After holding onto my 2009 Crossbows it is time to update. I have loved the CB 10m so much it has been my bread and butter kite for the last few seasons.
With a some what high level of excitement I grabbed a demo 2011 CB10m and that is where my excitement ends...
In a nice 20 knot sea breeze I launched and entered the water, the first dive of the kite it fell back in the window making me think it was going flat but no. This kite seems to fly all over the place, there is a sweet spot on the bar but it is hard to find and I found that I had to constantly trim the kite to find the best spot. I also needed to use a big chunk of the depower strap to get the bar back in a comfy flying position. The kite seems to over sheet instead of powering up fully when the bar is sheeted in fully and moves back and forth in the window. This over sheeting caused the kite to fall back in the window and when turning powered up would try and pull you downwind off the board.
After 30 minutes of flying I went back to the 2009 CB10, this kite is so good, sits solid in the window exactly where you put it and has a much more direct feel. After 2 hours on the 2009 I gave the 2011 a second chance but came up with the same conclusion. I even checked the flying lines to see if they were stretched but they were spot on. This kite is either a technical race orientated kite that needs constant trimming or maybe the demo is a dud??
At this stage looks like I will buy some new lines and keep the 2009. Very disappointed after flying crossbows since the CBII. love some feedback from others
Smithy.
I was riding my 2011 Crossbow 10m yesterday and really enjoyed it. It is a definite improvement over the older models.
The 2011 Crossbow seems a bit more grunty than the older models. More of a freeride kite than a race machine.
I see you checked the lines. Maybe something wrong with the pulleys or the bridles?
Try your 2009 bar on the 2011 kite and see if that fixes the problem
if not..... It could be the bridal ( possible stretching ) otherwise check over the kite for any major repairs
It has had a repair from leading to trailing edge, as much as I don't want to say it but it has been put into a tree at some stage. Canopy looks OK in the air, no obvious distortion. The new CB bridal looks like the old SBII bridals from years ago so it is difficult to see any obvious problems...
Smithy
Hey Smithy
I have 2011 switchy's and flew the CB just after release, and yes it flies like a pig, setting A is twitchy, setting B (less de-power more direct steering) meant the kite wouldn't turn at all, add to that the issues with line bungee-ing, and yes IMHO its a lemon. Try the SB, better kite overall..
