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pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
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 Thu May 20, 10 11:53 am Fuels |
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So I'm thinking that I need to re-quiver this summer and part of me thinks that if every kite is trying to create that C kite feel, why not just get some fuels?
Last Fuel kites I flew were 06' How much different are the newer models?
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Kataku2k3
Since 14 Aug 2005
3753 Posts
Los Angeles, CA
Videographer
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| Thu May 20, 10 12:00 pm |
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Why not just demo one?  China lets everyone fly his...
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barfly
Since 31 Mar 2005
1214 Posts
Portland
BRACKISH
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| Thu May 20, 10 12:00 pm |
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The '09/'10 have more grunt and are a little slower to turn. Very subtle though. For example, I got the 7/9/11 in '09 and had to put the 11m into the 'big' kite category where in prior years it was definitely a higher-performance kite. I'm flying the 9m in those conditions now and have gone this year with 7/9 Fuels and a 13 Key. Perfect!!
I have a floaty surfboard/ 6'2" French UFO TL2 and a 6'0' Webber (pinny, thin, lots of tail rocker) to help filling in the quiver.
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JMatic
Since 12 Aug 2008
252 Posts
Boise, In Dat Ho
Obsessed
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| Thu May 20, 10 12:28 pm |
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I had the same thoughts last fall so I picked up a new 09-13m Fuel. Weird transition from Bow's b/c the kite flies so much faster and has way less grunt, but when its blowing 20 knots and steady there's nothing more fun!
Tech wise the new C's are nearly as stable with only slightly less throw/depower than equivalent size Bows/Hybrids.
Main diff was it flies more like a 10.5 or 11 than a 13 and turns super-quick, especially in the air, kiteloops turn into megaloops quick!!
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EY
Since 06 Jul 2008
76 Posts
NW, Florida, Asia
Made in China
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| Thu May 20, 10 12:38 pm |
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| MonkeyBoy, PM me your #. I can set you up a private demo.
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j
Since 08 Nov 2006
94 Posts
Seattle
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| Thu May 20, 10 2:28 pm |
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What kites were you on before?
I was on a 13m fuel last year and it was like trying to steer the goodyear blimp.
Wouldn't a super-quick kite turn mega loops into kiteloops not vice versa?
I'm not saying they're bad kites, just not fast in my opinion. The big kites are perfect for wakestyle and the smaller are good for mega loops, but not fast.
| JMatic wrote: | I had the same thoughts last fall so I picked up a new 09-13m Fuel. Weird transition from Bow's b/c the kite flies so much faster and has way less grunt, but when its blowing 20 knots and steady there's nothing more fun!
Tech wise the new C's are nearly as stable with only slightly less throw/depower than equivalent size Bows/Hybrids.
Main diff was it flies more like a 10.5 or 11 than a 13 and turns super-quick, especially in the air, kiteloops turn into megaloops quick!! |
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magicmaker
Since 29 Oct 2006
895 Posts
da Hood
Opinionated
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| Thu May 20, 10 2:31 pm FUELS |
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... are the shit! plain and simpul; no bridles, no nonsense, just pure fun and power!
What barfly said is spot on, except that i don't think they are slower to turn, i just think they need more input to turn them quickly. Once you get use to it you won't even notice.
I don't have much to add except that the 2010 11m Fuel flies more like a 9m than the 2009 11m (which felt like a truck in the air). It flies faster, turns quicker, feels much more nimble and quick when flying it. Pretty much the reason i upgraded from 2009 was because of the improvements I saw/felt on the 2010 11m.
I haven't gotten to fly my 2010 13m yet, but i heard from a reliable source that it is much improved over the 2009 13m as far as flying speed and turning go; similar to the improvements the 11m saw.
The 7m and 9m Fuels are definitely my favorite sizes. 7m,9m,11m or 7m,9m,13m are the money 3 kite quivers depending on your weight.
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shymac
Since 20 Jul 2005
919 Posts
Home Valley, Wa.
Bigfoot
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| Thu May 20, 10 2:43 pm |
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Must buy Fuel... 
I would never SK glide with any other kite... Super safe due to no bridle/pulleys and add 4 800lb lines to the new Compstick and you have the best kite out there for that piece of mind at 50Ft+...
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JMatic
Since 12 Aug 2008
252 Posts
Boise, In Dat Ho
Obsessed
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| Thu May 20, 10 3:06 pm |
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| j wrote: | | What kites were you on before? |
[/quote]
Flexifoil Ion's & Atom's, hadn't flown a Fuel since 2006....for good cause too, death machines back then.
