183 replies to this topic

[Kitelife]

I know the Zen has just been released, but I wanted to start a dedicated thread for people to post in with their photos and experiences.

Can't wait to hear from y'all!

[BAZ]

I know the Zen has just been released, but I wanted to start a dedicated thread for people to post in with their photos and experiences.

Can't wait to hear from y'all!

Hello all
has anyone received their ZEN yet
got any pics?
surely someone has theirs by now

[big bri]

Felix,,,,,

BRIAN...

[Felix Mottram]

Felix,,,,,

BRIAN...

No,

Only a very good joke one that 'I could not take home' as it might have been misunderstood... <grins>

Felix

[Jeepster]

No,

Only a very good joke one that 'I could not take home' as it might have been misunderstood... <grins>

Felix

I think the Zen you're refering to is pictured in an album that I saw ... what's to misunderstand? It looked pretty explicite to me!! Obviously, IKE has a lot to learn from our friends across the pond!!

Cheers,
Tom

[Felix Mottram]

I think the Zen you're refering to is pictured in an album that I saw ... what's to misunderstand? It looked pretty explicite to me!! Obviously, IKE has a lot to learn from our friends across the pond!!

Cheers,
Tom

Tom,

It was the wrong sort of 'Zen' to have in the bag. Explicit, as you say. Not something that I would want to have to explain. <grins>

Felix

[Baloo]

Dont think you would have to explain much Felix. I think your Zen can explain quite well for itself!!

[Felix Mottram]

Dont think you would have to explain much Felix. I think your Zen can explain quite well for itself!!

My motorcycle is tuned to a 'T'. (It is a bicycle, of course)

I have no problem at the interface between the objective and subjective...

Anyone... ?

Felix

[big bri]

Its the thought that counts .

The best bit had tobe Sailor a few hours earlier that day.He spotted the Genuine, Red, Rev sleeve in my roofbox.with,,, Z E N,,, on the flap in Gold Letters.

Hook,Line and Sailor from ther on.

A black and purple ZEN.Which was exactly what it was.ZEN written in black and purple.Plus extras

BRIAN...

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Edited by big bri, 01 January 2010 - 11:37 AM.

[Felix Mottram]

Its the thought that counts .
<snip>
BRIAN...

Quite, and extremely well done Brian...

Thanks

Felix

[Jynx]

Merry Christmas to me!



Unfortunately the flying conditions at our Cool Fool Kite Fest (today) in Milwaukee WI were conducive!

I showed it off, but didn't get to fly it... as the winds were 10+ ...and BTW the temps were sub zero wind chill!

I so wanted to christen it today... guess I'll have to wait till TI!

[Jeff]

We got a look at it on the field today...at about 2 1/2 minutes into this video...

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/3672217

[Baloo]

Purty Kite Jynx, you have helped me decide to go for White when I take the plunge.

[jburka]

Unlike Jynx, we had somewhat winds generally suitable for the Zen, though a bit on the high end, at the WOW new year's day fly on the Mall yesterday. Everybody got a chance to play with the kite, and it's a real treat. The race and 2-wrap Bs were flying too, but they generally needed to keep moving while the Zen was perfectly content to float and hover.

I was flying on my 13" B handles with the top line all the way out. I'd be curious to try the kite on 15" handles.

The most amazing thing to me is the amount of feedback coming down the lines.

The kite was pretty much happy to do whatever I wanted, with one exception: 45 degree landings. I kept finding that as the kite touched down, the floppiness of the leading edge spar would cause a flex that always brought the kite back to a two-point landing. It'll be interesting to see, as I get more time on the kite, if I can work around that.

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[Baloo]

Oh dear, now you are showing me a Zen with pretty colours in it. I am coming over all undecided.

[BAZ]

"IS THERE NO ONE ELSE" --- (quote from the film TROY) == who has a ZEN of course

[Murph]

"IS THERE NO ONE ELSE" who has a ZEN of course

Think the count is on to see who is going to be the first to get some video footage of a production Zen.

Come on!!!!!

Chris

[Kitelife]

Unlike Jynx, we had somewhat winds generally suitable for the Zen, though a bit on the high end, at the WOW new year's day fly on the Mall yesterday. Everybody got a chance to play with the kite, and it's a real treat. The race and 2-wrap Bs were flying too, but they generally needed to keep moving while the Zen was perfectly content to float and hover.

Glad to hear y'all are enjoying it... The Zen is one hell of a light wind monster.

I was flying on my 13" B handles with the top line all the way out. I'd be curious to try the kite on 15" handles.

We tuned the bridle design to accommodate the 13" handles by default, but a lot of folks might very well find the 15" works quite well for them, especially if they use a more forward-oriented tuning set.

The most amazing thing to me is the amount of feedback coming down the lines.

Isn't it?

Tons of feedback from the kite, and loads of tension right there when you want it, even in light wind you can climb to the top of the window with just a few steps and a steady hand.

The kite was pretty much happy to do whatever I wanted, with one exception: 45 degree landings. I kept finding that as the kite touched down, the floppiness of the leading edge spar would cause a flex that always brought the kite back to a two-point landing. It'll be interesting to see, as I get more time on the kite, if I can work around that.

Aye, that's a characteristic of the 9' leading edge... More length and the same relative flexibility in the spar equals more bend...

A practiced hand will get used to it and compensate, we found this in our own team trials.

As others have said, is there no one else with a Zen that we can see photos/video of? <grin>

[Mitch]

Got my Zen today! Tomorrow is 5 mph winds and 42F. Perfecto!
Are you setting up with relatively more break on the B series handles, or just the way you do with the B pro? I don't know if the increased break will help me load the sails, or rob me of any little wind I have for forward motion.

Any suggestions on handle tuning?

Mitch

[jburka]

As I've said, the one time I had my Zen out I had the top lines all the way out (last knot on standard 13" B handles) and the bottom lines on the outer knot as well. I found the kite to have both plenty of forward and sail loading. I played a bit with adding even more brake by bringing the bottom lines into the inside knot, but wasn't as pleased with the handling.

Of the various folks who flew my Zen on 1/1, only one person felt the need to modify the settings by bringing the top lines in by 4 or 5 knots. He seemed happier, but I thought the kite was flying terribly with those settings!