Review North Neo 2014
« Return to search resultsRiding type: | Freeride/Wave |
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Year: | 2014 |
Brand: | North kiteboarding |
Size: | 04m, 05m, 06m, 07m, 08m, 09m, 10m, 11m, 12m |
Type: | SLE |
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Buy: | Buy Now |
Kite
3 strut SLE kite
Designers goals (manufacturer text)
The Neo is the dedicated wave-freeride kite in the line up, aimed at the rider who values quality waves and needs a kite to perform. Airton Cozzolino chooses the Neo for his demanding style of competitive wave riding on the KSP World Tour. His influence was essential to improve the wave characteristic without loosing the good freeride abilities. This year the Neo comes with a floating strut and the structure of the kite is a little softer to enable the Neo to absorb gusts, giving a smoother power development and allowing the rider even more control on the wave. The struts have also been moved further towards the outside of the kite, this has shifted the centre of gravity allowing the kite to sit further back in the window. This enables the kite to drift down the line incredibly well, allowing you to park the kite and ride the wave without having to worry about it stalling. Additionally it is responsible for an easy and fast relaunch. The Neo is extremely responsive to rider input on the bar, making it easy to manoeuvre on the wave. The lightweight construction makes the kite very lively in the air, but also means there is even less chance of the kite dropping back in the window as you race down the line.
If you like riding waves, but don´t want to miss comfort freeriding, the Neo is the kite for you.
If you like riding waves, but don´t want to miss comfort freeriding, the Neo is the kite for you. - See more at: http://www.northkites.com/products/kites/neo/#sthash.JoO8eQqw.dpuf
Bar
Movie kite
Details:
Riding type: | Freeride/Wave |
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Year: | 2014 |
Brand: | North kiteboarding |
Size: | 04m, 05m, 06m, 07m, 08m, 09m, 10m, 11m, 12m |
Type: | SLE |
One pump: | Yes |
Bridles: | Yes |
Number of struts: | 3 |
Colours: | Various |
Bar length: | 40cm-45cm |
Line length: | 19m, 22m, 24m, 27m, 32m |
Bar: | 4 and 5 lines |
Depower: | Clamcleat |
Safety: | Push |
Swivel: | Yes |
Variable bar length: | Yes |
Oh shit handles: | No |
Kiteboard review North Neo 2014 9m
Test conditions
Wind: 12 -20 knots
Water: small waves - lake
Board: Twintip 140x40
Bar setup: 22m lines
Detail Pictures
Most prominent Characteristics
+ safety system
+ drift
+ kiterelaunch
+ low end
+ kite feedback
+ stability
- pretty strong in its high end (wave & beginner/allrounder)
- through the bar you can feel the pigtail friction on the leading edge
Conclusion
The North Neo is a freeride/wave kite with a compact and rigid 3 strut frame. This rigid form with deeper placement in the wind window is what defines the new Neo. It gives the Neo more low end power, better drift and good feedback on the edge of the wind window. It's a wave kite but also good for beginners if you take the Neo in its low end. In its high end beginners or strapless wave riders have to change to a smaller size. That shifts the best usable windrange of the Neo a bit to the low end. So test also a size smaller before you buy the Neo.
More about the North Neo 2014: Kitefinder test North Neo vs North Evo
All North Neo Characteristics
Basics
Windrange
Great low end, pretty strong in it's high end
Total depower
Kite stability
very stable
Kite re-launch
just pull at one steering line
Safety system
4 and 5 line. 5 line most save, except in the waves than the 4 line is safer (tanglement)
Oldskool
High-end
small high end range for beginner and straples wave riders
Lift
Gradual power building, in it's high end more strong but still gradual
Glide phase
Low-end
Wave
Turning circle
Reaction to steering action
Feedback at edge of wind window
Drift
great drift
Race
Kiteposition in wind-window
Going upwind
in it's higher wind range the Neo gets powerful and is harder to go upwind. Low end and a surfboard its easy
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