Rider: 95kgs, 10yrs+
Style: Surf
Weather: 12-15 knots
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 9/10
Board: 6'5" strapped surfboard
Disclosure: I will be getting a 2012 9m Argo to teach with (and over 25knt days).

My Comments: Kept the default(green) settings, left the line extensions off so 21m lines. I was seriously expecting to grovel around for a while and just see how it flies. The NE (yesterday at Black Rock south of Pottsville) remained poxy, but I had 2+ hours of sensational fun.
Smooth, fast turning. Drifted backwards nicely. Worked back upwind when I needed, even in crap wind. When it did gust up to 15knts it had plenty of lift.
Very simple bridle and functional bar.
I can't wait to fly it in proper conditions, but so far it's a fantastic light wind kite.

Cheers for the review! I have a 9 and 13.5 on the way. Let ya know what I thought in a review.

95 KGS?????????????????????????????????????????
C'mon Andos, ya musta had a big crap before getting on the scales

Glad to hear you finally got the kite after the 4 month wait.
Thought you had the sh!ts with them by now after waiting for soooo long and them not delivering in time for fiji in July. You didnt sound too happy with the customer service. but good things come to those who wait.....and wait....and wait. At least by the time you got it the 2012 had come out so you got the latest greatest.
Was gunna tell you to look on ebay,,,always plenty of argos for $600 bucks on there.And you would get it in the same week.
Didnt you already have an argo????I thought you were after the chimera?

You might get off the Queen Mary a bit more now you have a kite again.

Select to expand quote

lotofwind said...

95 KGS?????????????????????????????????????????
C'mon Andos, ya musta had a big crap before getting on the scales

Glad to hear you finally got the kite after the 4 month wait.
Thought you had the sh!ts with them by now after waiting for soooo long and them not delivering in time for fiji in July. You didnt sound too happy with the customer service. but good things come to those who wait.....and wait....and wait.
Was gunna tell you to look on ebay,,,always plenty of argos for $600 bucks on there.And you would get it in the same week.
Didnt you already have an argo????I thought you were after the chimera?

You might get off the Queen Mary a bit more now you have a kite again.

Nasty nasty you stringbean with a bun in your oven!.
I got a brand new 2011 Argo on loan from Griffin 3 days before Namotu you felchaholic javascript:insertsmilie(''), he was still tweaking the 2012 at that stage. Yes I was waiting ages for the new range, but if I wasn't such a spoilt, greedy bastard I could have had the 2011 months and months ago, but I can't help but want the latest and greatest. Hence I waited for the 2012 to come into production.
I was always happy with the 2010 Argo's performance so I stuck with the same model rather than the Chimera.
The 2012 bridle is super simple(I know you'll relate to that javascript:insertsmilie(''). Flies well in the light stuff on short lines.
Southerlies on Thursday so see you then.
I snapped the QM landing too flat on a forward a couple of weeks ago, Lee got it on his gopro. You'll have to wait for my new board to make your big return to the pole!javascript:insertsmilie('') I know you can't wait.

20 to 30 knot NE tomorrow
Lets hope this one dosent explode like your first one

Hi, I think some one needs a chill pill. re Andos, going off a imperfect memory, I think I sent up a 2010 argo over a year or so ago, not sure what happens but Andos returned it for some reason so I offered to give him a loaner 2011 kite while I finish off the 2012 Argos.

When the 2012 Argos where ready he returned the 2011 for a 2012, So re support and warente, I honored this and upgraded his kite for no cost + supplied a loaner kite. I think its hard to complain about that. Re waiting so long for a kite? realy? many brands have a repair policy where they will repair your kite even if its factory defect and give it back after some time. I provided a loaner kite and then replace it with a 2012. I dont know how you could complain about that?

Re exploding kite, not sure what your on about, over the last 2 years we have not had any kites or LE explode unless the rider flet the kite into a cliff or the kite was old and got munched by a monster wave. Our kites are one of the toughest and strongest built kites on the market, The leading egdes are 2 x tripple stiched with thicker and stronger thread than most other brands using a thinner weaker single stitch method. Again any issues with any Argos, even out of warente contact me and I WILL sort out something for you.

Only took me a couple of days to get my kite from when I placed the order. I have been a very happy kiter since my 11.5 arrived. I have yet to try it without the line extensions, but I will soon enough.
Still learning where the sweetspot on landing the thing after a good boost, its different than my other kites (revs and 12mt rebel) but I am sure eventually it will be automatic.
Kite loops really well for a kite that size, happily surprised...
Kudos to Chris for the extra mile he has gone for others in backing his kites.

