8 replies to this topic

[fly_viking]

I just bought my first 1.5 SLE and my question is this:
The kite is supposed to have a wind range of 4-25 mph. Will my included 90 lb spectra line cope with 25 mph or do I need to swap them for a stronger set? If so, at what windspeed and what line strength will I need?
Hope someone can help!

[RevWizard]

I just bought my first 1.5 SLE and my question is this:
The kite is supposed to have a wind range of 4-25 mph. Will my included 90 lb spectra line cope with 25 mph or do I need to swap them for a stronger set? If so, at what windspeed and what line strength will I need?
Hope someone can help!

If the lines are high quality such as Shanti or Laser Pro and in reasonable condition, you should have no problem. Be careful, some lower quality lines might be over rated and snap at even half their rating.
I use 90 lb (40Kg) Shanti almost all the time even in much higher winds. I have never had a line pop.

[steveb]

Listen to your lines- if the whistle turns into a loud high-pitched death scream, they are very near the breaking point.
FWIW, I'd suggest 150# lines for the SLE once the winds get up in the 20s.
The Vented is a lot happier in those kind of winds though- most kite wind ratings are a bit extreme.

[Watty]

If you bought the kite new either directly from rev, or from someone who gets stock directly from rev, you should have Laser Pro Gold 90# lines. LPG is (in my, and many other's opinions) the best kite line out there along with Shanti. This line should be fine in these winds if they are in good condition.

However, for the higher extreme of the kites wind range, I would suggest maybe some 150# LPG line, or maybe even getting a vented 1.5 or B-Series.

[RevWizard]

Listen to your lines- if the whistle turns into a loud high-pitched death scream, they are very near the breaking point.
FWIW, I'd suggest 150# lines for the SLE once the winds get up in the 20s.
The Vented is a lot happier in those kind of winds though- most kite wind ratings are a bit extreme.

Don't forget that longer lines will start to whistle much earlier then short lines.
I had a situation once where I flew a dual line kite on 100 meter lines. It whistled the whole time.
I then flew it on 30 meter lines in the same wind and it practically never whistled.
The wind was quite strong and constant. I would guess around 35-45MPH.

[antman]

with 90# lines at 100 to 120 feet i always hear a good howl out of them with the beach winds i get however i always got my music going too and sometimes i canhear it therugh the music .. i have broke lines before but its all part of the fun .. broken lines are like getting knocked down in a football game.. you get hit .. you fall ... but you get up and keep on going .. so the same goes if you break a line .. fix it and keep on flying..well as for advise have a 90# for lighter winds 150# for the heavy stuff

[big bri]

90lb is bang on for most winds .I do use 150[top] & 90[bottom] sometimes in higher winds or when flying a stack,blast and progressive stack.Dont usually fly the blast and stacks in more than a 12mph though.

The 50lb line i think would be more usefull to ya for the low winds.Less drag on the kite.

BRIAN...

[pudsli]

hi all.
like Big Bri said 90lb is fine, but why are you flying a standard 1.5 sle in 25mph winds.
buy a vented.
your lines will be fine for the vented as well.
all the best steve.

[steveb]

Lines whistling is normal and fine.
It's when the volume and pitch increase to a death scream that you're getting near the limit.
/former power kiter