The first shipment of Rhino 08 is finally here. My comments below.

Rider: Me. (Riding experience nearly 10 years. Team Rider for Naish. Importer and distributor for North and Naish Kiteboarding.)

Conditions: N/E 12-15+ knots, Long Reef. Knee high waves, very gusty on the inside but nice out the back.

Kite: 2008 Rhino 12m.

Board: Naish 5'5" Fish, strapped.

First impressions straight out of the bag: Very bow looking (or Delta as North are using). Bridal is clean and simple.

First Impressions rigging: So good to finally have a North kite with a one pump system. I hate pumping every strut. The inflation system is nearly identicle to the SS one. Bridals are easy to set up, no bridal on the back lines, and simple 3-piece on the front. Easy and fast to rig and hard to get wrong.

First Impressions after launching: I had an assisted launch, so didn't test the self launch. Very powerful, surprised me as the wind was only 12-15. Nice bar feel, sheeting wasn't too light as I normally find with North kites. Turning weight was positive, probably slightly heavier than on Rhino 07, not by no means heavy, definatly considerably lighter than most bows. Very smooth depower, and not ridiculously sensitive like some bows (i.e. doesn't dump all the power in an inch of movement). Turning speed was fast once enough bar input was made, the kite didn't seem to react at full turning speed until the bar was turned >30 degrees (similar to the Rhino 07), but once full input was made the kite turned at a reasonably fast speed.

First Impressions on the water: This kite is powerful! Loves riding fast, really fast! Excellent pointing ability. The RHINO 08 keep the power on even at a very high angle to the wind enabling you to edge higher to the wind and still ride fast-fast. Off the wind, this kite smokes, very fast and easy to control. I can see this kite being the ace in deck for race and speed kiting, substantially easier to go really fast on than any kite I have tried. I would imagine a beginner or lower level intermediate rider will be pretty intimidated by this kite, but any rider who is competent in riding fast and powered is going to love it. Jumping was different, not a massive yank up at the start of the jump, but the hang time was amazing for the wind strength. Long jumps. I wasn't able to go super high, but maybe need more time to get used to the power at take off, but I still got impressive height in my jumps for the wind strength.

Kite loops: Probably not this kites forte', It doens't turn as tight as the Vegas or Rebel, but it's not really in the RHINO's design criteria. Still managable, but there is so much power there, I think it would probably tear your arm off in decent wind if you tried to do a kite loop move.

Wave riding: Once again, not really this kites forte'. I got a few decent rides for the conditions, but the kite isn't really fast enough in turning responce for aggressive wave riding and it's probably too powerful, maybe a smaller size for the conditions would have felt nicer. But I guess the RHINO has never been a wave kite, so wasn't expecting much. I would definately prefer the REBEL for the Waves.

Relaunch: - Luffing/over shot jumps. Relaunch is very fast. the kite launches off the back lines, and very quickly, however, it didn't seem to want to hot launch, the wing tip lifts easily, then the kite sails over to the edge of the window before launching. When leashed out on the fifth line, kite floats to water very lightly. It is going to be hard to hurt this kite if you use the 5th line. I found there was a point when letting the 5th line out when the back lines tensioned up the kite kind of sticks, but a quick sheet in then release helps it roll straight onto the leading edge, then simply relaunch as before. I let the kite roll and flip over itself by swimming towards it after a big luffing, and relaunched with two twists in the back lines and "Y" section of the front lines. This was easily done, and the kite still flew easily to return to the beach (please note, all luffing and twisting was done on purpose to test the relaunch of the kite, the kite never fell out of the kite under normal flying).

Conclusion: I think this kite will suit the more old skool rider, loft jumps, and plenty of power. But most of all I think when racing makes it's way into Australian competition, this kite will split the fleet. Ken Winner must of had racing in mind when developing this kite. It's fast and powerful, points high and did I mention it goes fast!! If your thinking of racing, then this is your kite.

Available now at all good North Kiteboarding Dealers.

Regards,

JB

JB,

Great to see a review by a dealer that doesn't say this kite is the best at every thing.

Makes what you have written creditable.

Thanks for the review.

Slack

I noticed North havent added it to their website yet. Anyone know what colors its available in? JB you got any pics?

Cheers

JB would you say the 12m Rebel 08 is easier to jump, has more boost, but doesn't hang as long? How would you compare?

