Hi everyone,
Has anyone tried a 14mtr 08 rhino and compared it with the 08 rebel in the same size. I'm in the market for a new kite and have only tried the 12mtr in both of the kites. I think there both great kites but am looking for the one that will give me the biggest wind range. I weigh 100kg befor drinks and our beach gets regular winds of between 15-22 knots. I currently own an 08 10mtr rebel that rocks and at the moment i'm leaning more towards the rhino in the 14mtr, i'm hoping it will replace my 16mtr naish torch.
Any comments would be appreciated.

hey burley,
ive been riding rhinos for 3 yrs now.... Before that a vegas rider...
The o6 rhino was the best thing ever for bigger guys ( im 100kg, pure musle of course) until i brought the 07 rhino, great boost,hang time etc etc.
i ride this 07 rhino in 15 knots to 30 knots (no kidding) im down to a one kite kiter which i love.
the power in the rhinos is great for a bigger guy but when the wind is 20 knots plus i do have to use the de power a bit, ive just ordered the 08 12 rhino through kite action on the sunshine coast, and from what they say "quote" the 08 12 rhino has the same power as the 07 14 rhino, so if your 100kg of pure muss like my self lol. id be going for the 12 mt........plus im looking forward to using a quicker turning kite 5(have you tryed doing kite loops with a 14 in 25 knots.???????/(calling it fun is a under statement..,..lol. ...i hope it helps mate ...



cheers Richard (Port Douglas)

Rhino!!! what a kite!

I am currently riding 07 Rhino 12 and 9m and they are soooooo good I am not even thinking of any new. The thing I like about Rhino is it has very distinctive responses to the bar control, the kite moves distinctively to pull and twist of the bar and it stays exactly where you want it to stay. You may need to get used to giving it a clear input but once you figure it out, you will love it!

Just like driving a luxuary 4WD, all you need to do is decide whether you want to cruse in 2W or 4W and it handles all road conditions. And also you may find it is a very stable kite compare to others - this may explain why it has clear and distinctive responses to the control input.

Rhino is known as high performance kite so most of new starters do not even consider - probably due to the reason it has been promoted as pro riders kite with big air time.
But I found it is also has very smooth/gradual power delivery and depower making easy to control. Just need to pull less for a beginner or easy riding mode, and it will slow down for you.

And because Rhino is a fast flying kite and does accommodate both easy and power plays, the choice of the size is probably depends on your riding style.
If you prefer riding with the full stroke motion of the control bar, 12 should generate good enough. And if you like to ride with more twist motions, 14 should be easy.

In regards to models, it all makes sense if you look at the launch timings and design intends of North Kites - providing Rebel and Rhino are like brothers with different attitudes, North probably benchmarked two models closely.

What I can see for last couple of years, Rebel had been always launched about 6 month before Rhino introduction. And considering Rebel is designed for easy freeriding feels, Rhino focuses on the other side of the scale, the performance and power.

I guess 07 Rhino is an improved version from 07 Rebel based on what they learned from 07 Rebel development, a performance version!
And 08 Rebel is probably designed based on 07 Rhino with smoother/easy feels - still under 07 Rhino performances in my opinion.
If you follow the trend you can probably guess where 08 Rhino is going to be sitting.
The question is how far North will push the limit for Rhino performances.

Anyway, 07 Rhino works better than 08 Rebel for me and I think it is fast and grunty enough for me. In fact I am more interested in 09 Rebel, because 08 Rebel is just under the performance of 07 Rhino and if they make improvements on 08 Rebel, it will be very close to reborn of 07 Rhino or could be a little better. Looking forward to it!

What are these bad boys like for unhooking and are they stable in the air?

Good question CQKiter, I'd love to hear the same.........
A kite with all the attributes mentioned plus the ability to unhook would suit me fine!

un hooking is fine with the rhinos as there is so much de power....if you want to go gig power it it....

quote:What are these bad boys like for unhooking and are they stable in the air?
KiteClone

What do you mean stable in the air???????

actually looking at your pics are you stable in the air ........l.????????

Thanks guys, that helps heaps.
Have any of you taken a rhino surfing,
and if so ,how did it go.
I think an 08 14mtr rhino might be the kite for me.
Thanks all for your input.
Happy Winds

Finx, when ask about stability it relates to when you unhook, some kites have a tendancy to misbehave. Being new at unhooking, I like a kite that just sits there.
As for me being stable in the air.... no, I'm a danger to myself and everyone around me, thanks for your input.

sorry mate, the rhinos are very stable(thats going off a 07 14 .)
ill tell you about the 08 12 next week...

yeah, I ride my rhino 12m in surf all the time, big surf! its my favourite, like everything to do with the Rhino, its awesome, wont stall as you run down the line, or bowtie if you power them up, I ride a a cab SB3 too...go the Rhino's-good for everything-

Hi Finx,
Just wondering how your new 12mtr Rhino is going.
I've ordered the 14mtr and will be picking it up probably next week.
I had the 12mtr out on demo for a week and it was one sweet machine.
Let us know how its going.
Cheers.

hey burley,
sorry i havnt got back to you earlier.
mate the 08 rhino go off, so much better then the 07.
ive found (comparing to a 07 14 rhino) it has the same low end power, i wasout in 13/15 knots were smaller guys then me on the same size kite (not north) were going down wind and i was holding ground and jumping...lol loved it.
then the other day i was out in 30 knots and it was so sweet, hang time is huge....
the only thing that anoys me is the bridle, not use to bridles it takes me a little more to set up but its really worth it in the end.....
hows yours going?
and are you getting any wind there?

cheers mate
richard

hey burley,
sorry i havnt got back to you earlier.
mate the 08 rhino go off, so much better then the 07.
ive found (comparing to a 07 14 rhino) it has the same low end power, i wasout in 13/15 knots were smaller guys then me on the same size kite (not north) were going down wind and i was holding ground and jumping...lol loved it.
then the other day i was out in 30 knots and it was so sweet, hang time is huge....
the only thing that anoys me is the bridle, not use to bridles it takes me a little more to set up but its really worth it in the end.....
hows yours going?
and are you getting any wind there?

cheers mate
richard

Hi finx,
I got the 14 mtre 08 rhino and have only flown it once, "BUT" SEN F--in Sational.
What else can i say, gobb smacked. I agree the bridle may take a little to get used to
but it is just the kite i have been looking for.( for my style of riding ). I can't understand why people find the rhino to fast, it's a completly controlable kite. Better than any kite i've ever flown. Anyway finx, as long as our days are rocken thats all that counts.
I havent yet been game to pull the trigger fully yet but i think she'll be brocken in tommorrow , .
Wind isa comen.