GK Sonic 11M vs. 12M Crossbow Comparison

Big Al · Post by **Big Al** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:37 pm

Over the weekend I got to demo both an 11M GK Sonic and a 12M Crossbow. Hereís a comparison of the two kites:

Background: Me - 185-190lbs, ride a 130cm x 40 cm custom board, solid intermediate kiter. On Saturday, I rode the Sonic at Lake Tahoe, winds were very gusty averaging in the mid 20ís, but gusting to the mid 30ís, big rolling swell, 4-5ft. On Sunday, I rode the CB at Alameda, winds in the low to mid 20ís, fairly steady, tide was very low, so water was somewhat flatter than usual.

First Impression ñ Two things are noticeably different right off the bat, bar pressure and the size difference of each kite. The Sonic has the lightest bar pressure of any kite Iíve ever flown, while the CB had the heaviest bar pressure. They are polar opposites in this regard. Second, there is a significant size difference between these two kites (11M vs. 12M duh!), but the Sonic is a small 11M and the CB is a big 12M, and they feel much more than 1m apart in size. Being a smaller kite, the Sonic is faster and more nimble whereas the CB is slower, yet more powerful. I think the 11M Sonic is much closer in size to the 9M CB. At Tahoe there was a 9M CB on the beach and it looked like the same size as 11M Sonic.

Performance ñ Overall, Iíd have to go with the CB on performance. I thought the CB was easier to get use to right away as the Sonic was very quick and the ultra light bar pressure was a bit awkward at first (tendency to over sheet the kite). I thought jumping was better and much easier with the CB than the Sonic. The quickness of the Sonic was throwing off my timing, but others were jumping just fine on the Sonic. By design, the CBís depower is more immediate than the Sonic as you sheet out. This is due to the pulleys on the CB, which is the main reason for the bar pressure.

Construction/Design ñ Build quality looks the same, but their overall design is simplicity (Sonic) vs. complicated (CB). The Sonic bridle is much simpler than CB. I donít think you could tangle it even if you tried. Same for the bar, the Sonic bar couldnít be more simple, whereas the CB is a cluster #$%! of pulleys, balls, straps, etcÖ The disadvantage of the simple design of the Sonic is the trim strap is not designed to be adjusted with the kite in the air. You have to come back to shore, land the kite and then do it.

Overall Impression ñ Theyíre both great kites and I think it comes down to whatís more important to you. In my opinion the CB is the greater performing kite, but with a trade off of very heavy bar pressure and complicated design (more stuff to break or go wrong). If you want the safety and depower of a BOW kite, but are put off by the heavy bar pressure of the CB, then the Sonic is a better choice. Also, the 12M CB has the power and depower to be your everyday, one-kite quiver for the average size rider. The 11M Sonic on the other hand, in my opinion is more of a high wind kite (like I said, itís more like the 9M CB) and just didnít seem to have the low-end power to be a good kite for those lighter days. GloberRider is coming out with a 14M Sonic soon which I think would make a better comparison to the 12M CB than the 11M. Iím still on the fence with these kites and BOW kites in general. I want to try out a few more 2006 kites before I decide what I buy. Please post if you have any questions.

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 8:48 pm

Al, I have spoken to the guys at Windwing, and the Rapture 2's are in production, and despite my earlier statement about having one here soon, we are very close now. Hopefully, within a week one will arrive and you're welcome to try it to add to your evaluations.

Ollie

VanSimms · Post by **VanSimms** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 9:09 pm

I think if you're comparing the 11M sonic to the CB 9M then there should be no match because the 9 has average to light bar pressure and It has all the depower of the crossbow bridle/pullys, right?

knyfe · Post by **knyfe** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 10:21 pm

Al,

thnx for that comparison. With the windwing added you might be the most asked kite hiere in the bay.

Yes, sunday was great in Alameda. Just the swell was missing. And I realized that some of my tubes became leak over the summer as it was the first time that I unwrapped my 10 for 9 months.

CU , K

kies · Post by **kies** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:00 pm

Not a guest (forgot my password)

I too was in tahoe and demo'd the Sonic 11

I am from the bay and I think you got on right after me (i was in the shorty).

Was I not boosting air?? hmm sure seemed like I was looking at tree tops.

That thing has great hang time, super light pressure. fast turning and it was frickin gusty. takes 15 minutes to figure out but hey.
low end;
Litewave dave is an honest guy and he and a bunch of other bystanders said Dave was on it in 15mph winds earlier. So range seems there.

I saw a RAPTURE 2 (proto...white)on the water as well. Some guy there who knows their designer. It looked OK (i have one ordered). But it was flapping quite a bit and I saw no air...I am sure it boosts they just weren't sending it when I was looking.

Have not tried the CB...but the sonic bar pressure was soooo light.
Demo is the way to go with these kites.
Al, Glad to hear you tried both, wishi had.
I am 190lbs, 5 years kiting, was flying dave 141 2006 proto (sweet board)
I own 2 Best nemi's and 2 Outrage's and a Rapture 1. unbias

Big Al · Post by **Big Al** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 12:31 am

Ollie - I'd be very interested in trying out the Rapture2, I'll bug at the beach once you get it.

VanSimms - I haven't tested the 9M CB, so I can't comment on the bar pressure, etc... but visually, they look about the same size.

Kies - Yea, I totally remember you, and you were definitely jumping very well on Sonic. If you re-read my post, I said "but others were jumping just fine on the Sonic." By "others" I was referring to you and Dave. I was just having a hard time with it. I found it much easier to jump with the CB and as a result, my jumps were better with the CB. In regards to the lowend, I was one of the bystanders that watched Dave ride the Sonic in 15mph, and although he was staying upwind, he wasn't very powered. If you read some other reviews on kiteforum, people are also claiming that they can get out and kite on the 9m CB in 15mph winds. Hopefully you'll can get a chance to demo the CB and figure out what kite works best for you.

kies · Post by **kies** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 1:37 pm

Big Al,

Cool. Thanks
Just wanted to be sure you were the one after me, cuz if you weren't than I would not be able to use your demo as a gauge for my decision.

I concur with what you were saying. plus catching air in 30mph gusts is do-able with an umbrella. I hope I didn't come across wrong.

I am torn on what low wind kite to get and am glad you posted. I think the fast movement and light weight of the sonic may be best suited in a bigger kite in low wind. But have no way to know for sure. So your honest review is helpful.

thanks and see ya at 3rd or ?

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 8:45 pm

A reply from the Windwing forum about a post on Kiteforum:

"We do not have a proto flying in Tahoe and the Rap 2 does not have flapping problem. The the kite is a solid flyer, a beauty to behold and brilliant engineering to say the lease from a very biased observer."

They say they don't have any protos in the Lake Tahoe area...

Big Al · Post by **Big Al** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:38 pm

I also saw that white Rapture proto flying around. At first I thought it was an 05 Rapture, but looked closely and it had bridles so it was definitely a proto. I spoke with the guy and he is friends with someone at windwing. I didn't notice the flapping, but on CB, when you fully sheet out and depower the kite, it does flap a bit. This is normal.

OliverG · Post by **OliverG** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:59 am

Whoever it was must have gotten it from Bill Hansen I suppose.

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GK Sonic 11M vs. 12M Crossbow Comparison

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