Hey all,

Just bought my first buggy! and I don't even have a kite yet I know I know, but it was a steal at $380 for a like new Peter Lynn Competition ST (wasn't it?). I've been wanting to get into Buggying and possibly Landboarding for a while now but my cash flow is a little low so I've been saving my pennies and happened to see the Competition ST on TradeMe for a good price so I just bought it.

I'm here now for advice on my first kite. I've never flown anything other than my $10 warehouse stunt kite so I am new to that but I'm a little experienced with windsports having windsurfed for a couple of years. Because of this, and my very low income at the moment (student) I don't really want to spend money on a training kite, I was thinking, $300-600 (MAX!) on a 3-4m kite. I don't want to spend more than that cause I'll probably end up smashing it into the ground a bit, but I do want to spend enough to hold me over until I can afford my 2nd kite (which may be a while away).

So what can the good people here recommend? from the little research I've done I was thinking a Peter Lynn Twister II with Bar (not so keen on handles cause I don't see many people using them for landboarding, wanna convince me otherwise? I'm open to debate). Remember I'm going to be using it primarily for Kite buggying in the Wellington region (where I currently live), AND up and down 90 mile beach (where I grew up). I'll probably be taking it down to Karori park a bit as well just to play with, do some jumping

...oh and what other equipment do you recommend? a helmet I'm guessing....

buy gannets flex foil rage.

www.kiteforum.co.nz/kiteforum/2-buying--...l-rage-35-m-for-sale

or go talk to Butch and Wind warriors in foxton about a ozone flow of similar size.

handles are what you want initially and for buggy. A bar is better for landboarding. but you can look at that later when yourv'e progressed.

Don't learn in karori park. it will be way to gusty. For kiting you want clean wind like at a beach of similar. inland through the hills in wellington the wind will be brutal. i would not kite at karori with 5 years experience. a Newbie like yourself would get punished BADLY. you need to head to Waikanae on a days thats about 10 to 15 knots.

As for equipment. Helmet as a minimum. knee and elbows recomended.

I agree with Plummet the at getting Gannets rage as they are great kite to learn with and will not surprise you with luffing. The twister II's are great kites but have lift and are aimmed at the landboarding and freestyle buggying.

Now i know you would like a kite to cover both landboarding and buggying but most of the landboarding kites tend to have lift and this can be dangerous learning in a buggy with a lifty kite. Also landboarders need a bigger kite in the same wind as a buggier i.e. if your buggying in a 3.5m kite you need a 5m on a landboard.

I would recommend a low lift kite at a 3-4m size from either Peter Lynn who have some demo kites for sale through their factory in ashburton http://www.peterlynnkites.com/ Flexifoil or Ozone are the most available in NZ the latter two are expensive brand new. Personally i think Peter Lynn kites are the best value for money and one of their kites the Vapor(their top Race kite) has set the world buggy speed record at NABX by a dutch team this year with a 133kmph. So their kites have a good pedigre in kite buggying.

As far as additional equipment goes a helmet is a must its saved my head numerous times. Also after you get the hang of buggying get a harness as it take the strain out of the arms.

As far as handles go they are easier to use in a buggy than a bar and a 3-4m 4line kite like the rage flys better on handles as the they turn faster and fly more acurately on handles. but it will come down to personal preference for handles or bar but generally fixed bridle RAM air kites fly better on handles than a bar but most of the modern kites will fly on a bar but you loose the ability to use the brakes.

Also if you use do get a 4-line like the Rage to learn with use the kite killers as they give you the ability to let the kite go in a bad situation and not loose the kite downwind.

Also make the buggy a little more comfortable by putting that foam pipe lagging on the side rails and wrap it in duct tape will save you briusing the your hips.

Would love to buy Gannets kite but my wallet is empty at the moment so I'll just have to wait. Looks like I'll get handles with my first kite Thanks for all the info and tips.

does anyone have any links to making your own mud guard? I'd be keen to spend a few hours making something.

Cheers.

well if you find a kite post up the specs here and we'll tell you if its a goer or not.

usually you are better off spending more than you can afford. cheaper kites are just that cheap. kite technology has moved significantly in the last few years so an cheap old shitter may just be a unstable death trap.

Tip of the day. Get a wind meter. learn what wind speeds you should and shouldn't fly in.

Cheers I did a bit of research on the Ozone Flow you mentioned and it seems ideal! Reasonable price new (3m) and a ton of good reviews. I don't think I'll look any further... Just gotta save for a month or so.

Will definitely get a wind meter when I can get one but priorities at the moment are:
Kite + Helmet. Used to watch the wind alot for wind surfing so do have a good estimatormometer... per se... But do want one.... OH and a GPS but that will definitely have to wait.

Can't wait!!!

i have a 3m Flow in my demo cave. If ya want a try before ya buy gimme a call.

butch wrote:


Yeah I think cause I have no experience with kites specifically I might come come out and get a lesson and buy a kite the same day (once I've saved my pennies of course) do you have stock on hand and would you do a deal on a lessons + kite

Cheers.

