The New F-one Bandit 5 for 2012 Product report by Matt Colefax Australia's first kiteboarder..... :)
m8kite.com -
The 2012 F-one range report
www.m8kite.com
Kitesurfing runs in our veins, we love it. And we love this time of year, the new range releases, trying out all the new gear, catching up with kitesurfing friends from around the globe and looking forward to springtime and the new season down under on new kit. And of course stoked to share all the feedback on F-one 2012 from the Dday. email@m8kite.com with any questions or request and stay tuned for regular additions to this and following pages.
F-one dday 2012
Its always a big buzz heading off to the new seasons product launches. At the F-one Dealer day theres always the huge anticipation of all the fine new gear to get on, amazing locations, and incredible kiting setups. Also over the years I make a lot of friends at the meetings, and its great to catch up with them to share the good times and good waves. Its pretty mad how good we get it most of the time too, dropping into world class reefbreaks right next to the pros, riding in boardies in the Aussie winter, often staying in 5 star deluxe accommodation on the beach. And of course having a few hundred of the brand spanking new model kites & boards of every size and description pumped up, ready to roll right on the waters edge is pretty damn wicked. But I am here to work, and give you guys the lowdown on the latest and greatest from F-one kitesurf dealer day 2012.
Day 1
Arriving in the night time I went straight to the bar to renew acquaintances and talk shop, the crew had all been kiting all day and were very relaxed and happy with some extremely good complements about the new gear. Of course I went in the dark to at least touch and feel the new kites and boards. Little hard to sleep as I was so excited to ride the new Bandit5 kites and bamboo boards, so a few hrs later I awoke at 4am hearing the wind cranking and just busting to get out there. Before the sun was up I had the lines on, boards all lined up, the straps adjusted, ready to roll. Music running through my head, and at first light with anticipation coursing through every vein the 9m rose gracefully skyward… crisp….light…. sharp… I loved it instantly. In the distance Manawas rollers called. I grabbed the trax 136 and stepped on as the Bandit pulled me smoothly onto the plane and out over the azure warm Indian sea. The 1st thing I noticed was the super smooth speed and upwind, certainly the thinner sharper profile made short work of the quick tack to the inside break. Lining up the first kicker I cautiously threw the kite back and was hooting as hangtime just kept going and going then a perfect butter smooth landing hardly downwind at all ! Immediately a big difference to last years, in the solid 25 knots this kite boosted so big I could hardly believe it, plus way less drift downwind than I have ever experienced. Keeping the speed and lift for so long, landing so easily, then railing into the next and bigger kicker, this time really hucking and hooting my head off as the Bandit5 reefed me away to the stratosphere. Pulling the bar in was like hitting the rocket launch button, Holy s*** I was getting some of the best feeling boosts ever, so much fun and so controllable so soon after getting on a new kite it was just mad.
A ½ km further and I was staring into the butter smooth bowl of Manawa surf break, double overhead but friendly and beckoning and only myself on the water. The sun crested le morne as I dropped into my first wave of the trip, adrenalin pumping, smile so big it hurt as the dawn patrol rewarded me. Feeling the Bandit5 respond to bar input like it was part of me, direct and reassuring. Fast as f*** and massively capable. Forgiving my shabby mistakes, rewarding my better moments with the crispest waveriding experience ever. Drawing speedy arcs on the big open face, man this was living, alone on the break I carved and jumped all my cares away. Exploring the kites capabilities, stretching my somewhat shaky surflegs, getting real comfy real quick man I love this kite. So how did I find the F-one Bandit5 kite compared to B4 is the common question coming my way. Its got a less aggressive feel but more direct and even more acceleration on tap when you need it, cutting like a knife through gusts and lulls alike. So much depower its crazy, so tight and responsive, just brilliant. And the new airlite bar set it off perfectly, super simple clean and strong, exactly the right cross section and compact in your hands.
