Hey guys, I currently fly a 2010 10m RPM and it covers me for the majority of winds we get here in Brisbane, if I could afford it perhaps I would run a 9 & 12m..

Thinking a new kite for the next season might be on the cards as it's tax time in June . Just wandering if any SS riders out there could give me the run down on the 2012 model RPM, pros, cons, likes, dislike, other kites etc etc.

Thanks,
777Kiter...!

Havent done any homework yet but rumour is they are getting the now consistent top rate reviews OS.
IMO the 9 & 12 would give you too much crossover - Id be testing an 8M to match your 12M before deciding.

I see kiters are still whinging on kiteforum that there is little difference in size & low-end between the 12m and the 10m. Something to check out before you buy.

Stick wth your RPMs dude
Grabbed a stack of recent kite mags and they're full of glowing reviews,
really are a kite for all conditions
First PKRA title to be one on a non C kite (Yoori Zoon Slingshot RPM)
I ride Rally but could make the switch next season
Demo in early spring and buy the sizes to suit your local wind

Sounds like the RPM is a sure thing. As I said I currently ride a 10m, what should I invest in for next season, a 12m or 9m or stick with the 10m??

From latest news ex SS Aust all retailers are going to be short supplied on the new 2012/13 RPM.
If u r wanting one - or even thinking about it - you better register interest at your own local NOW rather than later. At Kite Surf SUP our 1st delivery order is already spoken for. We wont even have any for demo! But thats OK - reviews say nothing much has changed from 2011/12 kites. And why should it?
The first delivery of 2012/13 RPMs to Oz kite shops - in the next few weeks - may be the last till all the other 2013 kites hit the market in Sept/Oct.

As simonp has pointed out, I'd check out the blurb on the kites before bothering to get a 12 to add to your 10.

kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2375293

I'm in the market for a cpl of new kites- either Parks or RPM's. If I was to go the RPM's, I think I'd have to go 8/12.....though after reading the thread above, I'm not sure just how effective the low end would be on a 12m RPM.

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777Kiter said...

Hey guys, I currently fly a 2010 10m RPM and it covers me for the majority of winds we get here in Brisbane, if I could afford it perhaps I would run a 9 & 12m..

Thinking a new kite for the next season might be on the cards as it's tax time in June . Just wandering if any SS riders out there could give me the run down on the 2012 model RPM, pros, cons, likes, dislike, other kites etc etc.

Thanks,
777Kiter...!

Mate there's not much difference in bottom end between the 12&10m RPM but the 10m has a much higher top end, invest in a 6m for when its nuking and you will have it covered,

Hi 777 there isnt that much diff between the 10 and 12 unless up wind is important,so if your mainly doing down winders its not much, but if your holding ground or doing free style tricks the 12 is a fair bit better in lighter winds
(Hoping for the knew RPMs verry soon) ill be able to say more once my demo turns up
Have Fun
George

Hey guys, thanks to everyone for your valuable input. So I'm gathering from everyone a 10m to 12m is only relatively small. In which case I'm going sell my 2010 10m RPM and opting for a 9 and 12m quiver. I do alot of unhooking so I have a pretty narrow wind range with the one kite.. I'm also using a cabrihna custom board with boots so need a few extra knots there aswell. The 12m would take me from 15-20+ and the 9m from 20+ onwards.

Thanks again,

777kiter

Frothing at the mouth...

We've just received our batch of the new RPM's, no chance to fly them yet due to lack of wind but we pumped up the 10m and were very impressed on the quality attention to detail! We also have a 10m and 14m demo. Will put up a review after we get a chance to fly.

Where's the review? The wingtips look a bit more raked than last year.

Just a word of warning on SS warranty program, currently I ride Slingshot (contrary to what my username says), and I dread the day something goes wrong such as a leading edge blow-out from a water impact, as I know several individuals (me included) who've been left without a kite for months on end (typically during seasons peak) due to poor and generally slow repairs by Slingshot Oz's preferred repairer up in Tweed Heads.

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sckitesurf said...


"We've just received our batch of the new RPM's, No chance to fly them yet due to lack of wind"........
"Will put up a review after we get a chance to fly"

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iRideWainman said...

Where's the review?

Try reading....?

Tnx for the pics sckite

We all have our favourite kites or are looking for that magic.

If you can try the new Griffin TRX its at least as good, possibly half the price, as good or better construction plus less cost when updating.

If you have not demo'd then do no comment

We all have our favourite kites or are looking for that magic.

If you can try the new Griffin TRX its at least as good, possibly half the price, as good or better construction plus less cost when updating.

If you have not demo'd then do no comment

Thanks for the photos! Definitely looks like a wider wingtip perhaps?? My mate just bought a Blue/orange 9m looks sick!

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Subculture said...

sckitesurf said...


"We've just received our batch of the new RPM's, No chance to fly them yet due to lack of wind"........
"Will put up a review after we get a chance to fly"

iRideWainman said...

Where's the review?

Try reading....?

Tnx for the pics sckite

hmmm, so you've just wasted everyones time with a useless, uninformative pimp. Learn how to use the forum categories properly if you're not going to write a review.

Thanks for the photos sckitesurf and the time it took to take them.

And shame on you for not having any wind to demo them as im sure if you had the power to controll the winds you would give us 6 kts!! NOT

Its a good business that offers information to the public cost free. Im looking to change my kite brand and now will hold off till i can demo the RPM as your photos show a nicely made kite. Will love to here the review when you get to it.

