The wind screaming in your ears, the back end starts to step out on the edge of going into a tail spin, your pulse is on overload you drop the kite closer into the wind window 5 ft above the ground and feel that extra surge of power, look at your GPS and you just hit 80-km/h with your ass 6 inches above the ground your a certified adrenalin junky........ then you wake up, off to the kite shop to buy a kite buggy.

Ok..... but which type?

Certainly you are spoilt for choice in theory yet not quite in availability in Australia, this is a practical guide to buggy shopping for your first time.

If money is no object a top of the range libre buggy can set you back well over $4000 and almost require a trailer to tow it in. The other end of the scale is something home built, but you want to start now, not pull apart your dads golf buggy and steal a seat from a train station so a good place to start would be something that is pro built and a reputable brand that won't break the bank account. Now we can argue the point on models and companies till sunset these are just a few readily available buggies in a shop near you.

Firstly some insight into buggies, where is a good place to start, the biggest thing I see is the slow progression of riders in a wide axle buggy when they get started, they are really stable at speed, most likely not to lift up on to two wheels without a serious nudge also. Yet for these benefits you don't get to put yourself in situations like the tail spinning out or that loose feel that makes you a more competent pilot.

My suggestion for learning would be a short axle, a few people I kite with in recent months made the transition from a wide axle to a short axle, not only are they enjoying their buggying more, their skills have improved 10 fold as there is more rider input necessary. The other part is cost, wide axles do cost more so keep that in mind which ever way you wish to go.

As for speed, sure a wide axle you can hold down more power in a straight line but for e.g., I have had my freestyle buggy at over 80-km/h with a short axle, let me assure you that is quite fast, especially if you loose it. Time and practice will get you there but I think you will find even hitting 40-km/h initially will be a wild ride for most.

Here are a couple of suggestions

Peter Lynn Comp Buggy Mark II:


They are built solid have plenty of parts available for customizing them, they have what I would call medium back support as you sit into them, reasonably good finish on them, with the advantage of really solid rear axle bolts that you would need a pretty big accident to bend, and at a starting price of approx. $700 they are one of the most popular buggies on the market in Aus.

Flexifoil Buggy


Seen all those videos on youtube of people leaping around the skies, just about anybody in the freestyle world regards the Flexifoil buggy as the iconic freestyle buggy. The finish is pretty good, personally I think better than the Peter Lynn, most people say the seat is not deep enough and they don't feel like they are sitting in it, that is true, you kind of sit on a Flexifoil buggy rather than in it. They are quite a light buggy, the design hasn't changed much in years if you think one day you are going to leap to the skies and end up auditioning for the Gravity Renegades this would be a good buggy to start on. They come in at approx. $950

Libre Buggy


I have not actually buggied in one of these but they are regarded by many as one of the best buggies you can buy, the seats and support is deeper than both the PL and the Flexi I have seen a couple up close though, they are well made and if you see yourself racing one day, these would be a great choice! An entry level will set you back about $1100 all the way to about $4000 with plenty of model variations in between.


Pros and Cons (personal opinions)

Peter Lynn
Pros: Great for the money, endless supply of parts available, heavy duty axle bolts
Cons: Bulky style front wheel assembly, heavier than some others

Flexifoil
Pros: Iconic Freestyle buggy, lightweight yet strong
Cons: Parts currently very difficult to get, rear axle bolts could be bigger, availability

Libre
Pros: Finish, they look fast standing still, back support.
Cons: Price, not much else

Please feel free to add to this thread with recommendations of other buggies not listed here.

Cheers
V.

Some great info there Mr V!! Well thought out

So now, who's going to send us one of each to give them a road test

.......... Your the sponsored rider, lol I expect 3 new ones for our next session for test drives!

Ha ha mine yours and Steve's Think he will throw it our way

geez... if there are three bugs i may even hop in one!

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lickedysplit said...

Ha ha mine yours and Steve's Think he will throw it our way

Pretty sure my Libre Dragster is on its way Troy, and we will have a V-MaxII as a demo too, probably set up with bigfoot lights on the rear and a standard wheel on the front.
They will both be available for you to demo, regularly, of course you will have to let other people try them too!!

In the next shipment I am going to order a Pro-Task, complete with a 4.5M sail, I reckon I can find a smaller windsurfer sail to fit, for stronger winds.

Then we will have to find some outback locations to run some safaris too!!!
If not we have stockton and 7 mile to visit more regularly.

There are a few other projects in the planning stages too, so landkiters and land sailers will not be forgotten.!

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Looking forward to checking out your new beast Steve!! Luke tells me that you near need a trailer to transport the thing!!

Can't wait till you get some of this new gear in, going to be great to have it available locally not to mention the demo's! BRING IT ON!

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Kitepower Australia said...
[!!

, complete with a 4.5M sail, I reckon I can find a smaller windsurfer sail to fit, for stronger winds.

Then we will have to find some outback locations to run some safaris too!!!
If not we have stockton and 7 mile to visit more regularly.

There are a few other projects in the planning stages too, so landkiters and land sailers will not be forgotten.!

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve

Need an amateur sail maker that specializes in converting sailboard sails to landyacht sails. Ive done 10 so far this year from 9mto 3m. always happy to get involved in such experiments
Cheers Paul

Can thoroughly recommend the V-Max II, very comfortable when racking up the kilometres on the beach. Feels very secure and stable at speed. 180 degree turns at 60km/h no problems the high padded side rails hold you in nicely. Optioned mine with the 145cm axle and wide wheels, packs away into the boot of my Camry by removing the back wheels, the back axle (4 bolts) and taking the front forks off (1bolt).

Only managed to Eject myself from mine once but that was with the assistance of big gust after coming out of a powered up downwind turn.

Had a very quick and underpowered ride in the Libre Dragster last night at Wanda.
This thing is awesome, absolutely the Merc of buggies.
I set it up by eye, slight rear wheel neg camber, no toe in. Front wheel and axle in the middle.
The Eurotrax bigfoots and bigfoot light are amazing on soft sand, and I was able to track upwind which was impressive, using the upwind beast the 10M Flysurfer Speed2.
Will need a seat belt though, its a big buggy that weight 2/3rds as much as me!!
Got ejected on one turn! Really itching to get this thing out on a wide beach with no people around and some good wind!
Good to see John, Gavin, John and Gareth down there too.

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve