North or Aero?

[Flysurfer_in _DC]

I currenlty have a 2001 free-air 7.1, that was great to start, but I now need a larger wing. I have converted the FA in 4 lines, and I still consider myself as beginner/intermediate. I weight 75kg and I ride a Hanacrew board (<180cm) . I am thinking of getting either the North Rhino 12 or the Naish Aero 12. Both are supposed to be well built, very stable, and relatively slow. Do you guys have some insight between the Naish vs Rhino. I believe that the Naish bar is better, plus they have the 20 + 7m lines which makes it more flexible.
What do you think?
-Naish aero vs Rhino
-Size that I have picked
-Is the leading edge of the AERO made of Dacron?

Thanks
-marc

[Toby]

Hi Marc,

the Aero has a new, specially for kitesurfing developed material, I think called Polyfuse (I will check again).
The bar of the Aero is very good, better than the North bar.
The Aero is an intermediate kite and the Rhino a high performance kite.

In which wind range do you want to use the kite?

Greetings
Toby

[Sake]

You can buy the Rhino "kite only", so without the bar and lines.

I did that (Rhino 16 + 9.3) and I'm getting the Takoon bar + lines to go with the Rhino's.

Best kite + best bar

[Flysurfer_in _DC]

Toby and Sake-

Thanks for your feedback.
The issue is that we do not know how this polyfuse material will behave / delaminate over time. It seems to me that the Dacron is probably heavier but stronger.

I intend to use this kite in the 12-20 knots range. Above 20, I'll probably switch back to my 7.1 Free Air. The spot I use to kitesurf is very safe: flat and shallow water, ideal to learn.

Sake, how much is the Takoon bar?

Concerning the North vs Aero, the Naish has this 2 adjusment points at the trailing edge. Is that a Marketing tactic, or something useful to tune the rotation speed of the kite?

Thanks

-marc

[Toby]

I didn't try the Aero yet.
But it makes sense, having those two adjustment points. One for faster turning (waves) and one for slower turning (tricks).
I'm not sure about the Dacron vs. Polyfuse.
It has been developed for kites and therefore will be lighter and stronger IMO.
12-20 knts a 14 sqm would be nice. faster than the 16 and more power than the 12. Although 12 is a good size as well, quiet fast. For high end the 12 is better, for low´end the 14 or 16. But 16 gets real hard when it comes to above 17 knts. I can ride the 16 until 20 knts, but 86 kgs, 151 board and fully edging! But then the jumping fun starts!

[Sake]

I can get "a deal" with my local dealer.
The price is "kite complete" minus "kite only". So I get the bar + lines for that price. The price is about €200 because that's the difference on all Takoon Skoop's.

The thing is that dealers still have to buy the kites complete, but sell them also "kite only" So when they sell a "kite only", they still have the bar + lines. They can of course charge full for a seperate bar or lines, but my dealer does not

The bar+lines should be at my local dealer this week.

[Flysurfer_in _DC]

Toby, when you talk about your 16m kite, Is it a Rhino? What kites do you use?

Thanks

-marc

[Sake]

Just FYI.

A North Rhino 16m should have a range of about 8 to 17 knots. kiter=70Kg. Board TwinWake 150/38.

[Toby]

Sorry, forgot to tell you.
I use at the moment ARX only.
My weight is 86 kg with a 151 board.
These are my wind ranges:

ARX 15.5 - 10-21 knts
ARX 11.5 - 17-27 knts
ARX 7.5 - 21-33 knts

The upper wind ranges are fully powered up and the kite always near to the zenith.
Only for guys with more weight and experienced kiters with a good edge.

This season I'm not sure what to get.
I want a F-One 18.1, but it will be available April. I might get a North 22.5 for low winds. Then I have my hands on a ARX 13.5 and then I will get a X2 10.0. And keep the 7.5 ARX.
But this is just imagining what would make sense.
I think 18-14-10-7.5 is a good range.
Due to my weight I need something bigger than 15, therefore the 18, otherwise with less weight you don't need bigger. 15-16 sqm is fine for a weight of less than 75 kgs.

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Toby

[Royce]

NOOOOOO. I think the Aero is a good intermediate all round kite or something to start on. If you want some performance and something you won't grow out of get the North. But if I were you I'd wait till you tried the next one from RRD. The Super type kite is getting awesome reviews and I am personally sure ( I know everyone has an opinion) That were I to buy a new kite I would try everything I could get my hands on first but the 2001 RRD kite got better write ups than both the kites you are looking at so imagine the next generation from them. The RRD waranty is awesome, if you need it and after trying most kites on the market nothing relaunches faster or easier, and the RRD outperforms the North ( I relaunch my 18.9 easier than the much smaller Norths) without a doubt. Try everything first dude and especially crash them face down and try relaunching them. I have rescued more North kites simply because they can't relaunch when the wind is light even though they still have enough wind to fly. Good luck.