Well, I finally got a chance to fly today. The wife packed a lawn chair and a book, and the kids brought their bikes, scooters, and balls. I dug in for awhile. For starters, I received 3 NS2 and a bar setup from Steffan at Born Kite in Germany. Like John Holgate and ssayre have already said, these kites are built VERY well, and being single skin, you can stretch your dollar a long way relatively speaking. The 2.5, 4, and 5.5m together cost about as much as one 4-5m foil RTF. Great value!!!

At my local field, the winds were less than ideal today. NW which is no good for the buggy. Shifty 5-10 mph gusting 20. True janky conditions. Again, I didn't even load up the buggy. I wanted to see how well they flew in this trash, and get familiar with setup, pack down, and the safety systems.

A very different bar concept than I am used to with traditional trainer, DP or arc bar. Yes its a bar, but learning to push away for depower was a bit weird. Where the 3 line bar really shines (IMHO) is its 3 line depower operation, and the ability to hook in, and un hook on the fly. Also having the ability to operate the DP system un hooked blew my mind (not grabbing the third line like a trainer to stall it out) !!!

So up went the 2.5m first because of the gust factor. It has LOADS of pull :o. Unlike a small foil that gets its power from speed, these kites are slower and grab twice the air. In the same high wind, I could zip my 2m Ozone, etc. all over the place standing still. The NS2 drug my but all over the place with loads of grunt. When the wind settled a bit more after the first hour, I was able to put up the 4m. It was just as great as the 2.5m only on a larger scale.

Because I didn't have the buggy today, I got a good work out. I wanted to mimic being in motion as best as I could. I would dash 50 yards one direction, then back the other while working the kite in the window. I also tried different angles to the wind. Very impressive! I can see where the NS2 is going to work really well in my trashy jank filled wind. Now, is it going to save the day always? No! But, where I found the NS2 to shine was having the ability to stay airborne in a lull when a foil would collapse/luft/invert and fall out of the sky. I can see with the NS2, I'll be able to keep it up a lot easier in a lull. I may lose traction ability for a moment or two, but if I keep the kite moving around for a few seconds, I will be under way soon enough. Not climbing out of the buggy every time to unwad a collapsed foil. Again, It wont be the end all kite, but should make my janky inland wind a little more useable than before. I didn't get a chance to put up the 5.5m. The gusts never really dipped below 15mph. And 15mph was about all I could hold down static with the 4m :wee: The wind window is a bit smaller than a foil, but not too bad.

I tested the safety system several times today. It works really well. It did take me about an hour to get going with the landings and re-launch. Definitely a different animal, but pretty easy once you get the hang of it. I would have no problem at all getting the buggy prelims in now. Its going to be great and I cant wait! I hope to pick up the 7m soon.

Ssayre, it was GREAT talking with you today. It really does look like there is no end with all the possibilities of line configurations and bar mods. Also, a big thanks to the wifey for all the pics and realizing I wasn't going to dive bomb you with a kite today :D. Thought I'd share a few...

the 2.5m


the 4m.




The depower ability. Looks like you took a bite out of the top LOL.


And these have the sickest side profile on the planet!!!!! :evil:

Great review and pictures! It's no secret I like these kites so it's nice having another perspective. I enjoyed talking and it's got me thinking about trying some bar mods.

Nice review

Can't wait to hear your thoughts after a buggy session.

Lookin great Jason!... Can't wait to see how it works for you in the bug!... If we make it to JIBE this year, you gotta let me try one!! Great review!

We'll bring lawn chairs for both the wifey's :D... And all the girlies... That's too many women :shocked2:

Quote: Originally posted by 3shot

And these have the sickest side profile on the planet!!!!! :evil:

Reminds me a little bit of the profile of the Ozone Seagull LEI.



ATB,
Sam

Nice review and pics I reckon they're even better in the buggy - they just lock in almost as soon as you get moving. Cool Magoo :D

Hi, great review, thanks!! I am potentially looking at getting one of these kites (or more given their price!) for I also have janky winds, inland here in the UK.

I too have arcs - a Venom I 13m and a Synergy 15m, but they both scare the cr#p out of me and I've recently been injured using the Synergy (long drag downwind + stupidly put hand down = broken thumb).

I'm trying to learn to landboard. I have a 3m Twister which has been OK to get me rolling but I want to progress to a depower now and I just don't think I'm ready for the arcs yet.

