Best year for Cabrinha Switchblade?

skent · Since 08 Aug 2011 170 Posts North Bend, WA & Lyle, WA Stoked

I have a 6m & 9m (2011) and a 12m (2012) Switchblades. I love my 2011 Switchblades but have been contemplating upgrading to the 2013 (or waiting for the 2014). The 12m 2012 seems a little slow turning, I am not sure if that is because of the year (changes to the kite) or just that it is a bigger kite? I like a quick turning kite with some grunt. I don't care too much about bar pressure.

So all you Switchblade riders do you have a favorite year for the Switchblade. Sorry but I am not interested in flying other kite brands.

stevegriffith22 · Since 14 May 2006 434 Posts Obsessed

Try getting a hold bustingbladder....He may have the knowledge your looking for...... he's a nice guy too. Friendly knowledge at the right price.....FREEEEEE Very Happy

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 853 Posts Seattle Opinionated

Switchblade and quick turning shouldn't go together in a sentence.

Bustingbladder rocks the Crossbows.

I've got the 2012 9m and 2013 7m and 14m Switchblades. As well as a 11m 2012 Drifter

The slowness you feel on your 2012 is just due to the size. 2012's had faster and lighter bar pressure settings then the 2011's except the adjustment was on the front bridle not the steering lines.

The 2013's are faster but less grunty. Unforutnately this means you ride a bigger kite in the same wind which ends up being slower anyway. I say this from experience after switching from a 12m 2012 SB to a 14m 2013 SB and using them both as my lightwind setup. To be fair the 14m does a a tiny bit more low end. I do miss my 12m though...

I think for me I like switchblades in 12m and smaller. Bigger then a 12m and they just get too slow. My 2012 9m switchblade was my favorite kite for wakestyle.

Also just for reference the 2012 11m Drifter has about the same range as the 2012 9m Switchblade.

Also, relaunch did get a lot better on 2013 model switchblades.

Cheers,
CJ

luke · Since 06 Jul 2005 399 Posts Obsessed

To answer the original question as to which year of Switchblade is best: 2013.

The Switchblade has been one of the top performing and selling kites on the market for years. Cabrinha continually works at making their products better.

As it has been stated and it is well known that the 2012 SBs were one very sweet year. Cabrinha did a major overhaul for 2013. The SB is now much faster turning and uses some of the positive attributes as the Drifter.

Cabrinha did announce a tuning tip to add more low-end grunt to the 2013 if that is desired. The tip basically is: move the rear line kite pigtail to the B setting; and when attaching the kite lines to that pigtail put it on the top knot (closest to the kite) rather than the second knot.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 386 Posts Seattle Obsessed

Yup, what Ken just said! He is the Switchblade guru of all the land.

Gator

MarkWorth · Since 02 May 2011 149 Posts Hood River Stoked

I like the 2013 Switchblade better than the 2012.

It's higher aspect and has a wider wind range.
It comes out of the bottom turn with more speed when the wind is light, and cuts through the big gusts with less force.

I have flown sizes from 5 to 10 meter and they are clearly better than 2006 - 2012 switchblades.

The only down side is a small reduction in the minim wind speed you can park the kite at.
Solution: fly the kite.

skent · Tue Jul 16, 13 8:35 am

C Johnson · Since 17 Apr 2009 853 Posts Seattle Opinionated

I would recommend going one size up from previous year sizing scheme if you are upgrading to a 2013 switchblade.

harrisonm3 · Since 03 Aug 2012 9 Posts Kook

Bump trying to decide what what year SB to go with

Feel bad for me a panel blew out on my 2011 9m today.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

luke · Since 06 Jul 2005 399 Posts Obsessed

For a lot of Switchblade riders, the years 2012 and 2013 had some differences. Since then, the kites are very consistent and a little bit better each year as Cabrinha strives for the best kite possible. All great years with the latest 2016 model being the best. The shop in Hood River, Big Winds, offers demos of the 2016.

bustingbladder · Since 12 Jul 2006 386 Posts Seattle Obsessed

FYI, after riding both now, I rode my 2015 Switchblade 8m all day Thurs and Friday at Rufus for the nuker and felt it was just as good as my new 2016. It's a better complete kit than the 2013-14 for obvious reasons! You cannot ever go wrong with a Switchblade! It does it all! Be sure to check out the new 2016 bar! Lots of changes over past years!

Gator

dwaynej · Since 09 Sep 2013 207 Posts Stoked **CGKA Member**

I honestly could not tell any difference between a 2014 Switchblade and a 2015. Now that the 2016's are out, somehow all the "older" kites are not as good. 2014 introduced the 2DR fabrics and they are bullet proof. I'm having fun on Core XR4's now.

user124 · Since 02 Aug 2012 391 Posts Portland Obsessed

The switchblade kite design seems pretty stable and ideal in the 2014 and later, not a lot of difference between years. The bar design seems better 2015 or later.

dwaynej · Since 09 Sep 2013 207 Posts Stoked **CGKA Member**

2015 bar was a problem for me and I moved over to Slingshot bars. 2016 bar looks to be an improvement so I hope for owners it is.