Rider: 80kg ,Level intermediate
Style: Surf, unstrapped. Sometimes unhooked
Weather: 15-20 knots - Variable wind. SW seabreeze. downwinder City Beach to Scarbs.
I am an ex-Rev’08 rider. Had a couple of goes on the RPM. Can’t really compare to other kites, comparison is to Rev’08. Note this is from one session only and I am still high on new kites energy.
Took the 9m out – straight out of the bag, not setting changes, here are some preliminary thoughts – very personal:
Slightly less bottom end than expected. More depower (top end) than Rev '08.
Turns were a fraction slower to initiate than my Rev’s, but got used to it. Turns fast. The bar pressure is very light. May be able to get same or more direct steer by changing attachment points.
The Rev’s DNA is very evident in this kite, but it is different to fly and I wouldn’t call the Octane a Rev 3.
I found unhooking easier on this kite and it travelled well down the wave. Looping had tonnes of control, less fluttering. I could also get a little more vertical on the waves because of this extra control feeling (Awesome).
The cosmetic improvements are useful. Much better bar construction / eye for the chicken loop. Stitching on the leading edge where the bridal connects (mine pulled out a few times on the Rev 08). Bar is great to use and grips well without wearing your hands too much. It also looks like the front line lengths can now be adjusted as the one line terminates in an accessible knot in the spinning pulley. A full size pump! The valve coverings I am not sold on yet...
Overall v.happy as I bought these without testing them first. I think they will continue to grow on me. Would love to hear what others have to say about changing the rear connection points
havent had a chance to fly the octanes yet .but as for the pump. the rev2 s came with a big pump also. yeah pretty sure the rev1 s had a small pump though.
You will see a couple of extra little pigtails attached to the rear lines on the bridal.. just above the three knots.. if you remove these you will find that bottom end..
My impression of the 9m Octane:
Rider: 94Kgs,
Level : Intermediate/freeride/surf
Board : 128 Coronation Carbon Pro
Wind : 18-20 Knots
Straight out of the bag, put it over my 9m Rev2, same outline, the struts are moved closer to the middle and the attachment points have been moved a bit.
Bigest change is the bar, looks like a realy solid design, a lot of details have changed as well. I didnt mind the old knob style release on the old Slingy bar and never had problems with it, but this looks a bit smoother.
Im checking the wind, and I think this is too light, after reading other postings about less bottom end. So set up the kite on shortest back and longest front setting.
Barpreasure feels like the REV1, but with out the raw power when the kite moves through the window.
It feels instantly good and smooth, even with a name change, this kite feels like it belongs in the REV family. somewhere between the Rev1 and Rev2.
Very refined and smooth.
The surprise was, going upwind, I didnt expect to be rocketing upwind on my 128TT in this amount of wind, and it did feel light on the bar.
Loops smoothly, this kite is just well behaved.
Once again Slingshot have deliverd a superb alround fun machine.
Ray
Very smooth kite.
I found it to be pretty quick as well.
New bar excellent and I am almost 100% chuffed , but my only complaint is that the new front line "unwinding gadget" doesnt seem to unwind. Otherwise excellent kite. SO easy to loop.
Gave my 9m a good run last night with some decent puff behind it. 20knts gusting to 27.
I thought the revs jumped big, this thing jumps Bucking huge! A bit more wind behind the beast makes a big difference.
Make sure you get rid of that extra pigtail on the rear bridle. I have mine powered up a knot as well.
I had the depower rope fully powered and not once were I overpowered. Love how the Occy keeps canopy tension, barely any flutter.
Swivel still works fine. hopefully it stays that way. Make sure it gets a good wash out after each use and you need to manually untwist it when you first launch if your lazy like me and dont untwist your middle lines when rigging up.
I'm still not sold on mine.
I know that in wind where I normally would be up and going on my 9m on my Rev, I could hardly get up and going on the Octane. I removed the pigtails, powered the kite right up and still got far less than what I would get on the Rev.
I'm yet to be sold. My jury is still out and I'm hoping they don't return a guilty verdict.
Hi Guys, I tested a 11 mtre octane demo kite last night at Brighton. The winds were quiet variable around 16/18 knots maybe gusting a few times to 19 knots. Im 85 kgs.
My personal opinion. Liked the two seperate valves the first one for inflating seems to be a one way valve because when I removed the pump hose not one bit of air escaped didnt need to pinch the valve at all. Second valve for deflating. The bar felt pretty good and it was simple to lay the lines out and connect to the bridle. Soon as I got the kite in the air it felt smooth and responsive. Hit the water dove the kite and felt a little bit under powered getting going. Although soon as i got plaining I noticed how fast this kite flew through the air and this generated good power. This kite is amazingly stable and responsive and the bar pressure felt real nice. I did a couple of board off's and the bar pressure was easy to control and turn in one hand. Boosts I thought were good for little amount of wind blowing. Swivel on front lines worked ok. I imagine in stronger winds this kite will turn like a bullet. OK I set the kite down on the beach and pumped up my 2009 North 12 mtre Rebel. The Rebel seemed to have a bit more bottom end power but did not turn anywhere as quick as the octane so through my transistions I was actually underpowered compared to the octane. Board off's the rebel bar was not as easy to control as the octane bar as I had to pull down a lot harder with one arm on the bar to keep the kite powered up.
(Personal Conclusion) I love the North Rebels there an awesome kite but I think I have just found a kite that delivers everything I have been looking for. I will test this kite in 20knot + winds and if it performs like I think it is going too I will sell my rebel and buy a 11 mtre Octane.
