hapes Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Was surfing Amazon and bumped into this kite: http://amzn.to/1LQIbeh It's like half the price of an EXP, and undoubtedly is lower quality than a Rev, but it might be more appealing to people who wish to purchase a quad kite for me for the upcoming gift giving holidays, especially since I've never successfully flown a quad before. I know the regular recommendation is a Rev B, but at $335 without line, versus $130 with dyneema line (80ft/150lb), with my lack of experience and possibility of crashing... The reviews are mixed, but I'm sure I can manage to handle any difficulties with line length, for example, with the help of all the great people here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeafThunder Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 I bought my first Revolution Custom (colors, not pro) B-Series Kite ... So far, so good. http://kitelife.com/forum/gallery/album/433-sunset-color-b-series-revolution-kite/ I suggesting you to contact Lolly at RevKites.com ... please refer me, "AgentCueball", to Lolly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Dowler Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Who ya gonna call if there is a problem - China?? Yep - it's cheaper and in the end may be OK, but what if it isn't? Now you have a cheap kite taking up room in the bag or closet - NFG! Save up and get an EXP - got everything you need to fly, made in America, and if you have problems - huge network of dealers to access. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 One of the people at the Kites Over Lake Michigan festival this last September, not one of the regulars, just someone who showed up at the fest with his imitation Rev, asked for some help with his kite because he was having trouble flying it. He said he paid $90 for the package. Steve Anderson and I tried for nearly an hour to get it all adjusted to just barely fly. Everything that could possibly be wrong with the frame, sail, lines and handles was. We got it half-a_ _ed working for him and he tried to fly it without too much success, since it was still not at 100% adjusted. We could tell he had been trying to fly it since a few months back when he got it and had made some progress in learning basic control so we put him on a real Rev, Steve's EXP. He took off and started flying and had basic control with no problems. I believe he bought a used Rev from Steve before he left. He mentioned something about throwing the import in the garbage, or something on that order. He definitely said the word garbage. True story, ask Steve or ask Jynx. She was there when we were trying to make it fly, and I think she took a shot at flying it too. Ok -- point of the story. I'm not saying that the kite is not well made, it may be. Not saying it won't fly, it may fly very well. Not saying that the lines and handles are of bad quality. Not saying that everything is out of adjustment, it might be perfect. I don't know. Do you? The kite in your link looks to be better than the one we tried to fix at KOLM. It may or may not be. I don't know anyone who has purchased one, or anyone who has flown this model. You can save some money, but if the kite needs major surgery are you capable of doing it? Do you know enough about the aerodynamics of a quad-line kite to make it happen? I can do the surgery for you because I've built several quads myself, but I'll charge you the difference between what you paid and the price of a Rev. Just kidding, but you get the idea, right? If you are tight on cash, you can build one yourself. The first one I made (see my avatar) cost me less than $60 in materials to make the kite and handles. I purchased an 80' line set at a kite fest after my disappointment with spectra fishing line, although lately I've heard of one called something Crystal, made by Berkley that is supposed to be deccent. Other option, wait a bit longer, save up an extra hundred, and get the real thing. Those who have were not disappointed. Revs are like Timex watches, "....takes a licking and keeps on ticking". Edit: Just took another glance at your post. You don't have to get a B-series or a B-Pro. You can get an SLE package with lines and handles, new, for about $220, or keep an eye on eBay where frequently you will find some sets for $120 to $150. Contact Lolly at Rev Kites, ask if she has any beaters laying around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
photomom Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Took a look at the link. I notice that the kite in the picture is vented. If that is truly the kite, keep in mind that a vented kite needs more wind to fly that a full sail kite. I don't know where you are located but if it's not a region with strong winds, you will be frustrated when the kite won't lift far off the ground and you will be limited on the number of flyable days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Yeah, I noticed that too but forgot to mention it. That kite will not fly for a beginner in wind less than 10-12 mph. If you're dead set on geting one of those, get a full sail. Are you in the Midwest? For some reason I think you're in Missouri. