i had a chance to ride the 2009 naish helix on sunday in good testing conditions,with crossonshore winds ranging from 15/20 knots,gusts to 30.sea conditions were rough.
pumping up the kite,you really notice the leading edge's c-shape take form.build quality was top-notch,as you'd expect.besides the sigma outline,the leading edge leads to restructured wingtips,which are stiff but light,including a small leech batten.
rolling the lines out,the bar was clean in its set-up,smart loop q.r. lead through a new bar.the grip was great,never slipped the whole session,and the middle line safety system is spot on.
judging windrange on different kites varies lots from rider to rider,just depends on how casual or agressive you are and what level your at.
hitting the water,the helix was easy to build apparent wind through the canopy,so i took off pretty quick.blasting along,the canopy wasn't flappy and the same as the tips.this tranferred into pecise handling at the bar end.bar pressure was light but with good 'feel'.
upwind was excellent.
i forgot to mention the line attachment set up. the back lines attach direct from the bar to the kite,while the front lines go from the bar to a super simple bridle setup with one pulley.clean and effective.
its jumping ability was awesome,best to send it like a c-kite.this kite will give you all the punch your looking for if you like going big.i could always 'feel' the kite at all stages,with good redirection through all parts of the wind window.a lot of boost and hang.
depower and control was also a feature.the helix has no canopy flutter,therefore differs from others cause its smooth as silk in handling.this kite can handle some trickey conditions,but its an excitement machine for sure.
stability at idle was also recognized,and i didnt really have to think about the kite while riding.
after too many hours on the water,i come home knackered but stoked to have such a good ride,its a blur really
best testing is done by you the rider,so go and check it out youself.
Hi,
How about turning speed? Can you describe the difference to 08 12m Helix.
Cheers
marco,the turning speed i'd say would be slightly faster...definateley better response/feel because of the attachment setup/wingtips...also depends on the line lengths...i used it on 24's for bigger jumps...most would use on 20's making it quicker...note:comes with 4 metre extentions which are easy to attach...hope that helps.
Stormrider what are the negative points of the kite and its performance as last years Helix unfortunately did not live up to the hype.
hi danza...good question!it's hard to fault...i suggest going to your local dealer and trying one...i'd like to see your opinion,that would be interesting,it's a big improvement for naish..post some comments when you've flown it....
no one but Naish have really mentioned that the 09 12M helix is ACTUALLY faster than the 08 one. Don't get me wrong the smaller versions (i.e 9M) is very quick and great for some real heights but add a couple of meters to the helix and it's suddenly a pig!
Last yrs 12M was one of the worse it that size category... hope that the new att of the back line and the new wing tips ACTUALLY changes the speed- if not it'll be a great small kite and a disappointing bigger one. Naish really needs to address that prob since they are now up against it with the new nem and bandit flying really well!
guess the only way to find out is to go fly it yourself and make your own comparisons...fair call on o8's,but this is much better tweaked,plus its all conjecture as previously stated...
Thanks for the reply , I will try it soon as for negative points no kite is perfect and their are always negative points about any kite.
I had the 9 and 12 mtr cults last year and I have always flown naish kites tried others but I always come back to Naish, but in last years sigma range anything above 10.5 was a bit to slow in my opinion the kites did fly well but were to slow.
Anyway looking forward to trying the kite out.
try the new bandit DOS- u'll be blown away! If you had a 12 cult 08 you prob only need a 10 bandit! It's got a lot of pull and is still only a 10M, therefore is still quick and responsive...
kloph
go n buy your bandit or best, did you see the heading of this post??
spose i had better burn my 12 mtr 08 helix, cause every session i had on it last season i was always thinken fark what a piece **** kite... this thing is sooo farken slow...
are you guys are on crack!! how many sessions did you have on one?? yeah they are different to fly and IMO they took a little getting used too.
yeah it might not be the fastest kite on the planet... but never had any problems wipping that puppy back... and compared to my old 05 fuel its a freeken Ferrari..
dont wanna start a hate thread, but pimping is ghey...
settle merman!
Naish is (to me) is the best manufacturer! Been a Naish fan since day1- had 05 torch, (still have & use) 06 torch and currently ride 08 9M helix and for my money it's the best 9M kite out there! N i've tried nearly all their other kites in-between! Spent 2wks on the 08 12M helix- tried all sorts to get it moving almost willing it to be quicker-
And by the way the heading is- 'gear reviews'- Can't wait to fly the 09 helix in 12M to see if it's...less of a pig!
Don't youthink there MUST be a reason why they dropped the 08 shape and admit that all the new changes are designed to...make the bigger sizes quicker!
Maybe u're the one on crack!
Hopefully Helix will be here in about a month, then you can all go out and demo it (some stores got an early demo so check with your dealer if you are interested in demoing it). Some interesting comments. I will give my opinion on each that I can remember.
