Advice on buggie purchase

[Tiger37]

I live in Canberra and am frustrated at how often I can get to the coast to kite board and so am thinking of getting a buggie to use on ovals in Canberra and at the coast when conditions are not good to get out on the board. Have looked at photos of a second hand Libra VMax in Brisbane and at PL and Sysmic on the Net. I need to be able to dismantle the buggie and travel with it in the back of my hatchback car. Any advice on entry level - new or better quality second hand? Not many second hands buggies for sale - anybody know of any? Thanks

[buggy boy]

I have had a Peter Lynn comp XR Buggy for 2 years and haven't had any regrets with it yet. It fits in the back of our wagon with the wheels still fitted (standard narrow barrow wheels). It takes a minute and a half to set up and is light enough to lift over fences or into the back of the wagon.I have wide wheels I fit when get Into the soft sand at the beach.It doesn't have the stability of a race buggy but I mainly use it on ovals that are fairly small, having said that a clocked up 14Km's up and down yesterday afternoon at a local oval.

Cheers

Matt

[Oooo]

Yep tiger37 welcome first of all to EK if you are after a small bug then the peter Lynn is a good one ,with VMax you can pull them apart also same as Sysmic but most people get sick of doing this after awhile as it takes around 10-20 minutes to put together and that's buggy time !! So the PL is quicker also depends on how big you are and what you want to do the PL is a good entry level / freestyle bug and the Max/ sysmic more a cruiser come speed machine for you with the ovals down there well PL would be sweet goto Amaroo that's where most of the guys go down there stu and the boys are a great bunch and can help too

Regards mick

[Slartibartfast]

This topic has come up a few times in the past, so if you search you will be rewarded

My pick of the entry level bugs is the Zebra. There the same price as the PL Comp-II/XR+ and in my opinion much better.

Second hand, well there are usually a steady trickle of PL Comp-II/XR+'s passing through the "For Sale" section, though I'm yet to see a Zebra rear it's head in there. If you do end up deciding to go for a PL buggy don't give the standard/ST any mind, make sure you get a Comp-II/XR+. It's doubt full anyone would try to sell you a PL ST but it's worth being aware they exist, even if it's just to make sure you steer well clear of them

So my advice, if you buying new defiantly consider getting the Zebra over the PL but if your after a second hand buggy I dare say you'll only be able to find PL bugs. If you do end up opting for a second hand buggy really, the Comp-II/XR+ is a fine bug.

[jhn.holgate]

It looks like there's a PL bug for sale in Canberra ? now with composite axle for $450 from JSHG. That should be well worth an email or a trip 'round to have a look. I love my Vmax to bits, but I don't think I would like it a whole lot if I had to dismantle and fit it into a hatchback everytime I used it. You can always get a wider axle and wider tyres for the PL later on down the track if needed.

[Tiger37]

Thanks everybody for some really useful and timely advice. Have not seen the PL for sale in Canberra so will take a look. I have heard that Amaroo Oval is used by kiters, so I will get up there the next weekend where there is some wind.

[andy666]

For use on an oval I would be going with a Peter Lynn buggy. They are light and maneuverable, which is exactly what you want on a small oval.

http://www.extremekites.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=16961&view=unread#unread

This is the Peter Lynn buggy John just mentioned and for only $450 it's an amazing bargain. The composite axle alone is worth $300. I would be grabbing this buggy and using it for a while and if your not happy with it you should be able to sell it again for the same price.

If I didn't already own 2 PL buggies I might grab it for myself

[Tiger37]

Thanks Andy 666. I found the link and have responded asking to see the buggie. Hopefully it is still for sale as finding the right one locally would be a real bonus. So glad I used his forum!

[BobM]

Thanks everybody for some really useful and timely advice. Have not seen the PL for sale in Canberra so will take a look. I have heard that Amaroo Oval is used by kiters, so I will get up there the next weekend where there is some wind.

Hi Tiger,

Canberra can be the most frustrating place for kiting. It is basically surrounded by higher ground which means that the bulk of the breeze passes over the top.

Amaroo oval is the place for the buggy meets - visit the TAMS website to see what sporting groups have bookings for it before heading out. Saturdays during school term are usually filled with activity - it is one of the few public ovals that was watered and maintained during the recent prolonged dry spell - so it is popular with sporting groups.

Also, make a post here in the ACT section to let the others know of an impending meet-up.

BobM

[Tiger37]

Thanks for the advice Bob and hopefully we will meet up sometime. I heard that some people in Canberra had used Lake George for buggies when its a bit drier. Is that right and if so where a bouts do they go to start?

