Slingshot rpm question

danno55 · Since 01 Jun 2012 23 Posts

Hi. I'm a relative beginner and have a 6m rpm. Whenever I use it it feels very on or off. Not like my bigger kites. Very jerky power... I'm wondering if the rigging would make a difference? For example setting it to wave vs freestyle or lowering the bar pressure on the rear line attachments.

Or maybe that's just how small high wind kites are?
Thanks

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

It really depends on what the wind is like when you are riding the 6m. In general though, since the kite is so small, your going to want to be lit when riding it. If the wind lulls on a 6m you are really going to feel it as compared to a larger kite.

Moving your rear line attachments will change the bar pressure and turning speed, maybe moving your rear lines towards the middle of the kite more will give it more bar pressure thus it wont feel as on/off in your hands?

Changing the bridle attachment points on the kite just changes where in the window the kite is going to sit. One attachment point will sit the kite further back in the window while another will make the kite sit more on the edge of the window.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1857 Posts XTreme Poster

^^^
What Ian said

Plus

Put your front line bridles on wake setting. Move rear pig tails in--towards leading edge at least one. Trim front line length with depower rope such that with the bar fully sheeted in the back lines are ever so slightly slack. I check this standing in the water every session just before diving the kite to get going takes 5 seconds. As your front lines stretch over time, you may find it useful to attach the front lines one knot closer to the kite than the backs. This effectively shortens the front lines

Rpms, like c-kites, hate slack front lines. They stall and lose power like any c kite would.
With the bar fully sheeted in the kite wing tips should be parallel or the rears slightly wider. If the fronts are wider the kite is stalling and won't perform. Folks who fly/flew c kites are used to this and the tuning is quick.

Just say "No" to flared front tips.

Tuned as indicated above, my 6rpm had a huge range and feels very solid as it sits a bit deeper in the window. The smaller the kite, the more sensative it will be.

Eric

Nak · Sat Sep 22, 12 6:21 pm

Good tips above. That's not typical of the RPM; I love the RPMs--including the 6m--because of how great they react in strong, gusty winds.

The very first thing I would check would be the tune of the bar. Almost certainly it's off. http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-10679.html You should check your bar tune every 10 sessions or so. My guess is your bar has never been checked. Typically, brand new bars need to be checked after their first session.

Next, what year is your kite? Bridles stretch over time. if it's a 2009 there's a very good chance it's time for a new bridle. It's amazing what a new bridle will do for a kite with a lot of sessions on it. I have a 2008 REV that was my main kite for a few seasons. I thought it was "bagged out"-- it was flying pretty bad. I threw on a new bridle and the kite flew like it was new...

I fly my RPMs on the rearmost rear pigtail and the frontmost front pigtail. I personally love the way they fly on those points. They just eat gusts for breakfast. One thing, the RPM is very "C-kite" like in that they de-power extremely well using your board. As a noob, you may not be used to using your board to control power. More experienced riders do it almost without thinking. The Rally has more depower at the bar, some riders find that more comfortable.

westportcap · Since 08 Jan 2012 54 Posts

I bought a used quiver of 2011 RPMs recently, and I had a chance to pump up and fly the 12m for the first time one late afternoon at the Event Site. The bar is a SS 20x25 comp stick.

Launching off the grass at the ES was less-than-perfect. As soon as the kite left Laird's able hands, it drifted back along the grass until it hot launched and gave me a good pull through the waist-high water. It was eventful, but not super-dangerous.

On the water, the wind began to build and I thought the kite was amazingly difficult to bring out of a dive. I had to YANK the stubborn thing to reverse course. Talk about "bar input".

As the wind built, the kite was tough to control, and I decided to get back to the grass. The sun was setting, and there weren't many people left on the grass to catch me; a woman tried to get the kite down as I came in, but it drifted back again and hot launched with much dramatic effect. I hung on, lucky to still be in the water, and the 12m dragged me a good 30 ft until I was able to bring it overhead and head back out toward the spit. The whole episode was humbling, sobering, and discouraging. An instantaneous shit storm.

I replayed it over and over in my head. What could I have done differently? Let go of the bar as the kite approached the grass? Unhook AND let go of the bar? Pull one of the OS handles?