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hadge Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Lots of pages have been written on the Revs V Chinese copy arguement. The problem is there are so many firms in China making 'rev' like kites and quality varies wildly. Some are actually pretty decent kites, some are rubbish but it's knowing which is which, even then the copies often need a bit of tweeking to get them right and that needs experience. The good thing about Genuine Revs is that, while they cost more, you know they will fly properly straight out of the bag. If you are a beginner and considering the price you can get a new Rev for over there ( they cost a bomb on this side of the pond!) I would say get a genuine Rev, it'll save you a lot of hassle and if you decide you don't like it you will be able to sell it on again for a fair price - a used Chinese rev is worth practically nothing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobB Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 I get the appeal... it's a good looking kite at a good price. But.... it's also a $120 gamble that it would fly correctly. Or last very long. If only I could have back all the $$$ I spent on inexpensive kites, I would have a few more good ones ! But unfortunately, inexpensive kites aren't worth the time to resell for the small amount that they might bring. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul LaMasters Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 eat ketchup sandwiches all summer long if you have to, but the money spent on "the real McCoy" revolution kite is money that has been well spent (even invested well!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyzakite Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 I have to say, I did recently buy one of those kite from China that was RTF, I did order another one afterwards. I can honestly say you probably won't have any problems with crashes, only because you probably won't get it to fly. The reason you won't get it to fly is because the lines have so much stretch it's like stretching chewing gum from your mouth with your fingers. I think if you doubled up on the lines making them 40' without cutting the lines there will still be too much stretch to feel much input or control. About all you get out of the line set is it the winder(s) that came with the lines, oh, the sleeving too. As for the handles, they are ok, the leaders have some serious stretch to them both tops and bottoms are 11" that will stretch to 12" then slowly go back to 11". The kite itself isn't bad, the bridle stretches like the leaders, my bridle was upside down on one of the verticals, just flipped it over as it was the same type of 3 piece bridle rev uses, but has stretch. The end caps are ok and they sent extras, the bungees holding the end caps are way too strong, it's like pulling back a crossbow to put the kite together. About the only thing left is the frame, the tubes are smaller length than the rev 1.5 tubes, definitely a different material, inside diameter is inconsistent by fractions where one end might fit onto the ferrule but the other end won't. But if you do break a tube it can be replaced by something local like sky shark or rev. It would take a little work but you should get it to fly, but the lines should be cut up into smaller sets where the stretch isn't felt as much. I would be bummed out like I use to at Christmas back in the 1950's getting a toy that lasted for less than half that day before it broke, or never got it to work in the first place. Like the wind-up plastic toy that the spring broken on the first try. HO! HO! HO! My conclusion is, it's flyable, with some quad experience and tuning ability under your belt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hapes Posted November 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 The consensus seems to be "the risk of it being a crap kite is too high." Since you are all experts, I'll have to bow to your wisdom. I thought Dyneema was acceptable in terms of stretch, maybe hyzakite got different lines with his Chinese RTF version. Some notes: I have a Rev EXP on my Amazon wish list for the gift-giving holidays. Not this one. And I was only thinking of changing it to increase my chances of getting a kite for said holiday. I live in Pittsburgh, PA, not Missouri, but I'm not sure how you would know that without stalking my profile, and that's not worth it, I'm not anybody interesting. The wind here is generally crap. I'll mostly be flying it during my yearly week-long beach vacations, where the wind is almost rock steady, 10-12mph. Vented vs. not is probably not an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyzakite Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Remember Dyneema is a brand and not a final product, it's like saying, I'm going to buy some DuPont or some Spectra. Spectra/Dyneema kite line might be good for flying but not for fishing, while spectra/dyneema fishing line might be good for fishing but not for flying kites. The kite I bought from china came with dyneema line, that doesn't mean much, other than material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3wrapframe Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 I will sell you a used like new rev 1.5 B series or 1.5 SLE that is way better than this one, better than an EXP and it won't be full price either. I can make you an entire ready to fly package with Laser pro gold lines and handles which is the worst part of those Chinese kites. Pm me if you are interested on more details. