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Old Flysurfer Speed

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william_rx7
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Postby william_rx7 » Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:00 pm

Worst Kite.... ever.

I used to own this very model, and another local rider I know owned another one. Both of us have sold these kites.

Some thoughts:
- Very, very slow turning. I mean sloooow, like 10 seconds to transition slow.
- It does generate crazy amounts of speed once you get going, probably it's only feature.
- I had lots of trouble re-launching it in a wind shadow, then kite sank in a weedy lake, and it took 6 guys to help me get it out of the water so I could drain it out and pack it up.
- The bridle material is very flimsy, resulting in mega bridle tangles. The newer Flysurfers, and Ozone foils don't have this problem.

There are so many better kites in that same price range, don't waist your time on this.

You might think you're getting a kite similar to (but slightly inferior) a new Speed 3 21, and saving $2,500. In reality you'd be buying a $500 headache, and giant waste of good riding days.

Contact Paul at http://www.pbkiteboarding.com/, he's a Flysurfer expert.

loco4viento
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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby loco4viento » Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:42 pm

http://youtu.be/OIn2Wk3hshA

This was on an old Speed 17 I believe.

William Munney
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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby William Munney » Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:11 am

toyletbowl wrote:NYkiter,

What are you looking for in the kite? $500 spent on a kite that is wrong for you is money waisted. If it's the right kite, then you are golden.

The Speed are very specific kites in my opinion and I see guys get really excited about them on the front end and then sell them a few years later.

Line tangles and collapsing canopy are 2 reasons. Slow, slow turning which is inherent in such a skinny kite.

It's a cool kite, but be prepared to do the mixer test often to make sure the bridling is accurate and works accordingly.

Years ago I bought 2 Speed 2 demos and never want to like a new kite more than this one, but after months and months of testing, it just wasn't the kite for me. We have a crew that rides really hard in the winter also and we all ride modern high depower LEI's.

Hope this helps and good luck either way.

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com
Bob, how unsafe is flying a Speed One in light winds without the 1.5 mod?

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DrLightWind
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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby DrLightWind » Wed Sep 25, 2013 12:33 am

I would'n buy earlier model then Speed2. :nono:
I still have a standard 15m Speed2 and the low
end end was better than the 15m Speed3 DLX I have,
but unfortunately I had to cut off the bridals when I landed on a tree.
I've flown one of my friend's 19m Speed2 SilverArrow
and the low end is great but turning speed is not as good.
So if I were and you certain budget requirement,
than you could probably find a good Speed2 15m or 19m
for a good price if you look around as an idea :idea:

DrLW

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NYKiter
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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby NYKiter » Wed Sep 25, 2013 2:01 am

:yourock: :thanx:
:clap:

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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby toyletbowl » Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:25 am

William Munney wrote:
toyletbowl wrote:NYkiter,

What are you looking for in the kite? $500 spent on a kite that is wrong for you is money waisted. If it's the right kite, then you are golden.

The Speed are very specific kites in my opinion and I see guys get really excited about them on the front end and then sell them a few years later.

Line tangles and collapsing canopy are 2 reasons. Slow, slow turning which is inherent in such a skinny kite.

It's a cool kite, but be prepared to do the mixer test often to make sure the bridling is accurate and works accordingly.

Years ago I bought 2 Speed 2 demos and never want to like a new kite more than this one, but after months and months of testing, it just wasn't the kite for me. We have a crew that rides really hard in the winter also and we all ride modern high depower LEI's.

Hope this helps and good luck either way.

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com
Bob, how unsafe is flying a Speed One in light winds without the 1.5 mod?
No idea...sorry.

Bob
www.kiteridersllc.com

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Re:

Postby Tone » Wed Sep 25, 2013 7:16 am

william_rx7 wrote:Worst Kite.... ever.

I used to own this very model, and another local rider I know owned another one. Both of us have sold these kites.

Some thoughts:
- Very, very slow turning. I mean sloooow, like 10 seconds to transition slow.
- It does generate crazy amounts of speed once you get going, probably it's only feature.
- I had lots of trouble re-launching it in a wind shadow, then kite sank in a weedy lake, and it took 6 guys to help me get it out of the water so I could drain it out and pack it up.
- The bridle material is very flimsy, resulting in mega bridle tangles. The newer Flysurfers, and Ozone foils don't have this problem.

There are so many better kites in that same price range, don't waist your time on this.

You might think you're getting a kite similar to (but slightly inferior) a new Speed 3 21, and saving $2,500. In reality you'd be buying a $500 headache, and giant waste of good riding days.

Contact Paul at http://www.pbkiteboarding.com/, he's a Flysurfer expert.
Show me a kite that relaunches well in a wind shadow...

It's not the worst kite ever but its pretty special and will take its time kicking your ass.

Longest ever beating I have taken when kiting was on a 17m Speed1

a full 500m ass kicking as it looped and I bounced.

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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby Gioro_T » Wed Sep 25, 2013 6:05 pm

I bought the exact same kite, a used red Speed1 17m, in 2009 for five hundred bucks.
The kite teaches you patience, but also offers a confidence in light winds that inflatables don't deliver. I love it - one of my favourite kites ! I've used it on snow, too, in light wind.

Someone here said it turns very slowly, and that's the main reason he sold it.
Not mine, it doesn't !! Mine turns about the same as a 8m kite !
Bwa'HWhahahA ! Of course it's slow turning (but not as slow as a 26m Pshycho2, though) !
But so what ?! It's a park & ride kite that works superbly on apparent wind; adapt, learn to ride it & enjoy it ! Get your timing right and do some nice floaty jumps ... whatever you want.

Ah, Flysurfers ... I'm glad they exist in this world.


:bye:

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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby William Munney » Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:37 pm

Gioro_T wrote:I bought the exact same kite, a used red Speed1 17m, in 2009 for five hundred bucks.
The kite teaches you patience, but also offers a confidence in light winds that inflatables don't deliver. I love it - one of my favourite kites ! I've used it on snow, too, in light wind.

Someone here said it turns very slowly, and that's the main reason he sold it.
Not mine, it doesn't !! Mine turns about the same as a 8m kite !
Bwa'HWhahahA ! Of course it's slow turning (but not as slow as a 26m Pshycho2, though) !
But so what ?! It's a park & ride kite that works superbly on apparent wind; adapt, learn to ride it & enjoy it ! Get your timing right and do some nice floaty jumps ... whatever you want.

Ah, Flysurfers ... I'm glad they exist in this world.


:bye:
I have one I bought a while back. Did yours have the 1.5 mod? What would you say was the effective wind range?

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Re: Old Flysurfer Speed

Postby Carlos_C » Thu Sep 26, 2013 9:54 am

Don't know about the 17 but have flown the 10 mt speed 1 a lot ........and for me at 70 kg it kicks most light wind kites arse's. I can be a pain that it will bow tie if you screw jumps - but it's upwind and power for a 10 mt kite is brilliant.


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