushes. So...
Took LE bladder out. Found and fixed 39 little holes. Put bladder in kite, pumped up. Stayed up for about an hour.
Pumped up hard, sprayed soapy water on LE. See about 17 bubbles appear. Some along the Dacron seams (no indication of where the pin-prick is ... ) .... Questions:
1. Keep patching? If so how to find super tiny holes?
2. Are my patches leaking? (Patch Tool Super Patch GP-2 ... alcohol wipe, then paper towel, then stick on, then 1 day to dry)
3. If I replace the LE, are stick on valves worth it? Or go fully welded for an extra £50 ?
4. What year Bandits bladders are compatible? Can I got with a 2016 or 2014 LE? Will they fit a 2015?
5. What have I missed? Should I be doing something else to make my life better?
I want to keep this kite for a long time. I know in the reviews it always says that the Bandit is fun, and I've always wondered how do you define that? Compared to a torch or vegas? Those are both fun. But flipping heck, the Bandit is just more funner than those other kites. I don't know what it's doing differently, but it is super fun to fly. It makes me happy (well, until it tried to kill me and dived into a prickly bush)
Thanks people,
kjorn
PS I'm surprised that kite companies don't care about older kites. F-One don't stock the bladders for my kite. This really makes me wonder about picking up more used Bandits. And if I do grab one, then I'll be damned if I pay much for it as I can't get cheap spares. This must drive the sales down for new kites if after a few years people can't shift them. Kite companies should sell a cheap care kit for older kites. Get a LE replacement, a spare strut bladder, some patches, bridle line, pullies etc etc all at cost.... that would keep used kite prices super high, meaning people who buy new would buy new far more often? Right? If they are sure their 2 year old kite is going to make them a bunch of $$££ to put towards the next new version? If I had a new Bandit and in a years time it was worth 25% of what it is now, I'd just hang on to it and not bother upgrading.