I was looking at something like HQ Apex 8m, and then ssayre threw the Flysurfer Peak and Nasa Star 2 into the mix!

I'd kinda ruled out the Nasa Star as it just looked too different, but sounds like they could work for me.

Quote:

Yes its a bar, but learning to push away for depower was a bit weird.

Is this not normal for depower kites?

3shot...of that set you bought which size do you think would be suited to beginner landboarding? I have similar winds to you by the sounds of things...10mph variable, gusting to 15mph.

I fly solo most of the time, is solo launch and landing of these Nasa Stars a pain? That's one thing about the Flysurfer Peak that looks ideal for me, as it's a bugbear with the arc too, having to pre-inflate and then get the solo launch just right.

Hi Robinsonpr. I guess my wording on the term"depower" is a little off. Sorry. Like others say, the term "depower" in the bridled and arc world is kinda misleading. With the NS2, you have the option to unhook on the fly to operate the depower, or pull the depower ball on the third line. Unlike a traditional "depower" that has its AOA changed by the bar push/pull, the NS2 has its leading edge shape changed causing the air flow over the kite to spoil. This feature truly "depowers" the kite.

Ssaye and John holgate are much better suited to give suggestions and recommendations with these kites. I've only flown 2 one day so far lol. However, I'm 6'2" @ 210 lbs. My VTT buggy is a good 100 pounds. I would have to say the 4m would have been a good engine yesterday in th described wind.

If by chance you are entertaining the idea of a NS2, watch all John Holgate's videos on YouTube.

Oh my goodness Spencer!! I just thought about it. Thats a lot of girlies. :lol

Yes, John holgate has the best instructional and informative videos on these. Another key difference is a traditional depower you can sheet in and out and all the load is on the harness at all times when hooked in. With Ns2 kites, when your hooked in, your at full power and cannot sheet in or out. When you unhook and sheet out, there is a 3 line hooked to the harness that pulls the nose in and you get variable depower, but (unlike traditional depower) the full force of the kite is on your arms and not the harness. When I'm in the buggy, I'm hooked in and at full power all the time, but I'm just learning to landboard so I often fly unhooked when I do that. These give you the option of using them unhooked or hooked in, but that is at the expense of not functioning like traditional depower. They are, however, the most forgiving kites I have flown.

Price wise, I think these are very close to the peak since it would take at least 2 nasa kites, bar, lines to cover the same wind as a peak. If higher performance faster kite is your goal than go peak, or if you want a more laid back cruising style and ultimate versatility with control gear and long and short lines, than go nasa.

Thanks guys!!

Laid back cruising does have it's appeal, I'm over 40!!

I like the nasa's because they mirror my personality. I was an offensive linemen and they are the linemen of the kite world. Strong, all torque, and quietly doing their job without a lot of glory or fanfare :D

Sean that is a great perspective!!!!! Lolololol.
My wife was like "meh....kinda looks like a clam". Lmao

I'm in the over 40 club as well. I like to just cruise around. No Xgames. No speed records. Getting air is no problem. Coming down is not as forgiving as it was 20 years ago lol. I did notice these have very minimal lift, if any. Of course, my kites were sized to the wind conditions. If yesterday I was flying a 4m fixed bridle stropped in, I would definitely have been lofted. Not so with the NS2. Just loads of raw side pull. I was yanked all over the field laterally, but not the first feeling of lofty being overhead

Me too, I'm in the over 40s club and have no desire to break any speed records. I've flown the NS2s really over powered on occasions without fear of lofting. At the upper end of their wind ranges the side pull becomes uncomfortable. This will most likely be the limiting factor when in a buggy.

In 10-15mph, I'd be thinking you'd need at least the 5.5m - even the 7m. I have to keep in mind that on a landboard, you'd have the kites a lot higher in the window than what I do in the buggy - I try to keep them low down in the window in the buggy. Jump onto the ExtremeKites website and get in contact with Bakersdozen - he uses the 5.5m with the Landboard. If you look up this vid: Kite buggying at Narrawong 2014 on youtube, you'll see Mark with the 5.5m on short lines on the 'board. I've got the 3.2m on the Pro Depower bar and the 5.5m on the std 3 line bar in the vid.

