Blade III

[iancl]

I have a Blade III 4.0 on order from a shop in England and I'm the first in the queue. Flexifoil probably won't be shipping over-seas until they have caught up with the demand. This might mean that I'll be the first or one of the first in Australia to have one!!!

I was just wondering whether any Aus shops have been taking pre-orders yet and if anyone has ordered?

Ian

[schmik]

Sorry to burst your bubble but Kitepower already has them in stock. I am going on saturday to check them out. I may be buying a Blade II 4.9 from them. ... Can't afford a new Mach III.

Anyone else do the Kite ATB thing in canberra ?

cheers
schmik

[iancl]

Are you sure KitePower has them in stock? In England i doubt that there's a single shop which doesn't have a waiting list!
How much does the 4.0 cost from KitePower? co on their website the mk2 was more expensive than the mk3 was in England. And anyway I'm saving a bit coz I pay GST(10%) instead of VAT(17.5%).

Ian

[Gav]

The costs seems to be a tiny bit cheaper if you buy direct from uk, than through a shop in oz. I would still prefer to buy from a local trustworthy source though. Cheapest price isn't always the best deal.

[goshen]

Kite Power (Geelong & Sydney) have had Blade III's in for a few days now. However, I been away, and only got to fly them today...

We also only got very limited sizes, and most are already sold. I'm pretty sure there was a spare 4m though - so cancel your order Ian! :-)
We've got more coming very soon - but don't have a final date just as yet.

BTW, they are just awesome hangtime machines. The 3m was fast and had good power in the light wind we had (about 10knots), but the 8.5 was just out of this world! Good speed (similar to the Razor, but FAR more stable), and gives great hang-time. I'm not going to carry on too much - I haven't got my 4.9 yet.

[Gav]

I have to agree with the 8.5. I picked mine up a while ago now, and after I very eventful first week of flying it, I am now only recovering from a sprained ankle. Bloody hurt, but couldn't help laughing more than crying! awesome kite.

[iancl]

I ordered it from what was my local shop in england. I've bought everything else from them too and they're definately trustworthy. Sorry goshen i ain't gonna be canceling. I've flown the 4.9 though, my brother has one, and they are absolutely awesome. Apparently since they have a slimmer section they go faster and have more power than the same size of mk2. The only thing is they're a bit easier to luff.

Ian

[goshen]

That's cool. Just letting you know that we had them first... :)

[Steve]

I ordered it from what was my local shop in england. I've bought everything else from them too and they're definately trustworthy. Sorry goshen i ain't gonna be canceling. I've flown the 4.9 though, my brother has one, and they are absolutely awesome. Apparently since they have a slimmer section they go faster and have more power than the same size of mk2. The only thing is they're a bit easier to luff.

Ian

Hi Ian
Goshen never meant to imply there was anything wrong with your old shop in the UK. I'm sure he hopes like I do that people like you will choose to try us out at some time.
Kitepower started as an idea in my head, I had no money at the time, but had a collection of 17 stunt kites, one day we found a tiny shop to lease in Geelong, now we have three. This year is our 10th anniversary, and I think we do a good job of helping kiters kite.
I wanted to add that Kitepower is also the importer and distributor for MBS mountainboards in Australia, so if you ever need any bits for the Sol, or want to upgrade, check us out.

[iancl]

Mad! I was just thinking I might Buy some bigger wheels, they make 9 inch do they make 10? I have a bit of a problem with it though at the moment you might be able to give advice: if I have springs on the inner holes I easily get high speed wobble, if I put them on the outer holes I can't turn as much as i'd like to be able to. I need something between. How hard are eggshocks? If I put them on the inner holes that'd be stiffer than just spring on the outer holes right?

I flew a Blade II before you though Goshen! :P

Ian

[iancl]

sorry i meant blade III i havn't flown a blade II...

[Steve]

Mad! I was just thinking I might Buy some bigger wheels, they make 9 inch do they make 10? I have a bit of a problem with it though at the moment you might be able to give advice: if I have springs on the inner holes I easily get high speed wobble, if I put them on the outer holes I can't turn as much as i'd like to be able to. I need something between. How hard are eggshocks? If I put them on the inner holes that'd be stiffer than just spring on the outer holes right?

