Nothing 'falls apart' chap, not even wet paper, blaming material damage clearly caused by abrasion over something or other on the manufacturer who simply assembles the cloth, which is light rip stop material same now as always, aint on, anyone can see how it happened.

Key is don't drag your kite over coral or sharp rocks and stones, at least it's only a small panel to replace, another kite style would have to have a huge panel to replace by a repairer.

You scratch your car, you expect them to replace it?

@ graeme f
Can you shed any light on size difference between the 10 & 12 m as rpm 2012 before I order another brand

Yeah, looks like lots of UV damage, perhaps a drag on something rough that took time to wear through. That's a user problem. I have had that happen to kites...I wreck it in something hard, look it over, and everything seems fine. Then a month or two later the damage appears from the earlier abrasion.

There was talk of a material change in I think...2007? I don't know. I remember some gripe on the forum about the kites being less likely to shed water or something. I don't know the specifics or if it is even accurate...

I think the new Shy is friggin' funny!

Have rpms 6,8,10,12 from 09t o 11 and find they are relevant to each other size wise and find my 12 does better than most 12 m kites in light winds so can't see the 'big problem'.
The 12 works fine as a low wind kite with my lg lunacy (43cm wide), I do find it becomes more technical to fly at the bottom end and can't haul on the bar for power so much but keep board speed up instead.
Haven't owned anything bigger than a 12 for a while. Still looking for a good big kite to fly my fat ass around in those 10 - 15 knot days, the 12 works ok from 13 to 22knots but there are those lighter days that seem to plague us for weeks on end sometimes.
Used to have 17-22m kites in the old days but all that pumping seems more of a workout than the actual session.
sorry about not being anal about exact sq area, satisfied customer of Slingshots since they made them, and the Fuel is still the best flying kite ever, still run my 9 when ever it's not gusty and my old back allows

Have to vote for the uv deterioration on the octane Q as well from appearances

luv
F

WRONG
The damage is due to me putting my fingers through the material. I can pull the fabric apart by hand with no effort . No cuts from rocks. All over the canopy, I can tare it . Never I have seen this before. Except on another SS kite (Rally, same model year). I use (ed) the kite a lot, but not more then any other kite. It's just odd. Like somehow all the durability just got washed off.
What ever it is, it sucks. Maybe I got a bad one. Love the kite, would get another but they don't make it anymore, so screw it. Not here to bash SS, just pissed .

The 2012 RPM 12 has way more power compared to the same size 2011
in 12/13 kts you able to do unhooked tricks good powered up (70kg).
That was simply not possible last year

The whole line
(we, me and some friends of mine, had good test sessions on 12 / 10 / 9 both on water and snow)
has way more power, more C feeling and a very nice improvement in hang time and lift.

Doing unhooked tricks is easier cause the lines loose (i don't know how to say it ) more and for a longer time compared to the 2011

In gusty conditions the 2012 RPM is super stable , it eats gusts like cookies and the water start is double faster then in 2011.

Hi, How much more bottom end does the 2012 - 12m rpm have to the 2011? cheers

starting from 12 kts
you will be able to stay upwind and unhook



it's not how much more bottom end does the 2012 (probably 1 or 2 kts)
but
it's the FUN that you will get starting from 12/13 kts
you will feel a big improvement on the pull you get from the 2012

Same as last year from 14/15 kts


70 / 80 kg
136 and 142 misfit

this is my opinion and all the riders that tested the 12 2012 had the same feeling.

Recently (2 weeks ago)
I was able to stay upwind and have fun in condition where a friend of mine with the rebel 12 was not

last year was opposite

So
I cannot be swayed

@ jimmy, Thanks for the reply. The 2012 rpm sounds awesome cant wait for them to be released in the uk. I think I'll defiantly get the 12m, my dilemma now is do I get the 8,10,12 or do I get a 9,12m.
I am 95kg and ride a 135 x 42 TT, I like being powered and do general freestyle/ free ride. I don't normally go out unless it's 15kts and prob wouldn't bother if over 35knts due to the state of the sea.

This is an absolute nightmare choosing the right quiver, worse than buying a car, can anyone help

Thanks