| >Test BFK: |
first things first, I was holding off on reviewing this. I've been bitten before reviewing proto kites and then having a production model land that is very different and makes your review look like crap as a result. And I do take this stuff seriously, cos I'd be pissed if someone wrote a bullshit review which I bought on the strength of and the kite turned out to be totally different.  That said here's the deal. I had the company of one of the last batch of proto bfk with me over xmas, it was ass cold the whole week and pretty much bang offshore the whole time so I was very cautious about going out too far, no real problem but staying in close meant there was a lot of wind shift and rotor when I was out. 16m BFK. construction wise its very similar to the nemesis, the struts are built the same the canopy is the same cloth as is the leading edge, but there are noticable changes. The wingtips are a new construction making the tip bladder a hell of a lot stiffer, no real extra weight here just a different way of bringing it all together, but they do seem deeper. the trailing edge is a different construction and seemed extra tough compared to the older style of single cloth leach line. The leading edge is typical BEST style, thinner than it has a right to be and needs to be pumped up well like the nemesis did. the 16BFK leading edge is thinner than my 18m nemesis and without putting a tape to it I'd say its the same as the 04 16m nemesis. Pumped up tight the kite looked good and as crease free as you can expect for something just out of a vac bag. Stuck the lines on the tips and rigged up the centre line, I didnt have the bridle for this so I made do with a v line to the outside attachments on the centre of the LE, this took a bit of trimming, had to try it 3 times before I got it right, and i didnt want this going wrong in offshore wind. Got the girlfriend to launch it, gotta love the loyal ones, it was about 4oC and blowing 15-20mph. Up in the air it's as a stable as I expected, it was shifting with the wind a little but there was no hint of tip rock or opening of the span, even when I pumped the bar, and the bar feel was lighter than on my nemesis. Getting into the water I found the kite well behaved overhead, I always knew where it was on the bar. pulling down for the first time the thing shoots across the window and i'm up and running, let the trim strap out so i can ride against the stopper and I'm happy. Heading outwards the kite picked up speed the further I got out, due to the wind clearing up the further I got from the beach, depowering it was fine using the board, and it required little back foot, definately lighter than the nemesis. First transition was a suprise, little too quick on the bar and i'm airborne, so its got plenty of lift. spent the next hour flipping about and pulling stuff at the end of my inbound tack. Despite the really crap conditions I think I had a fair play with it, I ride in shit all the time so comparissons are pretty fair. it definately turns faster than the nemesis, and it turns a bit tighter, you can spill the air from this a bit better, so full on commited loops and looped transitions were slightly less commited. Depower wise, I think the rate of depower to bar movement is greater, so more depower for less movement, I'm expecting this means I can shorten my depower throw for unhooked stuff, theres definately more depower on this. Power wise it was a match for the 18m nemesis, the low end would be hard to be definate on, given the shit wind, but I could work through the lulls more easily than with the bigger 18m nemesis, so I think it shades that. ASS wise, I didnt even notice the damn thing, you can see the 5th line tighten as you depower, and you can see it tighten a little in gusts, but you get no feedback at the bar to this, so for me that works, I like the fit and forget aspect. I would have liked to try it with the new kick bar which is rigged up with all the leash options and the spinning collar on a shorter depower rope, but it wasnt ready for me. I can imagine the kite with correct bridle and bar is going to be sweet. For your biggest kite if you want something that handles smaller but performs bigger then I think its the way to go, hangtime was up with the 18m I can’t honestly say about height as it was no day for flat water and smooth wind. if I had to choose it would be a tough choice, I love the 18m nemesis and know the kite better than any I've owned, but I think the faster turning lower bar pressure and increased range would be the clincher. And I'm real glad it doesn’t have ASS written on it..... Simon Bestkiteboarding |
Simon
Bestkiteboarding
juist!!
Ik heb 't niet op grote maten, hou m'n 2004 bests gewoon... tis wel prima zo, ik ga dit seizoen GEEN nieuwe shit halen!! :X
denk ik...
hoogstens nieuw boardje...
en een 11...
johndoe had een 5 sterren sessie in Kijkduin met maar liefst 16 - 21 knots op zijn Best Bularoo (2010)
johndoe had een 5 sterren sessie in Kijkduin met maar liefst 16 - 21 knots op zijn Best Bularoo (2010)