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iRideWainman said...Just a word of warning on SS warranty program, currently I ride Slingshot (contrary to what my username says), and I dread the day something goes wrong such as a leading edge blow-out from a water impact, as I know several individuals (me included) who've been left without a kite for months on end (typically during seasons peak) due to poor and generally slow repairs by Slingshot Oz's preferred repairer up in Tweed Heads.

Get the warranty processed by your local shop if possible, I don't think we've ever had more than about a 2 week turn around time on a slingshot warranty. And you can probably get ahold of a demo to use in the meantime if the wind is good

We've used Moti Levy at Tweed for years to do pretty much all our repairs, warranty or otherwise, and generally 5-7 working days is the time frame for any repair, although they can slow down a bit over the peak season where there is a bit of a back log of kites coming through.


Review coming soon, fingers crossed for some wind!

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iRideWainman said...

Where's the review? The wingtips look a bit more raked than last year.

Just a word of warning on SS warranty program, currently I ride Slingshot (contrary to what my username says), and I dread the day something goes wrong such as a leading edge blow-out from a water impact, as I know several individuals (me included) who've been left without a kite for months on end (typically during seasons peak) due to poor and generally slow repairs by Slingshot Oz's preferred repairer up in Tweed Heads.

I have had so many warranty problems with SS and their lack of response, assistance or even intrest I no longer ride SS and have switched to North Vegas kites, My 2011 RPM only lasted 7 months before I had to replace a nipple on the leading edge, ( I am still waiting on them to send me one as the kite is supposed to be under warranty) I had to just go out and buy one so I can sell the kite. I was also waiting three months over the summer before with a similar problem with my Octaines again under warranty. NO SERVICE WHAT SO EVER, it's a shame as I really loved my RPM's

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Lebowski said...
it's a shame as I really loved my RPM's

Yeah, don't even waste ur time complaining, A) SS don't care; B) forum readers don't give a stuff either. Just check the red thumbs for my previous comments. Hopefully they don't have to find out the hard way...

North Vegas next season is where I'm taking my $'s.

If true the warranty with SS could be a issue , but I have owned RPMs in all sizes from 6's to 12's for the last 3yrs or so and am yet to claim anything on warranty,in fact the only part I have replaced would be the centre line at the bar, and liven on the Sunnycoast here I do tend to give'm a real good go, it would be interesting to here what warranty issues there has been with this kite,

Hi Guys,
Sorry it has taken so long to write a review as there has been no wind.

The new 2012 RPM was an all round good kite to fly. We demoed the 14m in about 13-15 knot winds. Normally I ride with wakeboots, so I like a kite that can sit low and park for a nice load and pop. The RPM was great for this, plenty of low end power when you needed it. When the kite fell in the water it was fairly simple to relaunch for a large kite, you maybe thinking that since the RPM doesn't have a swept wing that it would be harder to relaunch like a C kite, but the fact is all you have to do is push the bar all the way out and hold the outer line. The RPM will then rotate on its wingtip further downwind and relaunch. In general even in stronger winds the RPM will launch better downwind then out to the side of the wind window.
While unhooking I found the 2012 RPM a very stable kite, it has predictable power while loading and popping. Hooking back in was easy with a larger chicken loop.

The slingshot bar is very easy to use and they have kept pretty much the same design for years now, it works and really has no issues. What I do like about the bar is the fact that it doesn't have too much depower, the stopper ball is set up in the right location and the factory setting is perfect. This makes it easy to grab the bar once the kite is fully depowered, meaning you can still ride if you want to after landing a trick or just fall into the water and stop.
The new 2012 has the same set up settings on the wingtips and leading edge as the 2011 and is a very tunable kite(there is a new Youri Zoon free-style setting). You can make the kite quick turning for wave riding and freestyle/kite looping or slow the front and back lines to make a slow wakestyle kite, perfect for parking and unhooking.
Slingshot has kept the split strut system which is the same as 2011.

What I don't like about the RPM is the fact that it has a below the bar depower system that can get in the way of hooking in and out of the chickloop, the depower line can get in the way of your spreader bar, but again this is more personal preference.
The RPMs don't really fly that well in light winds, this is where the RPM takes a more C kite characteristic, they just don't have the width in the middle section of the kite to handle lighter conditions, the Slingshot Turbine/Rally is much more suited for lighter conditions.
If you would like to Demo the 10m or 14m come by the shop any time and feel free to see what everyone is raving on about.

Interesting to note that the 2012 comes in sizes - 6M; 7M; 8M; 9M & 10M as well as the 4.5M; 12M & 14M. The 1M spacings make a great choice option - nice one SS.
At Kite Surf SUP we will have the 8M or the 9M ??? on demo. The first in to demo can make that choice for me. Sorry we cant do them all Id like to.
They are in store & available as of last week.
NB Scarbs only & only open Thurs Fri or Sat. (or phone anytime) for winter.
Sorry but Woodys is closed 24/7 till mid June for reno's.

Thats a very half assed review for a known pimp sckitesurf.
I regularly hear far more positive & way more enthusiastic reactions from demo dudes who are also often 1st time RPM fliers.
BUT - good to see you being under-cooked rather than pimping it up to the extreme max - as we so often see here on SB from both open & hidden pimps.
Honest is always GREAT to see.
Understatement allows for very pleasant surprises. It is also always great to find the experience of something to be better than expected.
IMO the RPM is an exceptional, almost stand-alone, kite in what it does & how it does it. In this case my opinion is backed up by consistent demo reaction and the no. of kiters I know who wouldnt fly anything but RPM.
NOT saying its 'the best' or that its a 'one-suits-all' by any means. There are plenty out there it wont suit. And 'yes' there are other kites that do certain things better. (etc etc - ie I dont want to start another kite war)
Demo demo demo.