Just wanted to post regarding my new kite- a 2007 yellow and black RRD hyper-type.
These are billed as being one of the hybrid kites- i.e no pulleys on the bar- direct c kite turning, and with a bridled leading edge.
Apparently the black and gold rrd is something else, but I love my yellow kite with black graphics, and red wingtips. Prior to this i was on a turbo diesel.
I did find that the rrd is a much lighter kite than the turbo diesel- it will fly in much lighter winds, and doesn't invert like the turbo diesel used to. it flies in a solid predictable way with turning powered and predictable, with none of the "whippiness" that the turbo diesel had in a turn. I also found that the turbo d had to be turned in anticipation- there was a lag time in the turning- thankfully the RRD doesn't do this- it turns fast and predicatable- very responsive to control.
It is a light kite, and even though it is billed as a wave kite I don't know how much punishment it will take.

The bar is neat and simple , and is able to convert from a 45 cm to 55 cm. It has the plastic coated centre lines, which occasionally gets covered in sand, and makes the bar scratch up the plastic coating- I don't like this much, and try to keep the bar, and centre lines free of any sand. The power is on hand easily, and never tiring- there is no active stopper ball like on the TD (which i didn't like), and there is no need for one- the bar sits sheated in or out easily, and doesn't slip or grab. I never have to struggle to hold any trim i want.

It sits really well in the sky- it is always where it should be- especially when frigging around with the board. I have read it is less stable flying kite than their others , but I always find it very well behaved- it will move very quickly when i want it to, and i like that- there is no waiting for the kite's power to come on. It probably isn't a learner kite, but aimed at intermediate to advanced. I am probably only just intermediate (!) and love the kite.

It is prone to bad behaviour when underpumped, and can be a bitch to relaunch if underpumped also- so I make sure it is at least 6 psi- the one pump is awesome, will never buy anything but- but no isolating clips between strut and LE.
It has zippers somewhere on the kite- haven't looked yet- that are supposed to give more power on the light wind days- will be interesting to see if true.
My biggest complaint is self landing- i used to fly the TD to the edge of the window, and pull on upper centre line- kite falls flat . I can't make the RRD do this, but all in all I love the kite!!

I forgot to add- I have no brand or shop affiliations, and no vested interest in pushing any product.......Will post agin when I get my 16 m SB2.........

have had my hypers 7,9,12, for 5 months now and still nothing to complain about simply the best kites out there but there all black and gold , it will be hard for rrd to improve on these for 2008

hey ken, have you played with the zips on your 12 m hyper-type? does it make much of a difference ?

I would love to get the black and gold rrd, but would have to get a 14, and would just be getting another kite for the sake of it.

Hi guys, I've been advised to stay away from the Hyper as a beginner to intermediate rider.
Apparently there have been some serious incidences at Woodies WA recently with Hypers. My understanding is that they are very erratic and you have to watch them all the time. Apparently an older guy got trashed really bad several times. I'm considering a BEST Waroo which I believe by all accounts has all the performance of the Hyper with the added benefit of predictability. Do either of you have any details of the Woodies incident? I would really like to know before I make a decision. Perhaps the Hyper is getting a bad rap because older guys don't have the juice.:) lol only kidding.

Hey Joe,

Kite size? wind speeds? your weight etc?...

Cheers.

Hi , I think the danger exists when going from beginner to intermediate- i.e from watching the kite all the time to , learning not to watch the kite. when not watching all the time the kite can move quickly with incorrect bar input, and suprise you.

in gusty light conditions the kite can hindenburg, albeit slowly, and a sharp tug on the centre lines fixes it.

also there is some unpredictability with an underpumped rrd, but i recently have had dramas from overpumping, and popping valves in flight- it is such a bitch to drain water from the bladder after the kite deflates and falls in the drink- remember no isolating valves for the struts.

Hi Bo, i use the 12 m rrd hypertype - i'm 88 kgs on a crazyfly 139x 41 and the winds that i'm underpowered in are 16-18 knots- anything up to 25 knots comfortably powered. I find it is a "small" 12 m kite w.r.t. wind speeds, but haven't tried the canopy expanding zips yet.

hey u guys.. My old man flied RRD hypers n i fly waroos, when he came over in january 4 visit it was the first time either of us used them, apart from having to do some tuning on the bar 2 get the power right on the kite i thought it was sweet to fly, i loved the feeling of it. although it has not got nearly as much grunt as the Best Waroos and the Waroos do still handle better. we found that the safety system on the hypers did not work, dad got a huge flogging wen he released the kite n it started power looping down the beach!! personally i dont use safety systems i ride with my leash on the chicken loop and when that happend my dad has 2 lines twisted so it could of contributed. i did find you have to concentrate a little wen flying the rrd because it back stalls a bit wth too much bar presure but was fixed wen moving the lines out a bit.
Ultimately you wont find a better bow hybrid than the waroos in my experience.

Joe - My 12m does not have zips, i dont think my brothers quiver has them either - are you sure you have them?

I have had a few issues with the kite hindenburging - and difficulty getting full depower (if that s possible?)
what is a good tube inflation pressure? (i've been using a measley 3psi).
so overall i am not 100% convinced by my hyper - may try some other brands.

Martin

Hi Martin, i pump to about 6 psi and this is great- i was putting too much in and popping valves open in flight which deflated the whole kite. i find that it is pretty horrible to fly under pumped. this was compounded when the winds were light and gusty, and have had it hindenburg a few times. although when it does, i found that a sharp tug on the centre lines noses it back up into wind- don't know why this works so well.
as for the depower, there is back line attachment at both kite end, and on the bar end (under the neoprene covers)- mine was set with the bar end line attachment at the shortest knot.
I still like my rrd but also have thought of other brands. Flexi ion2 perhaps?

hope this helps.

thanks Joe - will try 6 psi next time i'm on the water