2017 Ozone Zephyr V5 detail pics

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Kamikuza said...

thefacts said..
Owned a zephyr since 2013 and never had an issue. Fairly bulletproof given the use and abuse. Maybe time to lighten up and stop the brand bashing given you are not finding much support.
Note - I pay for my own gear and smaller kites are another brand so i have no vested interest in promoting Ozone.

So it's just the new ones then?

What the F the kite 3+ old if you kite on Sunday only after church yes it may be new ??? But they did up the Dacron too D2 in 2015 kites which was an improvement

"Serial troll" suggets I'm at it all the time like waveslave or the other HeWhoMustNotBeNamed...when it's just your endless line of BS I'm picking on. No hate for you Steve, I've no doubt you're a swell guy but you need to get your facts straight, that's all.

Like, the only Ozone I've owned was a Cult 3.5.

If there's nothing wrong, why do they keep falling apart?

Where are all the failed kites?
We've 4 out of 5 Reo's unusable at the club house, the guy who bought a new Zephyr had the LE explode on a minor drop, and the Catalyst we just had for demo had stitching unravelling on the LE seam. I've seen more busted Ozone kites than working ones!

Where are the complaints?
In the deleted thread section and over at KF.

How was it resolved? I'm guessing the dealer had to front up cos Ozone was haven't none of it. Crikey, maybe supporting your local store is a good idea after all, if the manufacturers are dropping the ball...!

Why the loyal customers?
No idea--wait, maybe it's the service dealers give No more Ozone riders here, they've all switched to more reliable brands

I have used Ozone kites exclusively as a team rider (2011-14) and since then as a loyal and happy customer. I have had one failure in that time (2011 C4 LE seam) which was replaced immediately and courteously.

Currently running a quiver of two Enduros (awesome kites btw) and two 2014 Catalysts that have had a LOT of use and simply refuse to die.

In my own experience and my observations of other Ozone kites and riders in the area I have to say that the quality and consistency is very very high and that Kami must have another agenda which I wish he would deal with elsewhere.

I'm not going to get dragged into a slinging match or post further on this thread (I hardly post at all these days), I just want to put my hand up as a very satisfied Ozone user who is sick of the BS from Kami.

Stay tuned guys just got one up this way. Once give it a good run will post a couple reviews in a few weeks from different level riders.

Till then, stay cool and go riding. Less seabreeze lol

... Hey Steve (TerryMcTool),

can you take a few pics comparing the V4 and V5,,,, like you did with the Reo?

Cheers,

Robbie

@Kamikuza
Your opening sentence in response to being called a serial troll says it all. You blatantly exaggerate, and you are "at it" hating on me/Ozone at every opportunity (You said "when it's just your endless line of BS I'm picking on"). You have clearly elected yourself as supreme judge and executioner of myself and Ozone on forums. This thread started with my post on the Zephyr V5, openly declared my connection to Ozone and although it went over some people's heads, some humour about not being able to fly the kite at the time of posting. Then 48 hrs later I did fly the kite and posted again.
There is no endless BS from me, but there is, so far as I can see, an endless stream of BS from you. I don't even post that much these days, and even then when I do, its mostly to help and inform, definitely not as you ridiculously claim "endless BS".
Your accusation that you have a clubhouse full of failed Ozone kites, I'm calling BS too, because all kites fail eventually as do all manmade products. If they failed due to faulty workmanship or materials within 12 months Ozone would fix or replace them, no questions asked. If they were abused and failed within 12 months probably not, but there is a grey area, and Ozone is very generous when it comes to warranty, although a lot depends on the local distributor and how they present the problem to Ozone, their relationship with Ozone and if they have been honest and straight in the past with regard to warranty claims. If they failed after 12 months yeah well they were probably well used, and beyond warranty anyway The kites status as "club" kites makes it sound like they might get well above average use?
But without a specific record of the purchase date and then usage and problem experienced for the kites you have listed, it just sounds like more Ozone hate from a now well-established hater.

As a matter of fact, I've handled every single Ozone warranty claim in Australia for the last 13 years, from even before they made inflatable kites and I can assure you the rate of failure and claims, compared to any other brand within my retail shop and dealer network, was extremely low and definitely the lowest that I know of. Ozone has screwed up, but when they did they owned up proactively and let everyone know, like when they had the bladder issue. I keep stocks of bladders here and we will honour a bladder valve claim by express post everytime, no ifs or buts.

The 2 Edges that had cosmetic issues (they did not fail and are still in use) are being replaced, we do not have records of any others. We handled that claim poorly in retrospect, but if you looked into the facts, which you clearly are not interested in, you would most likely have made the same decisions we did. The 2 customers in question are getting brand new Edge V8 kites in exchange for their current kites within days, I'm pretty sure they are happy with the outcome.

If you don't have a positive contribution to a review thread, why comment at all? Especially if you have no experience with the reviewed kite and as you also declare no interest in the brand?

@Eppo
The fuss made over 2 kites was blown out of proportion. Did we handle it well in hindsight, no. Kamikuza went to town on that KF thread too, as did a few other serial Ozone haters and brand pimps. Damage to another brand is all fair in the world of commerce in my observations, and any mistake will be milked to death by opposition brands under the cover of anonymous logins and team pimps. The VW dieselgate fiasco is a great example.
Team riders opinions do and should matter, especially those that actually still pay for their kites, which is most. Sure they get a deal, but if they hated their kites most I know would move on to another brand.

