Fuel 07-Is it the Kite or Bar

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 537 Posts Oregon Addicted

I have heard the larger fuels (13,15,17) didn't change from 06 but the smaller kites did. I have also heard that the depower and range of the 07 fuels is really great.

So, is it the kite changes in the smaller sized that makes the O7 so great or is it the new bar which allows more range of depower?

Or are all the kites different and its as simple as that.

thanks for your feedback.

Im trying to determine if its worth upgrading to the 07 or saving a few $$ with an 06.

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Word on the street is it's the bar - huge depower, but I don't own one. They probably did something to the kite too.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

i know on the 11m fuel, the kite wing tips are definately longer in length. Not sure about the 13m and 15m cause i never owned 1 model from both years. Only with the 11m.

Also from comparing my '06 11m and '07 11m it seems like the arc profile in the canopy is greater on the '07, providing more lift and possibly helping with the depower, as it seems like a greater arc would allow the kite to open up and depower more when the bar is sheeted out.

I personally think it is a combo of the kite and bar that provides the incredible depower. I'll have to ask the person i sold my '06 15m fuel to, as he has a 9m,13m,15m 06 fuels and uses the 07 bar.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Tucker's '06 Fuel 13 feels amazing with his '07 Link bar. Depower is insane to me, but then again I'm used to my fuck'd up '05s that don't worth a shit... haha! Haven't tried the '07s so I can't give a definative answer.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I'd guess its the kite... you could always unscrew the old stopper while you were riding and push the bar out as far as you want, didn't mean the depower would be extended or any smoother.

I flew the 06 Fuels a few times and they had a lot more depower than previous years. Maybe this year they just took it a step further... Either way the build quality and finish on the kite has always been top notch, its great gear.

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

I had an '06 quiver of 7,11,15 and now have the same '07 quiver. The '07's have a familiar feeling, but there are definite differences that are strangely unique for each of the kite sizes.

'06 vs '07 7meter- The most significant change was experienced here as the '06 was actually the same or similar cut as the '05. The '07 7m has significantly wider wing tips, better depower and IMO faster... with the addition of the sliding stopper ball, it's a very rangey kite allowing me to kite more-safely at Manzo and still creep into the 11m range if I want to surf in lighter winds. I really like it.

'06 vs '07' 11meter- Pretty much the same kite with a slight increase in wingtip width. A bit slower Sad

and I don't think it really helped the kite much. The '06 11m was really a great kite.

'06 vs '07 15meter- The '07 is just a bigger, more powerful kite which I'm really happy about. My '06 on the light days was always just a wee bit less power than I wanted when I rigged my biggest kite. That being said... the '06 15m was my kite of choice on bigger swell days where I might have otherwise rigged an 11m (note that it worked out nicely that the '07 11m has a bit more grunt so I can feel safe with that choice when the water is moving alot or the swell is big and you need to get out!).

bar- Overall, the bar is an improvement mostly for the slidding/locking stopper ball. It really increases the range of your kites. Downsides are that the whole 'kit' is now on the trim loop. It is maybe more overhead down there than I like. The trim loop feels clunky and the trim depower is harder to de-cleat and power down... this isn't too much of a factor though anymore. I don't hardly use it opting for all of my adjustment in the sliding stopper ball.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

pndla · Since 10 Jul 2006 11 Posts

i think its a mix of kite and bar.... the 05/06 kites defenitly had less depower - you could feel it when depowering that after a certain point of sheeting out it wouldnt change anything anymore...

i dont think that the 07 - 11 is slower than the 06 - i was riding the 06 with a 17``bar and also the 07 i use the small bar and its still fast enough i think!

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

Maybe the 07 11m is a bit larger, or I've been wearing my gloves ever since I had it... it is definitely not a 'worse' kite than the 06 11m. I give the 07 more boost and power for sure but my 06 11m was a borderline "small" kite and I experienced quality handling in gusts up to 30mph. I don't think I would want the 07 11m up on days like that.

The 07 15m has more material than the 06 and flies like a bigger kite, so it's a bit slower but again I could hold the 06 down in 12m winds and I wouldn't even want the 07 in the air on days like that. It's powerful mate.

My friend has the other splits in the 07 9m and 13m and I'd like to try them out. I saw the 9m in the air yesterday and it looks eerily like my 06 11m. I dunno ??? I'm liking the more powerful 07s though, I always felt a tad underpowered on the 06's.

Take all this with a grain of salt, I'm not much of a techy, just spewing some thoughts. I've only flown any of my 07s about 3-4 sessions each.

magicmaker · Since 29 Oct 2006 895 Posts da Hood Opinionated

thanks for the info barfly, what you're saying makes total sense, that maybe the kites are just a little bigger and/or more powerful than the respective 06 model.

i know to take everything said on the forum with a grain of salt because after all it is just personal opinion and personal experience.

i really want an 07 9m now