Thinking of getting a cab switchblade 2010 to 2015.

Any notable years? Is it worth paying more for a newer kite?

Yes to later year, for lighter materials, bar pressure, and a better bar. I think 2012, 2015+ are considered the picks. I have a 2011 and the bar pressure is high, but otherwise it's an acceptable tractor.

I know the 2013 had no grunt. So the 2012 switchblade is just the same as the 2014?

I ride a 2008 and love it....will be most upset when it is no longer repairable..

2013 was a flop

Actually there was no problem with the 2013 once the pigtail mod was made.
Due to an error in the length of the rear bridal lines the kites felt like they had no grunt... The solution ( well documented ) was to tie another knot in the rear bridal effectively shifting the attachment point about an inch further up the bridal

I have been riding switchblades since 2006 and admit I was really disappointed when I first flew the 2013 model thought it was a grunt less POS ......until I did the mod.

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harry potter said...
Actually there was no problem with the 2013 once the pigtail mod was made.
Due to an error in the length of the rear bridal lines the kites felt like they had no grunt... The solution ( well documented ) was to tie another knot in the rear bridal effectively shifting the attachment point about an inch further up the bridal

I have been riding switchblades since 2006 and admit I was really disappointed when I first flew the 2013 model thought it was a grunt less POS ......until I did the mod.

Spot on, IMO all kites should come with pigtail adjustments above and below the standard, if not get some yourself
They can be session savers at both ends of the wind scale especially on smaller quivers

2008 was the gruntiest followed by the 2012 , haven't tried any models past that but I believe the bar pressure and turning speed have improved on later models. If your on a budget you'll be happy with the 2012 model .

I recently picked up a 2011 12m as a light wind option and could not believe the heavy bar pressure and how slow it turned, its an absolute tank!! I reckon it was slower than the 14m 2014 I had. I moved that one on to a newbie quickly. But when 2011 was the latest model it was the biz.

I guess you don't really know how far they have come until you try an old one again.

2014 has much more grunt that was lost in the 2010-13 models for the sake of faster turning, lighter bar pressure, direct feel etc etc. But the 2012 is not a bad low cost option. Just remember different bar release systems in 2014 and 2015 and not backward compatible with 2010-13 IDS if you want to run a one-bar quiver.

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HighzaKite said..
. Just remember different bar release systems in 2014 and 2015 and not backward compatible with 2010-13 IDS if you want to run a one-bar quiver.

2014 and 2015 bars work fine with the older IDS kites. Slightly different feel with a lower V on the front lines and safety flags off one of the front lines not both, actually made my 2011 12m switchblade turn slightly quicker.

There were a few threads on the topic last year with the general concenous the same. I remember somewhere even Cabrinha listing the bars as backwood compatible.

right you are cabrinha bars are backwood. they invented the quick release loop while other manufacturers have been doing it for years

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HighzaKite said...
right you are cabrinha bars are backwood. they invented the quick release loop while other manufacturers have been doing it for years

Yea not sure what happened there...the 2013 bar is fantastic if you dont flag the kite and if you dont ride unhooked and if you remember how to use the stupid secondary release if everything really turns to sh1t.......hang on ......really its a ****ked bar.Hoping the new one meets my expectation as santa is driving it from WA as we speak....