Time to move on from my R2 20 and was interested to find out if anyone with the R4 20 or Vegas 18 was getting any sub-10 knot performance out of their kites. I know this was a big topic before, but now with more time to get the kite dialed I'd like a final assesment. Thanks.
Wes
R4 20 low end or Vegas 18
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Dwight
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I've ridden them all, but haven't taken the time to do side by side testing, so can only give my impressions.
R4 20 and Vegas 18 go upwind better, have more range, and feel better in gusty wind than the R2 20, but the R2 20 jumps better. Vegas 18 jumped better for me than R4 20. Low end is all about the same for me. 1 knot difference between them all. R4 20 has loose rear lines, Vegas does not.
R4 20 and Vegas 18 go upwind better, have more range, and feel better in gusty wind than the R2 20, but the R2 20 jumps better. Vegas 18 jumped better for me than R4 20. Low end is all about the same for me. 1 knot difference between them all. R4 20 has loose rear lines, Vegas does not.
Dwight,
thanks for the informative reply. One knot difference? So are able go and stay upwind and do transitions and stuff in slightly under 10 knots with R4 and Vegas 18? How do you feel the low end compares between the 04 kites?
Thanks again.
Anyone else with an opinion on low end of the big 04 Norths?
Wes
thanks for the informative reply. One knot difference? So are able go and stay upwind and do transitions and stuff in slightly under 10 knots with R4 and Vegas 18? How do you feel the low end compares between the 04 kites?
Thanks again.
Anyone else with an opinion on low end of the big 04 Norths?
Wes
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Sloberdog
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Wes,
I have the R4 20, weigh 195 lbs, low wind board: LW181. Very difficult to ride if the wind is less than 8.7 knots/10 MPH. his past weeked I tried going out in 8-9 mph winds and did not have much success
, not worth rigging up or getting wet. At these low wind speeds, 98% of the kites are sitting and waiting for more wind.
Gg
I have the R4 20, weigh 195 lbs, low wind board: LW181. Very difficult to ride if the wind is less than 8.7 knots/10 MPH. his past weeked I tried going out in 8-9 mph winds and did not have much success
, not worth rigging up or getting wet. At these low wind speeds, 98% of the kites are sitting and waiting for more wind. Gg
The Rhino 04 20M is a great kite. I haven't used a Rhino 2 so can't compare.
For light winds you CANNOT use a Rhino 04 20M below 8.5 knots. This is regardless of your weight and the board size. It will stall and fall out of the sky backwards as you bring it up from the edge of the window to the zenith. In the 8.5 - 10 range you are fine as long as you have a board of suitable size for your weight. I weigh 83kgs and use an old Liquid Force 171 Picklefork. In 9 knots I can stay up wind even whilst sining the kite all over the window. As the wind drops to 8.5 though you must keep an eye on the kite when your apparent wind is low (i.e. if you're moving slowly) - you can be in stall city if you're not careful. Sining the kite is a piece of piss. The Rhino is fast and turns on a dime. The bar pressure is light as a feather so if you're working the kite hard you're not going to be knackered inside of 5 minutes. The microloop is superb too. Hook into that and of course there is no strain at all. I have been on this kite for 4 months now and it hasn't Hindenburged on me yet either.
Once the wind picks up the depower range is fantastic on this thing. I can hold it until 14 knots on the picklefork and 15.5 knots on a 130 (my ability level is not that great either). After that it's on to a 12 m kite (Aero II in my case). So with these 2 kites and 2 boards I can cover 8.5 to 20+ knots.
Other kites (not quite so high aspect as the R04)such as the V4 may be a little less likely to fall out of the sky at 8.5 knots but the bar pressure is much higher and the depower range is nowhere near as good. At 8 knots it's still pointless even with the acknowledged grunt monsters anyway.
I'd be interested to compare the X4 in low wind ranges to the Rhino...
Hope my rambling has been of some use.
For light winds you CANNOT use a Rhino 04 20M below 8.5 knots. This is regardless of your weight and the board size. It will stall and fall out of the sky backwards as you bring it up from the edge of the window to the zenith. In the 8.5 - 10 range you are fine as long as you have a board of suitable size for your weight. I weigh 83kgs and use an old Liquid Force 171 Picklefork. In 9 knots I can stay up wind even whilst sining the kite all over the window. As the wind drops to 8.5 though you must keep an eye on the kite when your apparent wind is low (i.e. if you're moving slowly) - you can be in stall city if you're not careful. Sining the kite is a piece of piss. The Rhino is fast and turns on a dime. The bar pressure is light as a feather so if you're working the kite hard you're not going to be knackered inside of 5 minutes. The microloop is superb too. Hook into that and of course there is no strain at all. I have been on this kite for 4 months now and it hasn't Hindenburged on me yet either.
Once the wind picks up the depower range is fantastic on this thing. I can hold it until 14 knots on the picklefork and 15.5 knots on a 130 (my ability level is not that great either). After that it's on to a 12 m kite (Aero II in my case). So with these 2 kites and 2 boards I can cover 8.5 to 20+ knots.
Other kites (not quite so high aspect as the R04)such as the V4 may be a little less likely to fall out of the sky at 8.5 knots but the bar pressure is much higher and the depower range is nowhere near as good. At 8 knots it's still pointless even with the acknowledged grunt monsters anyway.
I'd be interested to compare the X4 in low wind ranges to the Rhino...
Hope my rambling has been of some use.
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Kiteboarddog
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Bryan,
Well I find with a windspeed of 8.47761 knots at an air temperature of 31C and RH of 74.2% the kite will stall if brought up from an angle of 27 degrees at a rate greater than 0.31 radians/second. I am working out a formula at the moment but am having some trouble coming up with an algorithm which will compensate for magnetic north and the colour of my shorts. Will get back to you on this.
I tell you...it's a nightmare living in low wind city.
Well I find with a windspeed of 8.47761 knots at an air temperature of 31C and RH of 74.2% the kite will stall if brought up from an angle of 27 degrees at a rate greater than 0.31 radians/second. I am working out a formula at the moment but am having some trouble coming up with an algorithm which will compensate for magnetic north and the colour of my shorts. Will get back to you on this.
I tell you...it's a nightmare living in low wind city.