Been riding Naish kites for years and onto a Rev2 now-rode it for the first time yesterday in about 15-17 knots and less than happy with the performance-had my Naish rigged on the beach so was able to go in and out swapping to compare-the Naish felt waaaay more powered than the Rev2.
Looking for some input from Rev2 owners.
Basically the Rev2 feels way underpowered.
I have it set up as follws:
*front lines at the kite are on the last knot (away from kite).
*back lines are on the first knot (closest to the kite).
*depower is ALL the way out-so the black 'knob' is all the way on the cleat.
*rear lines attached at the centre pigtails (that is medium bar pressure).
Set up like this the kite feels-even with the bar sheeted ALL the way in-that the rear lines are too slack and there is more power to get out of the kite.
I prefer a set up where the kite is at full power when the bar is about 2/3 of the way down the depower line so it's over sheeted with the bar pulled all the way to the chicken loop-but it seems just NOT possible to achieve that with the kite set up for max power as I have it now.
Looks to me like I'll have to mod the rear lines by taking a few inches out...
Looking for any input/suggestions, other rider's experience....?
Thanks.
Mate I ride a rev 2 and it sounds to me like you have it oversheeted, when set up like that it feels like a dog with not much power and backstalling all the time when riding a wave. Please note that I like to ride waves unhooked so that the kite is not on a full power setting when unhooked
Try this:
*front lines at the kite are on the last knot (away from kite).
Do the opposite, have the front lines connected on the first knot closest to the kite. ie shorter front lines
*back lines are on the first knot (closest to the kite).
Again do the opposite, have the back lines on the last knot. ie longer back lines
*depower is ALL the way out-so the black 'knob' is all the way on the cleat.
Do this in light winds but I like to have it maybe pulled on an inch or so.
*rear lines attached at the centre pigtails (that is medium bar pressure).
Try attaching them on the back pigtails, ie closer to the wing tips, this will make the kite turn faster and feel more responsive but this depends on your style of riding.
You can also try attaching the front and rear lines on the middle knots but having more de-power on, just try not to have the kite oversheeted.
I ride an 11m REV1, with twin tip and weigh 85kg. 15 to 17 knots is close to my bottom end on the 11 - it's probably 13 to 15 knots so it sounds like you probably have the kite too near the bottom end. The REV's rely a lot on apparent wind at their bottom end to generate power.
I ride an 11m REV1, with twin tip and weigh 85kg. 15 to 17 knots is close to my bottom end on the 11 - it's probably 13 to 15 knots so it sounds like you probably have the kite too near the bottom end. The REV's rely a lot on apparent wind at their bottom end to generate power.
OK cool, with a surfboard and your weight it should be good. Hard to tell without giving it a fly and comparing it to what I know. I always use middle knot on both pigtails and pull in the depower rope about 2-3cm as a minimum otherwise the kite oversheets a bit.
I was initially disappointed with the power in my Rev2. I now have it set per your original post. The only difference if I have no depower pulled in it just starts to fall back in the sky when I fully sheet in. I have now trimmed it with 3 (ish) inches of depower line pulled in and fly with the bar a few inches out. I can’t believe the difference this made. I have gone from boosting a pathetic 3 feet too a decent height (wont say how high as Pawn Star will feel obliged to comment). In one day I have gone from being disappointed with the power of this kite to Happy, Happy, Happy (lucky as I have three). Never read a bad think about this kite so figured, I must be doing something wrong. PS I don’t/ can’t ride waves just into old school big jumps, attempted board offs, and Loops and Loops and Loops….
PS cant really understand why the above settings worked, as I would of thought given the amount of trim pulled and the position of the bar it would be similar to flying on equal knots, but for some reason it has greatly increased the power..
Hey Locos -
I run the wave riding camps with Ben Wilson -
It sounds like you are doing what most people we see in our clinics - that is the kite is set up with too much over sheeting -
here is what Ben recommends to set up a rev 2
Front lines and back lines set up on the last knots -
then pull on 10 -14cm of Depower -
This will then have the kite at optimal power when the bar is pulled down onto the chicken loop and hence when you unhook the kite is in optimal flying position and wont stall or fly backwards
You will also find that you wont have to touch your depower during a session unluss the wind realy picks up -
initally you will feel that the kite is underowered but this is just a matter of getting used to it - and is the only way to th have your kite set if you want to unhook
Hope that helps -
Bruce
benwilsonsurf.com - there are more tips on the articles here or on the coaching page of the website
I ride waves hooked in on a 9m REV II. For normal conditions here (18-22knts) I attach ALL lines on the middle knots of the pigtails and have about 4-8cms depower at the bar and everything is sweet.
