BigGingerPete

A bit of background I have been kiting for 6 months and try to get out most days for at least an hour. I fly these kites (the Katanas and also a rage, 2 Sabres and a Kinell Fusion) and have only flown about 15-20 kites so far in total, so I am no expert but this is my observation on these kites. The kite Kinell stopped making kites a few years ago but as you can find these for sale second hand and some shops are still selling them clearance I thought I would submit a review. The Katanas are high aspect race kites and as such in good wind they pack an awesome punch. Size for size the only kite I have flown with more power than the Katanas is a 5m JoJo which was just as nuts, although a predator and mosquito are similar. The Katanas are available in 2.5m, 3.5m and 4.5m sizes and unfortunately they never got round to releasing a 7.5m which would have been a real low wind monster! The Katanas are yellow underneath and then either red, yellow or blue on top and are high aspect race kites. They are slightly thinner than say blade IV's. The material is rip-stop nylon I think and the stitching looks sound. I have had 3 tabs pull on my 4.5m but I have crashed it in the sea and left it wet with salt water for a few days by accident, so I guess that is my fault. The 2.5m has never had any problems. The bridle looks average, not thin or thick. It is setup with AB and C parts so you can tweak the AoA if you are that way inclined. There are small velcro bits at the bottom of the kite to keep the bridle tidy in transit. There are also dirtouts on either end of the kite, which have been useful for removing sea life and sand a few times! The bag and other bits The backpacks are rebranded Gin backpacks and are fit for the purpose. I have used all the zips and pockets solidly for 6 months and the bag hasn't fallen apart. The lines that came with the Katana were orange colored for the power lines and white for the brakes so not as good as some lines. The lines were not pre-stretched and actually pulled about 1 foot when I stretched them!! As a result I had to tweak for about an hour to get the brake lines short enough to actually pull on anything when flying. On both my Katanas the brake lines need to be a good bit shorter than the power lines. The handles are pretty rubbish compared with Ozone handles and are just foam covered metal handles. The foam starts to fall off with constant use - get yourself some flexi lines and ozone handles! I didn't get any kite killers with this so I immediately got some flexifoil ones, you would be NUTS to fly these kites without killers. Setting up Setting up was easy, attach the power lines to the top leader on the handles and the brake lines to the bottom leaders. As I said the brakes needed tweaking, shortening by about a foot. Once that was done the kite sat up with the wind on the brake loops waiting to be launched. Flying On launching the kite rises to the zenith nicely. Flying the kite looks awesome, like a big yellow sword cutting through the sky! The kite is a race kite so isn't as forgiving as say a Rage or a Beamer but flown with the brakes almost hard off it is stable and has soooo much power it isn't funny. The kite bridle is set for low lift and maximum pull BUT I have managed 5ft - 6ft jumps with it in 20mph - 25mph winds statically flying, but I wouldn't do it again now I am into depowers as well! The kite flies well round to the edge of the window and has amazing up wind capabilities which is great. On tarmac in the right wind you can _almost_ go straight up wind! When you turn with the brakes the kite turns quickly and if you turn hard on the power it produces even more pull. I love the 4.5m as my favourite, partly because I got it first, and it is my favourite buggying kite. These kites don't like really choppy winds and are at there best (most predictable) in clean mostly steady winds. Comparisions This kite isn't boring like a 5m beamer. Compared with say the Rage the Katana has LOADS more power and lift. This doesn't have lift and float compared with a Blade IV and III but it has more out and out power. This flies like other race kites I have flown and punches above its weight. Buggy or board? This kite is meant for buggy racing, and I have found it is prefect for bombing around quickly. My highest ever speed so far on a buggy (GPS'ed @ 25mph) was with the 2.5m katana. I have used these kites for boarding and they work but they are really buggy kites for going faaaaaaaaast. Pricing Because they are not being made any more you can pick them up really cheap, and if you want a bargain look around. You can pick up a "new" 2.5 Katana for £130 quid RTF and I would recommend them to anyone wanting a cheap race kite for buggying. If you have REALLY choppy wind then look at a predator or something else like that but if you have reasonably flyable winds then get one! I hope that helps, if you have any questions then PM me, BigGingerPete. By : BigGingerPete