deejaygee Posted January 31, 2003 Report Posted January 31, 2003 This question seems to have been asked quite often, but I suppose it depends on the individuels vital stats........ While there are some good offers on Blades I am going to take the plunge and treat myself - the question is 4.0 or 4.9......I have been flying my Sigma Sport 3m which was a good intro to Power Kiting - the pull is fantastic - I went out on Blackheath in about a 20 - 25MPH wind and got dragged from pillar to post. But there's really no lift, either that or I haven't learnt how to jump yet!!!! I am 6'2" and weigh 13.5 stones - what would you suggest 4.0 or 4.9 I want to get some air without killing myself!!!! Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Cheers Quote
deejaygee Posted January 31, 2003 Author Report Posted January 31, 2003 I agree with you on the shorter lines, I had a Power Kiting lesson when I first got into it, my instructer was using 15m lines on a blade 4.9, it was quite managable even though I'd never flown one before and the winds must have been 10mph gusting up to 15mph at times. I have flown my sigma on 40m lines and in strong winds the window is so big that after 10 minutes you are wasted! Cheers Quote
IanB Posted January 31, 2003 Report Posted January 31, 2003 I dont know why but recently there seem to have been about a million threads on this exact same theme, 'I'm new and dont know if I should go for the 4.0 or the 4.9 blade'!! Its always those two kites!! Sorry deejaygee I know whats its like to be new to this game, its all very confusing, so I'm not having a dig. At least you appear to have done a search on the subject. Is there any way that someone who has experience of these two kites to draw up some kind of kite size/flyer weight/experience/wind speed chart or something. OK I know its a tall order and it doesnt really bother me if newbs wanna post the same question, (in fact it gives me more to read at work!!), but this is obviously a confusing area that need clarification. Majin IanB - Is probably secretly jealous cos he wants a 4.9 himself!! Quote
rasga Posted January 31, 2003 Report Posted January 31, 2003 there has been a lot of decisions and it really ends up on have you flown either of teh kites. . that way you end up with a sure fire comparisson (as everyone has their own slight preferences) Quote
deejaygee Posted January 31, 2003 Author Report Posted January 31, 2003 Have flown a 4.9 on 15m lines, and was fine, in fact I have been more scared with my sigma 3m but then I have tken it out in some pretty strong winds - the reason I am confused is I saw some guy jumping with a 2m blade on Saturday!!!!! Obviously the blade 4 is also cheaper but I you always want more power - so I was thinking the 4.9 - my sigma 3 is good as a storm kite. Has anybody got one or used one of these kites?? have you managed any jumps?????????? Quote
Phyronixx Posted January 31, 2003 Report Posted January 31, 2003 good question! i´m new to this sport too and don´t know which blade to buy! 4.0 or 4.9 ???? always the same question. i think i´ll get me a 4.0 in the beginning because i don´t want to spend so much money on o kite. (well it´s not chaep anyway ) Also you can fly the 4.0 in a much wider windrange and in stronger winds too than the 4.9, right? so, thats my opinion! greetz, Phyronixx Quote
bigrob Posted January 31, 2003 Report Posted January 31, 2003 Deejaygee Why don't you give Richard at http://www.Kitedynamics.co.uk a ring on 07720 837678 or email him richard@kitedynamics.co.uk. He is due to be on the Heath tomorrow noon ish and the winds are expected to be 19Mph. He is happy to bring kites for you to try and has offered to give me a hand flying a NPW9 which I didn't even buy from him. Hopefully see you there. Robin Quote
richardc Posted January 31, 2003 Report Posted January 31, 2003 Just my two-penn'th: Both the 4.0 and the 4.9 have their advantages. I reckon you'd be more than happy with either. There will always be days where you're overpowered on the 4.9, and days where you're underpowered on the 4.0... and you'll wish you'd bought the other one!! The 4.0 turns faster and is more maneouverable... more of a pleasure to fly. It also flies through the air faster - and since the amount of pull increases with speed, this goes some way to making up the power difference between the two kites. For this reason, jumping with the 4.0 seems a bit more "violent"... which could be good or bad depending on your outlook! Conversely of course, the 4.9 has more static pull. It's got more of a "parachute effect" to help soften those jumps. I remember at least one day where the 4.0 scared me witless compared with the "security" of the 4.9. Definitely don't underestimate the 4.0; when I was looking to buy my first kite I was convinced I needed the biggest possible when looking through the Flexi brochure... but then I flew a 2.6 and got hurled into the air and then realised there is some sense in "smaller kites"! There's some videos on http://www.kitefanatics.co.uk/videos.asp which illustrate the 4.0 and the 4.9 - both hairy as anything!! 4.0 Blade video - last 10 secs in particular! 4.9 Blade video And finally, as BigRob says... if you fancy a go on a 4.9 (or a 3.0, but sadly no 4.0), come down to Blackheath tomorrow afternoon and you'll be more than welcome! Rich Quote
deejaygee Posted January 31, 2003 Author Report Posted January 31, 2003 How mad are those clips - Thanks!!!! I will definitley try to get to the heath tomorrow, all depends on the woman - How do you all cope - you wanna get out there but you know she's gonna be angry as hell! I have already been dragged face 1st for about a 100 yards, not got any air though - maybe tomorrow. What time are you due Richard, and what shall I look out for? Thanks Quote
richardc Posted January 31, 2003 Report Posted January 31, 2003 We'll be there from about midday, sitting on the big red arrow: Map of where to fly on Blackheath ... next to the red and white windsock. Drag your woman along as well, we'll get her on the end of a kite, get HER dragged face-first along the ground and then I'm sure she'll see the attraction of our wonderful sport...!!! See you tomorrow hopefully, Rich 07720 837678 Quote
p0ssume Posted February 6, 2003 Report Posted February 6, 2003 I would strongly advise the 4.9 if you dont want to "kill yourself" you just fly in lower wind conditions but then when that day comes that you want to go huge you will have the power. So i say 4.9 Quote
Nik Clark Posted February 6, 2003 Report Posted February 6, 2003 richardc, Many thanks for the 4.9 video. It's one of my favourites! We used it at work today to test our software's ability to play wmv files. Our dorky programmers loved it. He he. Quote
string cutter Posted February 6, 2003 Report Posted February 6, 2003 richardc is right,dont dismiss the 4m without trying it,it is faster,turns quicker and imo is a more fun to fly kite,it is not a lot less grunty than the 4.9 and is the kite i use the most Quote
deejaygee Posted February 7, 2003 Author Report Posted February 7, 2003 Completely - from my own experience, with 15m lines you get shorter bursts of power - when you are learning this is a godsend as your arms don't ache and you don't get dragged / pulled into scary positions. I would definitley recommend it!! Quote
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