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Rider: Weight, 70kg. 10 years flying, last 5 fanatical, early days on my own in Narooma scary solo sport as a learner.
Style, Surf, wave ridding
Weather: 16knots to unknown. Also have 6.5 chimerra 25k on
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 10/10.
Disclosure: none tried a demo 2010 Argo was superior to the tarkoon then better up wind great value, been my kites for the last 2 to 3 years.
My Comments: Just got my new 9m Argo to replace my 9m Argo 2010 had a ball on it, test flew it on the beach as doubted the wind was strong enough, pulled great so reluctantly took it in the surf, as waves had a bit of size, to my surprise it had enough pull hence seemed to have better bottom end and indoubtly turned faster. In my opinion a great kite and worth every cent. Great stuff.
Great value kite for one, instant customer service from designer/owner/kiter -no pass the buck , lots of grunt , massive wind range - 70kg on surfboard strapped from 15- 29knts what i have tried - and not warping out once depowered , one pump for us lazy people , epic relaunch , black kite with red and green tips looks the biz. Flew and owned 2010 argo and have been flying since, tried 2011 -didnt really do it for me , but the 2012 great improvement. Tried the 10m to see if i could sneak some more low end , but the 9m with my weight works a little better for me, even though it trucked along good , the 9m is such a sweet kite for light riders . Add a 7m and i am sorted.
9M had more top end ,i could fly mine 2010 around 25knts, then i found it not enjoyable ,kite flying to high after depowering to manage , the other day on 2012 it was stable as up to 28+ ,still had more left in the depower, bottom end seems similar, had less bar pressure on 1b on the new kite , drifted a little better. Allround and easy transition, all that was enjoyable before ,with a few better improvements for me .
Only flown it a couple of times though ,more exploring to be done.
I can't give any reference, but I can add that I recently purchased the 11.5 meter Argo and was looking to replace my 12 07 Rebel. I wanted to lean toward an Australian product and I liked what I saw. Price was great, less than a second hand Rebel.
I was looking for an all rounder, I fly a 9 and 7 Rev2 when the wind gets into the 20's and up. I wanted a larger kite that would work great in the surf when the wind wasn't as strong. (I am 82 tacos in weight)
First go on the kite and I was less than impressed, but I was trying a new spot and there were major holes in the wind. On initial pump up the one thing that irritated me a little was that the two inside strut hoses are too long and they don't just pump up. I have to get the kite up to pressure and then manually straighten them out to get the air in, then re pump up. (easy fix i know, but I currently don't have any small zip ties and I shouldn't have to fix it.) Same goes when I deflate, they stay pumped until I straighten them out. Can someone tell me the correct length for the two inner strut hoses?
Initial flights felt good and I tried the advertised easy self launch on the water. It wasn't as easy as it looked in the video but did get it up in a wind hole.
I went back on line and checked the multitude of settings and worked out that b36 was what I should have set up so I swapped it out.
Next day I went out in 12 knots to see if it pulled like the advertised 13. Well, I have to say that "Hell yes it does!!!!" I was going upwind on a 141 twinny easy. There were a few gusts to 15/17 and had no problem sending this kite up. Tried several self launches and lands to feel the kite, all works great as advertised.
This kite really is the bomb, and I can't believe how a few little changes made the kite light up. Turns so quick and easy, nothing complicated about flying this kite at all. I love my quick turning little Revs, and this kite didn't seem much slower despite the size difference. I think when I have to replace my smaller kites I would buy another one of these kites. Can't wait to get this thing out in 18 knots plus, I am ready to send this thing!
Every part of the kite is well build, the bar is fantastic and easy to use. Don't really understand the little mini phatom 5th line thing, someone might be able to explain that. I haven't flagged the kite yet to see how it falls out of the sky, but I will check that out next time I am out and it is safe to do so. Was gonna wait to Christmas to get this kite, but seeing all the vids pushed me to get this earlier. (plus my Rebel has a slow leak and the bladder is nearly shot)
Highly recommended kite.
Someone should fix my inner hoses though, maybe my local rep will sort it out cause I can't be bothered right now. I just want to fly it.
my 2 pesos worth
fair point, and I did think about that and made a comment to the dude that was with me when I first pumped it up to see the shape of the kite. Fresh out of the bag, really flat, etc, give it a dozen sessions and then see.
