Fuels 07-10?

[kiterdrew]

hey just wondering whats the difference between the fuels for 2007 to 2010? I fly 2007's now, but wanted to get maybe a 08, or 09? what the differences? any year that wasn't that great??

Thanks Drew

[idobyms]

i almost didn`t ride a fuel, just a couple of times,
so nothing to say about them

but, i `ve heard a lot , that 2007 was the greatest Fuel,
don`t know why, just do some research or testing before changing
good luck!

[longwhitecloud]

07 08 - same kite except for minor detail
09 10 - same kite except for minor detail

they are both real good

09-10 i think there is too much power difference between the 9m and 11m

teh 5th line system on 07/08 was for sure one of teh best /simple - u can ride 5th on 09 / 10 too but you have to find 07/08 bar and lines

[JumpinJoe]

I have had a 07 and it was a good kite! Not much low end but it was fast and did great kite loops.

I personaly did not like the 5th line on the 07 also.

Now I have had 09's and now I am on a full line of 2010's from the 5m to the 11m, I think SS has perfected the C-kite. Its does insane kite loops! Its super fast, love the 4 line system on it and it has huge low end. Oh it is Bom proof too.

Its well worth the $$$

[BWD]

can ride 5th on 09 / 10 too but you have to find 07/08 bar and lines

no really you can use the 09 bar/lines too. Not sure the best way to do it with '10 bar.
Here's how for the 09:

1. Disconnect the safety line from the left front line. Save it if you want it for later.

2. Larkshead a short pigtail to the end of the left front line to keep it from slipping through the plastic choda (this pigtail can also serve as a place to clip a leash as an alternative/emergency if you have to ditch the fifth.)

3. Set up a fifth line as usual for an old fuel -note for the '09, '10 you won't need to trim it as much though.

4. Run a 2.5mm amsteel line as your grab/trim line. It can run free from the thin flying part of the 5th a few meters above the V to the adjustable stopper ball, and through the little hole in the stopper that the bungie safety line normally goes through (If you set it up right the knot where the amsteel hits the flying 5th line will be like a stopper to keep you from pulling too much 5th when you drop the bar.). Then run the line through bar and then through the hole on the plastic part the chicken rope cleat is on, right above the CL.

5. Look on the side of this plastic chicken rope cleat holder thing, you will see two little holes, because the part is actually the same part from prior years. The little holes are for you to screw the little 5th line cleat in. (These cleats can be gotten from any old marine place... )
Now you have an adjustable 5th setup on your 09 SS bar.

6. Leash to the end of the 5th. Works great. I just leash to a loop tied in the end, so no worry about any extra metal rings flying around...

I do this just because the bungie line was dead and I didn't want to buy another one.
The new kites don't really need it as much as the old ones did, but it's still a good safety/power kill system.....

[kiterdrew]

bump. i know there is more info out there

[assmaster]

i almost didn`t ride a fuel, just a couple of times,
so nothing to say about them

but, i `ve heard a lot , that 2007 was the greatest Fuel,
don`t know why, just do some research or testing before changing
good luck!

Listen to this guy man! he's got some solid info...

07 was square wingtip, so was 08 which was practically the same, except 08 came from a different factory and the quality was shit, dont buy it. 09 changed to rounded wingtip which gave you more depower, 010 was pretty much the same, tiny changes on a few sizes, no reason to get the 010 really. I am sponsored by slingy and just decided to ride 09's until the 011 comes to me in a few months, I tried them both and not much difference.
011 however has some new changes and updates that sound promising.

[Kraimer]

07 / 08 Fuels:

- Great surf kite
- Great free ride kite
- Small for their size (an 11 was pretty darn small - I would ride it through 30 knots pretty regularly)
- Not nearly a lot of lift on sent jumps.
- Ok relaunch; mine had a tendency to invert on itself easier
- Powerful loops
- No safety if you take the 5th line off.. I don't ride 5 line.

09/ 10 Fuels:
- TONs of lift - an extremely good jumping kite for a C
- Good surf kite, flys with slack lines well but turns a touch slower than 07/08
- TONS of power - raw grunt, loves to be ridden over powered (you have to ride with a strong edge, flat water to Really enjoy this kite.)
- Best relaunch of any kite I've ever ridden, hands down.
- I am not a fan of the CLS system. Very rarely does it not come out of a mess after activation. I clip to an advanced rider leash, and switch the CLS if I am in a jam.
- 11, 13M 2010 fuels have a better LE - I like my 2010 13M fuel the most for wake style. The 7M 2009 (I think 2010 is the same) for everything else. Loops are nuts.
- There is a huge size gap between the 5, and the 7 I think they corrected that this year (2011).
- Not the most durable kite construction; I think they've given up some stronger fabrics for weight savings. It’s a "pro model" kite - so this makes sense; you’re buying ultimate performance not durability. That said, I've personally not had any trouble with my kites. My 11 must have over 30 days on it; it shows some wear is the fabric but nothing troublesome yet. The 2010 13 seems to have tougher fabric. I like the 2010 fabric more but that could be my imagination, too, that its different.

The 07/08 and 09/10 Fuels are nothing alike. The 09 / 10s are much better and will advance your riding further. More pop for wake jumps, more lift on sent jumps and more raw grunt and power then the previous generation. Limitations include durability, turning speed, and safety. One of the best kites I've ever ridden. I own all 5: 5, 7, 9 and 11 ('09) and 13 ('10). My favorite is the 7, 13 followed closely by the 11 and then the 9 and lastly the 5. The 5 is too small to really use unless its 35 - 40. I'd be nice to have a kite for 30 - 40.

That’s all I got. Hope it helps.

- D

[shymac]

listen to D, he knows what's up and has all the bases covered. Thats all you truly need to know, now by a Fuel and ride it like you stole it!

[JumpinJoe]

D-

I am 160lbs and I have all the 2010 Fuel's also from 5 to 11 but I have been holding off on buying the 13m due to my size. My 11m has treated me well down to about 16mph, Its a bit light on the power but still works ok for me. Also no one here has the 13m so I have not been able to see if it's worth it for me to buy it.

Whats your waight and do you see a big difference from the 11m to the 13m?