08 Helix. Slow, I didn't find it was slow. It wasn't as fast as a TORCH, but it was fast enough. Most people that found it was a little slow in the bigger sizes were probably lighter riders, or riders that don't ride their kite at the top end of it's ability. All 7 strut kites have a much stiffer canopy structure (i.e. RAVEN, Shockwave & HELIX 08), this can give them the impression of being slower to turn because it is harder to distort (twist) the canopy and the kite is a little heavier also. While this works against you a little bit in light conditions or if you are a lighter rider, it is awesome if you are a heavier rider or like riding well cooked. It seems there were a few riders out there that may have purchased a HELIX when they really should have got a CULT. As the market have been leaning away from riding super cooked, the need for a 7 strut kite has become less and less, and now you see, Naish don't have a 7 strut kite this year (against Robby's wishes, rob loves the HELIX 08). So you need to put things into perspective when comparing kites. The sigma 08 range was designed with a series of kites that all showcase exceptional flying characteristics with slightly different setup to suit the individual weather it was 5 struts, 7 struts, SLE or SHIFT.
Helix 09. This kite is definitely quicker than 08, much quicker. In the range where CULT is the user friendly kite in the range and TORCH is the bad ass aggressive kite, the Helix is closer to the TORCH's performance than the cults. It is an exhillerating ride. More power in the turns than 08, faster turning than 08, more pop than 08, faster re-launch than 08, much better for un-hooked riding (being more "C" shaped, the 09 HELIX has a more subtle sheeting than 08, so it is easier to trim your kite correctly for un-hooked riding.) Direct responce steering creates a fast responding kite from bar inputs than 08.
Negitives. Because the GEO-Tech allows the kite to keep flying at extrodanary angles of attack with out jerking around in the sky, you can notice little things that you normally wouldn't because your kite would be pulsing back and forth as the canopy collapses. When riding the HELIX 09 at the top end of it's range, and well trimmed out (de-powered) you can feel a bit of wing tip flap, because the wingtips are toed in to achieve direct response steering, they want to be angled in, so when your super cooked and sheeted out, you will notice some very minor slow flapping, there is a wing tip batten to control this, and it is only noticable in extreme condition, but doesn't effect performance at all (besides not many riders will hold onto their kite into the conditions when this will happen. I noticed it with a 12m in 33kts Maui wind, stupidly over powered, but the kite characteristics are not changed or effected by this). Also although it is a "C" shaped kite, it still has a front line bridal, and like most/all bridal kites you can stall it if you over sheet it in light conditions. The 09 HELIX is better than any other SLE/BOW that I have tried for hard sheeting in light condition, but you can still stall it if you really over sheet it. Self landing the dangerous way is pretty hard with the 09 HELIX. Because re-launch has been improved so much, it can be difficult to do the self landing style that us old skool crew grew up doing (steering the kite hard into the sand and then pulling on the top line to spin the kite into the wind {not recommended}, the kite just wants to re-launch all the time. But using the front line override leash (how the kite is designed to be self landed), it is too easy. They are about the only negitives I could find with the kite, and none of them are really negitives when the kite is used properly.
But definitely try it for your self and drop a review, just remember when you go into your test, the HELIX 09 is totally re designed, and has nothing to do with the 08 Helix, it is a totally different kite.
Regards,
JB
P.S. always makes me laugh when people try to dis a kite that they haven't ridden, especially when they use reference to last years kite to do it. Last year was last year, there's been 365 days R&D since then till now. Get out there and try everything you can if possible, you'll most likely find that every brand gets better every year, and each kite has something for someone. Enjoy
merman,when you get to ride this kite,your gonna be pretty stoked!this kite has changed only for the better
JB is the self landing system similar to Cab IDS system.
Sounds good, lets hope its much quicker beacase if its thats the case I will be getting one.
Also when will there be a demo day on the Latte side, opps I mean the Northern Beaches.
Hi
I've been riding a set of Ravens, 9,12,16 since they came out here in the Uk.
They're coming to the end of there life I think, So I'm thinking of replaceing them with a couple of 2009 Helix's (9,12)
I also fly a 6m boxer sle, I didn't really like it at first, but now I love it. I had an awesome sess on the 6 last night, epic conditions for the UK. The great British Summer eh?
I'd be Interested in your thoughts, I really want to stay with Naish, I'm old skool, came into kiteing from poledancing about8 years ago. I like to boost to the max, and rip the waves, but I'm getting older and my body's starting to hurt! (that could be the damp weather!)
Oh great site by the way!
Later
Dunks
As a Raven user myself as well after testing the 2008 Helix I passed that kite and decided to keep flying my Ravens. Since they are gettin pretty worn out now getting new kites has gotten some urgence now.
The last weeks I've tested the 2009 Torch (briefly), Cult (10,5 and 12) and yesterday the 12m Helix on 24m lines (standard 20m with 4m extensions).
Compared to the Raven 3 12m it for sure feels smoother, turns faster and has less bar pressure (new bar is the best there is). The low-end is more or less the same, which is pretty good keeping in mind that my 16m has not been out of the bag this year....
Transitions are easier on the Raven but waveriding is better on the Helix because of the faster turning and the better drifting.
