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14m Enduro?

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Created by Macster > 9 months ago, 20 Jan 2019
Macster
VIC, 276 posts
20 Jan 2019 8:11PM
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Love my 10m Enduro, was thinking of getting a 14m as a light wind kite. Bit hesitant buying untested, no demo around.

I find 14m sizes in any non light wind dedicated kite can be disappointing e.g. Bandit, Switchblade. I was impressed with the Evo in the 14m though. Anyway, has anyone tried the 14m? Does it have the same characteristics just slower, or is it dog?

Thanks in advance.

gorgemay
90 posts
22 Jan 2019 10:53AM
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I'm wondering the same thing. Someone must have one or they wouldn't sell them.

dafunk
QLD, 559 posts
22 Jan 2019 8:47PM
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My 14M C4 is great , the wind has been so light in my area .This kite gets me out ,having fun and doesn't feel massive . Love it

nikmcc
NSW, 259 posts
22 Jan 2019 10:59PM
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I love my 14m enduro v1

Can't compare it to the 10 enduro as my 10 is a reo, which obviously is much quicker...

But, compared to my 12m enduro its pretty much the same, just a fraction slower and heavier.
The 14 is a great kite. On flat water it does everthing you need it too with ease. Only time I feel its size is in the surf in cross shore wind. But its rare that I use it for this, so its not an issue. I have reos for that.

For me, 14 is the perfect "big kite" size, much more fun than a 17, but still big enough for the lighter days. I am often out on it when others are on foils or 17s.
I'd say if you like your 10, you'll like the 14m.... Same kite just bigger

Macster
VIC, 276 posts
25 Jan 2019 8:48PM
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Thanks. What size bar and length lines? What wind range you getting?

Kyter
WA, 17 posts
27 Jan 2019 1:15PM
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I had the 14m V1 as a light wind kite and liked it. 55cm bar, 25m lines. Fun on a surfboard or twintip. It was slowish as a 14m would be, but got me going in about 15 to 18knots (115kg). I've since dropped a few kegs and downsized to a 12m reo (same wind range) for mainly surf as it turns a bit faster. Haven't tried the V2.

Ozone Kites Aus
NSW, 884 posts
Site Sponsor
28 Jan 2019 12:48PM
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I've had the 14M Cat in 2015, which then became the 14M Enduro V1 and now I have the Enduro V2 14M. Definitely not a dog kite at all. Yes it is slower flying than the 12m or smaller sizes thats to be expected, but it is actually a very useful kite for me and I do use it for kiting in waves on a surfboard and sometimes a large TT.
Sold my V1 locally and the guy that owns it, also about 70-75 kg loves it and uses it a lot up here, his next size down is a 10 Reo.
Definitely use the 55cm bar although it can be flown on a 50.

The front bridle still has the 3 setting all Enduro kites have, which is freestyle/freeride/waveride, and I mostly use mine in the waves setting as this gives it the tightest turn radius and a shorter depower range, but to milk absolute bottom end out of it I switch to the freestyle setting. Rear lines are set on the fastest turning tab (just my preference), regardless of the front bridle setting.

Nuking
NSW, 83 posts
4 Feb 2019 12:43PM
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I had an 8m and 10m Enduro V2 and was dwelling on this for ages getting a 14m. I ended up going with the 12m instead to keep a tight quiver, maybe will add a zephyr or hyperlink later.
If you have a 7m, then maybe a 7/10/14 is a good spread.

PanaQc
16 posts
18 Jun 2019 7:33AM
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Select to expand quote
Macster said..
Love my 10m Enduro, was thinking of getting a 14m as a light wind kite. Bit hesitant buying untested, no demo around.

I find 14m sizes in any non light wind dedicated kite can be disappointing e.g. Bandit, Switchblade. I was impressed with the Evo in the 14m though. Anyway, has anyone tried the 14m? Does it have the same characteristics just slower, or is it dog?

Thanks in advance.


As i share with my gf and we travel to windy and no so windy destinations (Cuba) we have them all from 6 to 14. At 90 kg I use the 14 mainly between 13 and 16 knots. Below 13 my gf uses it. If you liked the Evo you will like the Enduro. My gf finds the 14 (a V1) twitchy in very light winds and it stalls if you ovesheet, like most kites I guess. It will be surprisingly responsive if you put the energy in cranking the bar.

Ozone Kites Aus
NSW, 884 posts
Site Sponsor
18 Jun 2019 11:13AM
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PanaQc said..

Macster said..
Love my 10m Enduro, was thinking of getting a 14m as a light wind kite. Bit hesitant buying untested, no demo around.

I find 14m sizes in any non light wind dedicated kite can be disappointing e.g. Bandit, Switchblade. I was impressed with the Evo in the 14m though. Anyway, has anyone tried the 14m? Does it have the same characteristics just slower, or is it dog?

Thanks in advance.



