Hi all,

So the kiting bug is still lurking inside of me after getting a taste a few years ago now when i bought and static flew a Ozone Samurai 4m.
This time my partner is coming with me and we both want to get into either land boarding or buggying eventually.

So as my partner has never flown and its been a while for me i thought i would do it all properly and as the budget is low at the moment i have a small dilemma on which kite to start with.
The plan was to get the PKD Buster Soulfly 3m from UFO kites http://www.ufopowerkites.com/productdetail.php?mn=660&pi... as this will be my local kite shop. Along with the kite i am going to get a 2 hour flying lesson for both of us from here http://www.blownawaykiteschool.co.uk/online-store/power-kite... so we can get into the sport safely and with a good bit of starting knowledge and a little refresher for me.

Now after looking around on forum, internet etc i have found some good reviews of the Buster Soulfly and seen some videos on youtube of it and dam the thing wont come out of the sky but i have also been reading a lot of very good stuff on the HQ beamers. The HQ Beamer 5 3m is around the £180 mark.

My question is would it be worth saving that little extra for the Beamer in view of bording and buggying or maybe going for a second hand Beamer 4? Is there much difference between the Beamer 4 and Beamer 5? Would i gain anything over the Buster Soulfly?

Thanks in advance for help and advice.

Ross

First of all, welcome to them forum! There are many many awesome folks on here!

Sorry in advance, but instead of answering your questions, I'm going to give you some unasked-for advice.

If I were on a low budget and starting again I would just buy kites used off the forums. racekites and kitecrowd should get you lots of cheap local deals. Spend a few hours reading all the 20+ post threads on this forum with something like "I'm a noob, what kite should I get?" in the title and you'll know what kites to go for.

The other thing I would do is learn to have really good control over your kite flying static. The thing about any kind of boarding or buggying is that you need to be able to fly your kite to some degree by feel while watching where you are going, they will be in two different directions and you cannot see them both at the same time. You'll get far more value from your board lesson with 20+ hours of static time under your belt.

The difference between the kites you mention is all apples vs oranges really, even less.

Tho it is nice having a brand new kite... I'm sure folks will come on and let you know what the differences are between all the excellent kites you mention.

All just my opinion, of course... Take it or leave it.

Thankyou for the swift reply.

That is the plan to do a lot of static flying to get used to the kite and for my other half to learn to fly. The 2 hour lesson is for static flying rather than for boards and buggys.

Have been looking at all the for sale threads on various forums and ebay to get a feel for whats out there and prices. Some very nice second hand stuff out there.

Both are nice kites, as a beginner I don't think you are going to notice a difference that is worth paying extra for. I disagree with furbowski that it is apples vs oranges, I think it is more like Granny Smith apples versus Golden Delicious. IMHO I would buy based upon price and what comes with the deal (kite killers and a ground steak). This goes as well for the difference between the Beamer 3, 4 and 5, you won't notice as a beginner, and once you are experienced enough to notice, you'll be worried more about buggying, or maybe more advanced kites.

I do agree that buying used kites of ebay or forums is the way to go. There are lots of 3 meter beginner kites out there hardly flown and listed on e-bay for less than £100. Don't worry about buying a "broken" kite, in that category you can't really do a lot to break them that's not blindingly obvious.

Keep your eyes out for another Samurai, they are still great kites and can be found cheap if you are lucky. They are at least as good as the Soulfly or the Beamer.

You are picking a good sport for your location, as the beaches of Wales are great for buggying.

Have fun and if you ever want to meet up, I'm happy to let you fly my kites or my buggies or whatever and show you what I've learned over the years. Only problem is I live in Twickenham and usually fly at Camber sands, which must be far from you.

I agree, there is a lot of second hand good buys out there, think that could be the way to go if im honest.

Samurai was the first kite i looked for but doesnt seem to be to many out there.

Both Soulfly and Beamer come with stakes, lines, handles, killers, bag so all down to kite.

Preference would be the Soulfly as i can purchase and even have a test fly from UFO Kites.

Thank you for the offer of flying with you and your kites but yes quite a bit away from me.

The samurais are older kites now, still good but they don't show up on the market very much these days, and rarely in like-new condition.

If I had to choose between buster and beamer (caveat, I've flown neither, have moved on... :evil: ) I'd go for the soulfly purely on looks... much cooler graphics on the canopy. A couple of us have even gotten it as a tattoo!

Glad to hear you are on the right page re: doing the research and getting your hours in static. Sorry for jumping in on you, but we get folks of all stripes asking for advice here...

IMHO with your prior experience save your lesson money for when you are ready to go on the landboard.