As far as a mud guard goes i use a spray deck under mine which is basically a triangle of material that goes from the forks to under the seat and keeps most of the crap and water off face. Don't worry about the side wheels as any mud guard here tends to get bashed and its something else to hit you which you get flipped. You can also make a belly pan for the buggy out of those thick plastic rubbish bin. looks like the one on this website http://www.darkskykites.com/

Here's some pics of how my buggy is set up i've got the PL MKII
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39391434@N05/

skypirate wrote:


Cool setup. Are belly pans worth the hassle? ... I'll be doing most of my riding on the beach.

Cheers

I've never needed one for the beach but depends on the terrain, anywhere the ground might be uneven like scrub grassland or loose surface stones, as that fabric seat doesn't offer much protection if something gets flicked up or you ride over an unseen object like a large stone. on the beach here its shells mostly and that spray deck stops most of it, but every now then you feel one hit you and i've got the thicker XR+ seat on my buggy.

I do think it looks cool and give you somewhere to stick those kite manufacture stickers as well, as there is only so much you can put on your car.

skypirate wrote:


Yeah maybe I'll give it a go. Any idea where I can find plans or tips on making your own? I tried searching with little luck...

Helmet??? Is a full face MTB helmet a good choice???

Cheers.

yep, most ppl use mountain bike helmets of some sort!
dont spend $$ on ur buggy yet, when ppl are talking soft sand they mean stuff above the high tide mark. at low tide ur fine.

A full face MTB helmet would be fine though i wouldn't use a a regular cycle helmet as they have that peak at the back which if used on harder surface than sand might strain your neck in a OBE where your head is jerked backwards in the griund as you land on your back.

I have this one www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/PTHLMN7AD/ti...c-ace-dig-mtb-helmet this type is also a little cheaper than a full face mtb helmet.

Also if you are buying a new helmet checkout www.torpedo7.co.nz/ other listings as they have some great deals from time to time.

Merkinz wrote:


As far as the belly pan goes i don't have any plans either and the same result from the net. Though you could get some thick cardboard make a temple and then transfer it to the plastic.

Definitely full face helmet, knee pads and (when budget allows) body armour. Gave my new body armour a good test on Saturday when trying to land the 6m XT. The thing rolled over, launched straight back up and took me for a wee fly. Smashed me head first into a dune some 6-7 metres away from where I started, lay there for a second trying to breathe, managed to pull the o-crap knob then continued lying there for a bit contemplating life, the universe and how-in-the-hell did that happen. 4 x-rays later, confirmation I was still in one piece, and I'm singing the praises of body armour. Who cares if I look like a walking advert for 661!
(Butch made me go to hospital...thanks mate for making me go..else I would still be somewhere between the estuary and the house!)

PS: I also made my own splash guard, but by the time I bought the material, nylon strap and fastex clips, it was about $4 dearer than buying one!...but I had to test the theory..LOL (cheap ba$tard!)

ShaneNZ wrote:


Knee pads for a buggy? really???

ouch.. shane. windmust have been a nuking day for a 6m access to punish you.

merl. it all depends on the madness level. crazy armour to the gunnels. cruzing in 10 knots. maybe just a helmet.

Yup..knee and elbow pads are a very good buy, especially once you start doing things like speed turns and popping it up on 2 wheels. If you go turtle, you'll lose skin. I have a bad habit of touching my elbows on the back wheel when up on 2 wheels..and wet sand stuck to a pneumatic tyre..well, try putting your elbow on a grinding wheel and you have a similar effect.

Tru tru... only reason I questioned is I passed up an awesome deal the other day on knee guards and shin guards ... oh well

Couldn't even bare the thought of throwing away 40 bones on a mud guard so in the end i bought THIS mudguard off Torpedo7 when it was on special for $7.

It arrived yesterday but it was WAY to narrow. A little disappointed but I was expecting that...

... after some thought though I decided to stick it front of a heater for 10-15 mins and then put it under a wooden block and stand on it for 5 minutes! The result is an awesome mudguard that can be removed and looks great Fits perfectly as well. Doesn't hit the fork on full lock or interfere with the bolting on the downtube thing...

sweet. The landkiting comunity is rife with customisation! welcome to the club.

ps old 20ltr oil containers make good mudguards and general plastic doofers!

might work better the other way around, look at the sand spray pattern after use, you will see what i mean good idea though...

Jimmy22 wrote:


Yeah thought about this! With the velcro though I'll be able to change it on the fly

Took the Rage 3.5 out for the first time today. I can confirm that it can fly, and that it is quite durable! ... Other than that I kinda got my arse kicked!

wooohoooooo, first ass kicking...nice work, keep it up.
your post about your mudguard is quite endeering, its funny how you get attached to things....i lost a nice mudguard in the moose a couple of weekends ago in a fight with the kitebike.
the moose took my mudguard. and now im going to go and get it back
there isnt anything worse than mudguard envy

northernal321 wrote:


except that of a well rounded and polished rear end?