Have had a few quick sessions on both the 6 and 12 Liquid Force Havoc prototypes in some fairly typical winter Melbourne frontal wind. So far everything is looking wicked!
The kite has absolutely no bar pressure and doesn’t like back line at all, which is very different in comparison to the assaults, which I am used to.
I was a little worried at first about it being to light on the bar and not being able to tell where and what the kite was doing but I seem to have more or less got used to it already. Feels like a cross between a conventional C kite and a bow with characteristics from each.
Range so far appears really impressive I was able to ride the 12 and 6 in the same wind swapping from one to the other. I was still relatively comfortable on the 12 unhooking and underdone on the 6 but able to work it enough to have fun. There is definitely heaps of power there more than equivalent assault sizes. Overall its super stable, I couldn’t get it to drop out of the sky at all and that was in some very sketchy wind. It looks like this is going to be the pick out of the three kites available from Liquid Force for most people as it seems to combine the best of both worlds. It tracked perfectly for wakestyle riding with plenty of power and bucket loads of speed and I can see it also being great for the general free rider. All the little adjustments they are adding in construction, points to deflate etcetera are looking nice.
The bar is looking very promising. Loving the simplicity all round. Particularly imprested with the stopper piece, couldn’t be easier to adjust the throw of the bar while riding!
Definitely worth checking out they should be available by the end of September.
If anyone in Melbourne is keen to take one for a spin just let me know.
I had a quick ride on the 10m havoc yesterday, Very impressed. I had only pumped it up to fly it but ended up going for a ride and staying upwind when there was still 20 meter kites up in maybe 12 knots. It picked up to maybe 15 in the arfternoon and I was able to unhook a bit, felt a lot like a C kite and looped very nice to. The relaunch on it was very impressive also, probably the easiest of the bows that i have used so far. I'll put up a bit more of a review when I get out on it in some descent wind.
I was riding a cardboard that we use for lessons it's 140X45
do you rekon the havoc or the new assualt would have a better wind range? they say a 12m assault is good for 10-30 knts, hmm.
cheers
Hard to say mate, I think the assault may still have a better wind range because to me the havoc felt like it will hold a little bit of it's power but I can't really say just yet. I will let you know when I get out in over 20 knots. Cheers
Had another quick ride today on the Havoc in about 20 knots, still impressed, anyone looking into a bow style kite should get out on one of these for a test run. Even when it had a lot of power unhooked it didn't want to rip your arms off or land at crazy speed. Also does really nice big jumps, very easy to use and super stable. Definetly the kite for me this season.
i had a go on a 10 down at safety bay saturday.
have to say the bar is awesome on this.
the adjustable stopper ball is fantastic, being able to adjust it to whatever you want is really nice.
everything else is really simple on it and it is quite small too, the same size bar as the 7 & 9 m-80's i would say (bout 17 inches).
the kite itself feels a lot like a c-kite rather than a bow.
SUPER STABLE! flys forward but doesnt feel unstable whatsoever.
the only thing that makes it feel like a bow is its hae of back line pressure. it did have the occasioanal tendancy to fly backward a little if way oversheeted (or if you grab the back lines to see)
but yeh to the bow haters this is possibly the kite for them...
the wind was only prob 11-14 or so, very light.
being able to sheet out and walk up-wind with ease was pretty good...
i was suprised at the power for a 10 as i was planing, just not quite holding ground.
I would not be doing as well on my 12 M-80, so sizing i am not sure of. thinkin maybe the 10 would be like a perth 1 kite only as it could be holdin ground easy on a surfboard in 15 and hold it up in the 20's pretty easy.
the feel had me worried from hearing others and the light bar pressure and not knowing where the kite is.
i can definitely tell ya this aint no c-bow workout, the turning is light as but you easily can feel where the kite is and it sits like the m-80's do so popping and wakestyle would be insane.
i am pretty crap at frestyle but unhooked and popped a couple of times and man i felt waaay high! pops real nice and just sits there where you left it.
all up very impressed.
i want a one kite quiver but for predominantly wave riding. I think this kite would do it with ease.
the question is tho what about the assault as word is they are the business this year also...
grab one for a try, you will be impressed!
oh and did i mention it has skulls!!
Hey guys, great reviews.
When you unhook the kite, does it have the same power as when you're hooked in? Or do you have to adjust/trim it a lil b4 unhooking?
And does it have the tendency to dive when unhooked?
Or is it one of those that stays in the same place and that you can use your edge to force it to the edge of the wind window?
quote:
Originally posted by monkey
Hey guys, great reviews.
When you unhook the kite, does it have the same power as when you're hooked in? Or do you have to adjust/trim it a lil b4 unhooking?
And does it have the tendency to dive when unhooked?
Or is it one of those that stays in the same place and that you can use your edge to force it to the edge of the wind window?
well i know whats going under the Christmas tree even if all my parents pay for is the bar!
this kite was great today, i borrowed Jason of west Australian kiteboardings' 10 and after working the kite out had a great time.
the kite is unlike any other i have seen in its shape as its more a C with a bridal yet is definitively different from a normal C in its profile, no problems for me in its set up, the bridal is clean and gives the kite great shape.
the biggest problem i had was the colour! (white)
as everyone says the bar pressure is light as a feather and my arms arent hurting even though i was on the water for a good 3 hours and had the stopper ball right at the top because i wasn't there to just cruise.
performance wise this kite has it! i was doing unhooked kiteloops and **** that i had never been able to with my old kites although have done on 05 fuels.
for unhooked this kite is great, when you are unhooked you realise how much pull it is really giving although i didnt make any passes thats normal for me at the moment i would agree its hard to know were the kite is from the rear lines but its not like the bows that really give you a hard time because of this
the safety system, it has a lot of options but i was fine with the depower and didnt find a need to change to any thing else although i would try the suicide next time because its basicaly the same althoguh you dont have the QR option then but thats why the other way is there.
just try this kite and you will be a customer very soon
Full Tilt stocks them
Fantastic to hear u like d kite KC. Anyone who would like to try one (or any other Liquid Force kites in brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast) PM me. We have the full range on demo. Or if anyone looking for one we got them on Chrismas special at present. Visit our website for details.
Real Kiteboarding has named the Havoc the 2007 Hybrid Kite of the year.
Check the Hybrid Kite of the Year Article:
www.realwatersports.com/collections/kiteboarding?id=1296&page=newsitem
well someed up tommyb, i beleive that the assults are relli heavy, thats why i prefer the havocs they are great for freestlye and waving riding, while they do take a while to get use to, they are totaly worth it