The difference with the even more forgiving Cult is only noticeable when pretty lit. The Helix then becomes spikier and more powerfull, almost C shape like where you have to control your kite more with your board edge, that is when riding against a stopper.
The power in the turns is better on the Raven IMO, Helix fore sure is better than Cult.
Jumping is pretty good as far as I could feel in low to moderate winds the Raven is better. I could feel in some gustst however that the Helix's jumping abilities in good wind are pretty awesome.
The kites loops better than the Raven and more round than the more pivotting Cult.
All in all a great kite as far as I'm concerned. Not completely Raven style but a hot contender to make my new range (8-12 that is).....
Thanks xray.
They're not out yet here in the UK, but I've just bitten the bullet and pre-ordered a 9 and 12. I should get them at the end of September.
The only thing I don't really like the sound of is the lines. When you put extentions on, they don't run out so smoothly. I'll probably end up buying a set of 24m flying lines.
Hi DT,
I am totally sold on the HELIX. The Kite is awesome, it has performance so close to the Torch's, but all the ease and stability of the SIGMA/Geo-Tech kites. If I was a little younger and could actually do some new skool freestyle I might have a Torch in my quiver also, but it would only be for those few days when everything is perfect on flat water, for the other 99% of riding the HELIX kicks ass. As for boards, I am riding the 09 HAZE XL 135. The boards this year are much stiffer and the performance of the HAZE is so sweet, I prefer it from the THORN in most conditions, but once again, I was better at freestyle and had the conditions, I would definitely have a Thorn FC 134.
I know I get stoked on the new gear every year, But I'm so stoked on this years gear! Simpler & Better in every way. Props out to Naish for 2009. I hope you get the chance to try some/all the gear.
Regards,
JB
Thanks JB
What about sizes and power compared to other kites?
I have only had two kites for the past few years to ride from 15-30 knots. For example 15m and 11m Fuel did the job for me from (struggled with the 11 at times) as did 12 Switchblade II / 9m Crossbow II. Given that the Helix is more C kite shaped do you need a bigger size for the grunt, and does it still have good top end? What sizes would you recommend? I am really old school and still use a Mutant most of the time - so can get going in pretty light wind despite my 90kg.
DT
I am going to go 12 & 9m Helix. I will probably carry a 14m new Unused to comps just in case, but in general, I have found I am going on the 12m HELIX earlier than anyone else. I'm 95kg, but I am riding the HAZE XL 135 x 44.5. Mutants are cool for getting going early, but they also can carry more power for longer also (if it's a good Mutant.) For old Skool sake, If I had a Mutant PRO 4'7" (the blue one from 04 I think) or Mutant 4'8" from 2003, I would get at least a 14m as my big kite. But thats pretty old school. My favourite quiver from the good old days was a 5'0" mutant 2003, ans 20m X3, 18m X3 and 14m X3 and thats it, I had a smaller mutant the 4'8" for super windy days and freestyle. ahhhh those werre the days, anyway. Power wise from the 08 kites. I would say the HELIX has a much more usable power for 09 than 08, more power in the turns as well as being faster, so better suited to lighter winds than the 08. As you have come off 15m kites, I would go for a 14m Helix. and then maybe a 10.5m for extreme conditions. But it pretty personal I guess, and you will know best. You should try and organize a demo to test the power for yourself.
Regards,
JB
Thanks. I have a 4/7 Mutant Pro. Still love that board...
My biggest X3 back in the day was a 14m and that did the job for me.
But I love having a 12m as my biggest kite now (Cab SB 2).
I look forward to trying a bunch of new stuff this year, including the Helix.
Thanks for the info...
Have Naish improved their bridle material. Either I get a lot of water time or am just unlucky, got 15 sessions out of this bridle before it showed signs of fraying. Made another one out of 3mm dyneema before the other one broke so I didnt end up with a looping kite. I've got an 08 Cult, love the kite but the bridles on these things are beginning to s*@t me. I notice the manual reccommends to replace them every three months......$150 a set, I think not.
How does the bar pressure feel, in the ads naish says the 09 has more direct feel, is it alot heavier on the bar than the 08?
Thanks
Bill
Hi Bill,
When you say it is a lot heavier than the 08 bar, which kite in the 08 range were you refering it to? If you were going to compare the 2009 Helix to the 2008 Helix (rigged in 1:1 mode) in bar pressure, the 2009 is heavier, but also much more positive. Because the back lines do not go through a pulley, all your input to the kite makes a direct response to the wing tip, fast and accurate. However, the bar pressure on the 2009 Helix is not as heavy as on the 2008 or 2009 Torch. So it gives you very close to a pure old skool "C" kite feel through the bar, but with the added de-power and attack angle stability of the SLE. If you've never liked the feel of Bow or SLE kites, but like the idea of having that achievable de-power, you should definitely try the HELIX 2009.
Regards,
JB
hey metalmongrel,worth bringing in your kite to onboard and lets suss these bridle problems...lets get ya back on the water satisfied....