I was thinking on the lesson really for my partner as she has never flown and i havnt flown a huge amount. Learnt how to pendulum jump with the samurai and got some good air but thats about it so would be a good refresher course for me to.

Haha on the soulfly graphics, my other half said the same thing. Does look sweet.

Go for it, then... The dude giving the lesson will appreciate the business for sure! Give us a lesson review, eh?

In the meantime, some good review material here:

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/TutorialMenu.Html

Will def do a lesson review.

Thanks for the link, will take a look at that later.

I am biased, I have yet to get my hands on a beamer. I do own a soulfly though and love it. Very solid kite and fun to fly. Buying something your local shop supports as well is always a great idea. Do they carry both, or just pkd?

Keep in mind and even ask the shop what the typical winds are year-round for your area, that will have great bearing on the size to get. I am 225# and holding down the 3m in anything over 15mph winds is very difficult if your static flying and trying to send it thru the window. And the faster you send it, the more exciting it gets, the buster really starts cranking if you get her moving:bouncy:

Both great kites but when it comes to bang for your buck, I like the PL Viper series. Forgiving enough for a beginner but this is one kite that will never leave my quiver. I use my vipers as trainers as well as my go-to high wind engines in the buggy. They have served me well on my board too! I was 2 wheeling on a viper 2.6 yesterday in winds going into the 20s.

They are in limited supplies right now as PL is taking them out of the line up for reasons I do not know. Awesome kite that won't break the bank!!!

They only stock the PKD not HQ.

Will buy the 3m to start with and then hopefully she will get the bug and away i go making up our quiver.

Thanks for info on Soulfly, have read it can get a handful in the right hands and right wind, going to be fun.

Lots of cheap Beamers on fleabay so might end up grabbing one of those but do like the idea of supporting local shop and then getting to fly with them to at there local spot.

+ ! for PKD! the Buster soulfly is a really good beginner kite, and when the wind gets high,it becomes an awesome enging for a buggy. I'm kind of fond of PKD:bigok:

Thanks Mougl, will check them out.

Welngod another + 1 for the PKD, looking like it could be the Soulfly at the local shop then at £135

Ok so Peter Lynn Viper is slightly above my price range right now for 1st kite unless i can grab a second hand one.

Views on the Pansh ace?

Could get 2 for the price of a 3m beamer etc.

Thinking 3m Ace and either 5m or 6m Ace.

I would not suggest an ace for a beginner. Ever.

Yes they are inexpensive. But not too user friendly. Don't get me wrong, Pansh can be decent in the hands of an experienced pilot with the caviat being the kite is tuned properly but it is not something I would put in the hands of someone new. Very lifty kite here. There's a reason people sell those cheap.

With kites you really do get what you pay for. Believe me, I'm a kiter on a budget. Invest in a great kite and it will be worth it over time. If I had all the money I've spent buying and selling kites that weren't a good fit for me, I'd probably be able to buy the Speed 3 deluxe I want!

Again, not bashing pansh kites, I just would not recommend one to a beginner

Quote:

Originally posted by roscopecotrain They only stock the PKD not HQ. Will buy the 3m to start with and then hopefully she will get the bug and away i go making up our quiver. Thanks for info on Soulfly, have read it can get a handful in the right hands and right wind, going to be fun. Lots of cheap Beamers on fleabay so might end up grabbing one of those but do like the idea of supporting local shop and then getting to fly with them to at there local spot.

Here's the kicker.. Get both!! Grab a 3m PKD and maybe a touch smaller Beamer from fleabay! Honestly, it is better than the two of you fighting over the soulfy! The idea is to both have fun, not battle over one kite :singing:

I am the primary flier, my kids only fly rarely and I already have 4 power kites and 3 stunters, and I just started in Aug... Anything you buy is an investement for the future..

I have tried a Viper once it is very powerful. It also has a smaller wind range than the beamer. IMO the Viper is more along the lines of a intermediate kite not a beginner kite. If your looking at Peter Lynn kites a 2m or 3m Hornet2 makes for a great beginner kite. Thats what my friend started out on. They tend to be a little more forgiving than a Viper.

Thanks for all the advice peeps.

Def going to go with the 3m soulfly from UFO kites.

Will look for a cheap beamer or similar on fleabay at the same time and will leave the Pansh kites for a while till we both know what we are doing.

Woo hoo just got to go buy my new crispy kite now.

Thankyou so much for all the advice, really appreciate it

Quote:

Originally posted by roscopecotrain Views on the Pansh ace? Could get 2 for the price of a 3m beamer etc. Thinking 3m Ace and either 5m or 6m Ace.

Flux ? I think is the newer pansh... I static flew one a SOBB last year.