I flew a Blade II before you though Goshen! :P

Ian

Hi Ian
You can upgrade to a larger tyre/wheel combo, it would be a bit costly, and I am not sure why you would want to do this?
As far as speed wobble goes, it sounds like that you need egg shocks installed. Moving the springs out will not really siolve the problem, the wobbles will come back at a higher speed.
Egg shsocks will solve your problem, guaranteed. How much do you weigh?

[iancl]

Lol: I only weigh 40 kilos. I just thought that eggshocks would really just make the trucks stiffer. Am I wrong? If they're stiffer I can't turn much and that's worse than getting high speed wobble. Having the spring on the outer holes is too stiff for me so if eggshocks make it more so then i don't think it's a good idea. "Oh no a tree, oh well i'll just hit it".

However if you think it would be OK, how much do eggshocks cost?

Thanks

Ian

[goshen]

Eggs are $21 for a set of 4.

Only use the yellow ones, and on the inside setting. This will still allow good turning, but should limit the wobbles.

[Steve]

Lol: I only weigh 40 kilos. I just thought that eggshocks would really just make the trucks stiffer. Am I wrong? If they're stiffer I can't turn much and that's worse than getting high speed wobble. Having the spring on the outer holes is too stiff for me so if eggshocks make it more so then i don't think it's a good idea. "Oh no a tree, oh well i'll just hit it".

However if you think it would be OK, how much do eggshocks cost?

Thanks

Ian

Think of egg shocks as shock absorbers on a car. Cars have springs of some sort, but would be impossible to drive safely without shock absorbers limiting the amount of spring rebound, which is what causes speed wobbles.

[goshen]

ahh - thanks for the tech tip. i knew they worked, but not how!

[iancl]

still havn't got it yet, haven't even heard from the shop. got someone going round today for me to see what's going on. 6 weeks since i ordered it

just wondering how much it is from KitePower, i see on the website the mk2 is $899 but it doesn't say about the mk3. is it the same price? and are there any in stock?

goshen, i saw your thread on the flexifoil website, just wondering if you'd flown the 4.0 and what you thought about the luffing or falling to the ground.

Ian

[Gav]

That's a bit dodgy not getting it still!!! Which UK shop did you order it from? When I was over there I got mine from coastguardkites without any wait.... but I guess you'd be a bit sick of people telling you that by now.
Gav

[iancl]

dya know if they're still on demand back in england? he mighta lost my email address. should hear from my brother soon who went over there yesterday to see what was happening.
i havn't seen any more complaints on the flexi forum saying someone's hasn't arrived so i thought maybe they were readily available. if i don't get any good news from england i might just get one from from KitePower.

been a bit frustrated recently. strong winds (today 50mph+ which i admit itit's probably best i am not flying in) and no Blade!!!

Ian

[goshen]

Bugger - have they given you confirmation that they have sent it? Have they charged you for it yet?

B2 and B3's are the same price - there have been no price increases.
I think KP Sydney might have one or two left in stock, but am not sure.

Regarding luffing, I think that the 4m would be no better than the 4.9 I should say though, that it is only a problem in gusty winds, and not when the winds are steady and strong, but in Canberra I'm not sure which kite would be best... you don't have the cleanest winds there do you?

I don't mean to bag the new Blade too much, it's a great kite, just I find it's a pain when pushing the trick envelop, as I said on Flexi's forum.

Take it easy, and I hope the kite comes through for you.
Goshen

[iancl]

no they havn't sent it!!!!! they havn't got one yet!!!!! either that or they just for some reason didn't tell me they had.

I would buy one from KitePower, the only problem is: I have a ?140 credit note for that shop which won't be spent otherwise.

I'm getting very, very sick of waiting though.

Ian

[iancl]

OK the 4.0 is in but...you won't believe it... After all the wait (14 weeks?) I changed my mind andam getting a 4.9. Coulda got one ages ago if I'd made my decision earlier coz they came in long before the 4.0s. Going to have it brought out to me in a few weeks. Still not allowed to fly anyway (wrist isn't back at full strength yet).

Ian