I've never spent $2000 on a kite before , but Reg gave me a good price on my unused windsurfing gear so I bought a 12M Revolver. I guess you get what you pay for and the quality is very good. I've had good service from my Waroos, and I still like my 9 and 14M 06 Waroos, but the quality of the Best kites, and especially the control gear doesn't come up to the Cabrinha standard, which is fair enough as they are in different price points.
I set the bar up for 1:1 operation as I had a kite once which also had the 1:1` or 2:1 options (a Griffin) and I hated the heavy bar pressure of the 2:1 . After my first flight in 20-30 knot winds I was unimpresssed with the Revolver, even in these strong winds it was very slow turning and not very powerful- (I'm 90+kgs).
While the wind was away I had a look at the Cabrinha website , and realized that the kite should be used in 2:1 for optimum performance, so I changed it back and what a difference! Now the kite turns incredibly quickly and bar pressure isn't too bad at all.
The kite is much more stable in the air , all around a huge improvement.
In the surf it really excels- the Cabrinha marketing says it "disappears" and that is a pretty good call- you can slide onto the wave and then just tuck the kite downwind till you need it, and that lightning quick turning speed will get it powered up in an instant when you do need it. It's not a powerful kite, but I think that is a deliberate design aspect- it's a surf kite and the last thing I need in (big) surf is a trigger happy over reacting Ferrari. The Revolver is probably designed to be used with directional surfboards. and with that bouyancy you shouldn't need huge power. I guess it's a trade off between grunt and finesse and I think it's pretty right. I'm using it with a Toxic Wave board and having a ball. I reckon I could ride it in 35 knots no problem- the depower is very precise and controllable.
I have 24 metre lines on it, and apparently the guys in Perth are putting extensions on for a bit more power on the lower windrange , with a loss of some of that amazing turning speed.
I'm very happy with the Revolver- I wanted a dedicated surf kite and that is exactly what it is.
hey supra.. agree with everthing you say.. I have had a 9 and a 12 for 2 months now and couldn't be happier with them.
I have come off 2:1 kites (xbows) and much prefer the "soft" bar feel of having 1:1. they still turn very quickly, you just need to move the bar twice as far (with 1/2 the pressure). I find I can turn the kite better with one hand when set up like this.
I find these kites also sit further forward in the window than my old kites which means I go upwind faster and they do not move back and forth when you power and depower in and out of gusts.
The kites defenitly have less bottom end grunt than my xbows but they are so much smoother and feel like your riding a much smaller kite with the way they turn and float. I am 105kg and find the 12m gets me on the water in wind as light as I want to kite in(>13). I carry a 14m contra too but have not needed to get it out.
Only downside is, on the rare occasion I get on the twintip and want to jump high, I need to be right at the top end of the kite before I can jump as high as I could on my Xbows in less wind- in saying that though, I have never felt so in control and had so much fun when on a kite at its max. It feels like the kite turns just the same wether the wind is light and the bar is all the way in or if your maxed out with depower on and the bar at arms length.
Great to see some solid feedback for the Cabrinha revolver. It seems both of you prefered the 1:1 over the 2:1. Do you know which of the 1:1 setups you actually used or prefered ie the 1:1a or 1:1b? Can you give any further review comments on the settings which might not have already been mentioned. I have seen a few people on other posts actually preferring the 2:1 which is nice to see as well. Is it me or is the canopy material a slightly lighter/thinner material?
if you read supra's post again you'll see he prefers 2:1 because of the fast turning.
I like the spongy feel of 1:1 and the kite will still turn quick if you move the bar enough. Can't remember if I am on 1:1a or 1:1b, which ever one has the rear attachment points closesest to the back - that one has the least bar pressure.
Did not bother trying the other 1:1 setting as I am very happy the one i am using.
Even in this 1:1 setting the kite has more than enough depower just by pushing the bar out - as much as my old xbows.
When I first started riding the revolver I noticed the bar pressure(not turning pressure) was pretty high when cranking upwind (I noticed this when I tool a rebel for a test too). I don't notice it at all now - i must have got used to it.
My mistake,
yes good to see supra likes the 2:1. Hopefully Steve at Kitepower can shed some light on the 1:1a, 1:1b and 2:1 and why Cabrinha has decided chosen these 3 setting. What is each setting meant to provide in respect to performance. I take is there are some cons with some of the setups as well, ie lighter bar pressure results in slower turning.
