CC wrote:I have the type 6 12 and 18. Is the Type 7 a real improvement (turning, stability, hangtime etc) ? I think the type 6 is a very very fine kite, should be difficult to make major progress!
I had my first day out on the type 7 12 at crissy field today. Wind was between 10 and 25. We have a quiver of type 6, a 13 zh, and a 10 type wave. I agree that the type 6 is a very nice kite. Well, after today, I have a 5, 7 and 9 for sale, as I have already sold my 12 and 15.
The type 7 is loftier than the 6 and the type wave for sure....Not quite what the zh give you, but plenty enough for fun. So, better hangtime than the 6. If you have never tried the type wave, it is hard for me to describe the responsiveness, depower, and flat out fun looping the wave. The wave goes where you want it, and fast. I think the depower of the wave, and now the type 7 has been overlooked by all the attention going to the crossbow. I have not tried the crossbow, but there have been a number of comments about the problems inherent when you have a kite that depowers fully when the bar is out. When and why do you want to depower that much, unless on a wave?
The way the bar was set up on the 7 out of the bag, the kite was sheeted for power with the bar all the way sheeted in, even with the strap all the way off. Very nice for unhooked stuff, and the kite had more stability and pop than the type 6. If you let the bar all the way out, the kite would luff, without any power, much like the type wave. At first, I was not used to that, as the kite looks kinda funny while luffing. With a bit of time, you realize that the kite is very stable while in this power off luffing mode...sorta like the type wave with the bar pushed out. I would like to tune the bar a bit, as my arms do not like riding with the bar in close. I realized after coming to the beach that the bar is set up to do this, as it has two cleats to adjust the bar pressue.
At any rate, my kites loops are fairly lame, as the type wave makes it easy, and I have crashed a bunch on the ZH....all operator error. I am glad to say that the type 7 came through with allowing my to pull off some powered spin/kite loops with very nice pop and control. Pulls harder looping than the type wave, but just as controlable. I can not wait to hook it up with my wave off 5'2" in some swell... BTW, the wave off is pretty sweet...
OK, disclaimer - my 12 yr old son is a local rider with rrd, so I am glad they come up with good product. But for my $.02, Simone is a pretty sharp guy, and he will keep coming up with the goods.
bob