Rider: 77kg (intermediate)
Style: Freeriding, Surf unstrapped
Weather: 12-25 knots
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: ?/10
Disclosure: user
Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place.
Really looking for a 9m or 10m 2012 Rebel.. but could only source a 11m to demo (using a 132x40 TT).
Great kite. Incredible build quality - better than anything I've seen in the 5 years I've been kiting.
The down side was that this was way too big.. which is interesting as it is stated by North as suiting 13 – 29 knots (I think their figures are for a 75kg rider). Well this thing was so powerful I had it depowered 50-90% the whole session - and was getting teabagged when I tried to reduce the depower.
Unbelievable boosting machine! But this one turned way too slowly for me.. which leads me to my question...
I'm wanting to replace my 2011 10m Rally which is awesome in the surf, but a bit gutless - no good if the lulls are less than 14 knots (on a surfboard). And is too tame at boosting when I jump on the TT
Was going to go for a 10/7 quiver.. but I'm thinking if the 10 is proportionally as slow to turn and proportionally has as much power as the 11m, then maybe I should go for the 9m. However discussions on this site indicate the 9m really needs more than 15knots.
Just don't want to end up with a 10m thats too slow for one handed turning on a wave - or a 9m thats too gutless for days that average 15/16knots with 12knot lulls.
Comments?
I previously owned a 2011 12m, can only comment on that but it turns plenty quick for a kite of its size, but power wise upwind in 11 knots (on a tt) and started pulling the trim at around 25, wouldn't be too scared of 30-35 knot gusts fully trimmed, what I can say is that I noticed trimming does definitely make steering input less responsive.
Having said all this, this kite may have totally changed for this model.
Josh
Go the 10 / 7 combo . The 10 will give you some bottom end and you will easily hold it down in 25 kts . And you have the 7 m which will turn lightning fast for the 20 kt plus days.you can save some $ by buying 1bar for both kites.
I have a 13 m rebel and a 9 m fuse , these kites kick ass..
I find the 10 rebel has as much low end as the 11 you just have to work it a little but it turns significantly faster and is a little punchier in it's power delivery which I prefer
Go 10/7
I use the 11m 2012 from 14 to 24 ish on a mutant cardboard ( a little more bouancy than a tt) but I'm 85kg. Where will you be riding and what is the general wind conditions? On a strapless you would need nothing bigger than a 10m. Oh okay 12 to 25. Mmm yeh I'd even consider getting a 9/6 combo. The 8m 2011 ( not as good as the 2012 by a fair amount I'm finding, the 2012 is indeed what you say an incredible kite), I am staying upwind at 17 knots plus and I weigh 85kg and on what is essentially a tt! For 12 knots you would need a 10 m, yeh they at right with the 10m/7m combo. If you kited on the west coast Perth or north I would go a 9/6 on a sb, but 12 to 25 yep 10/7.
This is not a slash and burn kite in the surf remember, it doesn't like to be shot around the wind window, there are better kites for that. Although the 7m can be. But any bigger and it won't allow you to do this, it is not designed for this. It is best used at the bigger end as a smooth carving type kite in my mind. But it does boost, and the power delivery in terms of smoothness and consistancy through the wind window is unmatched in my humble opinion.
i'm 78 kg, got the 2012 rebel, 6,8 & 10, went out in 15knts yesterday on a 5'8" surfboard unstrapped on the 10, no drama's going upwind, not really my idea of fun as there was no swell, put the tt on and still cranked upwind, don't want to get caught up in the pimping war so pm me if you need any more info
I saw your name as the last post, so just had to confirm what I did see!!!!
Actually have you demoed more than the rebel, including masks BWS...? Youmight want to consider this.
Thanks very much guys - you input is much appreciated.
Yes, as much as I'm mostly riding a surfboard these days, I still can't resist a good boosting session when the conditions are right... and the Rally is not that great in that department.
Will go with a 10/7 combo. I'd rather have the option to go out when it's light - as, based on a year's worth of wind stats, there's a huge number of lighter wind days here in Auckland.
Oh - FYI - I tried the 11m again in very light conditions (15 gusts down to probably 7-8 knots - no whitecaps at all) - and a few things stood out:
* Much improved steering response with no depower. But still needs firm input to engage a turn, but once turning, it zips around on it's tip very quickly.
* What a well behaved kite - always where you want it. Even if I messed up a jump and landed under the kite (once I landed down wind of it) it would float back nicely to where it needed to be - totally unlike the Rally. I would rate this as one of it's most beneficial traits.
* Wow - incredibly low bottom end - worked fine on a surfboard - and when it dropped to very low wind (ie kite dropping out of sky in lulls) - it could get me moving but not planning on a TT - which is really quite a feat. And, I even manged to do a small jump (maybe1.5m high) in conditions where I was struggling to plane.
- found that I could ride toeside with 1 hand, but just needed to nudge the bar for a second with the other hand to engage a hard turn.
Top marks to the designers of this kite - quite incredible performance!
The other thing I've noticed about the 11m.. is it's size - looks more like a 12m to me (certainly in length - maybe not width/chord-wise).
Have also read about the BWS 8m. Although I'm guessing it's similar to the Rallys. I think I'd refer an 8m Rebel based on it's characteristics.
Yeh the one handed toe side do to the kites smooth grunt is a characteristic I enjoy to.