[BobM]

Thanks for the advice Bob and hopefully we will meet up sometime. I heard that some people in Canberra had used Lake George for buggies when its a bit drier. Is that right and if so where a bouts do they go to start?

I haven't been out to Lake George for a couple of years now. Access used to be gained through a farmer's gate at the rest area just below the lookout as the highway heads down the escarpment. Access was blocked when the padlock on a gate at the base of the rest area was changed - too many disrespectful persons had a key and an amount of damage was done to the farmer's infrastructure. We used to head over to the other side of the lakebed where the wind was less disrupted by the surrounding topology.

[Tiger37]

Bob, well I have bought John's PL buggie as advertised and picked up some good tips from him. As I only have my kite boarding depower kites, the next thing is to find a suitable kite! I was surprised that John said you guys use quite large kites here. Would like to meet up when you are all next at amaroo oval to get some advice on size of kite and bar or handles. I am obviously familiar with bar control from boarding.

[BobM]

Bob, well I have bought John's PL buggie as advertised and picked up some good tips from him. As I only have my kite boarding depower kites, the next thing is to find a suitable kite! I was surprised that John said you guys use quite large kites here. Would like to meet up when you are all next at amaroo oval to get some advice on size of kite and bar or handles. I am obviously familiar with bar control from boarding.

This is an age-old debate with strong contenders in both corners Handles vs Bar. By far the best gust-munchers are the the depower kites on a bar, but for accurate control of the kite, the fixed bridle kites on handles win hands-down. Due to the small flying areana offerd by a football oval, there is little opportunity to set speed records - so most of the Canberra crowd use large depowers to go jumping and do arial tricks. Personally I'd break either the buggy, the kite or myself if I tried to jump (or rather its the landing that hurts, not the jumping). I always say, learn on handles, then convert to bar - it gives you both skills. Bat as you have a smaller depower (7M you said) try that - I usually start with a 6M Ozone Access and then adjust kite size up or down depending on the wind. I also have enough hardware to use either a bar or handles&strop on my harness.

[andy666]

If you already have some smaller kitesurfing kites then just start out on them. Cheapest and easiest option and you already know the kites so control won't be an issue.

The only thing that you may want to get is a seat harness rather then a waist harness. Because in the buggy it's more of a sideways pull, rather then being able to lean back against the pull like on a board, you will feel like the kite is trying to tip you sideways out of the buggy. The seat harness lowers the tow point and helps you feel more secure

[BobM]

and wear a helmet, underneath the soft grass is hard earth

[Tiger37]

Thanks Bob and Andy. Gave the buggie a try this morning on the oval by the Mint using by HQ 3m training kite in light gusty winds and wearing a helmet! It all felt comfortable and manged to get accross the oval, turn and get back but kite did not give much power and fell out of the sky a few times. I see forcast for Sun has some wind so may try and get up to Amaroo if anybody else is going top be there.

[BobM]

PM Sent

[andy666]

Hey mate. I just read your post in gum-nuts for sale topic that You have some surf kites but dont want to use them inland.

If you want to keep the inland kiting as a secondary to kitesurfing and want to keep the cost down. maybe look at the zebra range of kites. They are very well priced and are super gust munchers. I have never seen a fixed bridle handle gusty conditions like they do.

http://www.briskites.com.au/index.php?l=product_detail&p=610

[Tiger37]

Thanks Andy. Have been doing some research on the net regarding kites. Yes I do want to keep land kiting as secondary but you never know - if I catch the bug (excuse the pun!), I may get equally involved in both. However, as a novice with my newly aqcuired buggy, I do not want to spend too much on a kite initially. Hoping to meet up with some of the Canberra guys for advice on local wind conditions etc. Thanks for recommending the Zebra. Have looked at Ozone Octane and Flexifoil Rage plus HQ Beamer and Scout, which all seem to be good beginners kites but a litte bit more cash than the Zebra.

[CraigSmyth]

I am not doing much this arvo if anyone else wants to head to amaroo?

[JKS]

Hey tiger .... I agree with any about hanging on to your surf kites.

I'm a long term LEI buggier ... Love em

Even in inland poltergeists you may be surprised. Just keep em small (7m or under)

Marty

[Tiger37]

Cheers Marty. Having met up with some guys here in Canberra today and experienced my first OBE, I think your advice to start with a small kite is sound!

[Slartibartfast]

Oops, wrong thread