PKD Buster 3M & 4M

The review is for both the 3m and 4m PKD buster kites as I bought the 4m and a friend bought the 3m.

The kite comes in a nice and neat stuff sack with draw string. The lines and handles come already attached to the kite. Both the kite came with 20m lines with 300lbs main and 100lbs brake line. These seem a little short and definitely not strong enough for kites of this size but PKD have had to cut costs somewhere to get the prices they have achieved and it looks like the lines are where most of the savings were made.
 

The lines are not really braided but are just 4 sections twisted together and becasue of this are a bit rough feeling when there are a few twists in the lines when looping the kites. However, the lines have virtually no stretch and come perfectly adjusted for length - and I mean PERFECTLY (Flexifoil take note as a difference of over 18 inches on a quad set of lines isn't just poor but downright unforgiveable!!!).

The handles are quite decent too, and have brake length adjustment using a v0-groove system that grips the brake line on the handles. This can slip when not under tension so is best secured by a double overhand knot as well. Gives a quick adjustment method but no better than a series of knots on the brakes lines. The kites themselves look really well made. Not quite to Flexifoil of Ozone standards but good considering the price.

The bridles use unsleeved Dyneema that is tied rather than sewn as on Flexifoil and Ozone new ranges. The middle 8 cells are open at the front and the remaining 4 cells are each end are filled through the other cells. This means the kite takes a few seconds to fill when first launched but prevents wingtip collapses during turns.

On the 2m, 3m and 4m Busters the cells have diagonal cross reinforcement across almost the full width of the kite. This helps the kite keep its shape and reduces the number of bridle connections required (according to PKD and others).

The bridle is a cross-over design on the middle cells so helps support the depowered side of the kite during turns. They really look like Ozone's Little Devil. The bridle is different and the cells are cross braced but in the air they look very similar.

These kites are superb performers. The 3m is quite a bit quicker than the 4m but they produce very strong pull in all but the lightest winds. They will fly when most other foils (Blades, Firebees, Razor etc etc) are struggling to fly. Both kites were airborn at this weekends Lytham kite festival when all other foils were on the ground.

I have never flown any other large foil kite (over 2m area) that is so controllable. These kites will simply reverse through the power zone when on the brakes without collapsing. The pull required on the brakes is minimal so the orignal 100lbs brake lines may have been adequate after all. They will also turn on their axes if using a combination of 2 line with brakes technique. The kites produce similar ammounts of pull to an equivalent Ozone Litlle Devil or Flexfoil Bullet but with much less forward speed.

Another really important point is that the bridle is adjustable on the main lines. This is achieved by having a series of 4 knots at the line attachment points. By choosing to attach at the different knots the angle-of-attack of the kite is altered. This does have quite a marked effect on the performance of the kite (power, speed and penetration overhead and at wind edges). Adjustment takes seconds once the kite is on the ground and in effect gives 4 kites in one. I think other manufacturers will very quickly copy this type of system.

Lots of friends have flown these kites and all have been amazed at the performance (and these people were serious large foil fliers with Blades/Skytigers/Jack Foils/Razors etc). The Busters may not be quite as durable as equivalent Flexifoil or Ozone kites but look at the price differences. The 3m was £130 and the 4m £160 with lines and handles included. Only just more expensive than a Firebee but lines and handles are included with the Buster and not with the Firebee. The Buster is also far superior to the Firebees in almost every way. The firebee is quicker through the air but does not produce any more power because of this, collapses easily in light winds and turns and has nowhere near the controllability of the Buster. Sorry Firebee owners but your champion of the cheaper kites has just had its backside kicked by the new boy in town.

This is the opinion of a 4m Firebee owner who flew the 4m Buster at Lytham kite festival this weekend! He could not believe the superiority of the Buster and went away a bit cheesed off at having bought a 4m Firebee.

Overall
I would give the kites 9/10 simply because the kites are not as durable as their more expensive competitors. However, anyone considering buying a Firebee should not bother. The Buster is simply miles better in every way. Its just so close to a Ozone Little Devil in performance for just over half the price.

By : Graham Smith