Have you checked the line lengths? Could the back lines be streched?
A few people have tried my REV and nearly always they choke the kite by over sheeting due to the low bar pressure. If you are coming off a "C" then you will certainly be a victim to this!
I know absolutely nothing about REV's but was thinking that the Bridle system could a bit cocked up.
I was played with my bridle and swapped two lines about, in effect moving the tow point way forward and reducing the length of the front lines.
Could be worthwhile to check the bridle out for an assembly mistake.
Cheers
Rich
What about SELF LAUNCH of thr Rev2?
I have an 11m Rev2
With all my previous bows - SB4, SB3, SB2, XB3, Waroo07, Waroo08 - it is a doddle to do the bow-launch on the sand - and becasue you can sheet out excessively on those kites you don't get thrown in the air even in HIGH winds, eg, >30kt on the 12m SB3
But with Rev2 you don;t have this sheet-out-ability - I self-launched yest in ~20kt and I coudl control it OK but with lack of depower feels like I would be constrained in higher winds - - any thoughts please??
Especially from Bruce or Ben
id probally say too that it is a line length issue. i love the 9m. out of all the rev2's the 9m is the sweetest kite. actually it is the best kite i have ever owned. i found that the rev's actually fly better with a bit of depower( for unhooked riding) but if it is fully powered up and your back lines are that slack then i'd be checking your lines. i have only heard good things from rev owners and same of riders that have demoed them, contact slingshot oz , im sure they will be more than happy to help you.
Sounds like to much friggin effort to me!!!1
Why can't ya just buy the damn kite...rig it up and fly the damn thing
Oh I forgot......It is a SS kite you're talking about!
That's why I fly anything BUT SS!!!!
Stabber,stabber,stabber..........you are a little lost voice in a wilderness !
So things didn't go YOUR way at a kite shop.
Let it go....it's eating you up man !!
I also think the 9 Rev 2 is the best kite Ive ever used. However, id only start using mine in 18-20 knots upward. I weigh 95 kg. Hope this is of some help! The wind ranges are available on slingshotkiteboarding.com.au
What about SELF LAUNCH of thr Rev2?
I have an 11m Rev2
With all my previous bows - SB4, SB3, SB2, XB3, Waroo07, Waroo08 - it is a doddle to do the bow-launch on the sand - and becasue you can sheet out excessively on those kites you don't get thrown in the air even in HIGH winds, eg, >30kt on the 12m SB3
But with Rev2 you don;t have this sheet-out-ability - I self-launched yest in ~20kt and I coudl control it OK but with lack of depower feels like I would be constrained in higher winds - - any thoughts please??
Especially from Bruce or Ben
Slel launch is not an issue - just do it the same as you have been just back sure the moverable black stopper is all the way out - also in high wind pull on the wing tip early and get it to take off before it slides too far down wind - always make sure your bar is fully sheeted out
It is a really easy kite launch - hope that helps Bruce x
I did a 'line check' today and at max power with the bar fully sheeted the rear lines are about 2-3 inches (6-8cms) LONGER than than the front lines-not sure what the deal is-seems to me like a line error out of the factory.
I'm going to go with the added pig tails on the front lines idea to get the lines sorted so that the front lines are slightly LONGER than the rear so I can then adjust via kite pigtails and the depower line.
The longer back lines make a lot of sense with the issues I've been having.
I'll report back-hopefully about how stoked I am on the REV2.
Yesterday I took note of how my rev2 9m flies, I had it set as stated earlier for unhooked riding, but you can set it on the same knots. So when the kite is at 12 with the bar fully sheeted in(max power) and de-power fully out(no de-power) the back lines were just slightly curved or loose. I think the kite flies better and is more efficient set this way as it doesn't stall as it would if the back lines were fully tight. I even pulled an inch or 2 of de-power later on as not to get yanked when unhooking. Try this out and see how you go
Select to expand quoteI will try installing some pig tails and then the front lines may stretch from use and then I'll ditch the pigtails-will try today (hoping the wind is in) and let you know how it goes.
Went out today in some shoulder high waves, cross onshore about 16-20 knots which picked up as I was out there.
Added 14cm of pigtails to the front lines and it's a completely different kite-powered with the bar about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way down the depower line, about 5cm or so of depower applied, lines on middle knots on front and back lines-oversheeting with the bar fully sheeted-just how I like it.
Kite was VERY VERY smooth through the air with great hang, light to moderate bar pressure and nice and responsive and VERY VERY predictable-surfing down the line it sits where you put it waiting for you to turn it or power up.
What a difference 5 extra inches makes-length matters! Despite what I whisper to my wife........
Thanks for all for help and suggestions.
