Flexifoil Pulsar Mobius Flix Kite Reviews

With up and coming RNLI WINDRAVE at the end of the month (September 03), Neil and me where asked to do a little trick flying in the arena by Bill of Sports Corner and with Flexifoil supporting the event, a new Pulsar was sent down to Bill along with a Psycho. The Psycho isn't my idea of a modern trick kite with its limited repertoire, so the new Pulsar was going to be popped around to what it can do. Although designed by Carl Robertshaw, design/manufacturer of the Dot Matrix, for Flexifoil, I really couldn't see this as being a serious contender for a doing a arena display and when Flexifoil describe this as "ideal for beginners"!!! 'I get this kinda sinkin feelin'. All the same, were going to put it through its paces and let you know in a review soon.

A brightly coloured beach kite are our first thoughts... Quite pleasing graphics, kind of landscape comes to mind. The sail has been sewn together beautifully, very smooth stitching finish with extra webbing reinforcement around the nose on those all too familiar nose tricks that we have done or still do. Double layers of Dacron cut close around the spreader fittings instead of lock rings or clips to stop the spreaders from travelling up and down the leading edges. We reckoned that this may be a late proto-type as some of the fittings seemed to be a bit Heath Robinson... and no instructions etc

From the start of assembly, we noticed that the solid spreader spars where smaller than the 6mm rubber fittings on the leading edges which started to come loose after a couple of heavy handed manoeuvres in the air, possibly not as heavy as novice would be.>>>	The stand-off's although very strong where fitted in to an outsized spar grabber with a PVC end cap to take up the slack, it worked perfectly fine, but looked a bit unprofessional.
Once the kite was assembled, we noticed a lot of ripples in the sail from the nose to the stand-offs. After trying to adjust the spreaders to smooth this out a bit, but it just got worse, introducing even more wrinkles around the T-connector of the lower spreader.	Using elastic tensioner's on the wing tips as with the Psycho, but they had also used this method to tension the keel instead of the usual Velcro. We found that we could pull the keel and sail tips between 5-9mm to retighten the sail, maybe a novice wouldn't be bothered, but how long do you stay a beginner.

I'm beginning to think that kite manufacturers only make these beginners kites just have something to sell in the price range... Personally, I think there is more chance of being put-off from trick flying, than being enthused with excitement. No offence to the designer, who I think is the dogs b******ks when it comes to the art of sport kite design and display, but I was beginning to think this was not a good point to start. It flies just like the so called beach kite, yep, it axles, well cartwheels, but you don't want to be stuck with axles. Flic-Flac maybe, pancakes Ok, struggles to come out in the same place, with the arc being several feet larger than the input and very unstable. After trying several tricks, we found this kite was brilliant at Lazy-Susan's, once flipped, multiples are nearly, dare I say it, easy... with one slight snag... it doesn't want to pop out again without pulling so much line in you almost have to run with it. After several days on this kite, I was beginning to think it was me!!! and I was starting to get quite angry with it, so it was handed over to friends for the afternoon for their appraisal, I must be stuck in my ways.

None really wanted to stick with it for any length of time and with a perfect 8mph onshore wind, most want to get time on their DOT Matrix's, Gem's etc as the weather hasn't been too kind of late. I asked all who had a quick fly, which obviously isn't the best way to get an appraisal, what they thought and most wasn't too kind "a kids kite", "a beginner isn't getting much from this", "crap", "a struggle" and a lot worse. I then asked what they would recommend as a first time trick kite with scope? Next Step, Jam Sessions, Vento, New Jam, I couldn't make my mind up for a first time trick kite... Not even sure if the Next Step is still in manufacture from Eolo Gayla, but I tend to agree. The Club used these kites in a kids flight school in conjunction with the local council a couple of years back and in a few hours we were getting axles out of 12 - 14 years olds and even with the younger ones they could fly with confidence and no breakages over 4 days worth of flight schools.

Some months has passed since this kite was released and I hope some of the above problems aren't being incorporated into the production design. I don't like to slate a kite just because I don't like it. I maybe expecting too much from a beginners kite... So I went back their website and guess what, it now says

"Competitively priced, these kites have a larger wind window and wider wind range than many rival kites, making learning to fly quicker, easier and more fun! The largest model in the range, the Pulsar is a strong-pulling kite ideal for flyers aged 12+. With a wingspan of 180cm and a 6 panel sail, the Pulsar is ideal for beginners and those with a bit more experience, including wrist straps and a set of high performance flying lines."

So after all the clap-trap I have said above about this being a trick kite forget it, I presumed it was supplied as a trick kite, you should never presume anything in this world... so my new review is its a bit too dear, even as a package to fly around in circles! the rest is just bo****ks, the end.

Have look at the KHite site for a review on the Pulsar, completely different to mine. I must have another go of a production model, just to see if it has changed....Did I get a dud!!!!