Rider: Weight - 80 & 85kgs. Level - not beginners but Im unsure of skill level.
Style: Freeriding
Weather: 8 to 13 knots
Build Quality: ?/10 "impressed"
Satisfaction: ?/10 "fantastic kite"
Disclosure: this is 'cut & paste' email feedback - from our first demo tester of the Ocean Rodeo 17M Flite.
I havent tried it myself as yet but wont be long.

Thanks for the demo, my wife is going to drop the kite off so thought I'd give you my thoughts.
Ended up in Cervantes for the long weekend which usually is nuking but Saturday was nothing about about 15knts. A mate also bought along his 2011 Zephyr which made for an interesting comparison. We spent the day alternating between 132x42 Luigi, 136x40 Cabrinha Twin tips and an airush sector 60.

Kite flew really well and was impressed with the build. we came to the same conclusions;
1. Flite has more upwind potential and was easier to fly than the zephyr we had
2. Bar pressure was less on the Flite
3. Flite seemed to have more low end (only 1-2 knots)
4. Flite turns quicker in the lighter winds, about the same in the higher winds

We were trying to get going in 8knts at one point on the sector 60, which didn't work (he's about 80kg and I'm 85kg). His girlfriend did manage to get going in 8 knts on the sector 60 with both the flite and zephyr (no experience on the sector 60 before) and weighs around 55kg.

Wind built to 10-11knots and I had the Flite up and going on the sector 60, but couldnt get going on the zephyr. My mate could just get the zephyr going with the same conditions (his kite, so knows it well) but said it was far easier to get riding on the flite.

Around 13 knots we were both able to get riding on the twin tips on both kites, again the flite was easier due to having a little more low end power. Didn't get to see it's upper end as the wind never really came it but it is a fantastic kite.

Ocean Rodeo are claiming its the lightest kite in its class???
On returning the kite our customers first comment was on how much lighter it was than the Zephyr - but remember it was a 2011 Zephyr they were cross testing. No comparison intended here re the latest models. Just reporting as reported.
Flite is available for demo anytime.

Which gen Flite? I'm assuming it's the second gen, 3-strutter the released this year...

2011 zephyr, absolute pointless comparison. Completely and utterly redundant.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

2011 zephyr, absolute pointless comparison. Completely and utterly redundant.

I don't think so

For me a 2010 Zep owner, it gives an idea on what the newer kites are like and is it worth the 'upgrade' ?

Fair enough....

Yep - the 2014 3 strut version.
I wasnt intending any brand bashing - hence my emphasis that it was a 2011 version. Its just what these guys were playing with.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Fair enough....

Hmmmmm, A retraction?

Nope I still think it's a pointless comparison, but hey you wanna compare apples with oranges, that's fair enough.

Select to expand quote

eppo said..

Fair enough....

Hmmmmm, I see, simply a observation in regard to Sonny's point of view.

I retract my retraction question.

Wow...keep ya panties on mate...lol...I'm not sure I was promoting any kite to any newbie here, nor do I report any personal attacks, trust me, from where I sit you look like complete emotional idiot regarding this post.

The bigger picture...well thank you sir for your amazing contribution! Outstanding effort.

Swaziland hey....bahahaha.

You are a keeper.

Where's nobs when you need him!!

Gee Tomasb from Swaziland you really are brave. So good to have someone like you pointing out all Eppos's weaknesses.
Thankyou SO much.

Select to expand quote

tomasb said..

MrFreeze said...

eppo said..

Fair enough....

Hmmmmm, I see, simply a observation in regard to Sonny's point of view.

I retract my retraction question.

Exactly Mr Freeze.. Just another pointless comment as his disillusioned self blindly races towards 5000 posts - to further his imagined supremacy once he gets there...

Isn't it true that the more the posts, the better the kiter? Surely so.

Remember too kiddies, every word of his equipment reviews is solid gold! With all his "14 to 15 years of kiting", we're in the presence of an exceptionally talented kiter...

Hmmmmm, Harsh!

wow

handbags at the ready . . .
1
2
3
Fight!!!

Where this comparison is useful....say I'd like a light wind kite. Should I shell out $600 for a 3 year old kite that was the best thing ever back then, or should I shell out $1600 for the new kite that is the best thing ever now? The OR Flite 2 is getting great reviews everywhere, looks great ... but is it $1000 more great? Hmm. Only 330 days til Christmas!

