i'm interested in a comparison of these kites as the individual reviews have been good. i'm guessing i'd be happy with any of them but i'd like some comparitive info on things like grunt for a given size, wind range, turning speed, bar pressure.

other reviews cover things like bar setup and such, so i'm more interested in a how they fly and how they feel comparison from people who've ridden at least two of these kites in the 2010 models.

hopefully i'll get to demo some myself in the not too distant future but meantime i'd appreciate any comments.

oh, and i ride a twintip on flat to choppy water, intermediate, 80ish kg, and interested in a two-kite quiver.

I'm after the same info, but I'd like to add bandit 3 to the list

I've ridden all 4... but not the Bandit 3

Switchblade 10 & 12
Waroo 11
Riot XR 11
Octane 11

Switchblades are the power kite of the 4, the 12's got 3-4 knots more low end than any of the others... Can't fault them, use them in the school, but our team riders use them as well! Says something about their versatility...

The Waroo has the best relaunch and general ease of use... But it's quite a heavy kite (weight wise) due to the twister tech, battens, thicker struts/LE and heaps of little things that add up like the deflate valve on the wingtip - so it lacks a bit in light winds... Will be great in the smaller sizes in windier conditions, or powered up...

The Riot XR is very similar to the Cabrinha Nomad - fast and nimble.... Less depower than the other kites and a little harder to relaunch... Great wave/freeride kite...

Slingshot Octane is pretty different to anything else i've ridden before, on/off power in an instant... Huge boosts and plenty of hangtime...
I used it for a lesson today and it was fantastic - great relaunch, stability and depower...
A great all rounder, but put aside some time to get used to it...

Hope this helps -

thanks for the info Rhys. Hows doe's the bar pressure and boosting of the switchy compare to the riot xr

Boosting is about the same on both kites... with the Switchblade offering a little more hangtime, and the XR a little more of a punchy lift off... 2 different techniques need to be used though, with the switchblade it's a full on bow style jump... the XR likes a c-kite jump a bit better...

Bar pressure on the Switchblade would best be described as medium-heavy (by todays standardS)
The XR is more of a Light - Medium pressure... If you've flown a Cabrinha Nomad - it's almost exactly the same (in most regards)

The bar itself on the Cabrinha is much more refined - it's my absolute favourite this year. IDS line inside the centerline makes for a super clean setup. Thin bar grip feels awesome in your hands and the soft bar ends never bash your knuckles when you pass...

I have pretty much nailed my choice to either the switchblade, or the riot xr(also maybe the bandit 3). I live in nsw(marginal winds aplenty) so bottom end grunt is an important factor. You say the 12m switchy is best in that regard, but that is compared to the 11m riot xr. Would the 12m riot xr offer a similar bottom end to the 12m switcblade?

good infos Rhys.

What winds and board were you riding with the XR? I am interested to hear your views on the XR's wind range?

I have heard the XR (also in being similar to the Nomad) has less bottom end to the switchy and/or Core GT.

So if coming from a 09 switchy or Core GT background and looking at an XR you would go a size up? Say from a 10 to an 11?

...and regarding the XR again. When you say "a little harder to relaunch"...is the difference hardly noticeable or something one should be considering if wanting a kite with good relaunch?

Bennie,

I just got a 12m SB5 had my first session on it yesterday arvo.
Over 2hrs BOM readings ranged from 12/13kn with gusting 15/16kn.
Small shore break and chop. Me 74kg, 135 Jaime Pro could easily kite upwind and could even manage a few jumps on the gusts.

Will let you know how the kite goes in better wind over the weekend.

Cheers
Slack

So many questions! lol

Bennie - The XR is much more of a 'top end' kite (like the Nomad) ... So i would compare a 13m XR to a 12m Switchblade if judging by power alone. The 11m XR we have get's going with exactly the same power as the 10m Switchblade.
If you want a little kite with lots of power - why not try the Core GT? The 10.5 GT has the power of a 12m Switchblade, and still turns quick and relaunches almost automatically. The XR isn't replacing the GT - it sits beside it in the product range.

The two kites are at opposite ends of the spectrum really - the GT is built for power riding with lots of grunt and moderate/heavy bar pressure. The XR is more nimble and likes to be flown fast with lots of board speed. It's lighter on the bar and needs that apparent wind to work well. (Kind of like a Best Nemesis HP or NXG)



Factor 5 - We've had the XR out in conditions ranging from 12-25 knots, and flown it back to back with the Nomad, Switchblade, Crossbow, Waroo, Nemesis NXG, Octane, RPM and Ozone light XC.

Boards used have been everything from the Cabrinha Nugget, to surfboards and twintips ranging between 128 and 144cm. Although most of my personal riding on the XR has been on a 135 twintip in winds from 13 -18 knots. I weigh 75kg's...

Ideal wind range for me (on a 135) would be 16-20knots... At 20 knots i'd be looking at changing down to a 9 or even a 7... But i could comfortably hold it down in 25-27 knots if I had no other kites...

In regards to the GT/Switchblade/XR... I'd go as far as saying that a 10.5 GT, a 12m Switchblade & a 13m XR would be comparable for power.

Relaunch on the XR isn't bad - it's just not as good as the GT. I'd put a learner on it without any dramas. It's about the same as an 09 Switchblade.

I'm goin for a ride on the 10m Nemesis NXG - too much writing for one day lol