As i share with my gf and we travel to windy and no so windy destinations (Cuba) we have them all from 6 to 14. At 90 kg I use the 14 mainly between 13 and 16 knots. Below 13 my gf uses it. If you liked the Evo you will like the Enduro. My gf finds the 14 (a V1) twitchy in very light winds and it stalls if you ovesheet, like most kites I guess. It will be surprisingly responsive if you put the energy in cranking the bar.


They only stall if your front lines have stretched (or rear lines have shrunk), check your lines? They definitely respond well to a bit of muscle and keeping some tension in the rear lines in lighter winds.

Macster
VIC, 276 posts
20 Jun 2019 5:26PM
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I am a huge advocate of the Ozone Enduro. My wife and I share a 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14m all V2s. I regret buying the 14m. It's a poor lightwind kite even with the larger bar and 25m lines. Too slow and heavy to fly well in less than 12 knots so not really a foil boarding option and on my twintip, offers very little bottom end difference to the more agile and therefore apparent wind-generating 12m.

I couldn't demo before buying unfortunately so made the mistake of buying it. My wife has better luck with in lightwind on her surfboard.

Anyway, it's no worse than say the Bandit 14m but as someone warned me, if you are looking for a lightwind kite buy a lightwind kite. If you're a heavier chap who needs some grunt in 15-18 knots this kite is probably for you.

Enduro 8m and 10m is an absolute weapon, no hesitation there...

Septic
47 posts
20 Jun 2019 11:34PM
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Thanks Macster
I have made the same mistake many times. Most recently was a Slingshot SST in 12m, couldn't get any good review so I took the chance and have regretted it since. Tried an Ozone Reo 12m V3 and it was about twice as good as the SST when grovelling small waves underpowered on surfboard. Can only imagine how good the v5's are.

There's an 11m V2 Enduro around now but they guy wants to get his money out of it and as it's still pristine, doesn't wan't it flying around for test drives. I'd need to test it in waves so that's not going to happen. Reviews like your's here are the only way to get unbiased opinions.

The tricky part is nowadays you use your big kite for foiling and need some sustained lift for learning jibes and tacks on foil. You also need to pierce upwind when your struggling upstream against currents on your surfboard. It needs two different kites but who can afford that? At 82 Kilos the 12m wave kites can feel a bit heavy in waves and slow. I guess the next step is to try a 14m Ozone Alpha. Step down to a 10m Ozone Reo V5 vs. Enduro V2. Any thoughts on those two for what I have described? Thanks again.

Macster
VIC, 276 posts
21 Jun 2019 1:44PM
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Septic said..
Thanks Macster
I have made the same mistake many times. Most recently was a Slingshot SST in 12m, couldn't get any good review so I took the chance and have regretted it since. Tried an Ozone Reo 12m V3 and it was about twice as good as the SST when grovelling small waves underpowered on surfboard. Can only imagine how good the v5's are.

There's an 11m V2 Enduro around now but they guy wants to get his money out of it and as it's still pristine, doesn't wan't it flying around for test drives. I'd need to test it in waves so that's not going to happen. Reviews like your's here are the only way to get unbiased opinions.

The tricky part is nowadays you use your big kite for foiling and need some sustained lift for learning jibes and tacks on foil. You also need to pierce upwind when your struggling upstream against currents on your surfboard. It needs two different kites but who can afford that? At 82 Kilos the 12m wave kites can feel a bit heavy in waves and slow. I guess the next step is to try a 14m Ozone Alpha. Step down to a 10m Ozone Reo V5 vs. Enduro V2. Any thoughts on those two for what I have described? Thanks again.


Can't help much cause I don't do waves but I do foil a lot. We weigh the same. The 11m Enduro on a freeride foil of decent wing size and a fairly bouyant/volume board should get you going in 11/12 knots with ease. The main obstacle is body dragging out in current and not dropping the kite in sub-10 knot wind. If you have a launch site that is instantly deep water and no crazy current, you could probably use the 11m Enduro in 9-10 knots for foiling.

Before I bought the Flysurfer soul for foiling, I use to have a 14.5m Ocean Rodeo Flite. That thing was amazingly light and could get me going in 7-8 knots. I also owned and tried the north juice 15m but it was too heavy and clumsy for foiling.

I've also tried the mono and solo, both are good contenders for foiling if you don't want to get a foil kite. Haven't tried the Alpha. The 12m Mono had the pull of a typical 14m.

I have a Flysurfer soul 12m and 8m that I use for foiling nowadays and there's no comparison with LEIs. If the budget allows, grab a 10m Soul and you'll be sweet from 8 knots to 18 on the hydrofoil.

Anyway in sum, 11m Enduro will get you foiling from 10-12 knots, twin tipping from 15 knots and wave riding somewhere in between. Sweet spot on the twin tip at your weight would be 18-22 knots and I reckon with 23m lines you could pull some awesome kiteloop jumps on the 11m!



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"14m Enduro?" started by Macster