I plan to get a new 12m kite for this season. I am hoping to cover a wind range of 12 - 25 knots. I have a Sector 60 board so I think kiting down to 12 knots will be possible. I weigh 85kg. I am intermediate/advanced and do Freeriding, Surf, Freestyle. I don't work in a shop and am not a team rider etc.
I am considering either a Cabrinha Switchblade 12 (2012 model) and have found:
* hybrid?
* known quantity (I have a Switchblade 10)
* nice turning
* smooth power range (12 knots to 25 knots, 75kg rider)
* good depower & relaunch
OR an Airush Lithium 12 (2013 model), which has good reviews for:
* great bottom end power
* Delta C/hybrid
* smooth power range (10 knots to 23 knots, 75kg rider)
* good depower & relaunch
These kites seem similar. Any feedback from riders?
Be good to have the same kite. But the lithium would have a better low end and be faster to turn at 12 m, so I see why you are considering this. Both are good kites. Lithium would be better in the surf to. Mmm hard one hey.
When the wind drops today I might be taking out my lithium 14m LW for its first run. Not same size but I might be able to give you more feedback after this. I'd say from having been on the switchblade a few times, the lithium would be more dynamic. But the cabriinha bar system is better, not a big fan of the smart bar, to much bling. And the moulded fingers thingies are farqen uncomfortable in my mind. Also having two different power, depower handles, well it just ****en stupid. But it is well built and does the job.
Okay Peter got out today for the first time. Remembering it is a 14m LW. Was 12 to 15 knots I weigh 77 kg and I was cranking upwind and TT surfing on a shinn monk (left my sector at home
) on a real ****ty frontal westerly. When it dropped to 10 and below I didn't stay upwind but was still able to get to shore easily and that's through a sizeable(not huge) swell. So on my sector I reckon I'd easily be staying upwind( got a 54). Don't know if ya familiar with the monk, but its not the most wind friendly board, not bad, but I normally use it to take my kites near to their max wind range as you just cannot break this boards edge. Bugger I didn't bring the sector, stupid really.
Okay the kite. One word, smooth everything is smooth about it. I'm sure lithium riders would back me on that. Quick to for its size, infact I was able to do some sizeable jumps and that is within the first one and two tacks on it. So it's a no brainer kite really. It is air rushes plug and play kite for the masses and I can see why. In smaller sizes I would say this wouldn't change at all. I'd get bored on smaller sizes as I fly the VX, but for ease of use highly rateable. Wind dropped to 5 to 6 knots t one stage and it had no probs staying in the air. As I said it does turn quick enough and I was actually surfing the waves albeit TT style and downlooping down the line(kind of have to being a bigger kite). I didn't try any actual transition roll looping or anything and it would be a push to do this but anything is possible when the canopy is so stable. Yeh again smooth is the word of the day, smooth power delivery through the turns, with no real annoying power spikes. That is because of its forward turning ability. Can't be bothered explaining what that means but it does.
The bar pressure was a little on the heavy side, but remember I'm used to the deft touch afforded by the VX. I did notice though I had it on the medium bar pressure setting, not on light. I think the 2013 light bar setting is even lighter than the 2012 ( which I rode) as this is one of the main issues with some riders.
So, smooth kite, predictable, plug and play and oh yeh it actually flies to the edge of the window much better than I though it would given its deep profile. Drop it, sheet out and she hunts the edge, then pull in for some power and grunt. I have heard though the light wind version has less obvious grunt than the smaller versions, the grunt was not really grunt, but smooth power delivery.
For a delta that really surprised me.
Also to note it picked up for 5 minutes, friend on the beach read 16 knots, gusting to 20. Not sure if his wind meter is all that accurate though, didn't feel that. Yeh it picked up but I had no probs holding the edge, but then again I was on a shinn monk with a lot of water time. But needless to say, the 8 to 18 knots is conservative. I reckon you are fine in the gusts that take you higher than this. Although I had put another knot in it, further from the kite as I knew it may get up there.
So SB is your safe bet, but will give you less bottom end. The SB is also smooth, but I reckon this kite is smoother by a fair margin to. Reckon the 12m would be quicker to than a 12m SB. Now I'm talking about a 2012 like you said as the 2013 SBlades apparently are quite a different beast, although they reckon some bottom end has gone.
So sorry I can't discuss an actual 12m, but hope this helps. It is perfect for me as my actual light wind kite that will get me going 10 to 16( powered) and holding ground 9,10 knots on sector and downwinder no probs on a sector 8 to 10. Easy with some. Hard choice you gotta make I reckon!
