2012 Core Riot XR2 17m LW vs. 2011 core vs Zephyr

Rider: 84/92/96 kg Intermediate
Style: Freeriding
Weather: Session 1 13-18 knots, second session 8-12 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 8-9/10
Disclosure: I work for AKS and we stock all 3 of these kites

Ok so the title is slightly misleading, because we didn't exactly try the kites back to back but I'll explain that.

So session 1 was last Monday wind was just between 13 -18 knots and we decided to do a down winder Leighton to Brighton.

First thing that you notice is how much easier the new Core inflate system is to pump up, the system offers very little resistance to the pump so while it still takes about 100 pumps to inflate it doesn't hit your lower back so hard.

The heaviest rider took the old core 2011 LW; the lightest rider took the zephyr. And I pulled the long straw and got the new kite.

So if you've read the review for the 10 XR2, you'll know that the styling is more aggressive, the kite does every thing a little better than the 2010/11 smaller models, and this has been translated to the larger sizes. The kite turns faster, but the biggest difference is the pull and where it pulls from.

This kite seems to sit a little higher in the window (more in line with the zephyr) so consequently it pulls a little more vertically in the boost. So rather than a good boost with a long downwind float, you still get the boost, but the float doesn't see you loosing so much ground. Because the kite sits slight higher in the window it goes upwind better, not as well as the zephyr, but a marked improvement on the last model.
The big difference is the bar pressure, like the smaller sizes the bar pressure has been reduced.

So the idea was at the halfway mark about City Beach we'd come in swop kites and again before we hit Brighton. Only one problem with that was I was having so much fun that I completely ignored my mates protests and said that I still needed to get a better feel for the kite to write a review.

In all honesty I've spent a fair amount of time on the old XR and the memory was still fresh so I figured if I'm doing the majority of typing I should do the majority of riding.

The other big point of difference is the top and bottom end, but I'll come that shortly.

So session number 2 was this morning on the river at Point Walter wind ranged between 8 to 12 knots. We arrived at about 7.30 and kited till 9.00, with only one other rider, on a 13m lithium LW with a Sector 60.

This really showed the low end and I took a zephyr and NickT took the core.

Again NickT put the kite through its paces in terms of back rolls, front roll, and kiteloop backrolls. This was really at the bottom end of the wind range for the kite but it still flew well and while it was 8/9 we couldn't hold ground, if we'd have teamed it with a light wind twin tip or a sector or even a new North Nugget I think we'd comfortably held ground, 136 tempo and 135 Jamie just wasn't quite enough.
The kite like the 10m was a lot more nimble than the preceding model. Turned tightly and looped well (for a 17!).

So wind range, the question every one has been asking “Is it a grunty as last years”.
In our opinion the kite has shifted its power band so that it's similar to the zephyr, so it's probably lost 1 knot bottom end but gained heaps at the top, probably 3 or 4.

After our first session (downwinder) we compared how the kites had ridden, PascalM (97kg) on the old Core had started trimming the kite as soon as we had got in the water at Leighton, NickT (84kg) had been a bit under cooked on the zephyr, and I'd been perfect at (92kg) at about 13-15knots, when we finished the wind had hit 17-18 NickT was perfect on the big Z, PascalM was fully trimmed and hanging on for dear life, and I was about ½ trimmed with plenty of scope for at least 3 more knots.

Some people will complain that Core have messed around and destroyed the kites bottom end, but remember they have also released a 19 LW XR2 which will probably hit the spot for the really heavy guys or really light wind conditions (Robbie Puetz, I think the 19 will really float the boats of the NT guys). And if you want to expand the bottom end then the light wind boards will give you that edge, Cardboard Glides, North Spikes, Sector 60, North Nuggets, there are plenty of cool toys to add to your arsenal.

One thing to note on the bar that I didn't pick up on when we reviewed the XR2 10m was that like north's bar the bar throw/trim is adjustable so you can move the cleat up and down so increase/ decrease bar throw while having the opposite effect on the amount of trim.

Now the negatives and mostly they are about the bar. The 17 XR2 runs on the same bar as the smaller kites but with line extensions. So you may have to keep adding and removing extensions if you don't buy a second bar. The bar is the same standard size and a slightly longer bar would help speed the kite through the turns and loops, it's not sluggish and is, by comparison, a lot faster than the zephyr, but that could be a good tweak that could lift it from an 8/10 to a 9/10. The other thing it's lacking is a stopper ball, just for the really light days where you want to let go of the bar and steer without constantly tweaking the power.

Pros Bar pressure has dropped significantly. Doesn't pull you downwind like the old tractor, easier to edge against. Same great styling and hard wearing canopy material. Float and boost doesn't mean a loss of ground.

Cons could do with a bigger bar, and probably a stopper ball for comfort, some people wont like the wind range change but overall it makes it a lot more user friendly and for 9 out of 10 free riders, who don't go out above 28 knots, this kite paired with a 10 or 9m would give a perfect 2 kite quiver from 12-28 knots.

I'm sure NickT will add his thoughts and DM will also give a more pro opinion if i ever give it back to him!

Toddws , will it be ok for the 17m in knots 8-10 for an experienced rider 75 kg with light wind board ? And by that i am concerned if the wind have luls like 6 knots will it make the kite stall ? I have zeph 2010 and that kite really refuse to stall .

well my options for a demo is a non go where i live . I am really tuned in the zeph 2010 and i can say it has improved my skill to other kites as well. That kite really hates agressive turning but can generate a massive amount of apparent wind.
Now i have made my decision to go to core xr2 as low wind kite due to my other quinver that i have (9m and 12m gts) because i really liked the quality of the kites and the way they fly. I am more intrested now to choose between 19m or 17m thats why i am asking. If 17m is good enough (it should turn faster than 19m ) for a range 7-12 knots it or i should get 19m (That i want to avoid if possible)

My board is 160x50 carbon handmade for freestyle (as much as you can tell beacuse it is still a table on the water )

Todds, Thanks for the review!

Stopper ball is available as an optional extra for the new CORE sensor bar.

SENSOR PRO stopper