The Bird's Nest: Batwing 12 Nothing else come close

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Holy cow Batman…What a day… Batwing has super powers… super natural upwind powers! Saturday morning started off slow. But a good crowd of kiters showed up mid day.
I was out on the water first with the Batwing 12 followed by a 14 Rebel and 17 Contra. Our plan was to kite to a group of islands approximately 2 miles directly upwind of our launch.
Me on Bat 12 and Spleene 54, another kiter on 17 Contra and Spleene 59, and North Rebel 14 and North 141 board. 
From about 12:00 till about 1:00 I was the only one able to tack up wind to get to the Islands, it took me several tacks. Not until after an hour or so did the other 2 kiters join me they couldn’t get far enough upwind. 
A bunch of other kiters arrived and were rigging 17 meter kites C and Bows and not having much success staying up wind. The wind picked up later in the day (around 2:00) and everyone put there big kites down and pumped up 10,11, 12and 13 Waroo's Turbo desiels, Switchblades, Contras, Rebels, Vegas, Crossbows. kites, but they we’re not happy with the lulls (powered and than under powered). See Wind graph 10-25mph
I came in around 5:00 and landed the Bat 3 kiters were in shock that couldn’t believe I was riding the same kite all day. 
This kite has the best upwind reach of any kite I have flown and even not flow comparing to what I saw on Saturday. 3 riders, same intermediate skill level's same boards Spleene doors, all same weight and the Batwing destroyed the Contra 17 and Rebel 14 on upwind reach literally by 2 miles. 
This kite has everything you would want in a high performance kite. 
Incredible range, low end is unbeatable upwind with a door in 10-12 mph. 
High end super stable and manageable in 25-30 mph 
Re-launch Stupid reverse re-launch easy in 8mph (Pull both steering lines) 
Above 12 mph just pull one line. 
Jumping- it’s a jumping machine and the glide is incredible, make landing soft so easy. 
I'm really enjoying this kite and definitely get a lot of surprised kiters watching how this kite performs in all conditions. 

X

Author	Message
Xtream Senior Member Joined: February 16 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 119	Topic: Batwing 12 Nothing else come close Posted: October 23 2007 at 4:48pm
	Holy cow Batman…What a day… Batwing has super powers… super natural upwind powers! Saturday morning started off slow. But a good crowd of kiters showed up mid day. I was out on the water first with the Batwing 12 followed by a 14 Rebel and 17 Contra. Our plan was to kite to a group of islands approximately 2 miles directly upwind of our launch. Me on Bat 12 and Spleene 54, another kiter on 17 Contra and Spleene 59, and North Rebel 14 and North 141 board. From about 12:00 till about 1:00 I was the only one able to tack up wind to get to the Islands, it took me several tacks. Not until after an hour or so did the other 2 kiters join me they couldn’t get far enough upwind. A bunch of other kiters arrived and were rigging 17 meter kites C and Bows and not having much success staying up wind. The wind picked up later in the day (around 2:00) and everyone put there big kites down and pumped up 10,11, 12and 13 Waroo's Turbo desiels, Switchblades, Contras, Rebels, Vegas, Crossbows. kites, but they we’re not happy with the lulls (powered and than under powered). See Wind graph 10-25mph I came in around 5:00 and landed the Bat 3 kiters were in shock that couldn’t believe I was riding the same kite all day. This kite has the best upwind reach of any kite I have flown and even not flow comparing to what I saw on Saturday. 3 riders, same intermediate skill level's same boards Spleene doors, all same weight and the Batwing destroyed the Contra 17 and Rebel 14 on upwind reach literally by 2 miles. This kite has everything you would want in a high performance kite. Incredible range, low end is unbeatable upwind with a door in 10-12 mph. High end super stable and manageable in 25-30 mph Re-launch Stupid reverse re-launch easy in 8mph (Pull both steering lines) Above 12 mph just pull one line. Jumping- it’s a jumping machine and the glide is incredible, make landing soft so easy. I'm really enjoying this kite and definitely get a lot of surprised kiters watching how this kite performs in all conditions. X