Yeah the one he sent back was the first one he had that the leading edge exploded on.Wasnt it andos??

Not haven a go at you griffin.
Has been a running joke down the beach amoung the local crew that when andos comes up for some waves a coupe of times a month he always says "I'll have my new kite next week" and has been saying that since the start of the year.

Then it was,,,"Faaark, Im off to fiji soon and I still havent got my new kite yet".

Has just been a local joke saying that they must be really really good kites for him to always be waiting or the mates rates he gets are worth the wait.

Sounds like you have bent over backwards for him.Your kites will speak for themselves.

A slight bulge in a leading edge without effecting any stitching is hardly an exploding leading edge, I think it turned out to be a bladder issue anyway! (Lotofwind you were there that day videoing up on the island, I had some of the most enjoyable kiteloops ever on that day).
Griffin didn't question anything, got me to send down the kite, and totally looked after me with a replacement used 2010, I had plenty of opportunity to take a 2011 kite, but I chose to hang onto the 2010 and wait for 2012. I sent the 2010 back too early, with the 2012 kites still 3 months away. Chris loaned me a brand new 2011 for Fiji, and I scored the best backhand kiting I've ever had btw.

I had the 2012 9m out in 25-30knts yesterday in cross-off NNE and it was unreal (short lines again). The lift was big and totally predictable. Stability and control was perfect. Backwards drift down-the-line was spot-on. I can't wait to see how it flies in 30+
So I am very,very happy. Bring on the southerly tomorrow morning.
Thanks for great kites Griffin.

^^^^^Dont hold your breath for tomorrow.
You musnt have seen the forcast and flash flood warnings.
Yeah I didnt see the bladder issue,,Ambo said your bladder blew and you bailed.
You havent seen the vid yet,,,,those face plant loops didnt look too enjoyable, but we enjoyed them better than my winding back landings though
I'll see if I can upload them for you if you want.?

This one got us hooting

I remember that one, ouuuch! I hadn't tried landing a toe-side backloop to land down the line before, I was concentrating too much on the wave face landing. It is however far from the most painful. I love that feeling of trying something for the first time, no matter what happens. I must have missed a few different kiteloops that day, obviously the ones you land are more fun, but it's all good fun as far as I'm concerned, so keep on editing and post away if it makes you feel better about yourself Lotofwind. If you post anything from up on top of the island, atleast the kite should be in the picture. That is after all what this thread is about.
You should try pushing yourself a little Lotofwind, you'll never never know if you never never go.
To be fair to Griffin Kites, if you are going to keep on posting stuff that is unrelated to the 2012 Argo, you should start a new thread. I am happy enough with what I can do, and more importantly the fun that I have doing it. I can also have a good laugh when I eat it.

All in good fun andos,,,dont take it all seriously.
Here is the one from on top of the island you requested.
Expect some calls from learners I gave your number to who want lessons.
And a young couple from Grafton will be chasing you over the xmass break for lessons

Almost made it. You are getting closer than me landing on my head.Must be the kites.LOLI might have to get one.

hey Mikey, ripping on the Argo. Just got mine today looking forward to giving it a go. Sounds like you have a nice bunch of mates up there. Do they know you like to prescribe milkshakes.

Hi Chief, he's just a harmless k-jock that likes his own jokes and kites like Aksadent used to. He does have a backside reo that would be a big hit at mardigras.
The rest of the crew are cool. You'll be pleasantly surprised if you get up here over the hols.
You'll love the Argos.

Yeah,I know,I cant wave ride for sh!t, but am having heaps of fun learning. And thats what its all about.

Did Meggsie get hold of you re-lessons?
Ím glad you bought up Mardigras,,,are we all going down this year as a group again??Its you turn to drive this time.

All for sh!ts and giggles.

Ok, I'll be serious.You know thats hard for me with ADHD.
Here is another vid that shows the kite and its boosting ability.They are definatly good jumping kites. Wind was about 17 to 19 knots.They will out boost most other kites in the same wind.Andos is not exagerating,,they do look like they have heaps of lift.
Here is the proof.Andos boosting big.

I Gotta say big shout to Chris at Griffin. The demo 13.5 is just awesome light winder. I left off the extensions and no worries wind was 10Knots and built i was upwind better then everyone else only a Ozone Reo 12 in range. I think its pure grunt is amazing and the stability in the air is spot on. Then ride a wave and it performs amazing its drift is something that has to be seen. But when it started gusting it just ate it up. Can't wwait to try the 9mtr

Anyone know the best drift setting for the 11.5, without the extentions.
Thanks