Launching and landing is a piece of cake. Launching is the same for a foil whereas landing, you fly them to the bottom corner of the window, then point the bar at them and they just sit there. I usually just plonk the end of the bar over a footpeg and go grab the kite - flip it onto it's back, nose into the wind then fold the edges in (gets a bit messy in 25knots but I sort it out later!). There's a bit of a demo of the landing and 'bar pointing at the kite' on the 'Pro Depower bar for Nasa Star 2' vid on my channel too. (quedecree).

Even hooked in (ie: no depower function) I still find the 2.5m more forgiving and equivalent in power to my 4m Ozone Access. (The Access is a little faster and easier going upwind).

That's what I found was easiest too John. When I switched from the 2.5 to the 4m, I flew to the edge of the window, and tipped the bar like you described. I staked it just like it laid. I sand bagged the upwind tip, then unhooked the downwind tip first. Then reattached the next kite in the reverse order. I also packed up on the edge of the window as well. Great kites I tell ya!! They really are strong little diesel engines! Already saving for the 7m and another bar setup. I wanna try a set of the extensions as well. :D

I got a set of 5 meter lines from steffen. Wind was in the 20's today so I tried the 2.5 meter on a paved path at a park. It worked great! I forgot to mention I was on the board, not the buggy. That was actually the 2.5's maiden voyage.

I'm now in the 50s club and I'm not slowing down to be no ragflapper. :P Only FBs for me. I like blastin' past y'all :D Keep calm and flap on

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

I got a set of 5 meter lines from steffen. Wind was in the 20's today so I tried the 2.5 meter on a paved path at a park. It worked great! I forgot to mention I was on the board, not the buggy. That was actually the 2.5's maiden voyage.

That's awesome. It was snatching me all over the place in the 20s yesterday. Not too sure there weren't a few gusts in the 25 range.

Quote: Originally posted by WELDNGOD

I like blastin' past y'all :D Keep calm and flap on

C'mon Donnie. You gotta have a few slow pokes in the way. Makes traffic patterns more interesting!

I still love my FBs too.

Just stay out of the fast lane

I've still got a few foils for speed :D

Jason, I had some lulls below 20 and with short lines on the board you need to size up because the kite stays overhead mainly. The 5 meter lines are sweet though, there's just enough throw to get you going but short enough to miss most of the trees and other obstacles beside most trails.

Yea. I'm gonna pic me up a set of those extensions.

Really looking forward to getting that 7m now Sean. Oh the agony of across the pond shipping

Congrats! The 7 and 5.5 are the ones I use the most and really my favorite looking ones too. On sunny days the light shines through and really makes them pop. Shipping is painful but seems to get easier each time.

Your second shipment seemed to go pretty quick. Maybe mine will move along that fast

So. What to do with all the NS2 kites? These things pack up incredibly small. I was telling Sean about when I put the 2.5 in my pant's cargo pocket lol. I picked up the perfect backpack today at Dicks Sporting Goods. It's built just like most other kite packs. You can see my Yeti beside it. With the new pack, I can carry all my NS2s, two bars, helmet, and the Divine harness. Even room for lunch and a few drinks. A 100% mobile kite rig. If I could only fit the VTT in there. Was on sale for $30. Normally $50. It really is a high end pack like you'd find on the upper kites. The included compass was kinda cool too :D. Just waiting on the 7m now.

That looks like it will work great Jason. I'll have to check that out.

I made a small 1.1M2, that pulls me on my skates in wind over 12mph on payment. here is a photo of it

Looks good sadsack! Its very satisfying to make a kite that actually performs I bet

The 7m has left Germany :D :D :D

Quote: Originally posted by 3shot

So. What to do with all the NS2 kites? These things pack up incredibly small. I was telling Sean about when I put the 2.5 in my pant's cargo pocket lol. I picked up the perfect backpack today at Dicks Sporting Goods. It's built just like most other kite packs. You can see my Yeti beside it. With the new pack, I can carry all my NS2s, two bars, helmet, and the Divine harness. Even room for lunch and a few drinks. A 100% mobile kite rig. If I could only fit the VTT in there. Was on sale for $30. Normally $50. It really is a high end pack like you'd find on the upper kites. The included compass was kinda cool too :D. Just waiting on the 7m now.

I did a very similar thing with my NPW quiver and a "school book bag" sized backpack from T@rget. 40 sqm of kites, 20 m lines, 15 m lines, 10 m lines, 5 m lines, 1 m lines and a set of handles .

I only wish it had the Born logo on it. My OCD is having a hard time with this one. LMAO