Flew a 12 and a 10 a couple of days ago.
The kite is just so quick, perfect for kiteloops and waveriding. The new swept leading edge gives the kite much more depower compared to the 06 Torch.
Incorporated with the new bi attachment for the 5th line gives the torch a massive wind range.
The kite is incredibly stable in the air and does not lose steering when depowered. The pressure on the bar has also been significantly reduced and gives the bar a much lighter feel in your hands. The bar set-up remains consistant with the proven shift system of previous years.
The new look Graphics are insane and is integrated with a stylish new white bar.
I haven't tried the 2007 torch myself but I know someone who bought the first 07 torch -12m in our area. What I do know is that it has a big wind range - top end. It has alot of depower. I think its wind range is similar to of the F-One impact.
Just picked up my 12m Torch and will give it a good work out in Exmouth very soon!!! Keep you posted!!!!
Got to try this weapon out today, and what a cracker of a kite it is.
For starters the build and quality is first class, the bar feels so comfortable and the shift system works a dream.
I had the 12 meter up in about 20 to about 28 knots and the kite was rock solid, the depower is amazing almost bow like, this by far is the fastest kite I have ever flown.Even while sheeting out the kite still turns fast,and I even tried to flare the kite to see if it would stall and fly backwards but it still kept trucking up wind.
Lift and hangtime is great and I was just told the torch 3 won the longest hangtime at the pkra at Tariffa Spain.This kite is super smooth and does not jerk towards the edge of window when hit by gusts it just sails straight through them, what else impressed me is that when heading up wind and the wind really kicks in just sheet out and the kite just slices through the gusts and steams upwind without getting ripped of your edge.
I was a little dissapointed that the kite did not come with the double depower bar , but honestly you dont need it as the kite has loads of depower, for those of you that dont know me I dont own a kite shop or have anything to do with the kiting industry, but I have always ridden naish kites and will continue to do so as long as they keep making top kites, if your thinking of getting one go and demo the kite and see for yourself.
Dan The Torch Man
Good review Dan.
I agree with you totally. They have taken what was the best freestyle kite around and added depower, boosting and upwind ability.
I would go as far as saying this is probably the best kite I have ever ridden. It is not the fastest kite I have ridden though, this title is still held by the F-one Impact.
The double depower system was developed at the same time as the kite but when the kite was finished they decided it really didn't need the double depower. My friend John recently had his 12m2 out in 30knt and he said he still had more depower available.
The system can still be added to the kite if you really want it.
Jason
Jason never tried the f ones although keep hearing positive feedback about the kites, the new vegas looks exactly the same as the T3 I must say though I was a little sceptical about the swept wingtips thinking that the kite would loose its bottom end but it has actually increased the bootom end and done the same on the top end cant wait to get back out on the water.
Have you tried a 16 meter torch 3 and if so could you let me know what you think off it.
DAN
Havn't tried the 16m yet. The Torch 1 was a little too different when you changed sizes. Torch 2 seemed to fix that and had the same feel throughout the range and the only issue with the 16m was the limited range made it difficult to unhook at times. The faster turning speed and extrs depower should make the new 16 sweet but I dont ride anything bigger than a 14m anymore.
Heres another review on the 07 torch from kiteforumn.
Here's a review from a friend who kites all the time. He is not a pro rider, just a dedicated wave and old school boy!
"Had the new Naish 07 Torch demo out yesterday, what a revelation…
Besides the incredible wave manners of this kite, squeezed every ‘old school’ trick into my downwinder I could remember.. even those slightly suspect one footed double back spins.., nose grab forwards, slow inverted back rolls etc, ok a few bomb drop landings too, but also a whole mix of smooth combinations with transitions and kite loops etc. etc. all made so easy with this new technology.. but for all the fun it was a lonely mission! Kiting looks so bland out there compared to the ‘old’ days..what has happened to all that creative madness of a few years ago, where everyone was just going for the stupidest insane tricks??? Has the handle pass scared everyone away?? Admittedly wave riding skills have risen to a new level all round, with so many riders making this their main focus, all directional board riders excused of course, but has everyone just gone wave mad at the cost of freestyle?? In small conditions and light wind it is such a blast to play around in between sets, and even mix some tricks into the waves, like a forward roll kite downloop transition onto the wave face.. what better way to start a wave ride, and not difficult!!
Granted, these maneuvers are not easy with SLE’s, and while most flat kite riders are getting awesome airtime, hardly feeling the gusts, and really proving themselves in the waves, the gap is almost closed now between the two designs, the new C’s have the depower, the wind range, ultra quick turning, impeccable wave manners, and the sweetest feel imaginable, but best of all they beg you to take off, pull one end of the bar, and see what happens!!
Although this style of kiting definitely not for everyone, one can’t help noticing that the top pro wave and freestyle riders are using C’s. Not suggesting flat kites don’t have a place, they certainly do, as I have been riding the new Boxer SLE as well lately, and it is awesome, but can’t help thinking that there are so many talented flat kite riders out there, who would rise to a new level on an 07 C.
Steve."
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The Beastie Boys said "Don't believe the hype" ...They obviously weren't referring to the performance claims about the 07 Torch...
This is one hell of a good kite ....
Tried the 12metre the other day and it sure does live up to all the acclaim ...
It is just sooo comfy to fly ..Turns really fast ..The depower is incredible ..You can see the kite tilting back when you move the bar forward ...The good thing is control and steering are still great even when depowered ...
Pull the bar back when you boost and you're off on a nice smooth floaty trip to the stratosphere...
Even had comments from other kiters who were on the water at the same time saying how fast the kite was turning ...
****ing Awesome ....
quote:
Originally posted by danza
Hate to tell you this King Col but I think I have been boosting bigger than you for a while now , you better get a T3 as boost and hangtime is insane and the bottom end is what you need.
Time to trade the V6 in and get a real kite.
Yep I love naish kites especially the T3, yeh about the snotty green I wanted the purple and white but they were all sold out so I settled for the snotty green , new shipment coming in at the end of the month hopefully I will get the colour I want.
You will have to have a demo I have not lost hope of getting you on the T3 once you try you will want to buy.
See you at Towra tommorrow.
I just got a 12m T3. Great kite but it seems that the 5th line is to short it looks like the wing tips are flaring out a little and it seems to pull the canopy down flattening the kite. It is my understanding that the 5th should have a little slack in it. I am going to make an extension and try it. I am just wondering if anyone else has had any problems with the 12. I have a mate who has the 14 and there are no problems at all, but you can definately see a difference in the kites when they are side by side in the air.
Camo
Put your fifth line connection on the last knot, as time goes on you will stretch your flying lines alot more than the fifth line, so later on you may have to add a pigtail to the fifth line to compensate for it.
But by doing that you should be fine for a while untill your lines stretch.
Enjoy the kite its awesome.
does the kite have multiple attatchment points so you could slow the kites turning speed if need be??
im wanting to learn some wakestyle moves... start to try and through some handle passes.
slowing its turning speed would be good for when im first learning
To all torch owners although the kite is great the kite itself does have some warranty issues that I have come across and so have some friends of mine.
One is the white attachment points that are on the swept tips, can rub on your leading edge and expose the bladder I suggest you glue some ripstop material underneath these attachment points, also if you self launch your kite alot which I do , just before the end strut the stitching can give way causing a bubble in the leading edge which will result in a tear straight down your leading edge , very simple to fix with a needle and some cotton.
Look out for these problems before it becomes a major problem.
Also the new shipment which comes in this week is already sold out there is another shipment due in after Christmas good luck in trying to get one as I now have to wait till after Christmas.