This morning, I ran out my lines to check the lengths, and I found that both of the back lines have 20" extensions installed, making them, well, 20" longer than the front lines.

I've got to believe these extensions aren't supposed to be on there, but I'm not actually sure. It explains, I think, why the kite behaved like it did. Are the lines on the SS comp stick supposed to be equal length? And if so, why would a previous owner put them on there?

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Welcome to the event site and home of the shit show for launching. Can be a big shadow and I have seen and see the " most experienced " people have the same issue:-)
On another note I fly the same quiver except for my 14 rally now for light wind and the bars should be equal line lengths. Equal them out and go for the fun again:-)

I have found as others have mentioned that you have to use your board a little more for depower as opposed to the envy etc. just my experience cans thoughts and I know there Are many more experienced RPM flyers than myself

Good luck next time on the water!

westportcap · Since 08 Jan 2012 54 Posts

OK, I'm embarrassed to say that I just laid out my other two RPMs and guess what . . . in my PTSD haze after the ES shit storm, I detached the blue leader lines and pigtails from the kite and rolled them up with the lines. What a noob. The fronts and backs without the leaders + pigtails are close to equal lengths.

Which is good news and bad. I thought I'd found a flaw to explain my episode, but I'm now back where I started.

Anyway, please ignore the unequal line question, but if anyone has advice on avoiding the drama of an Event Site hot launch, especially when landing, I'm all ears.

Lurk · Since 04 Apr 2009 355 Posts Obsessed

How do you score a new bridal? Most companies will not sell you one.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

you must carry speeed past the boueys so you can use what good wind there is available to land. the most problems I see are when people come in too slow and lose that quality wind which causes the kite and kiter to not be in sync and thus back stall. Come in a bit higher so when your kite does fly back a little bit it is far from the tree that likes to eat kites. make sure the wind is not a southern one because that causes a huge wind shadow and shitty wind for the grassy launch. Even better start kiting more east where the wind is much steadier and cleaner. Maybe self land using the bushes and jetty from the hood river. that can be better than the grass but not as clean and soft on the feet!!!

The minnow · Since 26 Jan 2009 395 Posts argentina Obsessed

Am running into this everyday. Newbies buy kites and have no expience, then someone thinks they know trys to help<set up the kite> and makes it worse. All kites I know have the line ends equall. but not the lines,
...... So If you spend the money like a man and buy a new line set from slingshot you get eqaul length lines that will work on most bars. but not sling shot so they come with two sets of center line extensions, and they need to be put on the center lines to make your origanal SS bar work, very intelegant on slingshot side. Not both sets just one, first the longer set, and if they strech then the shorter ones. bravo slingshot. Slingshot bars from the factory do not come with equeall lenght front and back lines.. been through this problem.
D>P.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

Dp - who has given advice on here that is not correct. What advice on here has made it worse? How much time at the event site do you have launching and landing. The poster said to ignore his line length question as he figured it out himself. Maybe before you go blasting people on here for incorrect advice you should spend some more time learning to spell and write. When someone asks a question either give advice that is helpful or keep your trap or injured arm silent?

Campbell · Since 07 Sep 2008 409 Posts Camas, WA Obsessed

dangler · Since 26 Feb 2006 1773 Posts WINDY SPOTS XTreme Poster

Sella · Since 21 Apr 2007 1794 Posts Doin' The Dalles FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY

westportcap · Since 08 Jan 2012 54 Posts

Yes, all who were there will remember the day: strong gradient, whitecaps downriver, and no wind at the ES early afternoon. Everyone, including me, sat, watched and hoped. Some pumped up to be ready, just in case. Some packed up. Then, at about 4:15pm it picked up enough for big kites to get out, and it built from there.

As I was about to launch, a woman came in so I waited for her to clear. She issued an unnecessary apology, and then said something that sounded like she was mega-grateful to get her kite down and in safe hands.

The rest you know.

I appreciate your comments about possibly pinching the kite, and I will pay attention to that the next time I'm over-matched with kite and conditions.

Of course, I should have known things might not end well because I had already committed the cardinal sin of changing too many elements in my routine . . . first time on the RPM, first time on the Comp Stick, and first time launching / landing from the grass. Too many firsts.