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steve-0 Newbie Joined: February 24 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3	Posted: February 24 2008 at 3:59pm
	Any sugestions for a great jumping board? I love my spleen door. But, its totaly for light wind. Do you sugest another spleen for jumping? P.S. Arent the bindings the best you have ever used.
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Xtream Senior Member Joined: February 16 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 119	Posted: February 24 2008 at 4:53pm
	Steve-O, Yes The more I ride the Spleene 54 the more I love it, Jumping even in light winds its effortless.... I will never sell this board, Staps and pads very comfee. The Rip 134 or the 129 great board for boosting, excellant flex at the tip good pop and real responsive, pads and straps are perfect Your can't go wrong with another Spleene X
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Boarding Bob Senior Member Joined: February 12 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 206	Posted: March 12 2008 at 7:21pm
	Hello Steve-O Not sure about the Spleens but hear they are good boards. But for jumping, I find that using a smaller board helps you to edge better and load up for more pop. Now that it is winter, I am used to using a snowboard while snowkiting so when I get to warm waters I find I need to use my larger board since I keep on sinking the tip on my short board. So I need to get some more time back on the small board this spring.
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shredbarb Newbie Joined: November 20 2006 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: March 16 2008 at 12:07pm
	Should I as a beginner consider getting a Batwin? Also boardwise, any recommendations?
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Boarding Newbie Joined: June 14 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: March 16 2008 at 1:23pm
	Hi Shredbarb, I tend to steer beginners towards the Rampage II since the Batwing is designed for the more technical kite flier. We use the Rampage II 7m the most in our school and it makes a good high wind kite once you get better. With a smaller kite, you can then use a larger board for better ballance and then that board will be your light wind board once you get better.
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Xtream Senior Member Joined: February 16 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 119	Posted: March 17 2008 at 8:33am
	Sherdbarb, I agree with Boarding the Rampage II 7 is the way to go, I just had a awesome session in 25-35 mph winds and really loved this kite. The Batwing is just a bit more technical to get dialed in and in the smaller size the Rampage II is the kite of choice for me. At you weight you will really excell fast with this kite and once you get dialed in you will get some massive air. The Rampage II 7m is stable, easy to relaunch, jumps crazy, upwind is fantastic. I have flown lots of great kite this and last season and the Rampage II tops them all in every catagory. Right now my 2 kites are Rampage II 7 and Batwing 12 with 2 boards I kite and have fun in 10-40mph winds with this setup. As for a board there are lots of good boards out right now. I personally feel everyone need at least 2 boards if you plan on maxamizine your time on the water. so one Light wind board and one all around board. If you a beginner I would reccomend starting with the light wind board first and than adding the all around board once your up and riding upwind. For your weight the Spleene Sessions 141 would be a great light wind board. Also the Door 54 would be the ultimate light wind board for you I also think its the easist board to learn on. The combinitation of the length, width and the fin setup makes for a very stable predictable board. When looking for a first board just stay away from boards with lots of rocker (Curve) on the bottom I would say get at least 135X 41 Checkout. Spleene, Nobile, Last years Flexi 135, I would get last years models I have seen the Spleene 54 Door at Extreme Kites on-line for $499 http://www.kiteoutlet.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22 thats a killer deal X
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shredbarb Newbie Joined: November 20 2006 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: March 17 2008 at 11:19am
	Thanks X and Boarding, I see the bat has no small sizes and the Rampage 7 sounds to be a great kite for me. Just out of curiosity, you both mentioned technical...what d you mean when you say, a bit more technical? Thanks for the great advise! B
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Xtream Senior Member Joined: February 16 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 119	Posted: March 17 2008 at 7:39pm
	Shredbarb, What I mean by a bit more technical is beginners tend to oversheet kites, especially in light wind, Its really instinct to me NOW that in light wind during a lull the kite may start to fall back, (Not as a beginner) if you have the kite sheeted in a bit too much, this just requires pushing the bar out and letting the kite breath (More slack on the rear lines. Also when you drop the kite in the water you want to keep tension on the lines so you prevent the kite from tumbling over its lines. This of course will happen with any kite, but I have seen beginners just have a harder time grasping the concept on the Batwing. They always seem to pull in on the bar when the kite starts to back stall, which make is fall faster. The Rampage II especially the 7 just stays in the air in very low winds and with little or no rider input. I think the lower aspect allows the kite to keep more air in the kite thus a bit more stable and less rider input, hence less technical....Just my opinion... I could be completely wrong I just fly em I don't build em....Maybe Johnathon or Boarding have a different take on the matter. X
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shredbarb Newbie Joined: November 20 2006 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: March 19 2008 at 10:07pm
	Thanks X! Coming from windsurfing I can see how counter intuitive this is. I just love the way the Bat looks but nothing smaller than a 9m...???? Wonder why? Rampage II 7m sound to be the right call for my first kite.
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Xtream Senior Member Joined: February 16 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 119	Posted: March 20 2008 at 6:20am
	Shredbard, I would say gey started on the Rampage II 7 and than pick up a Batwing 9 for lightwind days maybe a 12 depending on how light your conditions. But for your size a 7 Rampage II 7 and Batwing 9M would be the perfect setup with 2 boards something like a allround 125-130 and the Speene Sessions or the 54 Door and you would be covered from 8mph -30+mph Your really going to enjoy the Rampage II X
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shredbarb Newbie Joined: November 20 2006 Location: Canada Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Posted: March 25 2008 at 1:56pm
	Thanks all! Rampage II 7 it is!!!!!! Love the exchange rate these days...
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flybus Newbie Joined: May 22 2008 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: May 22 2008 at 12:22pm
	lookin to try some of the b/wings out SOOOON im riding a 10 thruster witchi thought to be the best kite ever made !! maybe i was wrong bat wing looks like it beats it out !!
	souther oregon kite addicts.com "yalllZ"
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