Will Speed 3 benefit or suffer from "new" features of P4

[grindlay]

Anyone want to comment on this now that the S3 is out there....

[Way Too Much Wind]

Interesting thread. For some reason i have never wanted to buy a speed and im not sure why, perhaps because i have never viewed it as a wave riding kite.
But back to the P4. I bought the 15m as a direct replacement for my 13m P3 and as a wave kite for lighter winds 12-14knots! For this it is great, way better than my 13m P3 and coupled with a 6ft1 directional and the relatively fast turning speed (considering it is a big foil) actually makes wave riding in these conditons fun.
To be honest i find it hard to get disilusioned with kites. They are what they are, each has their own unique characteristics and compared to some of the early monsters we had to deal with these are all epic.

WTMW

[DrLightWind]

It's all good,
except the promised the same low end
when the 15m Speed2 stock compared against the 15m Speed3 DLX

DrLW

[Tone]

I have a speed3 15m DL

I have no backstall at all, to fly unhooked I pull the trim in about 3 inches.

I am getting the same low end as the S2, the kite relies on getting some speed into it and as soon as you plane you get the kite speed up and apparent wind does the rest!

you can PHYSICALLY feel the kite start to pull super hard once you get going!

I am having problems with the non-spinning leash, but this will get fixed I am sure.

Unhooked riding, wow! the kite has some SERIOUS pop which is not what I expected as such a high aspect kite but as you can trim it right on the edge of backstall for unhooking you can get the kite to sit back and pull you really hard!

I can't wait to get out on a small board, in 15 knots on super flat water and see what I can get out of it!

A mate had a go on Saturday in a day where he could do nothing on his 14 vegas and big board and will be buying one this week.

that says a lot!

tony

[Jonny Raincloud]

i too was surprised by the amazing amounts of pop in such a big slow canopy, its incredible, very much pops like an Lei when sending the kite, but still maintains the characteristic of just floating you to the apex of the jump like youre on an escalator, so smooth...

i dont think the tip tuck is a problem, its only minimal, and when it does happen the kite pops back into hsape very quickly as soon as pressure is applied on the tip that has folded..

in answer to the orginal posts of the thread:
features of Psycho 4 that were new were squared and swept wingtips, triple depower system, and the new infiniity bar

do they benefit the Speed 3
square and swept back wingtips- also feature on the Speed 3 and give very good depower and turning, minor tip tuck, but its a small price to pay for the added performance..definately a benefit

triple depower system- the speed 3 uses the same depower and bridle system as psycho 4 i believe, and definately benefits from this, tighter turning, kiteloops possible also gives much better depower, obviously still pulls like a train with the bar out using apparent wind, but way less static pull compared to speed 2 15m when standing still or gently cruising, kite is much more manageable as to how much or how little power you can generate thanks to the depower effect...again a definate benefit

infintiy bar- i personally dont like it....centre line wear, and the unspinning idea are all fine when brand new, but seem to get stuck( spining safety) and wear out(centre line)...older bar was nicer, very simple, clean, functional and worked fantastically well...dont change what doesnt need changing just to make it look "nicer" to go with brand ner kites...i dont think it benefits from infinity bar...but wouldnt say no to having a speed 3 with infinity bar, im sure i could live with it and learn to love it

[grindlay]

With all that I have read over the last few months I think I am ready to make the light wind purchase for the summer. Who knows the specific benefits of the 15m DL S3 over the stock 15 when riding on the water. My typical S2 12+15m flying was on a flat ocean with light summer side shore winds around 12-15knts. I clock in at 200lbs.

[Jonny Raincloud]

im not really sure if delixe makes that much difference, but haent flown standard 15m Speed 3, only the deluxe...but the delixe climbed well out of turns, turned very tight and flew incredibly well at the edge of the window in such light winds, 7-10 knots on land, popping 720 and 1080 frontrolls..

could have easily kitesurfed in that wind, i weigh 70kg, and would have been fine on my small board in 10knots on 15 Deluxe...

[grindlay]

On flying the speed 3 I would like to comment on my original points:

1. Wing tip tuck. Present but more bearable than p4.
2. Back stall. Actually helps when sailing downwind. The s3 is far happier floating without tension on the lines.
3. Lack of grunt. Or static pull. My main issue with the kite. Both s1 and s2 had tons of pull sheeted in or out. It seems you can kill the kite by pulling in on the bar without plenty of wind in the sail. This is not a great trait for a light wind weapon.
4. Infinity bar. Same issues persist.

Next in line for a ramp up is the pulse 2. Let's hope this kite is not emasculated by triple depower. My vote would be for double depower and maintain some of the static pull of the old FS kites.