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2010 Octane 13m - first impression

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Created by COL > 9 months ago, 9 Jul 2009
naishrider
NSW, 16 posts
6 Oct 2009 8:44PM
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milko you wanker..you need to know how to kite befor you can make comments...

milko said...

Hammerhead said...

Latest news is Slingshot is going back to 5 struts on the Octane.


really ?? so are the ones we are seeing around just prototypes ??


Baz
NSW, 205 posts
6 Oct 2009 8:56PM
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Where were you Naishrider when the westerlies were on? Probably hiding under the table waiting for it to die down to a gentle lemon scented breeze so you could put on your little skirt and come out to play! .........

Voitek
QLD, 197 posts
9 Oct 2009 2:45PM
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Baz said...

Ok now I'm interested.
Currently have Slingshot T3's in a 14m & 9m, thinking the Octane in a 13m & 9m might be worth a look. Primarily play time is in the waves on a TT & strapped directional. Wondering if the low end grunt, turning speed, stability, depower and top end is comparible/better? Looking forward to an in depth review.
Constant winds,
Baz.


I have just replaced my Turbo 11metre with the Octane. The Octane is a very different kite to the Turbos. The turning speed on the Octane compared to the Turbo is much much quicker. On the other hand there is less grunt BUT whatever you lose in power you make up for by being able to fly the kite faster and turn it quicker. The faster turning will also be of huge benefit on a wave face going down the line. I like the Octane much better.

Baz
NSW, 205 posts
10 Oct 2009 10:07AM
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Thanks for the info Voitek, I managed to fly the 13m octane and what you say is spot on. I have placed an order via my local shop.
Constant winds,
Baz.

Voitek
QLD, 197 posts
11 Oct 2009 9:06AM
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Baz said...

Thanks for the info Voitek, I managed to fly the 13m octane and what you say is spot on. I have placed an order via my local shop.
Constant winds,
Baz.



One final but important thing about the Octane. It comes rigged for beginners (I think this was mentioned in another comment). If you look closely at the attachment point on the bridle for the rear lines, you'll see that there is an additional pigtail extension of about 2-3inches. This extension was put there to prevent beginners oversheeting and stalling the kite. I have removed these lines and BANG... extra power. I've been told that once the extension is removed you get a true feeling of what the kite should feel like and then you can adjust to your own preferences. Hope that helps.

dave......
WA, 2119 posts
13 Oct 2009 10:38AM
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Rode the 13m in light winds in exmouth. Biggest kite is an 11m 2010 fuel and havent ridden a hybrid/bow for 2 years until then. for a 13m, it turns fast, relaunches effortlessly, and rides very well unhooked. I dont usually kite under 15knots, but this and a skimboard and you can ride on the plane in 10 knots upwind even for a 90kg rider like myself.
had a little play with the 13m Nomad in the same wind conditions 2 weeks ago without a board. The octane is better/superior in every regard, especially smooth consistent bottom end power, and relaunch in light winds

huahin
1 posts
7 Nov 2009 12:53PM
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dave...... said...

Rode the 13m in light winds in exmouth. Biggest kite is an 11m 2010 fuel and havent ridden a hybrid/bow for 2 years until then. for a 13m, it turns fast, relaunches effortlessly, and rides very well unhooked. I dont usually kite under 15knots, but this and a skimboard and you can ride on the plane in 10 knots upwind even for a 90kg rider like myself.
had a little play with the 13m Nomad in the same wind conditions 2 weeks ago without a board. The octane is better/superior in every regard, especially smooth consistent bottom end power, and relaunch in light winds


dave ... Thanks for this, maybe you can answer my question.

Am slightly over 90kgs and ride a Rev1 15 since two years, very happy.

Here in Thailand we don't have too strong winds, so a 15 is most often OK as a single kite.

Could play with a 13 Octane 2010 the other day loved it. They didn't have the 15 to try, but was told the 13 Octane has the power of the 15 Rev1 ...

To have a 13 as a single kite would be even better, for I could depower it in stronger winds ...

Did you ride the 15 Octane as well? Or wasn't there any need anymore?

wishy
WA, 1501 posts
9 Nov 2009 6:25PM
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15-18 knots surf review of 11m octane (it has a centre strut)

I tried the 11m Octane today having ridden a few hours on my 2007 12m crossbow (in the surf)
I was nicely powered on the crossbow (going upwind etc) and it didn't fall out of the sky once.
The octane was very unforgiving (i.e if you edge too little/too much you kill its power instantly) and not very powerful.
Turning speed was amazing, so easy to flick it around the sky, flicks around like a 9m.