I can only comment on the 10m 2012 Lithium as i have been riding it recently, and can say that is a gr8 kite.
It seems to have a nice wind range, tracks up wind great, good hang time and the kite and is very smooth and responsive.
Coming from North kites where i thought the trust bars where good, i was surprised to find the airush bar similar but lighter and to me seems better.
Eppo & Ioz, thanks for feedback and info, its much appreciated and a great help.
I think I will get the Lithium 12 due to its bottom end grunt and good turning. I will post an update/review when I get it and try it out. A change is as good as a holiday!
I recieved my 8M and 14M 2013 Lithiums. Still waiting for the 10M. Had both kites out 3 times so far, and both at the high and low ends.
My initial thought is the smaller sizes are really nice: turning, jumping, relaunch, power delivery and depower..ect. Although the bar pressure is higher that what I'm coming from ( I haven't tried the light setting yet).
What I can say about the 14M is that it turns really slow. I've had it out comfortably in 18-22 knots on my surfboard. Yesterday out in 8-12 knots and it was not enough to get me going, but to be fair I don't think I had the right board out.
Power through the turns is what I really have to get use to, I'm use to my c4s.
And the big negative for me is the airush lines. They are really soft, so they tangle really easily. I do a lot of self lauching and landing in the water and this becomes a big problem. The ozone lines a lot stiffer.
Nicor why the big change. The C4 is a very very different kite. The lithuim is Airush plug and play kite. I know what ya mean the delta in the lithuim gives a lot of forward pull, but it seems very consistent and smooth. Didn't find the 14m slow as it is a 14m! I could still jump, transition and downloop it so for me it was fast enough. Yeh the bar pressure on the 2012 is more than I'm used to. See what the light bar settings do. How much you weigh??
Yeh the ozone lines are stiffer for sure. The pigtails catch to when unwinding. But no probs relaunching etched on the water that is not an issue just takes a little longer to unpack. Have ya let the kite go at 12 yet. Self landing is very easy with this system.
Update for ya. On the sector v3 54, out on the lithuim 4, in no more than 9 to 12, 10 mainly with just a few whitecaps in some swell, went 500m upwind then decided to surf a good left handed coming in. Well kind of surf anyhow, down the line with small cutbacks. 
But no probs staying up wind, changed to light bar pressure big diff and turns faster considerably. Lets the kite breathe a little more and a little more pivot turn with just the right forward turn. So on ya 60 at the wind speed ya want no probs I reckon. Best light wind session I have ever had. Weird kiting while crew are fishing. Water was so smooth. Good fun the light wind kiting thing. Even did a few smallish jumps with some simple forward and back rolls.
Yeh stoked. Hope that helps. Over and out.
Select to expand quoteeppo said...
changed to light bar pressure big diff and turns faster considerably. Lets the kite breathe a little more and a little more pivot turn with just the right forward turn. /quote]
Hey Eppo,
did you find that having the bar on the lighter setting you lose a bit off the bottom end?
HaaK
Hard to tell as I only did a few tacks and the wind went southerely and dropped to near nothing.
But I can probably say this might be the case. Only just though. Will be able to tell ya next session thats similar as I have left it on the light bar pressure. The static pull was reduced, or was that the wind dying in the ass? Can't be totally certain on that mate.
Eppo (aka Westozzy on another forum) i just spotted your numerous posts about the Wainman smoke on said other forum.
Man do you teachers ever work???? 
Depends on what you call work. Lol.
Good to get as much info as I can. I'm an info junky. It's a disease.
Went out in sub 10 today, yeh found its limits. But would still work on a fun downwinder.
Yeh gonna get on one of those smokes and see for myself. Organising with WOK.
Fascinates me this kite and the fact that you don't hear much about them around these parts.
Eppo WOK lent me his 9m smoke the first model for a day up in Exe a couple of years ago sorry for lack of technical break down but it was a great kite to fly super smooth turns, fast and alot of fun. At the time i decided to go with Naish Parks but it was a really hard decision and came down to the fact i was familiar with Naish kites and liked their bar pressure.
I am now waiting for a Lithium 12m, I will post a review after my first couple of sessions.
Yeh weta saw the new parks in the air up there this year, nice stable looking canopy and quick turning kite. Love to have a go on one but was too busy having fun on my own. Cheers for the feedback. Where's the bloody wind!!
