80kg riding twintip.
My options are
10m/8m
12m/8m
I had a 9m for the end of last summer and found I was more underpowered than overpowered...so I am thinking 12m rpm but then again I have heard the 10m is the best size.
I rode a 12 RPM the other day.. very nice kite... seems like a very small 12.. go the 12-8 option the 8-10 is way to close..
Agreed the 12/8 combo will give the best range. Had the 8 out in 30 -40 knots on Sunday, handled it no trouble at all. The 12 did seem a bit small and lacked a little bottom end, but should be fine for your weight.
Constant winds,
Baz.
Im in the same boat....
had a 9m REV last year, but i am wanting both more top and bottom end for this season, so its a two kite quiver for me. (im 75kgs and ride a 132tt)
I have had a 8m RPM for a couple of months now and had it out in some of the stronger winter fronts, love it. So stable in the gusts, heaps of power in the turns, the SS chart for me is pretty spot on with it at 18-30 knots, however it did seem though it could handle more than 30. It has lost a couple of knots over the 9m rev as you would imagine.
I know im mixing my quiver(I ride the RPM on the setting most like the REV) but for the lighter days i ended getting a 11rev2, I'm hoping that i should be able to get out in around 14-15. I didnt get to try the 12RPM but quite a number of people have said that the lower end is not great, and since its the reason i'm buying it, it didnt make much sense.
I also dont want to be stuck on the 12 in the lighter seabreezes (17-19) when i will be under powered on the 8m.
Interesting stuff here.
I will have my new quiver - 6M RPM and 9M & 13M Octanes 
- up at the Exmouth EXPO where (I am told) there will also be at least the 7M Octane & 8M RPM on demo.
Hopefully I can report back some more good info for you guys after swapping & changing through 8 days of Ningaloo conditions.
Cant wait. Should get top & bottom ends of everything; tuned every which way; fully dialled with all that time-on-water to play with.
I have 12,10, and 8 RPMs, only weigh 65kg but where I kite is not as consistently windy as Perth in the summer. The low-end difference between the 12 and 10m is tiny, 2 knots at most. I hardly ever use the 12m, the smaller RPMs are way more dynamic and fun.
If I lived in Perth and could only have two kites I would personally go 10/8 or 10/6 if I went to Geraldton or Margaret River heaps. The 8m is an awesome kite with a huge wind range.
You should work a 6m in somehow! it's a great size, best kite I've ever owned! I think the 10 lacks a bit on low end, you really need 20 knots to be fully powered.
I would go 12 n 8 for you weight
I forgot to say that these kites are very adjustable. I can't decide whether wake-style actually improves the low-end or simply makes it feel more grunty. My personal preference is wakestyle on the 12m and probably the 10m, and free-style on the 8m.
You have to be really aggressive in light winds and throw the kite around. It's not like a bow kite where you want to keep things as still & steady as possible when it's light.
Simon
whats the relaunch like on the RPM? I have heard that its like a C, where you have to get it on its back before you start yanking on a steering line.
Also, are any bigger guys riding the RPM? Was thinking of going a 12/8 combo, but weighing in at 95kgs it sounds like i could be pushing it on the low end
Thanks for the replies.
50% of my kiting is late afternoon after work, so I need a small kite. Then on weekends I dont want to have to sit around until the wind hits 18-20kts.
Anyone else from W.A have a 12m?
10m and 8m just feel to close together for me but only caught the very end of summer in WA last year.
85kg
Strapless 6'2" surfboard unhooking
8m - 10m combo
Extremely stable and predictable kite , which gives you confidence to push your self in what ever you do, whether you ride twintip or surfboard . Keen to try a 6m on 22knots pls days.
Hi andrew,
Both quivers will work well however depending on the following one will be better then the other.
where do you ride mainly?
what size board?
What part of kiting do you enjoy the most? Boosting, freeriding, going fast, freestyle, waves
Personally i feel 8m-10m is too close and you might end up second guessing what kite to go out on. last season i went 9.5 only, season before 7m-11m and the season before 7,9,11,13. I had alot of bad sessions through wrong kite choice and not wanting to come in and change. With 8m and 12m it just makes it easy. <17knots go for the 12. <19 knots go for the 8m. In between make a call on where u think the winds going/what kind of riding you want to do.
From my experience with the 8m (I'm similar weight to you), it gets me going (upwind) in ~17knots.
12m in 15knots is so much more fun then a 10. Although absolute bottom end might not be much different.
Dave
I ride a 12m RPM and 136 Misfit and at 88kgs I need at least 15 knots to get it going but has a great top end. Not that I really got to test the top end much this season as it was very average year for us
As for relaunch, pull a steering line and up she comes, extremely simple and effective!!
thanks guys, was pretty sold on a 10/8 combo until I read windforces post.
I will be riding in perth, where exactly I dont know I havent been here long. Somewhere with flat water
How many 12-18kt seabreezes do we usually get over summer? does the SW'er ever come in weakly or is it a all or nothing deal?