Steve you sure it is just two kites?...might be, those threads can be hard to follow because people do like to whinge where an opportunity arises.

The KF thread seems to start with two major issues, but then a lot of others chime in with negative experiences. I've read some stuff on here as well.

Are you certain all is well?

But bad news travels for sure, and yet the hundreds to thousands of good experiences don't often get heard.

So...I take it ozone are not changing any manufacturing process details, just business as usual?

"New LE construction method"

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lucy5 said..
I did have a zephyr 2013 2014 model bought new great kite but i did have a bladder problem was loosing air turned out just under inflation vave the bladder had a 1cm light cut just leaking so kite must not of been tested to good before sending after being made then was told ozone not good for warranty repair approvals was offered free repair from seller but fixed myself great ever since

Hi Lucy5

Thats the year model we had the valve issue, I can supply you with a new bladder if you want it. The issue did not surface immediately usually took a week to a few months to surface, but the issue was leaking around the base of the valve base, like you describe.

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cauncy said..
I'm all for honesty but I think some have gone a tad far in their comments, you can have a chat privately via emails, or you can be spiteful and do it public,

If teabaggin and comapny had been "polite" and kept it private, they wouldn't be getting new kites or any other satisfying outcome--they'd already been told "your fault tough luck" despite the obviously and seriously wrong construction. Sorry, cosmetics. Easier to take advantage of the nice guys behind closed doors. . .

And if you talk **** in public, expect a public rebuttal. If you can't take it, don't give it. Man up and stop hiding behind private messages and multiple log ins.

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Kamikuza said...

cauncy said..
I'm all for honesty but I think some have gone a tad far in their comments, you can have a chat privately via emails, or you can be spiteful and do it public,

If teabaggin and comapny had been "polite" and kept it private, they wouldn't be getting new kites or any other satisfying outcome--they'd already been told "your fault tough luck" despite the obviously and seriously wrong construction. Sorry, cosmetics. Easier to take advantage of the nice guys behind closed doors. . .

And if you talk **** in public, expect a public rebuttal. If you can't take it, don't give it. Man up and stop hiding behind private messages and multiple log ins.

How many ozone kites do you own?
Which ones have you had issues with
When if relevant did you make a claim?
IMHO it seems like you've a gripe for some reason, the reason I say this is that you've gone to a reasonable effort in your internet searching to try to ridicule someone and a brand, wank posts like this put people's livelihoods at risk,
Just think about it for a moment,
As for secret logins etc your not that transparent yourself

What are you on, your sounding pathetic,
I could be wrong but your sounding a proper dickhead, I carnt understand how you'd get so bitter toward someone,
Please fill me in with why you'd go to such trouble

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Puetz said..
... Hey Steve (TerryMcTool),

can you take a few pics comparing the V4 and V5,,,, like you did with the Reo?

Cheers,

Robbie

Here you go mate. I rounded up a 2015 and a 2016, but I only used the 2016, because there were not significant changes between those 2 models and in fact the bladder sets to service Zephyrs from 2013 to 2016 are the same. The main changes in that time frame have been to the canopy shape and bridle.

Zephyr V5 is a completely new model, and is significantly different to the previous versions as these pics will clearly show. Even though it took a bit of effort I really enjoyed doing it as I learned a lot about all of the changes, not only in the overall design, but in all the small construction changes too.

Kites inflated to the same pressure with an electric pump and the old on top of the new.

Steering pressure and speed of turn adjustment on the new kite, none on the old.

Centre strut to centre strut. Struts have a completely different construction, tapering is achieved by longitudinally cut panels which gives stiffer and stronger struts, this is not a viagra commercial.

Old strut conical segmented design. Also shows the old LE seam reinforcement.

Middle strut is approx 100mm further to the tip on new kite

Really different tip shapes, other pics below show it even better.

New LE closing seam construction, neat and very tough. Scuff pads on every segment seam now too like the Reo V4

Old LE, scuff pads only on seams that were likely to have contact when self launching and landing. This is a well used 2016 kite, it was the very first one off the production line, it was used in the photo shoot then passed on to Andy Yates who sold it to a local who uses it frequently. It was no signs of LE seam issue and has the same seam as the Edge V8 This kite and the new one were pumped to 8PSI.

New kite at the back

Big difference when stood up like this

Side view

Seam scuff pads extend into the inside of the LE, on every seam between the struts, including the back of the strut segment too.

Old kite sits up a bit

New one sits up much less

Significant difference from this view and angle

The classic flat kite one over the other, very different shape and slightly bigger as well. I felt this when riding it, the kite had more power/grunt.


Hope that helps!

Thanks Steve for pics & info Can not wait to get and try the new model Nice to here about the kite not the other B/S Note i have had Reo's since 2014 and had no issues I am shop team rider But I choose to pay and use the Reos due to there build and suites my riding and the conditions were I ride From the shop I have 3 X different Brands to choose from Good job Steve ????

It looks like the wing tips have been slightly squared off more. Have you ridden the new one yet?