The trax board too was impressive, stiffer and with a new surf shape rail this board felt immediately awesome. The pop was insane, I could charge over chop, and even take a few waves ! after a few crackers I shot back to the beach and grabbed the TX, and repeated the run out to manawas for another round, The TX being same as last years was like an old friend, beautiful board for all rounding, after a few waves I grabbed the new Acid 132 to do it all again, surprising myself on a freestyle board in the surf having so much fun, of course busting out a few big boosts and low altitude glides as well. And then the Sk8s turn… whats this an X torsion deck, and seemingly more rocker, the Sk8 just got even more fun, wow this thing flies, bummer they don't make it in my size. After a few more waves and mach10 speed runs through the lagoon I had my fill of twintipping and was ready for the surfboard. Big changes in the signature range, subtle refinements on the SL and fish models which we think are perfect already. More on those later, by mid morning I had ridden the 9 and 8m with a whole bunch of boards and quick squirt on the 10m all absolutely brilliant. So back to the Bandit5…
The official F-one 2012 Dealer Day presentation lists 3 key points that were prioritized to improve for the Bandit5 development. Range. Lightness & Handling. Firstly the top end is better again, hard to believe but true. The thinner sharper profile and LE achieve a better result in terms of getting the kite closer to the edge when you need it most, cutting through everything making it even more controllable, quick and precise, plus I believe it absorbs and translates more smoothly than last years frame again improving range. I cannot really say about the bottom end yet as its been so windy so far but I can say that the range in terms of disciplines is definitely greater. Watching the team snap off some crazy freestyle next to the beach then swap boards and head into barreling one eye with the same kite amply demonstrated how versatile the Bandit5 is. And regarding lightness even though more reinforcements and extra Kevlar patches are all over the 20% less volume of air inflation overall reduces weight through less Dacron in the strut and LE. Apparently it also allows more twist for less effort so giving a quicker and easier handling with more precision which is the last point. Getting used to this kite was unbelievably quick and fun for me. Actually apart from the graphics at first glance it's a very familiar shape to last year. So the devil is in the detail which is very reassuring as we all know and love the B4 so much. And how about the graphics, they are a pretty radical departure from the royal theme of previous years, they grew on me real quick. Super classy and standout in the air as we expect from F-one. Picking up the new and very bling bag with a matching graphic you notice the lighter weight per size. And pumping 20% less air will be good, not that I did any pumping so far, I did however note the new pump colours are white blue, looks good next to the all blue kite which is my fave colour at the moment.
The arvo F-one Dday session was all about the surf, One eye was massive, triple overhead and bigger on the sets, perfect wind and direction, and the F-one team just tore it apart. Skipping along in front of Mitu as he fluidly carved top to bottom on what seemed like the endless perfect wave with the new 6'0 bamboo and 6m Bandit5 is something else to witness. Super stoke pulsing around my whole body for this rare gold opportunity. Seeing all the Bandit5 kites flying down the line at incredible speed, whipping through loops, gouges and insane floaters then ripping back upwind at impossible angles was just jaw dropping. Being out there was simply a dream come true. So stoked. I will follow this up tomorrow with more, and a bunch of pics and short video. But right now gotta go get wet. We are also posting on the F-one Australia fb page. Stay tuned.
MC
interesting reading, thanks for that! And we are begging for more reports & videos
One quick question: I am looking for a wave kite for onshore conditions. To my understanding, B5 is flying really far to the edge of the wind window, is this correct? Also, as I understand, one feature of a good onshore wave kite is that it should stay deeper in the window to offer "constant" pull and to easier to cope the slack lines. Therefore the conclusion is that the B5 would be a slight compromise when it comes to onshore wave riding, am I right?
This is a genuine question, and I am really interested in B5, but I am a bit cautious for now. Please share your view on this. Thank you!
You would want the kite fly ahead in the window for faster better upwind in onshore riding than one that sits deeper..this is the major diff between the Dos and the b4.
AndreC, as I see it, the going upwind enough is not anymore the issue, the more it is about the ability to handle slack lines, or even better, the kite's ability to drift when riding towards it so that the lines do not go slack as such. And added bonus to this is the stability, ie. when lines are slack, the kite doesn't nosedive like Dos did. To my mind, if the kite stays deeper in the window, it will also have better ability to give instant power when needed. Just my thoughts, I may be wrong here...?
