Anyone try S26 Pivot 12m?

[flysurfing]

Same feeling here.

Pivot is heavy and actually not such great kite for kite loops.

I switched all my kites to Reedin this year.

More than happy to have done the switch !

[southernskip]

I put a review of the s26 2022 12 and 11m on page 32 of the Naish 2021 chat. Very different kites to previous years. Loops are great but you need a lot of wind to get off the water.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2407241&start=310

[Mlkiml]

Sold my 2019 Pivot 11 to buy a S26 Pivot 12. My first impressions after using it for 3-4 session in 13 to 20kts (200lbs and tt Naish motion 138, 22m lines) is that it feels quite fast almost as fast as the 11 meters I was used to ride. tried also a couple of little kiteloops without killing myself. it pulls more in low wind than the 11 but that's not a surprise. It should be pumped to 7-8psi compared to 11-12psi of my old 11m, but I didn't feel it at all. overall I'm happy with it and since I got a couple of extra kts in the low end.

[halfpipe62]

Just got mine out yesterday in marginal winds but got a good idea what the differences are. My previous kite was 2014 Pivot12. First off the S26 Pivot is a lot lighter, they removed everything they can especially the loads of dacron on the 2014. It likes to be pumped up pretty hard as it was new I didn't pump it enough the first go and it wobbled a bit. Few more pumps and it flew solid. The difference is the shape and the canopy. This kite is much wider with a thinner profile. Looks to be the same surface area just a different shape. Wider meaning if you look at it from steering line to steering line connection points it's a lot wider, thiner meaning if you look at the center strut end to end it is a bit shorter. It appears like a higher aspect kite than my previous model. On the water it flys really fast but still has that pull like my old kite with the plus now that it flys forward in the window better. I believe this is because of the thinner canopy. The old pivots just had too much drag and sat way back in the window so I had to edge my board like crazy to get it to go up wind. It was more of a battle than fun session. The S26 Pivot likes a little more board speed as the kite flys a lot faster which I like compared to my old kite. Got a few jumps off and this new pivot has a lot more lift in marginal winds than my previous Pivot. My previous pivot really only jumped well in the top of it's wind range. It was fun to launch big boosty airs but I could have been on a 9m in those winds. This new Pivot will jump in it's wind range much better. It could work for foiling too, but more for race foiling as this kite likes to fly fast. For me foiling is a light wind day anyway and my Boxer just does a better job as I use a large foil and ride at slower speeds. It may work well in some waves but I have never really had fun in waves when the wind is calling for a 12m kite. For me I need 9m wind to make waves fun. Overall it feels like a Pivot but with a sporty tune up and finally flys forward in the window like a good kite should. Loops are much faster too as my old Pivot you could start the loop and go get a coffee and come back and it would finish the loop. This new Pivot whips around fast, not sure you could mega loop it as it may not catch you but I need more time and better wind day to find out. Hope this helps. More to come if we get more wind here.

[halfpipe62]

Just to add to my previous post, I got the 12 out in some better wind and it definitely flys and pulls more like a 12 should. For me the wind was between a 9m and a 12m so I pumped the 12 as I would normally have done with my previous 2014 Pivot 12. This was a mistake, I was lit up, I could however boost a jump or two but was way too overpowered to ride safely on it. Pumped up my S26 Pivot 9m and was perfect all day. So to sum it up the S26 12M really fits well into my quiver now. There's no more question of which size to fly anymore. One thing I will say as I stated before is the 12 likes to be pumped up pretty hard. I guess that is because of the wider profile? The 9 you can get away with missing pump or two but the 12 flys a lot better pumped up super hard. Also being a 12 meter this kite is super light weight, my old pivot was like 10 pounds this one is about 6.

[Kitedicted]

So for anyone who has tried s26 and any previous 11m
- the new 12 has lighter bar pressure
- slightly faster than previously
- less downwind pull
- better boosting in lighter conditions

Is that right? Considering switching my 11 2020 to s26 12m now

[alsky]

I haven't flown the S26 12m, but have a 10 and the new bar. The 10 only has two adjustments on the bridle for bar pressure, I'm not sure about the 12m, but take a peek.

The 10 flies great, but I prefer the bar pressure on the older bar. The new one is now being used as the back-up, as the light pressure isn't my thing.

Allison

[Kitedicted]

Alright I have a good deal on an almost new 12 I will probably buy it if the condition is as described and try it if I prefer it to my 2020 11m

[msptr]

I have the s26 12m but can only compare it with 2015 model. It dropped a lot of weight (now just a bit over 3kg), lighter bar feel, improved turning and jumping. I'm pretty happy with the upgrade.