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Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

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CapatainJ
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Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby CapatainJ » Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:33 am

I'm currently using North Rebels 2012 with a Mako 150 for blasting about in the chop and swell offered by the u.k.

I enjoy riding the Mako and have just started to ride downwind, I'm ready to change my 2012 Rebels and thought I'd just simply go for the 2014s.

However the Rabbits are appealing, anyone got any first hand experience of both for riding a twintip in waves?

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cleepa
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby cleepa » Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:40 pm

A friend of mine switched from Rebels to Rabbits. He rides both TT and surf. He's a lot happier with the Rabbits for both TT and surf. The Rabbits have a lot of bridle settings and steering line settings that alter the flying characteristics of the kite to better suit the type of riding you are doing. They also have more power and turning speed. And no more 5th line... I learned to hate that thing when I was still on North kites!

So, for me, when I made the switch to Wainmans, it was a super easy choice. For my friend also. But you should definitely demo one to make sure you like the kite too!

yzbob
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby yzbob » Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:30 am

agree with Cleepa,

i tried both a few months ago but opted for the rabbits, both good kites, both good bars, for me the rabbits felt a little faster turning and having previously gone from 5 line to 4 line i didn't want to go back to 5 line kites again. Also I prefer the way the rabbits pull when i'm jumping, cant really explain it i just found it easier to manage, I'm a bit more confident with them.

bob

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FabsPH
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby FabsPH » Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:36 am

how can anyone compare those kites?
they can't be more different

one is a 7 liner freeride, the other a 4 line delta c ish

.....yes , 7
:-)

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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby seaplus » Fri Aug 02, 2013 2:23 pm

I agree with FabsPH that these are two very different rigs yet I cannot say enough good comments about Wainman Hawaii.

cleepa mentioned the multiple bridle settings...some folks will demo Wainman and not like them for one reason or another yet they never had an opportunity to tweak the bridle settings. A demo-rep will usually have the bridles at the factory setting "which is usually for surf-riding" which might not be a customers preference at the time. My bridles are currently set for max upwind and boosting. The smaller Rabbits can even be rigged with the your lines connected directly to the kite (no bridles)...I have yet to try this but I've heard it's a whole new animal.

I've been riding Wainman for over a year now and love em.

CapatainJ
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby CapatainJ » Fri Aug 02, 2013 4:51 pm

Thanks for the reply guys, still on the fence. Yes they are two different types of kite, I'm only guessing but I presume the Wainman produces more power when drifting downwind?

CapatainJ
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby CapatainJ » Thu Aug 08, 2013 9:32 pm

Gone for Wainmans.

I'll be very interested to see how they differ, starting with 7.5m Mr green, 9m Smoke and 12m boss.

:thumb:

peterheirman
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby peterheirman » Fri Aug 09, 2013 4:32 pm

With a rebel you don't surf the waves - you cut them
With a Rabbit you will learn the surf the waves
So go for rabbit or similar and enjoy wave riding

CapatainJ
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby CapatainJ » Fri Aug 16, 2013 10:15 pm

Been out on the 12m Boss.

First impressions are very positive.

Used the upwind setting and one off the fastest setting.

Covered ground upwind superbly.

Carving downwind, so much better than the Rebel.

Stability was great.

I was out for about an hour and half, and I'm keen to see how the other sizes work.

Nice wind over the weekend so a ill aim to review the bunch very soon.

Quality of the kite - I'd say that the look, feel and use of materials is absolutely A1.

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pixelpedro
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Re: Wainman Rabbit or North Rebel

Postby pixelpedro » Sat Aug 17, 2013 3:50 pm

The smoke is what I consider the perfect kite in my quiver; although the Punch is Perfection, period! just was too close to the smoke and the boss to justify keeping it (for me), so in the interest of range I kept, Mr. green (never used yet, waiting for a hurricane or something) Smoke, Boss; Boss I use the most here in FL, and I love the kite, But the smoke is sick.


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