And Peter that would be great feedback on the lithium 12 when you get it. Very very stable kite with real linear depower. A real plug and play machine to jump and use in waves, but I'm extrapolating for the 14 and other crew I have watched.
No worries Eppo what the F is extrapolating??? must be a teacher word.
I've heard of interpolating.
Enjoy the smoke.
Interpolation is within the data set. So if I had ridden a 10m and a 14m I could interpolate what a 12 would be like. As I have only ridden the 14m I am extrapolating into smaller sizes not in the designated data information I have.
Hi guys. read all the post with interest. I am from a windless Singapore. Latest forcast for next 2 week is 1 to 8 kts..so we think a lot about light wind kiting.. I have tried many brands and settled on Airush..By far the best light wind kite due to 2 main reasons. It is light. Half the weight of SB for eg. A 12m is just 2kg plus and SB is close to 4kg. With the self adjusting bridle system, it stays up from about 5 kts. As I am very light (60kg) my light wind kite is a 12M lithium. I just gotten a Sector v3 54 and I usually start kiting at around 6kts. There is another trix. The standard Airush lines are 23M. Increase them by 10M and you get a couple of kts lower. With 33M lines I am fully powered and goupwind easily at 8Kts. On the flip side I get over powered at around 15kts on the 12M. But we seldom get 15kts so it is ok..The kite is still pretty fast at turns with the longer lines. I guess it is due to the delta shape and the bridle system..My water times have double recently cheers
Alex, long lines are a good tip. Thanks, I am yet to try that. I will get a set for the Lithium 12
Finally got my first session with Lithium 12. Very impressed. Some initial impressions:
Flew well in 10 knots with no hint of backstall. Very stable.
Good power and fast turning - got going upwind on my Sector 60!
Very smooth bar - used in short configration.
Used factory default settings - middle attachment on wingtip and top knots on lines.
Loops well in low wind, on the water.
Relaunch very easy (once).
Looks small for a 12 (Delta C configuration?) but has good power and flies like a 10.
www.peterskiteboarding.com/2012/11/late-afternoon-kitesurfing-at-inverloch.html
More info to follow . . .
Great to hear it fills the need you were looking for.
yes I decided to go a quiver of lithuims this year, still keeping my 6m VX so far for crazy winds, but got a 14m/10m. 2012, but their has been little change in 2013 apart from another bridle attachment point for lighter bar pressure.
Never thought I'd go another kite with delta in it, due to deltas inefficiency when flying forward in the window. But it was a surprise to find this kite seems to have reduced the negatives of the delta DNA and they have come up with an interesting mix of grunt and yet efficiency. Hence why you could go upwind in 10 knots even if on a 60. And yet you still get the constant smooth pull, easy relaunch and fast turning that deltas are known for. Not sure how they did it, but they have. It's a kite that doesn't have any surprises, it goes and gives back whatever you put in, a true plug and play but with some great performance. Not talked about much this kite, but it should be. Highly recommend it even to advanced riders who don't want to think to much about what the kite is doing. Great floaty boosts give you heaps of time for whatever you'd like to throw in, easy landings and it drifts enough for me in the surf. Not Reo like but good enough.
Yeh worth a crack.
eppo, what is the 10m like? am looking at one at thwarted moment just contemplating 9 or 10
cheers
I have flown the 10m Lithium, and thought it was a fantastic kite, have also flew the 9m and was impressed.
The best kites i have flown for all round user abiltiy.
Please excuse the spelling was typing with one hand and helping my daughter do her homework with the other!
85kg 6"3 air rush switch 138. coming off a 9m switchblade in Melbourne area. contemplating the 10 for a slightly larger wind range in the lower end.
pretty average (very) rider but trying to get out regularly
Okay pretty heavy on a 138 TT, what's your normal bottom end on the SB?
The SB's have a pretty solid bottom end, i wouldn't expect you to get more out of a Lithuim given the same size kite.
But yes a 10m you would compared to a 9m SB, but I wouldn't get the lith cause it has a better bottom end??
Or maybe you want a different kite all together. In-fact Id say the SB (the ones Ive ridden) may even have a slightly better bottom end, but really I'm only guessing. They are both in the mainstream plug and play spectrum, deepish profile, low to meduim aspect...
Heard the 2013 SB is quiet different, so I wont comment on how they fly compared to the lith as I have not flown a 2013 SB. I will only comment on what I've used. But I liked the SB, nothing wrong with that kite, the 2012 I tried that is!! (they do fly differently though comparing 2012's).
