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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4275 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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 Fri May 06, 11 7:32 am 14m Rally partial review (Light wind only) |
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Me: 220
Board: Glide
Wind: some 11 mph stuff, some sessions howling at 14 mph.
Water: two sessions in very choppy water with 3 foot shore break. 1 session in slightly choppy water. 2 sessions at Isla Blanca: absolute butter.
OK to sum it up: OMFG! Wow. My new favorite lightwind kite. I could actually do small 6' jumps with nothing more than 13mph wind. I have NEVER been able to do that with any other kite. For a 14, fast turning and fast through the window. Faster than any other lightwind kite I've flown. Light bar pressure, easy to fly with one hand. I can loop this kite without worrying about smacking it into the water like I did with the 14 T2 or the 15 Rev. This kite takes the place of both my 13 and 15 Rev, and is faster, more fun and more powerful than both. I can't wait to fly it back to back with my 12m RPM with 20 mph wind. It might just take the place of that kite too. It feels like it will. I'm thinking 14m Rally, 10, 8, 6 RPMs for my quiver. If it works well for me at 20mph, it'll be the perfect travel kite. My feeling is if I can take just one kite traveling, it'll be a 14m Rally. I just gotta see how she does in the higher wind.
14m Rally vs 15 or 13 Rev comparison: No discussion. The Rally is better at everything.
14m Rally vs 14m 2009 or 10 RPM: See above with one exception. The Rally doesn't sit in position hands free as well as the RPM. With the RPMs I can let go to adjust my straps or just ride hands free for a bit. The Rally is more like the Rev hands free; it starts to slide down pretty quickly. I haven't tried the 2011 RPM...
14m Rally vs 14m T2: The T2 has a bit more low end. Still the lightwind champ if your only goal is just to get up with the minimum wind possible. The T2 is a bit more stable hands free. The Rally is the clear winner though. SO much more fun to ride. It's lighter, easier to pack, faster, it feels A LOT smaller than the T2.
Construction: Typical Slingy. I could get into details, but you've seen 'em elsewhere. In a nutshell: Bomber. But damn light for it's size!!!! Big plus.
Conclusion: if you're over 200 and you travel to kite, or kite light winds, go out and buy a 14m Rally right now. Now. Just do it. Really, go buy one right now. If you're under 200, my guess is that this will be an uber lightwind machine for you.
This kite will be the first kite in my bag on every trip I take. (I almost always run in to light winds at least once per trip. Sometimes that's all you find... ) Yeah, I love this kite!  It makes riding in sub 15mph winds fun again!!!
EDITED TO ADD: Forgot to mention, relaunches are super easy even at 11mph. I used sharp jerks on the top line, it moved it into position and relaunched faster than using constant pressure. I have not tried reverse relaunching yet. Also, I could go upwind with 11mph and flat water.
Last edited by Nak on Fri May 06, 11 7:50 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Windance Crew
Since 18 Apr 2008
473 Posts
Hood River Kite Shop
Obsessed
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| Fri May 06, 11 7:40 am |
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Hooyah !
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Windance Boardshop- Hood River
www.windance.com |
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DROCK999
Since 31 May 2007
852 Posts
Left Coast
Opinionated
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| Fri May 06, 11 9:15 am |
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14 rally surprised me with how responsive it was for its size
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Bolt
Since 02 Nov 2008
111 Posts
Floras Lake
Stoked
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| Fri May 06, 11 4:42 pm |
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| I immediately liked the 14 Rally as well. Works great for teaching on marginal days and it can get you out in the surf when its still looking clean. The 17m Turbine has a similar shape, I wonder how it compares?
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apctjb
Since 19 Aug 2007
432 Posts
Obsessed
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| Fri May 06, 11 5:02 pm |
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| Also curious about the Turbine .. Saw one at the Pismo kite expo and it was one of the few kites that was out and staying upwind in light wind...
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beech
Since 21 Aug 2010
485 Posts
Longview, WA
Obsessed
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| Sat May 07, 11 8:44 pm |
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Nak when you're done in Cancun can you give us a brief report on your favorite kite spots there? I'll probly be heading there next year.
Oh yeah... and my wife's worried about sketchy mexican drug gangster dudes. See any of those in Yucatan land?
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beech
Since 21 Aug 2010
485 Posts
Longview, WA
Obsessed
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| Sat May 07, 11 9:20 pm |
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| ok my new policy is search first ask question later. looks like lots of info available from previous cancun trips. still curious about sketchy gangsters though
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4275 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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| Sun May 08, 11 7:39 am |
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| No gangsters in sight here. Isla Blanca seems pretty mellow. No one has said anything about any problems at all. (Other than not much wind... )
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beech
Since 21 Aug 2010
485 Posts
Longview, WA
Obsessed
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| Sun May 08, 11 8:03 am |
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Excellent! I will pass this info along. Hope you get some wind!!