I ride in cross on and onshore conditions a lot and it depends on how you handle the kite to wave direction (se wind, e swell or ne swell, s wind or any other variation ) .Myself prefer to move the kite a fiar bit so its always in the window or where i want it, but it all changes every time the swell changes, have ridden b4 in all of these condition and it worked fine but currently prefer the FONE VOLT as its not so agressive through the turn (more like an RPM ).I cant wait for the B5 it sounds and looks impressive , but i wont make any comments till ive ridden it
Have Fun
George
by Nathan Katterns....F-One Australia
The Bandit 5 is the fifth generation of the very first ever delta c shaped kite. This design allowed for amazing upwind ability in all wind conditions. With better turning and ability to sit further into edge of the wind window simply by sheeting out with the bar. The control from the bar end is exactly what a kitesurfer needs, this allows for you to be in control not the kite controlling you :)
F-Ones dedication to Research and development over 5 years with the Bandit is key to this kites success and its ability to work in all wind conditions and suit all levels of kitesurfers across all disciplines, its the one kite thats works great for begginers through to pro atheletes.....
Here are some of the new features of the B5....f-one is the first to admit that the hardest challenge was to improve the bandit 5 from the bandit 4 without losing any of its qualities....
The kites bridles have been reworked and its construction softened through the wing tips to allow for twisting that allows for a faster turning as a fully rigid wing tip will not turn at all. Resulting in super fast manouverability and responsiveness of the kite from the control bar by the kite surfer.
A thinner leading edge by 25% this is massive modification the result is that there is 25% less air volume which means that the overall weight is decreased and the aerodynamics of the kite is greatly increased. these features have ensured the low end grunt that you would expect from a Bandit kite and the top end handling is improved thanks to a thnner overall kite profile... performance in all wind conditions.... onshore, crossshore, semi offshore and gusty are easily handled by the new F-ONe Bandit 5.
The flatter profile of the Bandit 5 by reducing the profile curve depth means its easier to depower and keep control at the top end wind conditions, the flatter profile also is more efficient when powered up and fully sheeted in providing constant power. This means better control of the kites aerodynamics, less lateral traction and less pressure through your legs onto the boardwhen the wind picks up.
The bar provides the rider with constant feedback and allows for you to adjust the kites position in the window through sheeting in or out at any given time. The pressure is delivered to the harness and the less pressure through turning and controlling the kite means less burden on your arms without losing control and or steering ability of the kite at any time.....
In three word the Bandit 5 from F-One is :::: Lighter, more maneuverable and more responsive :)
It is a smoother and ultimately more enjoyable and more effective kite regardless of the type of riding you do...
Does it work at a freestyle kite compared to e.g. Ozone C4, Naish Park, Airush VaporX ?
Or it is a freeride/wave kite ?
The bandit 5 is an awesome freestyle kite as well as wave and freeride! We will have demo sessions soon in most states! Where are u based/kitesurfing usually? Nathan
Nathan have you ridden the volt yet had a great session today on the 13 & 9 in the rm
George
Hey George :) yeah I rode the volt and loved it perfect kite for the intermediate or wave rider that likes to follow the kite through there turns! Like sending the kite before u bottom turn or top turn! It also has great bar pressure and super great relaunch!
See u on Sunday :) Nathan
Why not just try it for yourself?
Older Bandits trucked after unhooking but the B4 was fine.
F-one 2012 Product launch wrap
Having been back from the product launch a few days and already scoring the first spring sessions on my local kitespot, I reflect upon the incredible trip I had this year to the F-one 2012 product launch. Full on conditions, fantastic crew, and mindblowing new kites and boards from F-one to test every day. It was a rare prime event, being back in the groove now I also like the chance to bring it back to basics for everyday fun. Kiteboarding, our primary focus, our passion and reason for being. Its pure unadultered joy in the elements, its not rocket science. And bringing it back to basics is where the F-one Volt kite comes into play. A tamed down version of the Bandit, the volts squatter more nuggety aspect is all about ease of use. Easy acceleration, easy waveriding, easy kiteloops, easy upwind no matter the speed you are travelling, easy positioning of the kite in the window. And super easy auto relaunch, I can relaunch my Bandits instantly but its manual as opposed to these very auto volt kites. In fact for some of my final sessions in small one eye lefts I rode the F-one volt 9m strapless with the new 6'0 surf. Wow, it's smooth, the biggest difference to the B5 is just how smooth and forgiving the volt can be especially when your tired as I was. Extremely reassuring and predictable, and extreme depower, with a very manageable powerband. If you like to focus on surfing this kite is a must try for you. Turn up the bass this baby gets you feeling funky real fast, unhooked, unstrapped, uninhibited fun. The official Volt pdf brochure is bottom of the pics at left.