For what its worth, the Slingys have never given me a problem in the surf with popping a strut tube, or anything else, and I have crashed them more times than I care to admit.
Quite happy to give a month or so and then see if I want to shorten them. There is value in what you are saying so I will wait and see.
Thanks for listening
Forgot to mention again, what is the phantom 5th line that I have heard talk of? Before I release the kite to learn how it is suppose to flag, can you describe how the safety works on this kite? Could not find any documentation on this, seems they always stay up in the air!
Don't mind testing it myself but currently we are windless... Maybe tomorrow...
cheers
I have flown many other kites. Don't get misunderstand, I loved that Rebel and would have replaced it with another if it wasn't the cost. Still, I am looking always to buy local and support local industry. I have nothing but good things to say about my Rebel kite, and recently I test rode a current Rebel 7 mt. right after riding my Rev7mt. They were different, but I liked them both. I am not hard to please when it comes to kites, as long as they do what I want them to do.......
Yeh man I wasn't talking about just rebels though. Nearly every other kite brand would be better after07. Glad ya stoked.
Yes, the kite that i have just purchased is an 11.5. The kite is very very good, turns on a dime, feels smooth, and had me going upwind in 12 knots with a 141 board. Had it out yesterday and it was 22 to 32 knots. The kite did behave a bit differently in the strong gusts, and I would expect it to not perform at its peak in those higher winds. I could have gone to my 9 easily, but I wanted to see how this baby would handle. I never once felt out of control, edge hard and it would pull right up. It did have a habit of doing a little shake on the end of the turn out and the kite wanted to keep heading down toward the water. It took a good pull from the back of the bar to steady the ship. Did not do that when flying it in the conditions it was meant for, one hand steering was easy until the wind really ramped up.
No question about this kite, it goes up easy, fast, and high, higher than I have ever been. Struggled a bit with the landings trying to find the sweet spot of knowing when to redirect and ease out on landing. A person with more skill would have no trouble, and I can't wait to get this kite in the hands of better kiters to see what they can do.
I tried looping a few times, had it crash once from not comitting enough, but again I put that down to pilot error not the kite.
Easy self launch and self land in those conditions as well, had no trouble whatsoever in keeping in control. It felt super safe....
For some reason the safety on the chicken loop came off when I was near shore just after my change of direction, and it flagged easy to the front lines and never felt like it was going to power up and do crazy things even after it rolled on itself. I wasn't able to reconnect the chicken loop in time before it rolled, and I was in knee deep water, so I just walked up the lines, grabbed the kite and then walked back to the beach and rerigged it.
Yesterday was great testing conditions, and I had it to myself for an hour and a half before someone else came out. I had to leave early, but three hours was enough for me.
The real highlight was seeing a pod of dolphins, I charged over to them and when I got to them they started darting about under my board. It felt like I was right on top of them, and I could actually keep up with them until they grew bored of the game. All around it was a great day.
Stoked with the kite and I will leave the hoses alone and just get used to it....
Hi what are main differences between 2011 and 2012 13.5 Argo? And what weight are you in the video to get going from 12 knot?
Hey Chris did the life guards get a bit worried when you had your hands in the air and that shark fin so close at 32 secs?
Thanks for info. So on a 136 twin tip board & weighing 91kg and using longer liines (25m with extensions?) what would you expect the wind range to be on the 2012 13.5 kite? Somewhere in this forum but can't remember thread topic, you are coming out with 3 strut kite i think - what size would this be the biggest at and would this have more lower wind range as the kite must be lighter than argo?
In regards to the hose length from the l.e to the strut. My 2011 taboo had the hose tear away from the l.e im not sure if it was from the length that caused it or not but it does make sense that having a longer hose allows a bit of room to move. To make matters worse its been bout 3 months and still no replacement
I tried one too without demoing, and I am glad I did! A dude around here has last years 9 but I was pretty sure that I would like this kite based on watching Chris's videos of Butterbox and how the kite performed. Also, I was looking at a larger size kite and didn't want to be too influenced by the way a 9 would turn compared to the 11.5.Glad I went with my instinct. I am sure I will get used to the hose situ, or maybe it will improve over time, (which I think is likely the case).
All my new surfboards over 40 years of surfing have never been "try before you buy" type of situation. I rode enough of them early on to know what I like, how to evolve it with my style (or sometimes lack of) and I had to take a punt. Especially with new shapers that I wanted to try.