These days they're snappy turners with direct feel and yea bar pressure sucks, but so does dangling below a flat aspect turd, btw I'm not a megalooper on purpose--just accidents on occasion.
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barfly
Since 31 Mar 2005
1214 Posts
Portland
BRACKISH
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| Thu May 20, 10 3:20 pm Re: FUELS |
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| magicmaker wrote: | | I don't have much to add except that the 2010 11m Fuel flies more like a 9m than the 2009 11m (which felt like a truck in the air). It flies faster, turns quicker, feels much more nimble and quick when flying it. Pretty much the reason i upgraded from 2009 was because of the improvements I saw/felt on the 2010 11m. |
Really good to hear. Thanks for the input. I need to try the 2010 11m for sure then. The 13m Key out here on the coast is great for my big kite though. It has no problem ranging down to the 11m zone and pulls like a truck on light wind days where you need all you can get in the swell.
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stringer
Since 31 Jul 2007
694 Posts
Chucktown
Flying Tomato
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| Thu May 20, 10 3:29 pm Re: Fuels |
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| pdxmonkeyboy wrote: | | Last Fuel kites I flew were 06' How much different are the newer models? |
Just stay with the 06s!
Best kites ever made!
07s are cool too.
_________________
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10069384@N05/sets/ |
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TWIN-FIN
Since 24 May 2006
805 Posts
Portland, OR
Hot Monkey
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| Thu May 20, 10 7:16 pm |
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Monkey Dude,
I have been thinking the same thing.
Dammit now Im gonna have to demo a fuel 
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Inept_Fun
Since 14 Apr 2005
1417 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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| Thu May 20, 10 7:51 pm |
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Just throwing this out there but compared to the 06's the newer fuels are a lot less grunty. The main difference is going to be the depower. But yeah 09 gruntier than 06?? No...
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I heart dangling |
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barfly
Since 31 Mar 2005
1214 Posts
Portland
BRACKISH
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| Fri May 21, 10 8:53 am |
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| Inept_Fun wrote: | | Just throwing this out there but compared to the 06's the newer fuels are a lot less grunty. The main difference is going to be the depower. But yeah 09 gruntier than 06?? No... |
Wow. I guess I gotta fly the two together... again. Have them all here because some of the guys fly older Fuels. Hands down, the '06/'07 Fuel 9m is just not as powerful as my '09/'10 9m. It is noticeable. It would be good if someone at SS commented on the design. The '09+ kites seem to be higher aspect, they loop slower but more powerfully and I think that is what they were designed for. If you're sayin that it is in the bar then I agree but then depower is not happening at the kite.
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Pete
Since 29 Oct 2007
843 Posts
Opinionated
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| Fri May 21, 10 9:04 am |
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| JMatic wrote: |
they're snappy turners with direct feel and yea bar pressure sucks |
I've never flown a Fuel, but it sounds like there is heavy bar pressure from this comment, true? I like really light bar pressure, so probably not for me.
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forrest
Since 21 Jun 2005
4330 Posts
Hood River
Hick
CGKA Member
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| Fri May 21, 10 9:05 am |
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| I love C kite grunt and pull but I don't think they're necessary anymore. The Delta Kite shape that Wainman started and everyone else is "borrowing" gives the best of both worlds, grunt with similar SLE friendliness. I say similar because the Delta shape only depowers probably 75% when other SLE kites like the Havoc and Rev are more like 90%. All that means is that once the wind starts pumping 40mph, things can get a little hairy for a new kiter and annoying for an experienced kiter. The nice thing though is you still keep a lot of range and larger sweet spot compared to a C kite.
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Inept_Fun
Since 14 Apr 2005
1417 Posts
Hood River
XTreme Poster
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| Fri May 21, 10 9:35 am |
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| barfly wrote: | | Inept_Fun wrote: | | Just throwing this out there but compared to the 06's the newer fuels are a lot less grunty. The main difference is going to be the depower. But yeah 09 gruntier than 06?? No... |
Wow. I guess I gotta fly the two together... again. Have them all here because some of the guys fly older Fuels. Hands down, the '06/'07 Fuel 9m is just not as powerful as my '09/'10 9m. It is noticeable. It would be good if someone at SS commented on the design. The '09+ kites seem to be higher aspect, they loop slower but more powerfully and I think that is what they were designed for. If you're sayin that it is in the bar then I agree but then depower is not happening at the kite. |
Grunt is different than power... The newer fuels do not fly as far back in the wind window making them less grunty... this is why i choose to fly the RPM which does sit back in the window, making it more grunty.
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I heart dangling |
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