Kappa Series (current) Takoon Log 7m and 9m

Rider: Weight,Level (intermediate 75kg and advanced 90kg)
Style: Freeriding, Surf
Build Quality: 9/10
Satisfaction: 8/10
Disclosure:



None
My Comments:
Rider history and Level: Kiting for 3 years. Started out on Takoon Soul 9 and 11. On recommendation from Takoon dealer have switched to the Logs. … I am kiting mainly on flat water, but had feedback from friend who is proficient wave kiter and I have included his comments here. Note on above ratings - I am very critical - would never give anything 10/10! OK - here's our thoughts:

They are super grunty ... even more power low down than the my old kites. What is truly remarkable is that they are super manoeuvrable in light winds. Any kite is manoeuvrable in strong winds but the LOG is super-fast in the very light winds. My offsider is 90 kg riding 6'3 & 5'11 surfboards and he never uses the 12 or 10.5 and only rarely uses the 9m. His main kite now is the 7m. For me 9m is 12-18knots and 7m 18-25knots. Speed and stability is awesome. Much of our wind very gusty and changes direction in pulses... the LOG Phi series (the previous series) was incredibly stable The LOG Kappa series is ROCK SOLID !!!

Up-wind: Wow ... this kite goes up wind like crazy ...up there with the best. Kiting in surf we want the smallest kite possible and still need to get back up wind. The LOG is the best I've ever used in this regard.

Re-launching – not a problem at all. Almost every time I have wiped out though, the kite keeps flying. Very reassuring to come up and see the kite overhead especially in the surf. Inflation – there is a single inflation/deflation valve, very similar to the Ozone kites that I have used. Works really well – nice and quick.
Problems:
The LOG takes a bit of getting used to .. not a problem but a "heads up" for people demoing the kite. You need to know that it is different to other wave kites. For example it is unusually powerful during the initial bottom turn of the wave when the kite zips across the window - so much so that unless you are ready for it, it pulls you off your edge. You get used to this pretty quick and then will be able to take advantage of it. First impressions is that it’s very powerful: I compared the 7m Log with the another 7m surf kite and the Log was more powerful.

The tuning of the kite is not fully powered. I untie the strong-wind knot on the pigtails so as to extend them about 15mm - and only ever fly on light wind knot (extended). The kite is much more powerful and has bigger range.
Build design and quality:
Very high standard. Very robust kite. The new (Kappa) series, the bridle pulleys have been replaced with maintenance free sliders. The new Takoon bars are excellent. The look very similar to the Ben Wilson bars (might be some part sharing going on there I think). Takoon have the Diamond Bar V6 which has the older styler Velcro quick release. The more expensive Onyx bar has a push-away QR that is a little bit fiddly to get back together, so practice with it a few times and you will figure out how to use it BEFORE you have to use it. Both bars have nice big padded ends and are easy to wrap up your lines on. Bar pressure is reasonably light. Harness: I had an older model Takoon harness and decided to upgrade when I got these new kites. The new “Wave” harness is more comfortable courtesy of more padding. Seems to be very good value for money. Lacking a safety knife though.

All in all the LOG KAPPA is a crazy little thing that I'm falling in love with each time I go out.

Wish list: a 6m Log. They are available in 3, 5, 7, 9, 10.5 and 12.

When I say its a bit fiddly, I think most of the PA styles are a bit fiddly if you have not used one before. They all have their own little idiosyncrasies and you should practice with them before you are out in the water and you really have to use it. The trick with this one is to hold it in a vertical position and gravity will help you to get it back together. The important thing is that the release is really quick and it is.

As for the Velcro release on the other bar - nothing wrong with it. Just because its 10 years old does not mean that its no good. My mate who helped with the review prefers it, because of the simplicity. Plus he saved $90.00.

Maybe that's why the offer the choice?

Maybe you didn't read the review Dusta. I'm 75kg and intermediate, my mate is 90kg advanced. We both had input in to the review. Pretty simple really. Not sure how big a kite the Hulk would need, but probably bigger than a 9m I think :)

^^
"My offsider is 90 kg riding 6'3 & 5'11 surfboards and he never uses the 12 or 10.5 and only rarely uses the 9m. "

I have huge Velcro Love
Give me Velcro anyday over plastic or stainless steel or grub screws or elastic cords,
which is what pretty much all other release systems are made with, they equal DRAMAS.
Velcro is friends with water and sun ,if washed regularly it will outlast any of the other crappy materials.
Velcro is the product that has saved surfers arses more than anything.
It is massively simple and reliable.
Id rather have my old fella caught in Velcro than a metal zipp.
Should be way more of it Out there!
Luv u Velcro

Disclaimer: I am biased, I work at Stonker. I drive a French car (Citroen C5) and ride French kites (Takoon). Nothing boring about either. The French invented inflatable SLE kits and the guys that did that were the guys that started Takoon. So the rest of the kite industry was built on the work done by the French. Admittedly Takoon went through a bad patch when they were owned by Bic Sport, but they have new owners and new products. Their current owner was the CEO of Neil Pryde Europe and started Cabrihna. Their kites are as good as any on the market and come out of the best factory there is, where the other top brands are made.

Uhmm sorry to say .... Wi pika was the first blow up kite, cabrinha is Pete cabrinha

Bruno Legaignoux and Dominique Legaignoux were the guys who patented inflatable kites and they started Wipika. They sold Wipika and started Takoon. There was an article about this in the 2nd issue of Freedom Kite mag and there are heaps of articles online about it.

Some of the early kite companies grew out of windsurf companies who didn't want to get left behind and started their kite business under new names, often the name of one of the early kiting dudes. Neil Pryde Group started Cabrinha obviously using Pete Cabrinhas name. Wainman Hawaii (based in Poland) used Lou Wainmans name.

Thanks for the pics Herby. I didn't have anything like that to put up. "Every picture tells a story" and obviously better than I am able to. Thanks for your .02 worth too murrayceff, you seem to know a bit more about the history of Takoon than some others here.