Colours seem to be similar to that of the REBEL and Vegas. White/Blue, Black/Pink, Yellow/Black etc.....

I would say it was easier to work out jumping on the Rebel than the Rhino. Hangtime is definately longer on the Rhino, but height was easier on the Rebel. However I do think that a little more time on the Rhino and I would be going much higher. Because it is so lifty, I would imagine it should jump higher, I'll see how I go next time.

I'll try and post a spec sheet for you all.

JB

Nice honest review.
It looks like there are two pulleys on each front line. Does this double the depower for a given amount of bar travel?
What's the recommended pressure to pump it up? North always used to insist that a single pump was a no-goer because of different pressures required in the struts and the leading edge. To get around that they would either have to increase strut diameter or recommend more air in the LE.
It sounds as if you can relaunch off the fifth without line tangles or inversion which was a right pain in the arse with the Rhino 07. It looks as if there are slightly more extended wing-tips, the delta shape might be helping there.
I was hoping that they might have reduced the lag in turning but it doesn't sound like it. The timing lag makes wave-riding a bit trickier but as you point out this is not a wave kite.

Cheers,

Simon

The Pulleys to not effect the sheeting at all, they simply help with the adjusting angles on the front lines as the kite powers up and de-powers. The sheeting ratio is still 1:1 in every aspect. I haven't seen a recommended pressure yet, I pumped it pretty hard.

12m Demo in store Now for all to try.

Please call to secure a time to take this Boost Machine out.

Take yourself to the next level up!

Cheers

Luke

i rode the 14m rhino today in about 20 knots and it was way to much kite for me in that wind it was probably the grunt est kite i have ever used. It was very solid in the sky and even fully depowered with bar right out the kite looked rock solid. Bar pressure was good and it turned good for a 14m nice and smooth through the turns.

Might ride the 12m tomorrow and see if i can handle that one.
Paul

Rhino 08 is very grunty! Be ready!!!!

JB

Thanks for the great reviews JB. I have owned and ridden Rhinos since I learnt in 2001, however the newest Rhinos I have are 04s' (8,10, 12) and even an old 16m 02! I have a Rhino 08 12m in the shed waiting to demo, however, not sure whether to get a 10m or 12m? The North website claims only a 1 knot difference for the low end, 12 or 13 kts for the 12m and 10m respectively. I tend to wonder if they are being a little to general and meaning 13 knots for a 10m if you weigh 50kg and ride rather large floaty board! Have you tried a 10m and if so would it really be usuable in 13 knots (80 kg rider with small twin tip or 6ft rocketfish)? I realise this is not a surf kite so thinking of getting a 10m rebel later in the year as well.
As far as the old 04 models go I am planning on keeping the 10m and 8m forever as they are a bit of nostalgia for me and not worth selling, plus they (especially the 10m) get insane boost/ air when you combine them with waves as a jumping platform! Especially when you take the 10m out in 35 knots gusting 38, not recomended but great if you organise your wife to pick you up downwind and let rip as you hit the lip! Very keen to see what the 08 can do!
Has anybody else tried the 10m or 9m Rhino 08?
Speed kiting should be fun too, thinking the 10m might be a good all round speed and jump kite but worried about the true bottom end (low wind) performance. Would appreciate if anyone could shed some more light on size versus performance difference with the new Rhino range.

Cheers
James

Hey Northside,

Stoked to hear you've had so much fun on your Rhino's. The Rhino 08 is definately more powerful than any other kite I have tried. But I haven't tried the 10m yet. I would imagine that you could get going pretty early on a TT. But to give a knottage is nearly impossible, to many factors like skill, efficiency, fin size, board width, currents, flat water, ocean, .............. and so on. I would use the chart as more of a generalization. They are basically saying that the 10m has nearly as much bottom end as the 12m, which is tending to happen more and more these days. what you will find is that with the 12m you won't have to pump or work as hard in the light stuff, were you may have to with the 10m. On a RF 6'0", I would imagine the 10m would be fine for most conditions, but for a TT, at 80+ kg, I would maybe lean towards the 12m. At my weight (95kg) I would definately go the 12m! Plenty of Grunt, but for TT I would go 14m. You'll know more once you demo the 12m.

Have fun, and be sure to fill us in on your experience.

JB