Perhaps it wasn't windy enough but if you make a mistake and ride at it too much, or get washed towards it a bit by a wave, it comes PLUNGING out of the sky everytime. You really need to think ahead and flick it the other way EARLY before you stall it.

I also didn't like how little bar pressure it had, i think in the surf you need to feel a touch more so you know where it is.

In terms of the build quality this kite looks very well built and strong and it didn't break when I crashed it in the shorebreak and the other guys crashed it too.

I think it was windy enough because there were a heap of 12m crossbows, switchblades, griffins, and some revs out too. They were all getting along quite nicely and they weren't midgets.

I really did not like this kite, but am hoping maybe I can demo it again in 25knots.

Liquidforce 2010 envy 12m is WAY nicer.



jordy
SA, 451 posts
9 Nov 2009 9:03PM
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wishy said...

15-18 knots surf review of 11m octane (it has a centre strut)

I tried the 11m Octane today having ridden a few hours on my 2007 12m crossbow (in the surf)
I was nicely powered on the crossbow (going upwind etc) and it didn't fall out of the sky once.
The octane was very unforgiving (i.e if you edge too little/too much you kill its power instantly) and not very powerful.
Turning speed was amazing, so easy to flick it around the sky, flicks around like a 9m.

Perhaps it wasn't windy enough but if you make a mistake and ride at it too much, or get washed towards it a bit by a wave, it comes PLUNGING out of the sky everytime. You really need to think ahead and flick it the other way EARLY before you stall it.

I also didn't like how little bar pressure it had, i think in the surf you need to feel a touch more so you know where it is.

In terms of the build quality this kite looks very well built and strong and it didn't break when I crashed it in the shorebreak and the other guys crashed it too.

I think it was windy enough because there were a heap of 12m crossbows, switchblades, griffins, and some revs out too. They were all getting along quite nicely and they weren't midgets.

I really did not like this kite, but am hoping maybe I can demo it again in 25knots.

Liquidforce 2010 envy 12m is WAY nicer.






You are right about the power, but not that it has none, it just has less than the Rev.

Apart from that-

If it was falling out of the sky, then you were doing something wrong.

I think that if the bar pressure was too light then maybe you should have tried a heavier setting. On the light setting they are meant to be light!

I think that review was silly.

I think that if anyone was to read your review and take anything out of it then maybe you should kite together.

waxman
SA, 1390 posts
9 Nov 2009 9:17PM
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Easy jordy, everyone needs to have there own oppinion!

Its just his is wrong.

And I agree learn how to ride you must really be doing something wrong if the kite is falling out of the sky in 15kts+, and remember it can take some time to get used to a new kite if they handled like the old ones why would you buy one. Different designs need to be flown differently and sometimes a new kite strait up feels crap but ride it for a couple of weeks and it may just be the best kite you have ever used. Give it a reall go and i bet you change your mind.

Im just guessing your starting to really love those new octanes Jordy

jordy
SA, 451 posts
9 Nov 2009 9:21PM
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Bwah hahaha!! Ok, so maybe that's a little harsh but there's not a lot of substance to that post.

waxman said...



Im just guessing your starting to really love those new octanes Jordy


And you could say that!!!

waxman
SA, 1390 posts
9 Nov 2009 9:28PM
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wishy
WA, 1501 posts
9 Nov 2009 8:07PM
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jordy said...

wishy said...

15-18 knots surf review of 11m octane (it has a centre strut)

I tried the 11m Octane today having ridden a few hours on my 2007 12m crossbow (in the surf)
I was nicely powered on the crossbow (going upwind etc) and it didn't fall out of the sky once.
The octane was very unforgiving (i.e if you edge too little/too much you kill its power instantly) and not very powerful.
Turning speed was amazing, so easy to flick it around the sky, flicks around like a 9m.

Perhaps it wasn't windy enough but if you make a mistake and ride at it too much, or get washed towards it a bit by a wave, it comes PLUNGING out of the sky everytime. You really need to think ahead and flick it the other way EARLY before you stall it.

I also didn't like how little bar pressure it had, i think in the surf you need to feel a touch more so you know where it is.

In terms of the build quality this kite looks very well built and strong and it didn't break when I crashed it in the shorebreak and the other guys crashed it too.

I think it was windy enough because there were a heap of 12m crossbows, switchblades, griffins, and some revs out too. They were all getting along quite nicely and they weren't midgets.