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 The consensus seems to be "the risk of it being a crap kite is too high." Since you are all experts, I'll have to bow to your wisdom. I thought Dyneema was acceptable in terms of stretch, maybe hyzakite got different lines with his Chinese RTF version. Some notes: I have a Rev EXP on my Amazon wish list for the gift-giving holidays. Not this one. And I was only thinking of changing it to increase my chances of getting a kite for said holiday. I live in Pittsburgh, PA, not Missouri, but I'm not sure how you would know that without stalking my profile, and that's not worth it, I'm not anybody interesting. The wind here is generally crap. I'll mostly be flying it during my yearly week-long beach vacations, where the wind is almost rock steady, 10-12mph. Vented vs. not is probably not an issue. We would like, in general, to save you the aggravation of hitting the field only to find that you can't fly, and then spending hours or days making various changes and adjustments just to be able to lift off, and then repeating that procedure in order to make it fly well. In the meantime, you learn control movements that you will have to un-learn later. As I mentioned, my first quad is my avatar, which I made myself. Everything on and for that kite I made by myself, including cutting and ferruling the frame, and tying the bridle from braided fishing line. I did not know how to fly a quad before I built it, so the kite and I "grew up together". 100 hours of changes and tuning is what it took to gain basic control -- something you will accomplish in under 10 hours. The next year, finances improved, and I bought a Rev sle. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! The things I learned from that Rev SLE kite actually allowed me to make the changes to the kite I had built so it could fly well. I have built other quads since then, but unless you build them exactly like a Rev, they don't fly like a Rev. It's that simple. Even minor changes in the design affect the way it flies. Lack of symmetry also makes it do weird things. Unless your intent is to learn aerodynamics and flight characteristics of quad-line kites in general, instead of learning how to fly one, you should avoid all imports in that $120 price range. There are some, like Freilein and one or two others, that are of better quality, but then you're right back in that $240 and up price range for the RTF package. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hapes Posted November 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Oh, I get it. That's why I'm sticking to the rev SLE (or if 3wrapframe and my wife can come to an agreement on price, a B series). In other words, you guys convinced me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makatakam Posted November 3, 2015 Report Share Posted November 3, 2015 Sorry about the Missouri thing. Lots of new people here this year. Hard for an old fart to keep track of everyone. Then add the other kite forums I'm on, with the same guys, only different handles. My bad. For crap and/or variable/inconsistent winds a full-sail is your go-to kite. Eventually, if you really get into it, you will expand your quiver. Once you have basic control, anything in the range of 4mph to 13mph will be do-able. Above that, have a beer, or fly someone's vented. Have fun, smile, don't forget to breathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Rabbit Posted November 4, 2015 Report Share Posted November 4, 2015 Glad you have seen the light. As a new Rev flier, myself, I can tell you that learning was a breeze, but given that you are so limited in quality wind days, you'd want something that is ready to go. Just be ready (and warn the wife) that once you get it to lift off, there isn't much else you are going to want to do on your vacation. -Rabbit Oh, and all hail Calvin & Hobbes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
povlhp Posted December 4, 2015 Report Share Posted December 4, 2015 I am one of those who bought substantial more expensive China clones. $200+ with handles/lines. And one frame only. They are good, and considered good workmanship, good materials (icarex). I like them. Also have their own design quad which I bought, and it is not nearly as good as the rev-style. Their vented rev-clone has more evenly distributed vents, and I really like it. So I feel I got good products for the money. If I was in the US, it would probably not be worth it, but here in Europe, equivalent Revs are around $350 - So it was worth a gamble. There are multiple rev-like kites in Europe. But reviews in German thought this brand was better workmanship than original revs. Even German rev resellers agreed. I know from an english guy, that most n00bs in UK buys cheap chinese, there was even a good team or two with one of the mid-priced chinese brands. But I think they have now all migrated to the Rev. A colleague bought one of the german quads. The DropKick, and he has trouble getting it to fly. My chinse where flying on first attempt, and are all OK given correct wind. So the conclusion is, that there are some chinese kites that are OK, others are not worth buying. You need to find somebody trustworthy that has the kite to get an idea. If the buyer keeps flying, he will end up buying the real thing. Due to the resale value of an original, it migh be cheaper to own and fly an original than to buy and dump the $100 clone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flynhi Posted December 7, 2015 Report Share Posted December 7, 2015 I have this kite. It was my first quad lined kite. Everyone already hit the points I wanted to address. Took me a week of daily flying/adjusting the line lengths to get it under control. The lines stretch a LOT. Replace them with Laser Pro Gold lines and save yourself from future headaches. One of the bungee cords snapped in high winds and I haven't cared enough to replace it. It flies! Learn on it. Beat the hell out of it. Once you get it under control, invest in a REV. Start with an EXP or 1.5 SLE. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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