2014 Rally performance ?

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

What do you guys think ?

Talking w/ buddies, I've heard the low end suffers, and the earlier versions were better performers.

I've demo'ed an 8. I thought it had pretty good range, had a nice solid feel, handled the gusts well, and turning was good. Nice new bar ! Didn't get a chance to try unhooked.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 615 Posts Addicted

well,

opinions vary....

i've had my 7 out when others are on 9's and 10's and had fun
also had it out when others are on 5's and 6's and had fun

so the range seems to be just fine
the only thing that seems to suffer is my friends not knowing what size to rig for themselves when i am on the 7!

2012 had more of a pivot turn and was a better straight wave kite
the 2014 has a nice tight turn with some pull so to me a much better all-around kite.
you can slam the bar hard and make it pivot or let it carve through the air and get some pull in the loops, either way
i like having the choice!

have not ridden it unhooked so no comment about that.

hooked in, jumps well, hang time is great, easy to time the jumps and landings, loops good enough for me to get a big smile going and still really fun in the waves, quick turning and depowers/powers back up quickly.

overall imo a really fun rag to play under
lets you spend more time playing with the board and not thinking about the kite, it just is where it should be.

just my opinion, as they do vary and YMMV

Lurk · Since 04 Apr 2009 355 Posts Obsessed

I have tried the 2014 12m and here are my impressions:

2014 12m is BIGGER and has far more low end, loftier, bigger jumps than 2012 12m. Laid them out and it's significant size difference.

2014 is heavier construction and much more stable, less tacoing.

2014 is also SLOWER turning, less pivot, a little better unhooking for obvious reasons.

Overall, improved from 2013 but more of an all around kite than the wave kites of 2012.

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

What has impressed me is the stability of the kite and the full range of the kite you have access to. The kite flies well fully sheeted in to fully sheeted out...there is a very gradual power curve that makes it incredibly smooth. I have ridden other brands where it seems like full power to plopping down in the water happens in 2 inches. I think this shows how well balanced this kite design is. The 2012 kite was similar, but it seems more dialed in 2014. (but maybe that is just the crisp canopy and tight lines of a new kite?)

I have limited time on the 9 and 14, but from what I've read and initial impressions, I think you are good on speed with 10 and smaller. I haven't flown the 12. And on the 14, even if you crank that 14 bar hard, it's not going to come around as fast as your 2012 14M did. However, the 14 has incredible stability and lift. It is such a solid kite. Easy to fly. You can kind of just forget about the kite and have a good time on your board, even in light air, and it will be there for you. So, you need to move it less. On a mid-teens wave session, though, I'll miss being able to throw the 14 around like I used to.

2014 kites definitely have a better low end than the 2012 kites. Stability at high end is still impressive. Easy to self land and self launch from the beach. (and the water, of course)

On the larger sizes it seems you can buy a size smaller than you had if you are upgrading your 2011/2012 quiver, if you were happy with your old wind range. If you always wished your Rallys were a little larger, than go with the same sizes and your low end will improve. I think the 2011/2012 kites were a little small, so if you are coming from another brand just buy whatever size you are used to on your current line-up.

I haven't flown the 2013 Rallys so I don't know how they compare.

(UPDATE) Decided to add a picture and qualify my 14M comments…as I just had a fantastic session on it! Every time i've had it out for non-ocean riding the kite is an absolute BLAST! I had my 14M out in 18-20mph today and the thing just soars. That is a lot of wind for the 14M but it depowers nice and the hang time on jumps is crazy. I'd pull in a ton of depower to ease bar pressure and head easily upwind, repower the kite when I got somewhere fun and boost big. Don't shy away from the 14 for your big kite, just understand it's different than the 2011/2012. But I don't think you'll hate it. Smile

Anyway, for size comparison I was out with two people on 12s and a guy on a 10 2012 Rally. The 10M guy said he needed more juice, the two guys on 12s were moderately powered. I suspect the 2014 12M Rally would have been perfect, as would a 2012 14M.