I really did not like this kite, but am hoping maybe I can demo it again in 25knots.

Liquidforce 2010 envy 12m is WAY nicer.






You are right about the power, but not that it has none, it just has less than the Rev.

Apart from that-

If it was falling out of the sky, then you were doing something wrong.

I think that if the bar pressure was too light then maybe you should have tried a heavier setting. On the light setting they are meant to be light!

I think that review was silly.

I think that if anyone was to read your review and take anything out of it then maybe you should kite together.


Your comments are fair enough - I didn't know it had settings for light or heavy bar pressure, so you can discount any of those comments because of my obvious ignorance there.

I had it on the longest knot on the centre lines and the second knot on the back lines. Didn't check to see if there were other settings you can change where piggy attaches to the kite (im guessing this is where you adjust light bar pressure?)

I think that it could be good for surfing waves because of how flicky it is and the ability to turn the power right off but I definately don't want one.

In regards to your last comment, "I think that if anyone was to read your review and take anything out of it then maybe you should kite together." - I hope you are seriously awesome to be cutting me down like that, and look forward to receiving a spray of water in the face from one of your MASSIVE octane powered cutbacks

I guess another good thing about it, not that I really care what my kite looks like, but the octane is sexy (the mostly black with blue one)



walshd
SA, 601 posts
10 Nov 2009 8:34AM
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wishy said...

I think that it could be good for surfing waves because of how flicky it is and the ability to turn the power right off but I definately don't want one.

In regards to your last comment, "I think that if anyone was to read your review and take anything out of it then maybe you should kite together." - I hope you are seriously awesome to be cutting me down like that, and look forward to receiving a spray of water in the face from one of your MASSIVE octane powered cutbacks

I guess another good thing about it, not that I really care what my kite looks like, but the octane is sexy (the mostly black with blue one)






I think your trying to compare apples with bannanas.

You are riding a 12 CB3. They are a full bow with pulleys on the bar. Barpressure would be twice if not triple the amount of the Occy on the light setting.

Because of the lack of barpressure, the Occy would feel underpowered compared to the CB3 (and its not a full bow).

Like I said, comparing apples to bannanas. You ar comparing a slow, grunty, park-and-ride bow kite to a fast, nimble, apparent wind hybrid.

I sort of tend to agree that the Occy feels less powerful then the rev, but it is faster and makes more apparent wind, so not sure. It still gets the Glide going upwind in a fart of wind, but isn't as park-and-ride as the rev.

COL
NSW, 554 posts
10 Nov 2009 1:43PM
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Wishy, I can only assume you still have the 3" rear line pigtail extensions fitted. There's been references to this previously. They were apparently a last minute addition to the Octane to benefit learners. There's a loose cannon aboard the Slingshot design team I reckon. The demo kites didn't have them. Noone from slingshot has publisized the fact, even though they put tags all over the place to draw attention to other changes. I can't believe Slingshot, all these extensions do is confuse people, make the kite too depowered & tumble when depowered overhead & rob the kite of a ****load of power.
Sure they're not the most powerful kite out there, but they may be the sweetest surfkite.
I haven't used the 11 but my 13 gets me going way earlier than my old REV2, & that's a fact.
cheers
Col

wishy
WA, 1501 posts
10 Nov 2009 11:18AM
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COL said...

Wishy, I can only assume you still have the 3" rear line pigtail extensions fitted.



I think you are right. Something was not quite right with it, so this was probably it.
I think slingshot should make their kites more idiot proof to benefit people like me

p.s. Very nice pictures under your profile COL, looks like you shred.

RayQ
WA, 635 posts
10 Nov 2009 12:53PM
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Used my 13m Octane twice now, compared to the REV2 13m, this kite has been improved in almost every aspect.
Loops quicker and goes upwind better than the REV2
And the thing is, its quick enough to use in the surf, the REV2 13m was a great kite too, but wave riding was more a park and ride afair, the Octane just moves.
Only thing that I dont like compared to the REV 2 is that the bar presure has been increased a bit on the 13m ( its changed to lighter on the 9m )
Most will say this is light for a 13, and probably true.
The Octane has to be the sweetest 13m on the market this season.

lind28
VIC, 54 posts
16 Nov 2009 10:25PM
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I rode the 11 occy in 25knots plus at st kilda today and all i can say was its a beast.
i have never flown a kite as smooth, stable and responsive as this kite so far.



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"2010 Octane 13m - first impression" started by COL