Fair enough

First ten Flite complete for $1300 from OR.com...

Okay so I grabbed the new 3 strut flite from puppet for a run as I figured I was out of line above, breaking my cardinal rule, never comment on a kite unless you've flown it.

Guilty as charged.

I can infer the points puppet provided through that other dude and pretty spot on.

As outlined on the kite forum a while back on back to back demos done by ocean extreme (in which all the riders really liked this kite...will try and dig it up as a link) this is a very nice, stable and relatively quick kite in the air.

This is due to the fact that it's power generation is not wholly aspect driven given it's moderate aspect. It does sit back a little in the window but nothing like a big mama or a fat lady for instance. In a nice spot, that allows some consistent power and through the pulley and bridal system provide a nice comfortable bar pressure.

It does give a nice consistent smooth pull and as I said is very user friendly. Some of the power for jumps can be a little lost through the pulleys and through the air especially when looping (say on a darkslide or backroll back loop) the feeling through the bar is reduced. The loops have little power and some people may dig this as after all it's a 17m kite!!

Another thing I'd like OR to consider is the small low flow inflate valve on a 17m kite,... just doesn't cut it anymore. Get a high flow on that sucker please.

A well built, fast turning 17m with a great balance between this turning speed and consistent smooth power delivery due to its aspect and profile would be the best way to describe this kite for me.

It would have to be a kite one must put on their demo list when doing a light wind kite search. It's a fair dinkum light wind kite as well, we got going in some very light winds at times.

Hope that helps....

Here is that link...


kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2383734

hey eppo, m8 only 25 posts to go, my bet says it'll be tonight.
Is this one on sports bet?

Select to expand quote

SonnyRider said..

wow

handbags at the ready . . .
1
2
3
Fight!!!

?rel=0

Guessing the lady in blue with quicker reaction and more low end grunt is the new flight?

Anyway, we've got the new Flite demo kites on the Eastern side, should be some reviews coming up soon....

Select to expand quote

rippertom said..

Leading edge looks super solid on that reverse relaunch...

Why are the wing tips clapping?

Reminds me of my Peter Lynn ARC days


And what was the wind speed and weight of the rider?

Reverse launching does that... especially when you don't pump it up enough.

for sure this wont be on my list of 'want to buys' anytime soon.. regardless of the apparent pimping of the thing on this forum.

Select to expand quote

EastCC said..

Anyway, we've got the new <span class="spnSearchHighlight" id="hilite">Flite</span> demo kites on the Eastern side, should be some reviews coming up soon....

Any new reviews of this kite forthcoming???

I still think if you're in the market for a light wind kite (any kite that rides in sub 10 - 12 knots), then the Chrono or the Flysurfer Speed 4 (both in greater than 15mt sizes) cannot be beat.

And if it has to be a LEI kite, then the Flite is it. I am now convinced (without having touched one yet!), that the Zephyr is a bit of a hype. You still need at least 12 knots for that kite to take form. And again it depends on the rider, skill level and board. Really, if I want to ride in very light winds (5 to 8knots), then I would have to change to a foil board, lose some weight and get better at tacking, and I could do it all with my normal set of 10 or 12mt quivers.

What do you say?

I got a new flight 17 off Nigel from east coast kiting on the Sunshine Coast it's a really nice easy kite to fly and very fast turning for a kite that size. I have been riding it on my surfboard mostly and loving it , it doesn't do anything crazy like on rippertom 's video link, quiet the opposite it's very well behaved








9-12knts ne and having a fun I guess that's all that matters

Select to expand quote

Fruitloop said...
I got a new flight 17 off Nigel from east coast kiting on the Sunshine Coast it's a really nice easy kite to fly and very fast turning for a kite that size. I have been riding it on my surfboard mostly and loving it , it doesn't do anything crazy like on rippertom 's video link, quiet the opposite it's very well behaved








9-12knts ne and having a fun I guess that's all that matters

Some people here seem to think a photo or video or two is enough to completely confirm a product as good or bad...

Looks like you're having fun! What bar are you using?

That would be the Ocean Rodeo Fusion bar with ATB trim (from the look of it)
Its a nice clean bar with all the required goodies.
Note here...
Much like Push-Away QR's a few years back bars will be pretty much same same regardless of brand in 2015.
Apart from the few exceptions who arent following suit with whats evolved as best features & options required by our developing industry.