I've also had it out in the low teens when windsurfers were slogging around on large sails and I was zipping around with a bigger smile on my face (that's what I pictured, anyway)

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Thanks a lot for the input guys. I really like the kite as well, but heard some mixed reviews ...

barfly · Since 31 Mar 2005 1214 Posts Portland BRACKISH

Getting more sessions on both my 9 and 12. Agree with all points.

For wave riding the 2012 has different flying characteristics, don't know if that means its is better or not. I haven't heard anyone mention in these posts that the bridles are significantly longer than the 2012s. I think this is the reason why they require a different technique in the waves. When bringing the 2012 from low to high with a as you come out of a bottom turn, it flies more like a c-kite and doesn't take much to keep the momentum flowing. With the 2014s you need to be conscious about bringing it up or it will give a backstall feeling and you lose some power until it snaps back. This just takes some practice but not necessarily "worse".

Like knotwindy gotta look at the conditions independent of what kites you see on the water. What others are on don't necessary tell you what you need to rig because the 2014s are so rangy. I'm happy either lit or a little underpowered in conditions where I know others would not be happy on the same sized kite.

Was at manzo last week, thought I was going to get skunked but it fanned in for a couple hours and I was very well powered in light ass wind. Kited on silky waves from drainos to yards and back again. I'm 170 and rode a 6'2" board but still. I know I couldn't have had fun on my 2012 12m.

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

I like Pie. Pie is yummy.... What Pie is better???

i think Dutch Apple Pie is better than Apple Pie. Smile

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

Wow, thanks Kocheese for the informative response. Rolling Eyes

I want to buy the Rally partially based on it's excellent reputation. I had heard that this years kite was kind of a bummer compared to previous versions of the kite. Just looking to see what others thought before I bought.

Thanks again guys for the other great responses .

Windian · Since 28 Apr 2008 901 Posts Newport, OR NEWPORT OG

First tried 2014 Rallys 10m and 14m thinking they could replace my RPMs of identical size. I was wrong, the Rallys were way more powerful and needed to be flown in significantly less of a wind range. Ended up purchasing 2014 7m, 9m, and 12m Rallys to replace my 2011 8m, 10m and 14m RPMs. So far I like the drift, stability, upwind capability, power transistion, wind range, and edge of window locking-in better with Rallys than the old trusty RPMs. However, the RPMS turning and quick responsiveness to bar movement was better with the RPMs over the Rallys. That is something that Slingy might be able to figure out in years to come. Overall I am stoked about riding some new and different kites for the next year to change things up and hopefully improve my kiting adventures.

Very Happy

socal · Since 23 Jun 2008 10 Posts

Just picked up a 2014 14m and don't have much to add that wasn't already said. I was looking to upgrade my old kites and tried a lot of different kites before settling on the Rallys. Can't comment on the older years, but you would be hard pressed to find a nicer all around kite. Great range, good jumper, crazy hang time, stable, smooth power, and well mannered when the conditions start to turn.

Lurk · Since 04 Apr 2009 355 Posts Obsessed

I would say the new 14m Rally is one of the best jumping kites I have ever tried. Big bar pressure, but the loft and height are crazy. Would like to hear about the 8m in the waves, turning speed, range...?

Kochease, you should try a key lime pie, much better than Dutch apple.

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

I'm diggin the 2014 Rally so far (3 sessions). Bar pressure seems about right to me when properly trimmed. Nice, stable & predictable kite so far. Likes to stay in the air, even when carving downwind .. New bar is nice ..

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

socal · Since 23 Jun 2008 10 Posts

Has anyone played with the rear line settings at the kite to see if it increases turning speed? I've moved them on my 14m from the third highest bar pressure setting to the second highest and didn't really see a difference in either turning speed or bar pressure. I'm going to try the lightest setting next time, but thought I would ask to see what others have tried

kochease · Since 03 Jul 2008 760 Posts In Ft. Stevens, OR Opinionated

do I use a spoon or fork for my dutch apple pie? the correct answer is a spork Cool

toddjb · Since 16 Oct 2007 271 Posts MD Obsessed

If you're interested, here is a pretty detailed
2014 Slingshot Rally review.

I don't have enough unhooked experience to compare it to other kites, but with regards to waves and freestyle, I like it a lot.