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tautologies
Since 24 Aug 2006
602 Posts
Oahu
Addicted
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| Sun May 08, 11 8:38 pm |
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...so nak...when will you get with the program and get a raceboard? 
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toddjb
Since 16 Oct 2007
271 Posts
MD
Obsessed
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| Mon May 09, 11 11:41 am Re: 14m Rally partial review (Light wind only) |
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| Nak wrote: | ...
OK to sum it up: OMFG! Wow. My new favorite lightwind kite. I could actually do small 6' jumps with nothing more than 13mph wind. I have NEVER been able to do that with any other kite. For a 14, fast turning and fast through the window. Faster than any other lightwind kite I've flown. Light bar pressure, easy to fly with one hand. I can loop this kite without worrying about smacking it into the water like I did with the 14 T2 or the 15 Rev. This kite takes the place of both my 13 and 15 Rev, and is faster, more fun and more powerful than both. I can't wait to fly it back to back with my 12m RPM with 20 mph wind. It might just take the place of that kite too. It feels like it will. I'm thinking 14m Rally, 10, 8, 6 RPMs for my quiver. If it works well for me at 20mph, it'll be the perfect travel kite. My feeling is if I can take just one kite traveling, it'll be a 14m Rally. I just gotta see how she does in the higher wind.... |
Agree with you 100%. Have had most of those other kites, and while that 15 REV was a good lightwind kite, I just didn't have fun flying it any more. The 14 Rally isn't just a mow the lawn kite, you can have a LOT of fun on it!
I think you'll find it has a pretty nice top end. I'm surprised how well it flies heavily depowered and then, of course, you get these monster floaty jumps. I think you nailed the quiver up there for a 200# guy, but if you had to travel, you could probably take your 14/8 and get by with just about anything that'd get thrown at you. At 175# I've taken the 14 into the low 20s (building wind, not by choice) and it was still fun. So, you taking it to 20 won't be an issue.
Also, I tried it with the 20" 23M bar and was surprised what a difference the 27M lines make on the 23" bar. Definitely the right tool for that kite.
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Kodiak
Since 01 Aug 2005
1114 Posts
Slidey
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| Mon May 09, 11 12:13 pm |
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| tautologies wrote: | | ...so nak...when will you get with the program and get a raceboard? |
I finally bit the bullet and bought a Naish board. I was hoping Slingshot would have a race board out this year since I really love their boards, but hopefully soon. So Nack, when I see you we can do some swapping, I would love to try out the 14m rally with the race board. That kite looks like it would fly upwind. I am still sporting the 13m rev which has been my money light wind kite for a few years now. I may have to upgrade to the 14m rally though.
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4275 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
CGKA Member
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| Mon May 09, 11 3:11 pm |
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@Alex: I know, I know! Maybe this year...
@ Jim: Anytime you want to try it... I'll be back in town Wed. Maybe after the Stevenson cleanup on Saturday? I really liked my 13m Rev; I wouldn't even consider putting it up now. The Rally is that much better. Faster than the 13, better low-end than the 15, better jumping, fewer struts, just better!
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Thio
Since 29 Sep 2008
98 Posts
Portland
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| Thu May 12, 11 7:51 am 12 m enough at 170? |
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Hey Nak -
Great review and thank you. Recntly picked up a 6m and 10 Rally but yet to fly. Curious if you think a 12m would be enough for a light wind kite at 170 lbs or should I step up to the 14? Thinking for riding Sauvies (if it ever goes) and light wind days at the coast.
Thanks again
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barfly
Since 31 Mar 2005
1214 Posts
Portland
BRACKISH
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| Thu May 12, 11 9:21 am Re: 12 m enough at 170? |
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| Thio wrote: | Hey Nak -
Great review and thank you. Recntly picked up a 6m and 10 Rally but yet to fly. Curious if you think a 12m would be enough for a light wind kite at 170 lbs or should I step up to the 14? Thinking for riding Sauvies (if it ever goes) and light wind days at the coast.
Thanks again |
Go big. You won't have trouble holding the 14 down in 20mph if it picks up and at SI my experience is that you'll want all you can get. Also, the 10m Rally has amazing low end so the seemingly large split won't be so large.
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shymac
Since 20 Jul 2005
919 Posts
Home Valley, Wa.
Bigfoot
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| Thu May 12, 11 11:23 am |
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| apctjb wrote: | | Also curious about the Turbine .. Saw one at the Pismo kite expo and it was one of the few kites that was out and staying upwind in light wind... |
Sure thing that Turbine was killing it until it pick up to 8m conditions...
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pdxmonkeyboy
Since 16 May 2006
6081 Posts
forever labled as the
retired kiter & motorhead Unicorn Master
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