The bamboo 6'0 concave deck also inspires a footloose and fancy free ride. I was dubious when I first saw it, but I quickly decided F-one are onto something with this board. It feels great strapped or strapless. And it's a perfect match with the F-one delta C-shape kites. One hand on the bar the other on the rail, pulling in, pushing the tail out, freedom to play, no worries about getting reefed off the board by a careless mistake or speedy section. The Volt in particular sits back in the window nicely, tracks straight and steady, very smooth power through turns and acceleration, no fuss, buckets of smiles. Rock on all you kiters who just love to surf, play and cruise. The volt is electro pop mixed with soul, a freaky funky feeling you can get real loose with. Perfect to progress, backing it up with the same quality force frame build as the Bandit, and even available with the airlite bar as an upgrade. It also does not hurt that the volt is $ 400 cheaper (11m stock bar). This tamed down version of the Bandit combines all the awesome traits we remember from the early models. Its enduro as opposed to full on Motorcross, not as fast and punchy as the Bandit5 but it will get you there with energy to spare. I really appreciated my final sessions of the trip on the Volt as I was getting weary. It's the same fabrics and top quality build as the Bandits, famous F-one phenomenal durability with force frame skeleton and all teijin materials. And it has all the best attributes of previous models, the proven Bandit 1,2 &3 that have loads of fans. Don't dismiss it till you give it a go, especially in the surf. A solid performer which perfectly suits a lot of punters and absolutely brilliant kite in any quiver. Volt kites are also available right now as opposed to Bandit5 coming out in shops in late October.
There is also some trick up accessories which bolt onto the Volt in minutes making it easily tuneable and semi custom. First up is the red stopper ball, which uses an allen key grub screw over a sleeve so you can set it to slide (by hand) easily or hard on the Plastic tubing covered depower rope, note that it should always slide somewhat so that it can be pushed out with the bar in emergencies. Generally its purpose is to shorten the throw and stabilize the kite, because the depower rope on the Volt is quite a bit longer than the Bandit5 allowing super auto relaunch, however I personally prefer shorter even if it does sacrifice some auto it feels better to my own personal preference. So the next part we carry is shorter depower ropes, generally 2 other sizes are available, Bandit length and wakestyle super short. Let us know and we can send out some demo depower ropes in each length S,M,L for you to try from your local shop. While we are talking about it, F-one depower ropes and selfcentering C-loops are the slimmest, simplest, smoothest and longest lasting depower assembly on the market bar none. Shops or our riders are able to show you these parts and they work great even on other brands. A nice all in one upgrade is the compact bandit airlite bar with a neat cleat which is how we rode the Volt at One Eye. The bar and all parts are available separately. Then for the 5 line fans out there we have got a yellow 5th line that fits straight between any Bandit or Volt control bar and kite in just a few moments. I know I know, you may not want to touch it, but good to know if you did its easily available for your with flagging and flipover flying. Also we will have some extension lines consisting of an outside pair and heavy duty center to add 2m onto your F-one lineset with any kite. 2m makes a huge difference to the size of your wind window therefore powerstroke potential, try it and see. I will make sure all these bits get listed on the product page of m8kite.com and with these cost effective accessories you can easily personalize the feel and performance of your F-one, its about time kiting got some trickup bits…
The Volt kite is also available with the F-one Next twintip kiteboard, I don't think you can go past it for a great value beginner to intermediate board. The Next board characteristics of flex and flatter rocker combine with the Volt kite to get even the newest rider upwind and through the lulls without any drama. Easy to learn and land jumps, featuring the impressive F-one unibox fin system and straploc fittings. European built with matching graphics. For a top quality board and kite package the pricing is unbelievably good value ! I have written up the Next in earlier news posts elsewhere on this site. For more info and pricing about any F-one products check the product pages of this site m8kite.com and/or email@m8kite.com
Some of the queries we were emailed about the 2012 gear are answered below. I will get more of your queries done as soon as possible.
Wind range on the new Bandit5 kites ?
