I will try to get some of the people who have got one to write a review. I import them and I haven't even seen one out of the bag yet! As soon as the kites arrive the backorders mean that they are all shipped out straight away.
info on reviewer
Flexifoil Importer (will be seen to be biased, but not really a pimp I prefer to let the products do the talking)
Kiteing since 1999 (but still pretty average abilities)
Ride a 130x40 board (Flexifoil of course)
Wind 20 - 25knts (more in the lower range)
Weight 130kg wet (fat B*******d)
Conditions (Flat water, very shallow)
I have been using the 10.5m quite a bit and it has become my favourite kite ever. It is so fast through the air it has given me the speed bug. I have only flown the kite on the 4 line mode (as we have gusty winds in Vic, and to be honest I prefer the depower range with this setup)
The Ion2 kites like to be flown fast and with this generate a good amount of apparent wind and power. This means that for the low end it feels initially that the kite does not have a huge amount of power. Give it a few strokes into the powerzone and build up the boardspeed and then lock the kite and scream upwind.
The kite turns faster than a 9m Atom and took a few jumps to get the timing right but when you do the kite pulls you up like a rocket. This kite has definitely helped me to improve my riding.
As for the build it is the best yet by Flexifoil (so pretty bloody amazing).
The only thing reported to me as a negative is the bar grip. Which is initially very aggressive on the hands, but after a few sessions beds in a bit and gives the most positive grip on any bar. There is no way that you hands can slip on the bar.
The bag has instruction printed on it on how to connect up the bridle and the 5th line system and zipup pockets to store them when not in use. The change between 5-line and 4-line modes takes about 5 minutes and gives the kite a lot of options. The kite can even be flown in 4-line (bridled mode) with the 5th line connected (not used for depower but as a single line safety, great for monster waves).
If anyone else has some reviews on the ION2 please post them up.
Matt
Thanks Karve.
Have you or anyone else flown both the waroo and ion2? I currently ride waroos and am trying to figure out if its really worth it to spend an extra $500-600 on the ion2.
I have read the ion2 is not a good beginners kite as it doesnt have the same level of depower compared to the waroo or SB/Xbows etc. I dont mind this but gives me the feeling the its going to make me even more poor when I realise the ion2 12.5m doesnt have the same range as my 12 waroo and I have to buy another ion2 to get the same amount of days on the water.
Cheers,
Andrew
Andrew,
Try not to confuse depower with trim. Depower is active movement of the bar to depower the kite. Trim is where the kite is set for the conditions using the adjuster strap (and maybe pigtail movement) This can give a kite as much wind range as another kite even if the active depower is less due to changes in the angle of attack of the kite.
there was a bloke flying an ion 2 up at caloundra a few weeks back in gusty 20-25 knot conditions, he was tearing it up and pushing some solid boosts. had a quick chat and look at the kite when i landed it for him and was very impressed with the construction of the thing.
he was pretty enthusiastic about the kite, reckoned it was just brilliant.
Thanks for the comments Neill!
I was having an awesome time up at Caloundra on the 10.5. The kites are the best made kites I've seen, flexi have thought of practicaly everything and protected it.
The bar is harsh on the hands for the first ride or two, but you get used to it really quickly and the best thing about it is it hangs on to your hands! The grip is phenomenal, and it doesn't look like it will end up damaged and torn over time like some of the foam grips others use.
But for ease of use, massive boost, huge hangtime and really quick through the air, I'm struggling to find a kite that compares. It's easily as quick as an 06 vegas and that was one quick kite! I haven't ridden mine in 5 line mode yet, as I am loving 4 line! Relaunch is easy, safety is great, and 4 lines make things so simple! (The safety is a mini 5th line).
The kite will stall if you do not have the trim adjusted correctly - I've heard a couple of comments about that. If it does stall when you unhook or sheet in fully, you just need to pull the trim strap in a little - this doesn't depower the kite, it just adjusts the angle of attack back to where it should be.
Remember the most efficient angle is just before the kite wants to stall, so you can adjust that depending on the wind strength. Some other manufacturers set the position of the trim so that fully out, the kite is at the optimum for the designed wind strength(although you still see these kites fly backward in light winds as the angle of attack changes with wind speed). Flexi has gone for a little more adjustment, which forces you to adjust the trim strap more often.
I'm absolutely stoked, I've already ordered the 14m and cant' wait to get it out!
Oh, and if you unhook a lot make sure you get an unhook chicken loop or you have to cut off the camel's dick.
Thanks brooksy,
have you flown any other bow kites? how do they compare to unhooking with the ion2?
one of the main reasons im looking at getting the ion is because I dont like how my waroos preform unhooked. I know they need to be trimmed correctly but I found the waroo so have a very small sweet spot to unhook with. I was hoping the ion would be more C like with less tendency to stall. Maybe I have to fly it in 5th line mode when I want to unhook?
thanks guys
Hey andrew,
I haven't flown many of the other bows (unhooked anyway).
Perhaps try Steve at Kitepower for a test fly. He should have a demo in stock, he's pretty good with demo kites...
From my experience I don't think the Ion2 has a small sweet spot, it seems to be pretty good unhooked in 4 line mode. I'm looking forward to getting some time on the water in 5 line mode - just need some wind when I'm free!
Finally got an ok wind day and used the 10.5m with 20m lines on 4 line in surf.
It is very important to pump up the kite hard otherwise the wing tips will be unstable and want to invert.
Set up on 20m lines the kite is grunty, fast and ideal for surf. I just love all the options and build quality of this kite....still need some decent wind though.
Nick,
How hard is hard? I pump mine up to "normal" which I gues is maybe 8psi? Don't have a probs with this.
How'd you find the 20m lines, was it stupidly quick? It's pretty damn quick on the 25's!
Good to hear your finally on the water, you've been unusually quiet...
Hi Mike...my guess is 6-7 psi as recommended. I have become lazy with the pumping and get away with soft on the Cab. Bows and they fly pretty much the same....but noticed that I can't be lazy with the Ion.
You loose the power with the shorter lines, but the kite is faster turning and less chance of getting slack lines when in the waves. Just no decent wind over here in a long time now.
