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Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2002 1:29 pm
by Guest
I am about to buy my first kite but I dont have cash to buy a beginner kite and the a more advanced kite later.

Will it be a good idea to start on the X2 or the Aero?

I am a intermediate wakeboarder with common sense to figure out the necessary ways of operating the kite.

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2002 1:35 pm
by Dwight
The Aero is not a low performance kite.

Don't buy the X2.

It's a dirty little secret, but expert kiters are dumping X2's because they are tired of the hassle of trying to master that kite. There are lots of used ones for sale! (the point being, the kite is for experts and not meant to trash Naish, just make my point, it's not for beginners) Great kiters go off with it. Don't be a fool, it's not a silly kite you can master because you think it's just a kite.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Dwight on 2002-10-02 14:39 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: dwight on 2002-10-02 18:46 ]</font>

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2002 4:47 pm
by cglazier
Both the Aero and X2 are very good kites. The Aero is probably better for a beginner, but we also have some very good kiters around here who still love their Aeros.

The X2 is either the best or certainly one of the best high performance kites that you can buy right now. Everyone I know is happy with them including me.

Dwight, what's with you. You have been raving about upcoming North kites before you have even seen them. And now you are blasting the most popular kite on the market. I know you are sponsored by North (congratulations on getting a free kite) but that doesn't mean every other product is bad.

Chris G

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2002 5:01 pm
by Dwight
On 2002-10-02 17:47, cglazier wrote:
Both the Aero and X2 are very good kites. The Aero is probably better for a beginner, but we also have some very good kiters around here who still love their Aeros.

The X2 is either the best or certainly one of the best high performance kites that you can buy right now. Everyone I know is happy with them including me.

Dwight, what's with you. You have been raving about upcoming North kites before you have even seen them. And now you are blasting the most popular kite on the market. I know you are sponsored by North (congratulations on getting a free kite) but that doesn't mean every other product is bad.

Chris G
I'm not sponsored by North. I'm trying to give good advice to a beginner. There are a lot of beginners, or first year kiters selling x2s. Let's not loose sight of the original question being asked. Putting a beginner on the x2 is wrong, and you know it. Guys that think they are good enough to learn with it, don't really understand what a kite can do.

I personally have had private e-mails from more than one veteran x2 rider having second thoughts about staying with that kite. Maybe you are a pro, not everybody is. I had been asking around to see if I wanted to buy the X2. I can ride what I want, because I pay for my kites, and I pay way more than most of you (15% off retail). I have decided to try the Rhino 2 because it is said to have a wider sweet spot and therefore be easier to extract it's full potential.

I have to return that free kite. It was put in my hands to get my impressions. Somebody must think I'm spot-on with those.

PS Previous post has been clarified.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Dwight on 2002-10-02 18:47 ]</font>

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2002 5:49 pm
by Vangelis
I wouldn't start with an X2. Get a second hand medium AR kite from this or last year for cheap, learn with it and sell it cheap when you are ready to move onto a higher performance kite.
Rhino1 are a great buy these days as second hand.
I am probably like Dwight (except his free kite :smile: I've bought and tried almost everything out there, Rhino, Toro, Takoon, Fuel, foils, ARX, X2, AirBlast, Mach-1 you name it. Bought them and sold them but I am not selling my X2 12m I love this kite. Some people are selling their X2s in iwindsurf or other places because they want to upgrade to a fresh X2.
I am also riding Toro 8m and 16m. Not a chance for a 18m demo yet.
Good luck with your decision.
Vangelis

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2002 9:46 pm
by Guest
On 2002-10-02 14:29, Anonymous wrote:
I am about to buy my first kite but I dont have cash to buy a beginner kite and the a more advanced kite later.

Will it be a good idea to start on the X2 or the Aero?

I am a intermediate wakeboarder with common sense to figure out the necessary ways of operating the kite.
Anon,
Take lessons. You easily save the money spent on some instruction by not trashing your own expensive gear when learning the hard way. Common sense has nothing to do with it.

That said, the Aero is a good kite that can take you from your first body drag to big multi rotation transitions, board off moves and monster air. It is far easier to water relaunch than X2 type kites, which will have you spend less time in the water and more time working on your moves. Power is more steady and instead of concentrating on flying the kite you can far sooner fly the Aero in automatic mode and focus on your moves. When you screw up, punishment is less severe.

Other good options would be: North Toro, Slingshot GTO or 02 Fuel.

Sincerely,
Anon

Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2002 11:00 pm
by BLOWN AWAY
Get the AERO....

The X2 is not for beginners and you don't wanna put it in the wrong place... which is easy to do as it turns so fast.....

The AERO's are not a kite that you'll grow out of... they are great for wakeboarding, waveriding etc etc and from what you've said you are into wakeboarding more than the windsurfing side.....

I use X2's but despite this I agree with what Dwight says. The kites need to be flown fast to pull hard and they don't go well sheeted fully in... like some other kites do.... my old ARX for example....

BLOWN AWAY :smile:

Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2002 12:59 am
by Guest
I agree get the Aero - I'm a beginner but a veteran Kite flyer - U want to ensure u can water relaunch easily at first because u WILL ditch the kite in the water as your learning, don't get the X2 at first as u might end up a mile downwind before you can relaunch the bast**d like I did! I'll never forget the walk back.

Cheers

Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2002 2:06 am
by aklbob
I agree, an Aero or other medium aspect kite will be best, but for a reasonable standard rider, the X2 is bliss. In New Zealand, the X2 is a good choice for quite a few of us, as it's the cheapest quality dacron performance kite(essentially a 2003 kite) readily available!

Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2002 5:16 am
by Guest
don't get the x2
I am using both the Aero (12 and 16) and the x2 (20). Even when taking the size difference into account, the x2 is much more difficult to relaunch. It is also much more difficult to get maximum performance from the x2 as it is much more sensitive to fly. Given that you are a beginner it will take you a long time until you are able to appreciate the advantages of the x2 over the Aero. In that period you will probably have worn out your first kite anyway. But don't get me wrong, I love the x2, but remember, horses for courses. The one thing though I would recommend is to replace the Aero chickenloop with the x2 quick release chickenloop. Don't let your dealer talk you into buying the x2 bar, just get the x2 chickenloop.