Its better overall, especially the top end. The thinner sharper kites can swing further faster and have a bigger effective wind window than b4, Sure you could hold down the earlier models but in the same super windy conditions the Bandit5 can do more and do it even better. A good comparison is whereas previously in 30+ your mega jumps meant hot landings, the Bandit5 does not drift as much with winddrag so you go even bigger again. On the low end although the profile is built for more speed than torque the extra manoeuvrability of the Bandit5 compensates so you can match the phenomenal reputation for F-ones range. The Bandit5 can comfortably carry a size smaller OR bigger compared to other kites to even more extent than b4. We prove every time the superior range and speed. These kites respond so precisely and position themselves so quickly you always have the advantage no matter what sizes you are working with. Its also important to note that the usage range ie freestyle to surf is unbeatable.
Tossing up between the Bandit5 and Volt kites ?
The Bandit5 is now a no holds barred high performance rocket, not as auto as the Volt which is a tamer, slower and less punchy combination of the earlier bandit model designs. A good motoX analogy is that the Volt kite is enduro, the Bandit full on MX. Volts only come in 7,9,11 and 13m sizes making size choice very easy as opposed to every meter in the Bandit5. The Volt is also significantly cheaper and most importantly Volt kites are available right now rather than in October. Volt colours and graphics are minimalist genius. Bandits are standout class. I have put a bunch of Bandit5 colours up at left. If your minds not made up by the time Bandits arrive then give both a go... my quiver of Bandits will have at least one volt added for sure.
What details did you notice on B5?
Really nice logo embossed custom fabrics. The Airlite bar is even more integrated design, the moulded fix tube, the subtle dot texture grip, ultimate form and function. Also the tapered tube ends, apparently they are much less likely to catch lines and give better aerodynamics. Inside those ends are some little battens for secure closure. The two outside struts are a different attachment to the LE for better turning response. Tuneable trailing edge attachments of course. There is lots of little re-inforcing patches of kevlar and dacron on any wear points, and the colour combos are unreal, I have put a bunch of pics at left.
Whats up with concave deck on the bamboo surf 6'0 and 5'10 ?
We thought the same thing, also about the quad fins, and I have been forced to eat my own words because the proof is in the riding. Skateboards have a concave deck, for strapless riding it feels great, and when strapped up you get a feeling of being closer to the water, more in the board than above it. Combined with the extra thick shock absorbing front pad you will be amazed at how positive your connection to the board becomes. Comments will be welcomed from people who give these babies a good go.
How was the location as a kitesurf destination ?
The F-one 2012 Dday happened on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean at the most famous kite destination Le Morne. This spot has a long history as a surf and windsurf hotspot, as well as general tourism. Theres tons of massive resorts all along the beach, golf courses, restaurants, 5 star, every mod con. Its french colonial, so theres tons of euros there all the time. But they are not as wave hungry as us Aussies. And its got all the options on tap, flat water, left handers, right handers, varying sizes, generally lefthand offshore, with the biggest, cleanest and longest break being the infamous "one eye" I definitely rate it. And hey the beers not bad! That said its a fair hike and probably more expensive than indo. Unless you do a kite tour with someone getting the good deals for you.... stay tuned.
Getting ready to jet off back home I basked in the afterglow of this awesome trip and was thinking about the coming Aussie summer. Theres been a growing interest in F-one, a kind of renaissance. Maybe its because F-one was the 1st kite'board' company still on the planet, maybe its just because they keep it simple bringing everything back to purist performance. For example a focus on perfecting one design of their Delta C-shape invention, rather than having a whole bunch of specialist models that sacrifice too much. Maybe its because they insist on the ultimate quality and presentation of their products. They don't skimp on anything when it comes to the kites you and I fly. And we definitely see the discerning kiters homing in on F-one more and more every year. Everything about F-one stands out from the crowd, every small part right down to the graphics and videos it's all deluxe.
And the Bandit5 summary, its going to do more than leave a mark, It will leave a tearing gouge, send your adrenalin levels through the roof. It's a ballistic kite. While at first glance it looks similar to the Bandit4 with 3 struts and cutoff tips. The devil is in the detail. F-one have worked long and hard to give us something super special, One hundred prototypes, relentlessly tested to perfect the one kite that shines out, for all riders and all styles. One kite model that surpasses all expectations, and that will definitely take your riding to the next level. Get some solid wind in your sails and get the Bandit5 kite from F-one. Pre-orders and requests for demo can be sent to email@m8kite.com and we will arrange it for you with your closest F-one stockist, plus we have a shop list from the products tab above that you can liase with.
You've read this far because your curious or totally craving info on the new F-one range... thanks. My report is that this years gear from F-one the longest surviving kitesurf company on the planet has redefined the sport yet again. Each design and component setting a new benchmark. F-ones Delta C kite patent is getting locked in this year, their confidence and commitment driving their development far above any competition and imitation. F-one are famous for R&D effort and results, and they just keep getting better at it. The suprange too has excelled beyond what seemed possible. Changing the landscape and breaking new ground, even getting us kiters fired up on sup. Its groovy stuff compared to the cliqued "mutant hulk surfboard/kayak" we see so much of.
So the Dealer meet delivered bigtime. I got tons of time on the new gear, got adrenalin overdose, got to meet all the crew new and old, got treated to some fantastic F-one hospitality, survived one eye surf break, I got harness rash, I even got a preview of the new F-one movie, shot on RED cinema cam in way out there locations, I can tell its going to be awesome. I even got a few reports done for your browsing pleasure. I can't wait to get back on it in oz and get all you guys n gerls on this new F-one gear for a solid trublue go. It really is remarkable to ride and you have to try it to know for yourself. For myself I relish the chance to use and promote such refined advanced equipment, to get the most out of my valuable kitesurfing time. And to experience 1st hand the evolution of F-one a truly amazing company.
A big shout out to Raphael Salles, the man behind the machine that is F-one. I first dealt with Raphael in the early years when there were just a handful of us "kitesurfers" around the world. The pictures of him carving up perfect offshore waves with a kite and surfboard still stand out in my memory from all those years ago. I actually have one of his 1st production F-one board models, a 215cm (7') thruster. He was onto it then, and he is onto it now. His immense shaping and integrated design experience is just phenomenal. I really appreciated his hospitality, and the chance to kite and sup with him on the new shapes he has created. Despite being many years my senior he likes showing us how its done and also pointing out the finer points of why each design works. It was a priviledge to be his guest at the product launch.
If you are interested in choosing new kitesurf equipment, you have come to the right place. m8kite.com has no online sales or ads to distract you. its just pure top quality info for kiteboarders, the way we like it. If you are interested in travel and adventure for kitesurf and surfing/sup again we don't take your money but we can give you good advice, and we are always getting reports from F-one riders and centers all over. We welcome you to contact us email@m8kite.com with any request or feedback. We also put regular pics up at the F-one Australia fb page. And for more writeups, the rest of the Dday reports and a host of other articles please browse our news page. Next up we will have the video teaser... and then regular product and updates throughout summer....Stay tuned.
Gotta go get out on the new gear at the local right now. YEEEHAAA.
MC
Ok guys now I've had 2 great sessions on the new bandits and sorry to say this is going to sound like pimping. I used the 10 & 11 at DI and in the rivermouth both were great. The 11 can get you going in very light conditions and staying up wind and when the wind is on it can launch you way up in the air if your keen, its got lighter bar pressure than last year, faster loops , more boost , and more even power delivery through turns. The 10 feels a lot smaller than the 11, faster turning very light bar pressure great through carves, unhooks easy, overall I was impressed. I have ridden bandits every year, but this years is a big step up from previous years.
As i said sounds like pimping, but i had a ball and mine are already ordered
Have fun George
George,
thanks for the feedback.
1) what's the low end differencial between 10 and 11, and what's your weight?
2) you mentioned 10 feels much smaller than 11, but how's the 11's turning speed compared to 10, much slower? And would the 11 be a good low wind wave kite or would the 10 be better?
3) most importantly, how is the stability of the B5 when overhead or when riding? I wonder if the much thinner LE makes the kite nosedive easier than before?
Thanks!
Hi OMG I'm 72kg
I've had both kites out in the same conditions and all though you could ride the 10 (and some of the guys preferred it ) i found the 11 had a lot more power and bigger boost in lighter conditions, turning was still faster and smoother than last years and its supper stable. The 11s bar pressure was lighter than last years but heavier than the knew 10. For myself I'm using the 11 for lighter conditions but i do go out in really light conditions some times, and not always on a surfboard. Where several other guys are only going to use a 10, depends how you ride.
Hope this helps George
had the 11 out today, started out light then a storm front kicked in an wam,it jumps big an hangs long,also turns pretty nice to,loops are nice an smooth,over all really impressed, cant wait to try the 10 in some waves an decent wind.
Finally got to try the B5 9m yesterday in its wind range.
Compared to B4 - Loops more on a pivot and sends you up more on a loop giving you more height for landings.
-Smooth turning with no backstall when oversheeted in lighter conditions
-No sudden yanking when hit by gusts ,just sucks them up which gives you stability to load up for tricks or huge jumps.
-Still did drift nice in the waves and downlooping when smacking the wave was smoothe to pull you through the turn.
-Tried the B4 9m back to back and the bar pressure is so much lighter but not too light ...always knew where the kite was even when i got tumbled by a 8ft closeout set.
Have never seen Jacqui do such smoothe and powered F16s with height either !
My only suggestion is maybe go 1m2 bigger kite than you rode last year as i believe the bottom end has dropped a little.
Well done F-One again this year.
Has anyone rode the 12 this year ? Has it improved on turning speed and relaunch?
Easto, dont say that Ive got a 12m Bandit 4 in the mail now.
I,m very happy with my 10m B4.
Its weird , i never had a problem with the relaunch on the b4 12m .... its actually my favourite kite out of the 12, 9 , 7m quiver i have
How ya doing Dragonpig ... Last years 12m was a light wind kite for me .As im only 68kgs i'm flying it in 10 to 16kts , when it was on the light side it was a pig to relaunch as the LE just stuck to the water...maybe this year with the reduced LE things may be different and hopefully the turning speed also has improved.
ok yeah i guess i never really took it out in anything less than 13 knots..... i do blow it up as hard as i can ( once too hard unfortunately BOOOM) but i think that might possibly have helped..... Long and the short of it i could get it up in the same wind most 12m cabs relaunched . Sure it has a lot more to do with me being lucky rather than good.
Hey guys decided to go from a 12/9 quiver to three kites this year. Wanna go 8 and 14 just gotta decide if should go 10 or 11, anyone know if bottom end is much diff between these two? if not much may go 10 so can unhook in more wind, anyone got any input on quivers in this size? I'm 94 kgs
I would go the 11m especially if the bottom end has dropped a little and if you are going the 3 kite quiver, but also depens on your average wind I am 85kg and the 11m did me fine until about 26knots and then i wished I had an 8m.......
Ive got both the 10 & 11 the 11 has more at the bottom but the 10 is so fast and smooth when the wind comes on. Will say i can ride both in pretty light conditions just the 11 is more fun in sub 14 and seem to be kiting in this wind range lately for some reason
Hope this helps George
the 8m is heaps of fun to fly. had an 8m Bandit out from 15- over 30knts and it works great in all winds- good lift and hangtime. Decent pop and very controllable. Loops are fast enough to go big and come down save.
I really like the way that i flags out on the 5th line safety. Very easy to hook back in and relaunch. Only similar ease of use on 5th line relaunch we have found on the Spleene bar.
Bandit 5 is more open c than delta i reckon.
conclusion this is a real fun machine with a wide range of use!
Rock on FONE Bandit
Yay finally got a new b5 to try. Comparisons with b4 12. First run on the 12m was in marginal conditions. Was surprised how efficient the kite is in light winds, didn't feel like i had a lot of power as was only just enough for kite to fly properly. Could build heaps of speed on my slingshot dialer also another first run in these light winds. Kite flies fast at edge of the window, narrower LE helps. Felt really smooth and fast, even more so than last years. Still goin upwind even though underpowered and had fun slashing some little waves. Turning was hard to tell as wind was so light, but does feel more direct, a bit quicker and lighter bar pressure. First impressions are good can't wait for more wind to give it a real lash. 14m would be a great lightwind weapon.
I tried the B5 yesterday in both 9m and 12m as the wind dropped during the session.
Coming from Hadlow Pro C kites and demoed the Hadlow ID recently a couple of times.
Was pretty determined on the Hadlow ID, but now I am really in doubt
I have not flown an SLE kite for more than a year. It was a very good experience. Good power and amasing relaunch on both sizes. Looped really well too.
I did some Raleys to blind on it and my succesrate was as good (which is like 1 in 3 landed) as with my Hadlow Pro. I guess it does not get as much slack as the Pro, but it did not just pull me like a truck either. That was the pleasnt surprise.
Since I am not an advanced freestyler and never will be (but would love to be) I know maybe ..... maybe think my freestyle attempts will not be limited by the B5 compared to a C kite.
